The Foundation Store Frequently Asked Questions

shopping

security

my account

errors / problems

shipping & returns

online learning

downloadable PDF practices

dvd / video

education programs

shopping

How does FPMT use the money it receives from The Foundation Store?
All proceeds from the sale of Dharma items on The Foundation Store go towards Dharma projects, such as statues, stupas, and prayer wheels.  A portion of the proceeds also go towards covering overhead costs such as rent, utilities etc..  No dharma income is used to pay salaries.

Are your costs listed in US Dollars?
All prices and shipping charges on The Foundation Store are in US dollars.

security

How do I know that my credit card information is 100% secure?
The Foundation Store uses secure servers to protect your personal information using advanced encryption and firewall technology throughout the ordering process. Most browsers will show a lock icon in the bottom status bar on secure pages. To further protect our customers, The Foundation Store uses state-of-the-art SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption to protect your personal information from unauthorized use.

my account

How do I edit my email address or street address?
You can change your email address or street address in our store during the checkout process. Click the "Checkout >" button from your shopping cart. On the billing and shipping page you can edit your email and street address fields. When you click the "Next >" button your changes will be saved.

errors / problems

Why can't I access my account? When I click on the link provided I am sent to the login page. I then give the user name and password I was given in the space provided. This sends me to the foundation store page. If I click on "my account" I get a choice to enter new password information or register as a user which sends me back to where I was before and the process repeats...
The machine that fails to get the correct result is Win XP Pro Service Pack 1 with Norton Internet Suite. You will need to perform either of the 3 methods below to show information correctly :

1) Turn off Privacy Control in Norton Internet Security

2) Click "Configure for Privacy Control" followed by Clicking on Advance button in Privacy Control and Clicking on Permit for Information about visited sites rather than Block.

3) Clicking Configure for Privacy Control followed by Clicking on Advance button in Privacy Control. Then click Add Site to add www.fpmt.org and Select the www.fpmt.org created to Click Permit for Information about visited sites rather than Use default settings.

Why do items I add to my shopping basket keep disappearing?
This problem occurs when your web browser is set to not accept cookies. Cookies are alphanumeric identifiers that we transfer to your computer's hard drive through your Web browser. Cookies allow us to provide features such as storage of items in your shopping bag. Cookies must be enabled to make online purchases at The Foundation Store. By enabling cookie support on your browser, the communication between you and this site is strengthened. Cookies make certain it is you who are making transactions on your own behalf, and prevent leakage of your private information. Follow these detailed instructions for enabling cookies for your browser.

shipping & returns

How much will it cost to ship my purchase?
To find out your shipping costs, login to your Foundation Store account and place your items in your shopping basket. Click the CHECK OUT button and enter your shipping address into the space provided and click NEXT. This will bring you to the Shipping Method page. The Shipping Method pull-down menu will display your shipping options and their corresponding costs.

What is your return policy?
All returns must be authorized before a refund is processed. All requests to return the merchandize and to obtain a refund must be received via email to the shopfpmt@fpmt.org within 30 days of the date of purchase. Due to the length of delivery time, International USPS shipments are ineligible for refund. If a request for a refund is authorized, only the cost of goods will be refunded, after the returned goods are received in the Store. Products purchased at SALE prices are non refundable.

I live in Puerto Rico, Why don't I see a shipping Method?
When entering a shipping address choose Puerto Rico as the "country" rather than the United States.

I live outside the US, which shipping method should I choose?
The Foundation Store has worked hard to provide affordable shipping methods to our customers and share our discounts with shipping providers with our international customers. Many customers who chose USPS as their shipping method have experienced long delays due to customs and other issues. WE HIGHLY recommend using UPS as your shipping method, as your shipment will be both trackable and arrive on time. In addition, items shipped via USPS are not trackable, and we do not take responsibility for replacement of these items if lost in transit.

If you want to choose USPS as shipping option, but do not see it as an option for your country during check-out, please contact shopfpmt@fpmt.org

I live outside the US, will there be any customs or duties?
International orders (orders outside the US) may be subject to customs/duties upon point of entry to your country. For further information please contact your local customs agency.

I live in Canada, how should I have my product shipped?
All Canadian orders are shipped via USPS or UPS even if though UPS is the only option available in our cart to choose from. The price differences should be negligible. Rates do not include charges for customs clearance and is up to Canadian authorities to bill brokerage charges, duties, and taxes, so please be aware.  Some shipments to and from certain locations may require additional time in transit. For guarantee details, service availability, and delivery time commitments visit: http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/shipping/time/service/standard.html

Due to Canadian law customers in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Quebec, and New Brunswick will be assessed the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) for residential orders once the shipment arrives in Canada. The PST varies from 6.5% to 11%.




I want to ship my order UPS, what address should I use? I want to ship my order USPS, what address should I use?
UPS orders can only be shipped to a physical street address.
USPS orders can be shipped to a PO Box or a street address.
If you enter a PO Box and choose UPS as your carrier, your order will most likely be returned to The Foundation Store. Remember that international customers who choose USPS as their shipping method may experience long delivery delays due to customs and their local mail provider.

How do I checkout when my billing address is different than my shipping address?
I want to order something for a friend. How do I have it shipped to their address?
After you click the "checkout" button. You will be prompted to fill out your Address Information.
On this page it reads "This is also my Shipping Address (if not, uncheck this box and enter shipping address in next step)"
If you would like your purchase sent to an address different than your shipping address, uncheck the box.
When you click the next button you will be taken to a new screen
Click the "Add Address" Button and Enter the correct Shipping Address information
Click the "Save and Continue" button and proceed through checkout.

My address is different than your shipping form. How do I fill it out?
Fill out the shipping form with the information that makes the most sense for your country. If you are concerned that our shipping department will be confused by the address, send an e-mail to shopfpmt@fpmt.org with an explanation.

During checkout I am not getting a shipping method choice?
This problem occurs when a customer enters an incorrect state abbreviation and/or zip code.

How do I track my package and check my account?
On the The Foundation Store homepage, on the left hand side of page in the red navigation bar, is a link named "my account' Click on that link to view the status of your order. This link can also be found in the yellow navigation bar on the top of The Foundation Store product pages.
To track your order, click on the my account button (see above). If you shipped your order UPS, a tracking number will be displayed along with the status of your order. If you need further assistance tracking your order, please contact us at shopfpmt@fpmt.org

Click Here to track a UPS package

*Please remember that US Postal airmail and seamail is not trackable. Only US Postal Global Priority Package Service EMS is trackable. We are not responsible for lost packages for which no tracking was purchased.

How long will it take to get my UPS shipment?
UPS orders are usually packed and put into the UPS system in one to three business days.  UPS Next Day packages are usually packed and shipped on the first business day after the order is received.  Total time in the UPS system to delivery varies depending on whether you selected Next Day, Two Day, Three Day Select or Ground service.  Click here to view a current UPS Ground Map to estimate total delivery time.

How long from the time I order until my order ships?
It can take up to three business days for an order to be shipped from the time that we receive the order.  Therefore, if you have selected UPS Ground to New York which is five or six business days from being shipped to arrival, total time from when you submit your order to having it in your hands could be eight or nine business days.  If it is critical that your order arrive sooner, you may wish to choose a faster shipping method or you can e-mail our shipping department and ask that we try to move your order to a higher priority in the packing queue.

What do you mean by “Business Days?”
Business days are defined as Monday through Friday and do not include holidays.  We presently ship on business days as they correspond to our office hours.  If you place an order on Friday night, we will begin to process your order on the next business day.  This would be Monday.  If you order on or during a holiday, we will begin processing orders on the first business day after the holiday has ended.  As an example, if you order on the American holiday Thanksgiving, which is a Thursday, we will begin processing your order on the following Monday morning.

How do I contact The Foundation Store?
Contact The Foundation Store via e-mail: shopfpmt@fpmt.org

The Foundation Store
FPMT Inc. International Office
1632 SE 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97214-4702 USA
Telephone: (1) (503) 914-6499
Toll Free: (1) (866) 251-3674 (US Only)

online learning

If you have questions about an Online Learning Course you can find answers at one of the following:

• Visit the Online Learning Center
• Read the Student Guide
• Or, view the Technical Support Forum

downloadable PDF practices

What is the difference between A4 and Letter when ordering a download?
The choice between A4 and Letter is only of consequence if a customer is going to print out the practice. A4 paper is a slightly more narrow and longer paper used in most European countries and Australia. Letter paper is the American letter size which is 8.5 x 11.

Why haven't I received my download? Why can't I open my download?
All downloads are sent to the e-mail address entered during checkout.
Downloadable practice Materials are presented in Portable Document Format (PDF) and require Adobe® Acrobat® Reader to view them. This program is quick to download, easy to use and free! If you do not have this program installed on your computer, please Click here. All downloads expire 7 days after the order has been placed. If you continue to have problems with your downloads, please contact The Foundation Store and we will be happy to help.

Why am I getting the message "Shipping information is missing" when I'm only buying downloadable items?
An order of only PDF Downloads should not require shipping information, while Hardcopy Practices will. However, we occasionally experience a bug in our software that requires shipping information on PDF Downloads. If you find this happening, please try the following:

• clear your basket
  (Click the "My Basket" tab at the top of the page > Check the box in the "Remove" column next to every item in your shopping cart > Click the "Update Quantity" button)
• log in and resume shopping
If you are still experiencing problems please email the shop at shopfpmt@fpmt.org with a detailed list of the Names of the Practices you are trying to order and which Format (Letter or A4). We will reset the files in the shop and notify you when you can try purchasing them again. We apologize for this inconvenience, and want you to know that we're working hard to fix this problem.

When will I receive my Materials Requiring Empowerment?
In order to process your order of these materials, after you complete your purchase you will be instructed to send an email to materials@fpmt.org telling us when you received the particular initiation required and by what lama. After receiving this information we will "validate" your order and your materials will then be sent out or made available for you to download in the case of a PDF file. In order to expedite this process and for there not to be any delay with your order fulfillment, please read the "requirement to practice" at the end of each practice description. If you do not have the required empowerment please do not place the order. All downloads expire 7 days after the order has been placed. If you continue to have problems with your downloads, please contact The Foundation Store and we will be happy to help.

Why are the page numbers of my PDF Download out of order?
The PDF downloads available on this page have been formatted as booklet files; thus the page numbering will look mistaken when you look at the file. To create a booklet the file should be printed double-sided and folded to make a half letter, or half A4, sized booklet. Because each printer has it's own unique system for printing double-sided, we cannot offer precise instructions on how to accomplish this. If you have trouble, please contact a local print shop to help you.

We will be making one-sided consecutive page "reader spread" files of these booklets available as well, for those who prefer to print one sided.

dvd / video

Why does my DVD not function properly?
The main problem with DVDs for non-USA/Taiwan users, will definitely be the PAL/NTSC issue. The following sites are useful for working out which country does what:

http://www.video-pro.co.uk/worldtv/worldtv1.html#a
http://www.execulink.com/~impact/world_television_standards2.htm

‘Most’ players sold in the last year or so in PAL countries will play both standards. The players that will definitely not play NTSC, are usually name brand machines from more than a couple of years ago. Panasonic, Sony etc. Some older DVD players will not play DVD-R disks. FPMT Education Department DVDs will play on any PC using SP updated Win XP or 2000, as well as on Mac using OS9 or beyond.

Tips for troubleshooting "faulty" DVDs

There are a variety of conditions that can cause a DVD to not work properly. Please check the below before deciding that your DVD does not work:

1. If you are playing your DVD on a computer the DVD memory can be full in which case you need to unplug the computer and start again.
2. If the DVD disc has a finger print on it this can cause skipping or impaired sound.
3. If there are too many programs open on your computer at the same time this can cause problems.
4. If the sound is dropping out this can be a problem of the settings on your compute

How do I decide between PAL and NTSC when ordering videos?
NTSC: Click Here for a list of Countries that use NTSC

The NTSC (National Television System Committee) is a standard format adopted by the FCC for television broadcasts in the United States, Japan, Canada, and Mexico.

PAL: Click Here for a list of Countries that use PAL

Based on a 50Hz power system, PAL (PPhase Alteration Line) is the standard format for television broadcasts in England, Germany, France, Australia,...etc.

education programs

How do I find out more about the Discovering Buddhism at Home Program?
For more information regarding the Discovering Buddhism at Home Program, please visit http://www.fpmt.org/dbhome