BELOW YOU'LL FIND BREAKING SHOP NEWS, POLICIES + IMPORTANT & HELPFUL INFO! 👇👇👇
🌻 IMPORTANT LEAD-TIME UPDATE as of September 17th, 2026: Our current lead-time is 2-6 business days (often sooner) to ship.
🌻 IMPORTANT SHIPPING UPDATES:
✨Shipping promotions may vary depending on current carrier rates. At times we offer free shipping, while at other times a $5 flat-rate per package may apply.
✨Even when the fee is active, it does not fully cover the actual postage cost — we continue to absorb a portion of shipping to help keep our items as affordable as possible.
✨Thank you for your understanding! During certain sales events, the fee may be lifted and free shipping will be offered.
✨ If a package is returned due to an incorrect, outdated, or invalid address (including typos or autocorrect errors), lack of a secure delivery location, an unclaimed pickup notice, or any other carrier return reason, the customer is responsible for reshipment postage plus a $7.95 handling fee {covers materials and labor, as packages often require re-boxing and/or resealing before reshipment}.
🌻 We primarily ship via UPS, but may occasionally use USPS at our discretion to ensure the most efficient delivery.
🌻 USPS Scans & Tracking: Our local USPS carrier—per union contract—only scans 5 packages at pickup, even if we hand off many more. Some shipments may show “Pre-Transit” though they’re already en route, with updates to “In-Transit” appearing later in the journey. What We’re Doing: We’ve escalated requests to scan all packages. While USPS’s process is outside our control, we’re truly sorry for any tracking confusion.
***IN THE MEANTIME — we’ve switched to primarily shipping with UPS so our customers receive the reliable carrier service they deserve.
🌻 Made to Order: Every piece is handcrafted and enters immediate production. No changes or cancellations after checkout—please double-check size, color, and text before ordering. “I accidentally placed an order” is not eligible for cancellation.
✨ Always Fresh: We never reship returned or repackaged items —your sign is made fresh, just for you 🤩— which is why 'All Sales Are Final' due to the custom nature of our work.
🌻 Damage/Defect Exception: In the rare event of damage or defect, we’ll send a replacement—no need to return the original.
Behind our small business is a real family, thank you for helping us to grow! 🪴
—Heather 🌱
RapidArc Designs
LOOK HERE 👀—please take a moment to review the detailed information on Shop FAQ's, POLICIES, GUIDELINES, POWDER COAT FINISHES (care & maintenance), and MOUNTING IDEAS below
⬛ ORDERING GUIDELINES (policies) & CUSTOM/PERSONALIZED ORDERS:
🔑 Design changes require a quote and a private custom listing—please don’t request modifications in the “Note to Seller.”
🔑 No gift messages at this time.
🔑 Orders enter immediate production; no changes/cancellations after checkout. Please double-check size, color, and text before submitting.
🔑 Please don’t use the Note to Seller or Add Personalization box to ask questions or request shipping/address changes—those fields aren’t monitored before production begins.
🔑 No free proofs/mockups/photos. These are available only with quoted custom design projects to keep lead times short and prices competitive.
🔑 For custom/personalized items, follow the listing’s personalization format exactly so we can complete your order correctly.
▪️ Example: Top line: 36082; Bottom line: OTTAWA DR; Initial: S; Name: SOUTHWORTH
🔑 If ordering steps are not followed, we may:
▪️ produce per the item description and submitted details, or
▪️ cancel the order—at our discretion.
🔑 We’d love to make your sign! If anything is unclear, please message us before ordering so we can help you choose the right options.
🔑 Thank you for respecting our process and supporting our small family business!
⬛ AT A GLANCE INFO:
◽ Mounting hardware is NOT included. 🛠
◽ Finished in durable indoor/outdoor POWDER COATING—rust and fade resistant! 🌦
◽ 9 standard powder-coated colors and finishes to choose from. (Additional clear coat recommended for extreme desert sun 🌵☀ or salty air conditions ⛵🌊—scroll down in the Shop Announcements for more details.)
◽ Our Metal Sign Art is custom handmade-to-order just for you and we would never resell returns, therefore items cannot be returned or exchanged... all sales are final.
◽ In order to meet our short lead-time/'ship by' deadlines, all items go into immediate production 'real time' once they enter our system... therefore we cannot make changes or cancellations once your order has been placed (even if you message right away, Customer Services messages are not necessarily seen in 'real time' and an order is usually already drafted/cut before the message is viewed). Thank you for understanding!!
◽ — Professional Packaging and Fast Shipping to the continental United States 📦—
**If ordering from Alaska or Hawaii please message me for a shipping quote before placing an order. **Expedited shipping and/or shipping holds are not available at this time.
◽100% HANDMADE IN THE USA! 🇺🇸 All of our superior quality Metal Art is laser cut from premium 14 gauge American steel and handcrafted with pride by skilled Artisans in our family owned and run Michigan based shop. Our durable, baked on Powder Coated finish will resist rust for years in normal outdoor conditions and we are an ORIGINAL maker of the Wacky Sun. 🌞
◽ Note 📝: The pictured item is an example of a finished item that uses this graphic image. Your actual item may vary slightly based on your specific personalization details and any needs that your text may require. Thank you for choosing RapidArc Designs to make your beautiful Metal Art!
⬛ POWDER COAT FINISHES and RAW METAL:
👉 All of our items—except raw metal options—are finished with a high-grade powder coat (front and back). It’s a durable, long-lasting color finish, but like quality patio furniture, it benefits from basic care and gentle handling.
👉 Our powder coat finishes are weather-resistant for normal indoor/outdoor use and will gradually “weather” outdoors over time (similar to powder-coated patio furniture). To extend the life and beauty of the finish, our manufacturer recommends applying a clear, outdoor-rated sealant every 1–2 years. (See *** clause below.)
👉 EXTREME CONDITIONS REQUIRE A CLEAR COAT: If your piece will live in prolonged, intense direct sun (desert conditions ☀🌵) or within ~75 miles of a saltwater coast (beach/coastal conditions ☀️🌊), please apply an additional clear-coat sealant and reapply at least annually (more often as needed). Salt air is highly corrosive and can affect metal and coatings in a matter of months; regular sealing helps prevent premature weathering/chalking/cracking/rusting/corrosion. (See *** clause below.)
👉 If the powder coat chips, immediately touch up the spot with a clear coat sealant (or clear enamel fingernail polish) to reseal exposed metal and prevent rust. (See *** clause above.)
👉 “Hanging marks” (small unfinished spots from suspending the piece during coating) can be easily touched up: dab a clear coat sealant (e.g., Rust-Oleum) or clear/matching enamel nail polish with a Q-tip/small brush to reseal the metal. Touch up promptly to prevent rust. (See *** clause above.)
👉 RAW STEEL is bare, uncoated steel and can rust—even indoors if exposed to humidity or moisture (including inside the shipping box). Refunds/replacements aren’t provided for rusting or scratches on raw steel items.
👉 RAW METAL ONLY SIGNS: Without a clear coat, raw metal will rust and/or weather (even indoors). A clear coat helps protect the surface. Raw metal naturally shows mill/process variations—scratches, flecks, gouges, burns, rings, dark spots, etc.—and color can range from light silver to black depending on the mill lot. These variations are normal and contribute to the rustic/industrial look many customers love.
*** PLEASE NOTE: Clear-coating/touch-up outcomes depend on application, materials, and conditions outside our supervision; we can’t guarantee results—though the vast majority of customers report good outcomes.
⬛ CANCELLATIONS, RETURNS & EXCHANGES POLICIES:
📌 Due to that all orders go into immediate production 'real time' we DO NOT offer cancellations or changes. (ie. even if you message right away, CS is not seen in 'real time' and an order is usually already drafted/cut before the message is viewed.)
📌 Items are custom made-to-order therefore WE DO NOT accept returns or exchanges BUT please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
⬛ DAMAGED OR INCORRECT ORDER POLICIES:
📝 If the item you ordered arrives defective or incorrect, PLEASE contact me through the Etsy messaging system to discuss. Please allow me to respond to your issue before leaving feedback on your order, my primary goal is for my customers to have a positive experience and I ask for the opportunity to make things right if my shop is at fault.
📝 Items DAMAGED BY SHIPPING: In the event that your item is damaged during shipping we offer two options that will be administered at our sole discretion...
1.) Up to a 30% refund of the purchase price may be offered (at our discretion) if the customer is willing to straighten minor bends themselves (applies to metal art, metal is malleable and often can be bent back into place with good results)
OR—
2.) If the bend is significant and the powder coating is cracked as result, we will send a replacement.
📝TO ACTIVATE THE REPLACEMENT PROCESS:
✴️ In the case of an incorrect order —
🔸 Quality, zoomable PHOTOS (well lit & crisp focus) of the incorrect item received must be submitted to via the Etsy messaging system along with your help request.
✴️ In the case of shipping damage —
🔸 A brief explanation of what you observed upon delivery (for example, whether the box appeared damaged or not when it arrived) within your help request.
🔸 Quality, zoomable PHOTOS (well lit & crisp focus) of the damaged item and the packaging (the inside and the outside of the box) must be sent through the Etsy messaging system so I can verify the damage.
🔸This documentation is required for us to properly assess what occurred and, if applicable, file a carrier claim. Once received, we can proceed with issuing a replacement.
⬛ SHIPPING POLICIES:
📦 Delivery Confirmation:
⚠️Once a carrier marks a package Delivered, RapidArc isn’t responsible for lost/stolen/missing items. Please ensure delivery to a secure location.
📦 Shipping Methods:
⚠️ We ship primarily via UPS Ground, but may use USPS at our sole discretion.
⚠️ PO Box addresses require USPS delivery, as UPS does not deliver to PO Boxes.
⚠️ Shipping promotions may vary depending on current carrier rates. At times we offer free shipping, while at other times a $5 flat-rate per package may apply. Shipping terms are determined at our discretion based on real-time carrier pricing.
⚠️ Alaska and Hawaii: Please message us for a shipping quote prior to placing your order.
⚠️ Expedited shipping is not available at this time.
⚠️Shipping holds are not available. If you need to delay delivery, please contact your local Postmaster or carrier directly to request a delivery hold once your package is in transit.
📦 Carrier Schedules: We don’t control USPS/UPS operating hours. If your order is in carrier custody on a Sunday/holiday, movement/scans resume on the next business day.
📦 Operating Days: Production runs 7 days/week. Customer service responds Mon–Fri; holidays are reserved for family time.
📦 Accurate Address Required: Please verify your shipping address at checkout. 🔎
📦 Address Changes: Mid-production address changes can’t be made internally. Platform rules require the label to match the address provided at checkout. Once you receive tracking, contact the carrier to request a reroute. After a package ships, we’re unable to change or reroute it.
📦 Important Shipping Note —
⚠️USPS Scans & Tracking: Our local USPS carrier (per union contract) scans only 5 packages at pickup, even when we hand off many more. Some shipments may show “Pre-Transit” while already en route; updates to “In-Transit” can appear later in the journey.
✅ What We’re Doing: We’ve escalated requests to scan all packages. In the meantime, we now primarily ship with UPS and only use USPS whenever absolutely necessary. While USPS’s process is outside our control, we’re truly sorry for any tracking confusion.
📦 Return to Sender (RTS):
⚠️ If a package is returned due to an incorrect, outdated, or invalid address (including typos or autocorrect errors), lack of a secure delivery location, an unclaimed pickup notice, or any other carrier return reason, the customer is responsible for reshipment postage plus a $7.95 handling fee (materials and labor, as packages often require reboxing or resealing before reshipment).
⚠️ RTS returns can take weeks—even months to arrive back to us. (esp. the case with USPS)
⚠️ If an RTS is lost while returning, we cannot refund/replace; RapidArc did not initiate the faulty address that set the chain of events.
⚠️ If a customer refuses to pay return shipping, the order is considered abandoned; no refund/replacement will be issued.
⚠️ If a customer refuses delivery, triggering RTS, no refund will be issued because no “Return Agreement” exists and a platform case is not eligible.
📦 – As part of our efforts to be good stewards of the ecosystems that exist in our natural world, we are doing two things with regard to shipping:
🌳 Our packaging is composed of mostly recycled and recyclable materials. ♻
🌳 All multi-piece orders going to the same address will be shipped together if possible unless otherwise requested through.
⬛ MOUNTING IDEAS:
💡 Nearly all other items come with mounting holes.
💡 Mounting hardware is not included.
💡 Handle your Metal Art with care while mounting...treat your item in the same careful manner that you would treat your vehicle's paint job or your patio furniture's powder-coat finish. Your Metal Art is a decorative item and it will scratch or chip if bumped against hard or rough surfaces during the mounting process.
💡 It's recommended that wall anchors, nylon/plastic washers in front and behind the mounting holes (to protect the powder coat), and coated pan-head screws (*a #6 SIZED SCREW WILL FIT THROUGH THE MOUNTING HOLES) be used to mount your metal sign art....ALSO if you wish to do a "floating mount", the mounting holes will accommodate nylon standoff spacers as well.
💡 Customers share that they have also used panel nails (indoors), Command Strips (for very light small items) and coated neodymium mounting magnets to mount their Metal Sign Art.
💡 Screws/nails come in several different colors, materials, and coatings and can be found online, big-box stores or hardware stores. If you’re unsure what to use please consult with your local hardware store and they will help you to choose the best hardware for your particular situation (ie vinyl siding/stucco/wood/brick/drywall etc).
💡 STUCCO: Being from Michigan we don’t have a lot of experience with stucco in our northern state, but I would recommend consulting with your local hardware store and I am confident they will steer you in the right direction as to what type of screws/wall anchors work best with stucco.
💡 BRICK: Most customers drill into the mortar between the bricks to then use masonry screws/wall anchors to mount their metal art to brick, I would recommend consulting with your local hardware store as to what type of masonry screws will work best when mounting to brick.
💡 VINYL SIDING: You may mount your Metal Art to vinyl siding using screws. Customers who do not want to put holes in their siding have shared that they have found special mounting hooks designed for vinyl siding on large online platforms, big box stores and at their local hardware store, we aren't familiar with them nor endorse their use but they may be worth a look. (the smaller sized hooks work best)
💡 As with mounting any item, please be sure that you use enough hardware so that your item is properly secured and supported for its size, weight and the conditions it will be displayed in and also be sure to choose hardware that is intended for either indoor or outdoor use. **Please remember that it’s recommended to use plastic or nylon washers in front of and behind your screw-heads, and IT’S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO NOT OVER-TIGHTEN YOUR SCREWS, doing so could result in your powder coat cracking or chipping.
🛠 Please know that we are neither carpentry experts nor structural engineers and are not giving advice…. we are simply sharing ideas based on personal and customer reported experiences which is intended for informational purposed only… we are not responsible for any negative outcomes from any mounting strategy choices.
⬛ CARE RECOMMENDATIONS:
🪴 Your Metal Art is fully POWDER COATED, front and back, making your item safe to display indoors or outdoors. To ensure that your item stays in the best condition please use the following guidelines.
(PLEASE NOTE: It is not uncommon for satin texture finishes to be slightly dusty at first and there may have a bit of excess powder inside the box as well but please know that is NOT an indication that there’s an issue with the integrity or performance of the powder-coating.)
🪴 Powder coating provides a beautiful long-lasting finish but like most household items, it will require proper care and maintenance.
🪴 Handle all items with care.
🪴 To retain and preserve the integrity of your piece's powder coated finish, especially if you plan to display it outdoors, we recommended that you avoid chipping, scratching or otherwise damaging the powder coating to ensure the piece remains fully weather-resistant.
🪴 Please be advised that brick, concrete, stucco or any rough/bumpy surface can seriously scratch or chip your item’s powder coated surface so take the necessary precautions to not push or slide your item across rough surfaces while handling and mounting your piece so it will remain intact and beautiful.
🪴 If your powder coat finish is accidentally scratched, chipped, or otherwise damaged, touch up the affected area as soon as possible to reseal the exposed steel and help prevent rust. Standard enamel fingernail polish (clear or a matching color) works exceptionally well for small repairs because, like enamel Rust-Oleum®, it bonds to both the powder coat and the metal. Please refer to your package insert for additional retouching tips.
🪴 Hanging marks are small unfinished contact points created during the powder coating process where the item is suspended for coating. These tiny spots can be easily sealed using the same touch-up methods described above—either a clear enamel sealant (such as Rust-Oleum®) or standard enamel fingernail polish (clear or a matching color). Promptly sealing these areas helps protect the exposed steel from moisture.
🪴 Your powder coat finish may be washed by using warm soapy (mild soap) water ONLY with a soft non-abrasive sponge or cloth.
🪴 Do not use any cleaner on your item that you would not use on your car. Do not use bleach, pressure washing solution, or any harsh cleaners.
🪴 Our powder coat manufacturer recommends that a clear coat sealant be added over the powder coat at least once every 1-2 years for any products that are used outdoors in order to extend the life of the finish. Saltwater/ salt-air is a known to be extremely corrosive to metal and powder coating, if you are located within 75 miles of saltwater, you may require a clear coat more often to maintain the finish.
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Thank you again for reviewing our shop policies and additional information, if you have any questions please message me through my Etsy store and I'll be happy to assist you! ✨
—Heather 💛
