Clearance

Frequently asked questions

• Why do strands land on the clearance page?

  A few reasons: a supplier discontinued the cut or color, a size run sold down to a few odd strands left over, or a treatment or finish is being phased out of the active catalog. Some lots are last-of-stock from a one-time buy that won't repeat. The strand itself is the same material it was at full price — it's just no longer something Dakota plans to restock. Quantities are limited to what shows, and once a clearance SKU sells out it usually doesn't return. If you need multiples for a production run, buy what you need in one order.
• Is the quality or treatment different from the regular catalog?

  No — clearance strands aren't a lower grade or a separate quality tier. They're the same material that was sold at full price, moved to clearance because of stock or supplier reasons, not because of a defect. Treatment (dye, stabilization, heat, irradiation) follows the same disclosure as the rest of the catalog and should be disclosed; ask before buying if it isn't specified. If a strand has a cosmetic issue — chipped ends, inconsistent drill, mixed sizing in a broken lot — that should also be noted on the listing. Mohs, origin, and cut specs apply the same way they do on full-price strands.
• Does Dakota restock clearance strands?

  Generally no. Clearance is the end of the line for that specific SKU — once it sells through, the cut, size, or color is retired from the catalog. Occasionally a supplier will surface a small remainder lot months later and a strand returns briefly, but it's not something to count on. If a clearance strand fits a current project, order the full quantity you need now rather than waiting. For ongoing production work where reorderability matters, shop the active catalog instead — those SKUs are stocked on a repeat basis and are the safer choice when you need consistent supply across multiple buys.
• What stones and cuts show up most often in clearance?

  Current clearance leans heavily on agate (including crazy lace and DZI agate), quartz, jasper, opalite glass, labradorite, moonstone, and amazonite. Round and faceted round dominate, with cubes, table-cut cubes, rondelles, ovals, coins, and the occasional free-form rounding out the mix. Common sizes are 8mm and 10mm, with 6mm, 7mm, and 12mm appearing in smaller counts and a few 4mm and graduated runs. The lineup shifts as strands sell through, so the specific stones available change week to week — filter by stone, cut, or size on the collection page to see what's in stock right now.
• Can clearance strands be returned or exchanged?

  Clearance strands are typically final sale, since the SKU isn't being restocked and Dakota can't pull a replacement from inventory. If a strand arrives damaged in transit or doesn't match what was listed, contact customer service within the window stated in Dakota's return policy — those cases are handled separately from standard returns. Buyer's-remorse returns (wrong color for the project, didn't match a sample) generally aren't accepted on clearance items. Before ordering, check the product photos, listed size, and any treatment notes carefully, and reach out with questions before purchase rather than after. The current return policy on the site governs in any conflict.