Step-by-Step Guide
to Purchasing a
Kustom Kartoon

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Conclusion

You can browse through the categories of personalized cartoons by clicking on the links in the navigation area (the blue rectangle on the left of every page), or search for a specific of cartoon by using our handy search function, located at the top of the blue rectangle on the left of every page.

As an example, I'm going to click on the Education link in the navigation area and then click on the first cartoon, which is Male Tennis Player.

Second, underneath the name of the cartoon, you'll see a section labeled "Similar Cartoons." This section was included to help you find the right cartoon for you. If you could only locate the Male Tennis Player, but wanted to find a Female Tennis Player, this section helps you go right where you want to be. If you wanted the Female Tennis Player, all you'd have to do is click the link for the Female Tennis Player and you'd be taken right to that page.

Third, underneath the "Similar Cartoons" section is the "Categories of this Cartoon" section. Here you can see the categories in which this cartoon has been placed. This section will help you find other personalized cartoons you may enjoy, since they're in the same category as the one you're looking at right now. For example, if you were giving this cartoon as a gift to a friend because he's taking tennis lessons, then you might have another friend who's taking golf lessons. Simply click on the Education link and you can browse through the cartoons to see if a golf cartoon is available as well.

So the "Categories of this Cartoon" section helps you find similar cartoons, but in a larger way than the "Similar Cartoons" section.

Fourth, we have pictures of the cartoon in which you're interested. You can see there are two cartoons to show you how your personalized cartoon will look if you choose Light Skin Tone or Dark Skin Tone.

But there's also a special feature for these cartoons....

You can also click on the links next to each cartoon so you can get an idea what your 11" x 14" Print, or 8" x 10" Print, will look like with a color mat! Click any of those links and the box around the cartoon will change to the color you clicked. Doing this doesn't affect your personalization choices in any way, so don't worry about messing up anything. Click those links all you want so you can get an idea what mat color will look the best around your cartoon.

Underneath the cartoon pictures we come to the "Choose Merchandise" section. Here you can choose what to put your personalized cartoon in. You can pick:

• an 11" x 14" Print with Color Mat
• an 8" x 10" Print with Color Mat
• a Mouse Pad
• a Snow Globe
• a Key Chain
• or a Magnet

Next to each item you'll see the price of that item, so you can choose the best gift and still stay within your budget.

Also, next to the Mouse Pad, Snow Globe, Key Chain and Magnet options, you'll see "(no mat)". This is simply a reminder that these items do not use mats, so you don't have to choose a mat in the next section.

*note: when using a drop-down menu, it can often stay highlighted when you're done with it. Then, when you scroll the page using your mouse wheel, the page doesn't move but the highlighted menu does, changing your choice in the menu. To avoid this problem, click on a blank part of the web page after you've made your choice in a drop-down menu. This will deselect the drop-down menu and allow you to scroll down the page without changing your menu choices.*

Underneath the "Choose Merchandise" section you'll find the "Choose Mat" section. If you've decided to purchase an 11" x 14" Print or an 8" x 10" Print, this is where to choose the color mat to put around the Print. Remember playing with the color mat links around the cartoon pictures? Here's where your choice is made. Find the color you like, then make sure you choose that color in this section.

Pretty easy, right? :)

*note: don't forget to click on a blank part of the web page after making your selection. This way, if you scroll down the page, your mat selection won't be changed.*

*note: don't forget to click on a blank part of the web page after making your selection. This way, if you scroll down the page, your selection won't be changed.*

Next to each personalization field will be the name of the field ("Name:" or "Wall, Line 1:"). This should tell you where this personalization field will show on the cartoon. Refer to the pictures to see where each personalization field is located so you know where your personalization will end up.

Next to each name of the field is the place where you write your personalization; the text box. Just click on the box and the cursor will blink in it. Type what you want to type and you're all set.

After every text box is a note about maximum characters. Each personalization field can have only so many characters. Characters are letters, numbers, punctuation marks and spaces. For example, "Joe's 50th Birthday" contains 19 characters altogether... 14 letters, 2 numbers, 1 punctuation mark (the apostrophe), and 2 spaces.

Each field is set to allow the maximum amount characters available to you. If you try to type more, it simply won't show up in the text box.

*note: if you really, Really, REALLY need to put a few more characters into a personalization field, please contact us to see if we can squeeze them in there. Sometimes we can, but sometimes it's not possible. It doesn't hurt to ask, though... right? :) *

Once you've filled in all the personalization fields you want to fill in, it's time to add your newly personalized cartoon to your shopping cart. All you have to do is click the "Add To Cart" button, and that cartoon -- with all your personalization choices -- is put into your shopping cart.

We'll get to the shopping cart in just a moment, but first a little something about the paragraph underneath the "Add To Cart" button.

If you've done any online shopping before, you know that sometimes you have to go through the whole process of buying an item, almost to the point of completing a purchase, just to find out what "hidden costs" are included. Is there tax included? What will the shipping cost? Or, for this site specifically, you may want to make sure all the personalization you've created has been put into the shopping cart. That's why we've put that small paragraph underneath the "Add To Cart" button. We want you to know what your costs are BEFORE you add a personalized cartoon to your shopping cart. We also tell you that you'll be able to review your personalization choices in the shopping cart, so you can make sure you got it right, and don't get a cartoon that isn't perfect for you.

Okay, now we're ready to look at the shopping cart!

So you've made your choices and you're ready to add this cartoon to your shopping cart. What happens next?

Just as an example, I've filled out the page, ready to add to the shopping cart, so we can see what happens when you click the "Add To Cart" button.

I chose an 11" x 14" Print with Color Mat, Green Mat, Dark Skin Tone, and the personalization name is Jerome Leven (the name in the example picture).

Here we are, inside the shopping cart.

At the top is our logo and a link back to the Kustom Kartoons home page.

Underneath that is the "Product", the personalized cartoon you've chosen with all the information included.

Here's the full line of text so we can go through it piece by piece:

11x14 - 001 - Tennis - M, - Green Mat, - Dark Skin, - Name - , Jerome Leven

You can see it starts off with "11x14", which is the type of merchandise I chose to put my Kustom Kartoon in.

Next comes "001 - Tennis - M" which means it's cartoon number 001, and the name of the cartoon is Tennis - Male.

Next to that we have "Green Mat", which means a green mat will be put around the 11" x 14" Print.

Next to that is "Dark Skin", which means the cartoon characters will have a dark skin tone.

Next to that is "Name -" which is the name of the personalization field, and then "Jerome Leven", which is what I wrote in the "Name" personalization field.

To the right of the "Price" is the "Amount". If you decided to buy two 11" x 14" Prints with the exact same personalization (one for his home and one for his office), then you'd change the "Quantity" to "2", click the "RECALCULATE" button, and the "Amount" would then be $31.90. So this area helps you figure out the math. :)

Underneath the "Amount" is the "Subtotal". This is your cost before Shipping and Tax are added. So if we put a mouse pad into the shopping cart as well, that amount would be added to the "Subtotal" area.

Underneath the "Subtotal" is the "Shipping". We're going to get to that in the next section.

Underneath "Shipping" is "Tax". This will only be applied to your order if you are shipping your personalized cartoon in Florida. Everywhere else on the planet will be tax-free. Tax is calculated when you choose your shipping destination, so if you've already done that, you've got your tax information filled out.

Underneath "Tax" is the "Total". This is the total cost of your purchase. If you decide to buy several personalized cartoons (which we sincerely hope you do), then the total cost of all your items will show up here.

Underneath the "Total" is the drop-down menu for choosing your shipping destination. Since we haven't gone through that yet, we'll look at that in the next section.

Underneath the "Subtotal" is the "Shipping". But it's showing as $0.00! Well here's where you have to choose where the cartoon will be shipped, so the proper price can be calculated. A little ways below this area is a drop-down menu with the words "None Selected". Well it's time to select! :)

Click on that drop-down menu and you'll see "North Carolina", "United States of America", and "Outside USA".

If this cartoon will be shipped to North Carolina, choose "North Carolina" from the drop down menu, then click the "RECALCULATE" button. North Carolina residents will be charged a 7% tax. The first item will be $3.85 for shipping, and $1.50 for each additional item.

*note: don't forget to click on a blank part of the web page after making your selection. This way, if you scroll down the page, your selection won't be changed.*

If this cartoon will be shipped anywhere in the USA except North Carolina, then choose "United States of America" from the drop-down menu, then click the "RECALCULATE" button. Purchases from outside Florida will not be charged tax. The first item will be $3.85 for shipping, and $1.50 for each additional item.

*note: don't forget to click on a blank part of the web page after making your selection. This way, if you scroll down the page, your selection won't be changed.*

If this cartoon will be shipped to a location outside the United States of America, then choose "Outside USA" from the drop-down menu, then click the "RECALCULATE" button. The first item will be $7.50 for shipping, and $3.00 for each additional item.

*note: don't forget to click on a blank part of the web page after making your selection. This way, if you scroll down the page, your selection won't be changed.*

In the next section of the cart we tell you how we ship your merchandise and how to get faster shipping: "We ship via USPS Priority mail, which keeps shipping costs low. However, if you'd like faster shipping, then please contact us via the contact page and we can arrange something for you. International orders will be charged extra for shipping."

Underneath that information is a section where you can tell us something we may need to know about this cartoon, or if you need to tell us some special ordering instructions. Feel free to use it or ignore it as you see fit, but we always like to hear from our customers. What you say has great value to us!

Underneath the text area where you can send us your comments are the "Three Big Buttons". Let's examine each one:

"RECALCULATE" - This button is your friend when you want to make any changes to your shopping cart. Want to update the quantity? Click the "RECALCULATE" button. Want to figure out your shipping and tax? Click the "RECALCULATE" button. Have you added another item to your shopping cart? Click the "RECALCULATE" button. This button will keep your shopping cart numbers accurate so there won't be any confusion once you purchase your personalized cartoons. Use it well, use it often. :)

"GO TO PAYMENTS" - If you've put everything you want into your shopping cart, then this is the button for you. It's time to make your purchase via Check, Money Order, or Paypal, and this button will send you there. We'll go into greater detail a little further down the page about where this button leads you, so if you're ready to purchase, skip to this section by clicking here.

Alright, so you've put all the items you want to purchase into the shopping cart, chosen your shipping destination, clicked the "RECALCULATE" button, and you're ready to make your payment and get these wonderful personalized cartoons created and sent to you or the people you're giving them to.

It's time to click on the "GO TO PAYMENTS" button....

And here we are. You'll notice the top of this page is the same as the previous page, up until the note saying we use the USPS, etc., but the bottom now has fields for you to fill out. Also notice that the bar across the top of the old information (where it says Product, Quantity, Price, and Amount) is now gray instead of green, and the letters are black, instead of white. That tells you that that information is complete and we're moving on to new information, denoted by the green bars.

First is your billing information (notice the green bar and white type?). Just fill this section out as best you can.

Next is the Shipping section. Fill this out if you want to ship the personalized cartoon you're purchasing somewhere besides your billing address.

Under that is a check box so your information will be remembered the next time you shop at Kustom Kartoons. Sounds like a good idea. Less typing the next time you come to the web site. So click on that check box, and we're ready to continue.

So click on the "CONTINUE" button. :) ....

Here we are on the next page. You'll notice at the top that the Product Information and Total Price is still with us, and now the Billing Information and Shipping Address are filled in as well.

Below this is a new area with five options: "Credit Card", "Payment by Paypal", "Check", "Money Order", and "I Already Paid Thru EBAY".

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(11/01/2004) Kustom Kartoons offers fast and secure Credit Card processing through TrustCommerce. Simply choose the Credit Card option, click "Continue", fill out your info, and you're done!

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You can sign up for a free Paypal account when you choose the Paypal option and click on the "CONTINUE" button underneath the payment options. If you want to skip to the next page for Paypal payments, click here.

If you wish to purchase your personalized cartoon by Check, then click on the "Check" choice of payment and then click the "CONTINUE" button.

If you wish to purchase your personalized cartoon by Money Order, then all you have to do is click on the "Money Order" choice of payment, click the "CONTINUE" button, and mail your Money Order, made payable to Rob Bruening, to Kustom Kartoons, 1839 S. Main St., Wake Forest, NC  27587. When we receive your payment, and it clears the bank, we'll immediately create your cartoon and ship it where you specified (either to yourself or to a separate shipping address).

If you're an Ebay customer and are simply personalizing a cartoon you've already purchased on Ebay, then choose the "Ebay" payment option. YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED AGAIN WHEN YOU CHOOSE THIS OPTION. Since you've already paid through Ebay, no other charges will be made.

Now that you've made your payment choice, it's time to click on the "CONTINUE" button....

If you chose the Ebay option, then CONGRATULATIONS! You've finished personalizing your Kustom Kartoon, and we'll process your order right away once your payment through Ebay is confirmed!

If you chose to pay by Money Order, then CONGRATULATIONS! You've finished your personalized cartoon order with Kustom Kartoons, and we'll await your payment so we can create and ship your order immediately.

If you chose to pay by Check you'll come to the page you see on your right.

If you do not wish to use the shopping cart check payment, then simply leave all the fields on this page BLANK and click the "CONTINUE" button on this page. Your order will be sent to us. Then make your check out to Rob Bruening, and mail your Check to Kustom Kartoons, 1839 S. Main St., Wake Forest, NC  27587. When we receive your payment, and it clears the bank, we'll immediately create your cartoon and ship it where you specified (either to yourself or to a separate shipping address).

If you're paying by Paypal, then we continue to the last step: the Paypal page.

Notice the address, it says https://.... That "s" stands for secure connection.

Also, at the bottom of your browser (I'm using Internet Explorer), you should see a little padlock. That, too, means the site is secure, and no one can steal your information.

From there you're on your own. You either make the payment with your Paypal account, or set up a new Paypal account and make the payment.

It's just that simple. :)