Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is everything that you sell advertised on your website?
No. Drum Rings are special order. So are some hides. We need to talk to you about these things. We frequently get singles or just a few of an item. We will show or sell them to customers who ask for the item.
2. Is everything on Pay Pal?
No, but you can always make special arrangements with us to pay for items that are not on Pay Pal. There are a several payment options.
3. Do you take checks?
Yes, make them out to Djembe Drums & Skins.
4. Do you take money orders?
Yes.
Note about about checks and money orders:
If you are a new customer we will wait until checks and money orders clear the bank.
5. How long does it take for you to ship an item?
In most cases we send orders out on the same day if ordered before 2 PM EST. USPS picks up around 10:00 AM. FedEx picks up in late afternoon. UPS pick-up varies. Special orders take longer.
6. Do you have wholesale prices?
Yes, for some items. You must buy in bulk and offer some sort of proof that you are reselling or have a store.
7. Do you have bulk pricing?
Yes, for skins, rope and 5 or more drums.
8. Do you offer discounts?
Yes, we offer drum teacher/facilitator discounts. We often have specials that are advertised in our flyers and newsletter.
9. Do you charge sales tax?
Yes and No. If you live outside of Tennessee and we ship the merchandise to you, there is no tax. Yes, if you live in Tennessee. If you do live in Tennessee and are buying wholesale or as a non-profit you must furnish us with a tax certificate. We do charge sales tax when we are selling at conferences, shows and gatherings.
10. Where’s the invoice?
We save paper by emailing it to you. We will email your invoice as soon as we have packaged and weighed your order. The invoice comes from admin@goatskins.com. Watch your spam box for this communication. If you do not have email we will put the invoice on the outside of your package. Please ask.
Shipping & Handling
11. How do you ship?
We use mainly FedEx and Priority Mail (USPS). Heavier items almost always go via FedEx. We frequently use the US mail for lighter skin orders that are going great distances. We use FedEx Express PAK, for shoes and small rope orders. We will use UPS on request and for some delivery areas. Whatever the case we try to make sure that the shipping is the quickest and least expensive option for the customer.
12. How much is shipping?
This depends on the weight and size of the item and where its going to. We can give you an estimate. Shipping costs on the Pay Pal shopping cart are based on the average weight of the item and the rates to the west coast. If there is an over charge of more than $3.00 we will give you a refund on Pay Pal.
13. Can I use my own FedEx or UPS account?
Yes, just let us know.
14. Do I get a tracking number?
FedEx and UPS will send this to your email address. The Postal Service also provides tracking numbers via email. If you do not have email we can supply you with the number over the phone.
15. What are your handling charges?
We charge what we pay for the boxes, tape, etc. when shipping FedEx or UPS. We do charge a $2.00 handling fee on postal orders (if using USPS boxes) or when using recycled boxes.
16. Do you ship overseas?
Yes, we have shipped to many places including Hawaii, Canada, England and more. We do have to deal with customs of other countries and some countries will not allow goatskins (even drums with animal skin heads) entry. Of course, Hawaii is part of the US, it just takes more time for boxes to get there.
Merchandise Questions
Skins and hides
17. Where do your goatskins come from?
Most of our goatskins come from the Ivory Coast, Africa. The skins are a by-product of goats that are raised for food. Some come from Mali, Guinea, Pakistan and other countries.
19. Do the skins and hides have hair?
Goatskins and cowhides come with hair or without.
21. How is the hair removed?
In Africa the hair is scraped off the skins and hides.
22. How thick are the skins and hides?
Thickness varies. Tell us what you want in the way of thickness. Remember this is subjective.
23. What about anthrax?
Anthrax is a bacterium found in domesticated herbaceous mammals. It is in the soil. The skins and hides that we sell have been inspected by a veterinarian and certified anthrax free before coming into the country. They meet USDA and US customs regulations for safety. They are disease free.
24. Do you have skins and hides other than goat and cow?
We often can get other types of skins and hides from our suppliers. Just call us and tell us what you want.
Drums
25. Where do your drums come from?
Our djembes and other rope tuned drums mainly come from Ivory Coast and Ghana. We have a few shells and other instruments from Guinea and Mali. Sometimes we have handmade drums from the the US.
26. Do you make your own drums?
Good question. Mostly our drums are made by African artisans. We clean them up and tune them before sending them out. We do have a page dedicated to "Custom Built" drums built by us with shells from Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Guinea. We do custom build drums to your specs using our rope, rings, and other things.
27. How big are your drums?
Size varies. We have djembes ranging in size from 7” x 12" to large usually 12" to 15” in diameter x 24” to 25.5" tall. Dunun and other drums also vary in size.
28. What kind of wood are the drums made of ?
The drums from the Ivory Coast are made of Iroko or Lenke wood. The drums from Ghana are made of Tweneboa. Drums from other countries are made of other woods.
29. What is Iroko wood?
It is a medium hard wood that is very durable. It is often used in place of teak and is even called “African Teak.” It is a rich brown color. It is not harvested for drums. Craftsmen must have a license to use it.
30. What is Tweneboa (also tweenaboa and twineboah) wood?
Tweneboa is a soft cedar type wood. It is yellowish in color and lightweight. It is considered a renewable resource.
31. Are the drums made of one piece of wood?
Yes, most are carved from one log. Some are made differently.
32. How big are dununs?
They vary in size. The dununba (the largest) averages 16 X 24.” The kenkeni is the smallest of the set while the sangban is the middle dunun.
Percussion
33. Where do your percussion instruments come from?
All over the place. Some come from West Africa. Others come from Pakistan and India. Some even come from the USA.
No. Drum Rings are special order. So are some hides. We need to talk to you about these things. We frequently get singles or just a few of an item. We will show or sell them to customers who ask for the item.
2. Is everything on Pay Pal?
No, but you can always make special arrangements with us to pay for items that are not on Pay Pal. There are a several payment options.
3. Do you take checks?
Yes, make them out to Djembe Drums & Skins.
4. Do you take money orders?
Yes.
Note about about checks and money orders:
If you are a new customer we will wait until checks and money orders clear the bank.
5. How long does it take for you to ship an item?
In most cases we send orders out on the same day if ordered before 2 PM EST. USPS picks up around 10:00 AM. FedEx picks up in late afternoon. UPS pick-up varies. Special orders take longer.
6. Do you have wholesale prices?
Yes, for some items. You must buy in bulk and offer some sort of proof that you are reselling or have a store.
7. Do you have bulk pricing?
Yes, for skins, rope and 5 or more drums.
8. Do you offer discounts?
Yes, we offer drum teacher/facilitator discounts. We often have specials that are advertised in our flyers and newsletter.
9. Do you charge sales tax?
Yes and No. If you live outside of Tennessee and we ship the merchandise to you, there is no tax. Yes, if you live in Tennessee. If you do live in Tennessee and are buying wholesale or as a non-profit you must furnish us with a tax certificate. We do charge sales tax when we are selling at conferences, shows and gatherings.
10. Where’s the invoice?
We save paper by emailing it to you. We will email your invoice as soon as we have packaged and weighed your order. The invoice comes from admin@goatskins.com. Watch your spam box for this communication. If you do not have email we will put the invoice on the outside of your package. Please ask.
Shipping & Handling
11. How do you ship?
We use mainly FedEx and Priority Mail (USPS). Heavier items almost always go via FedEx. We frequently use the US mail for lighter skin orders that are going great distances. We use FedEx Express PAK, for shoes and small rope orders. We will use UPS on request and for some delivery areas. Whatever the case we try to make sure that the shipping is the quickest and least expensive option for the customer.
12. How much is shipping?
This depends on the weight and size of the item and where its going to. We can give you an estimate. Shipping costs on the Pay Pal shopping cart are based on the average weight of the item and the rates to the west coast. If there is an over charge of more than $3.00 we will give you a refund on Pay Pal.
13. Can I use my own FedEx or UPS account?
Yes, just let us know.
14. Do I get a tracking number?
FedEx and UPS will send this to your email address. The Postal Service also provides tracking numbers via email. If you do not have email we can supply you with the number over the phone.
15. What are your handling charges?
We charge what we pay for the boxes, tape, etc. when shipping FedEx or UPS. We do charge a $2.00 handling fee on postal orders (if using USPS boxes) or when using recycled boxes.
16. Do you ship overseas?
Yes, we have shipped to many places including Hawaii, Canada, England and more. We do have to deal with customs of other countries and some countries will not allow goatskins (even drums with animal skin heads) entry. Of course, Hawaii is part of the US, it just takes more time for boxes to get there.
Merchandise Questions
Skins and hides
17. Where do your goatskins come from?
Most of our goatskins come from the Ivory Coast, Africa. The skins are a by-product of goats that are raised for food. Some come from Mali, Guinea, Pakistan and other countries.
19. Do the skins and hides have hair?
Goatskins and cowhides come with hair or without.
21. How is the hair removed?
In Africa the hair is scraped off the skins and hides.
22. How thick are the skins and hides?
Thickness varies. Tell us what you want in the way of thickness. Remember this is subjective.
23. What about anthrax?
Anthrax is a bacterium found in domesticated herbaceous mammals. It is in the soil. The skins and hides that we sell have been inspected by a veterinarian and certified anthrax free before coming into the country. They meet USDA and US customs regulations for safety. They are disease free.
24. Do you have skins and hides other than goat and cow?
We often can get other types of skins and hides from our suppliers. Just call us and tell us what you want.
Drums
25. Where do your drums come from?
Our djembes and other rope tuned drums mainly come from Ivory Coast and Ghana. We have a few shells and other instruments from Guinea and Mali. Sometimes we have handmade drums from the the US.
26. Do you make your own drums?
Good question. Mostly our drums are made by African artisans. We clean them up and tune them before sending them out. We do have a page dedicated to "Custom Built" drums built by us with shells from Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Guinea. We do custom build drums to your specs using our rope, rings, and other things.
27. How big are your drums?
Size varies. We have djembes ranging in size from 7” x 12" to large usually 12" to 15” in diameter x 24” to 25.5" tall. Dunun and other drums also vary in size.
28. What kind of wood are the drums made of ?
The drums from the Ivory Coast are made of Iroko or Lenke wood. The drums from Ghana are made of Tweneboa. Drums from other countries are made of other woods.
29. What is Iroko wood?
It is a medium hard wood that is very durable. It is often used in place of teak and is even called “African Teak.” It is a rich brown color. It is not harvested for drums. Craftsmen must have a license to use it.
30. What is Tweneboa (also tweenaboa and twineboah) wood?
Tweneboa is a soft cedar type wood. It is yellowish in color and lightweight. It is considered a renewable resource.
31. Are the drums made of one piece of wood?
Yes, most are carved from one log. Some are made differently.
32. How big are dununs?
They vary in size. The dununba (the largest) averages 16 X 24.” The kenkeni is the smallest of the set while the sangban is the middle dunun.
Percussion
33. Where do your percussion instruments come from?
All over the place. Some come from West Africa. Others come from Pakistan and India. Some even come from the USA.