Common questions, plain answers.

Yes. Every piece in the cabinet has a verifiable origin — usually a working quarry under permit, a mine-direct dealer we've known for years, or a private collector with documented history. We turn down pieces with vague stories, even when the price is right.

Florida fossils come from working limestone and phosphate quarries with permitted access, primarily for invertebrate material (echinoids, corals, sand dollars).

Brilliant wood — petrified wood from Brilliant, Alabama. Sourced through trusted dealers with documented access, prized for the sparkle worked deep into the grain.

International minerals move through licensed dealers we've worked with for years — Erongo (Namibia), Jalgaon (India), Mibladen (Morocco), and others. Each shipment is documented at import.

United States, Canada, and most of the European Union. For other destinations, message us first — we'll usually find a way.

Within two business days of cleared payment — often the same day. You'll get tracking by email once it's on the truck.

Yes. Every shipment is insured for the full purchase price at our cost. If it arrives damaged, see the returns section.

We ship internationally with accurate customs declarations. The buyer is responsible for any duties or import taxes assessed on arrival. Some countries restrict natural history material — message us before purchase if you're unsure about your destination.

You have 30 days from the delivery date to return any specimen for any reason. We want every piece to land right — if it doesn't, send it back.

Conditions:

• The piece must arrive in its original condition with all original packaging.
• Return shipping is the buyer's responsibility, and must be sent insured and tracked for the full purchase price.
• Once we receive and inspect the piece, your refund issues to the original payment method within five business days.

Two narrow exceptions:

• Whatnot and TikTok live sales are final. Both platforms treat live wins as binding contracts; we follow their rules. Damage-in-transit terms below still apply.
• Modified pieces are non-returnable. If a specimen has been cleaned, repaired, re-cut, or otherwise altered after delivery, we can't take it back.

Photograph the outer box, the packing, and the piece — within 48 hours of delivery — and email everything to houseofsisyphus@gmail.com. We'll process a full refund or arrange a replacement of equivalent value, your choice. This applies to all sales including Whatnot and TikTok live wins.

Yes. Email us within 24 hours of placing the order and we'll cancel and refund in full. After it ships, the standard 30-day return policy applies.

We run live shows on Whatnot most Saturdays and TikTok throughout the week. Both run as auctions, instant-buy giveaways, or fixed-price drops depending on the show. Follow @houseofsisyphus on Whatnot and @houseofsisyphus on TikTok for schedules.

Yes. Wins from the same live within a 24-hour window combine into one shipment — message us before checkout if you're juggling pieces across two shows back-to-back.

No — both Whatnot and TikTok treat live wins as binding. Damage-in-transit is the one exception; see the returns section for that 48-hour photo process.

Often, yes. Tell us the locality, species, mineral, or specimen type you're after — through Share Your Thoughts, the contact page, or DM us on Instagram. We'll source against your list and send options when we find them. No obligation to buy.

Common material — weeks. Specific localities or rare matrix combinations — sometimes months, depending on the next show, the next dig, or the next dealer trip. We'll set realistic expectations up front.

On the website: major credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay (processed securely through Stripe).

Direct: PayPal and Venmo — just message us to arrange.

On Whatnot and TikTok: their built-in checkout.

For pieces over $2,000 we accept wire transfer with a small discount applied — message us if that's a fit.