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Customer Service

Ordering Information

How to order Smithsonian Folkways albums

All recordings on the Smithsonian Folkways, Arhoolie, Cook, Collector, Dyer-Bennet, Fast Folk Musical Magazine, Folkways, UNESCO, Blue Ridge Institute, and Paredon labels are available for sale. For your convenience, there are a variety of ways to order our recordings.

Online

Purchase CDs, DVDs, LPs, Digital Downloads, Books, and merchandise online 24 hours a day over a secure server using Visa, MasterCard, American Express or PayPal. Browse or search our catalog or our new releases, and add the items you wish to purchase to your cart. When you have finished browsing and would like to submit your order, click the cart icon in the upper right hand corner of the screen and proceed with check out.

Phone

Order recordings by telephone using Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. Call our toll-free order line at 1-800-410-9815 or 1-888-FOLKWAYS; International customers please call +1 202-633-6450.

Orders over the phone can be taken during our normal business hours, 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday, with the exception of federal holidays.

Mail

Send your order via mail using this order form. Include shipping information and check, money order, or credit card info to:

Smithsonian Folkways Mail Order
PO Box 37012, MRC 520
Washington, DC 20013-7012
USA

Fax

Fax your order with shipping information to 1-800-853-9511 or 1-202-633-6477. International customers please call +1 202-633-6450 for any assistance.

Shipping and Handling Information

Orders ship within 3 business days. Shipping costs are based on weight and distance shipped.

You may choose which mail service you prefer at checkout.
Other shipping options available upon request.

Domestic:

  • USPS Domestic 1st Class
  • FedEx 3 Day Express
    trackable
  • FedEx Overnight
    trackable*
  • FedEx 2 Day
    trackable
  • FedEx Home Delivery
    trackable

International:

  • USPS International Air Mail
    trackable
  • FedEx International Economy
    trackable

* Orders received before 4PM EST are guaranteed to ship the same business day. Orders received after 4PM EST will be processed and shipped the following business day.

FedEx:

  • FedEx Home Delivery - Residential deliveries Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 8pm, delivery within 1-7 days based on location
  • FedEx 3 Day Express - Delivery Monday through Friday within 3 business days as late as 8pm. Unfortunately NOT available for Hawaii and Alaska.
  • FedEx 2 Day - Delivery Monday through Friday within 2 business days as late as 8pm.
  • FedEx Overnight - Delivery Monday through Friday by 3pm, but can be as late as 8pm. Exceptions with Hawaii and Alaska.
  • FedEx International Economy - Delivery from Monday through Friday within 2-5 business days. Customs clearance procedures may cause delays. Recipient is responsible for customs, duties and taxes imposed by FedEx.

***All FedEx options include tracking information. FedEx cannot deliver to PO BOXES or military addresses. Deliveries may be delayed due to weather and other uncontrollable events. International Orders may be subject to such import taxes, customs duties and fees, which are levied once a shipment reaches the recipient's country.

USPS:

  • USPS Domestic 1st Class - Delivery within 3 days in most cases
  • USPS International Air Mail - Delivery time varies upon destination

**Exceptions include holidays, weather and other uncontrollable events.

***Returned packages may be charged for shipping, change of address, correction of address or reshipment.

Special Discounts

FREE Ground Shipping on orders $150 or more
Customers ordering $150 or more of CDs, LPs, DVDs, Books, or T-Shirts through Smithsonian Folkways Recordings will receive FREE FedEx Ground Shipping on their order. Digital downloads and gift certificates excluded. No coupon code is necessary to receive FREE Ground Shipping. Merchandise total must be over $150 for coupon to be applied. It does not include express shipping options, handling, taxes or duty charges. For Domestic orders only, PO BOXES are not permitted. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other offers.

Download Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Download Smithsonian Folkways recordings directly from this website in 256K MP3 or lossless FLAC format for the same price ($.99 for most songs or $9.99 for most single-disc albums). Full-album downloads also include album artwork and liner notes.

Questions

For questions about your order, please call 1-888-FOLKWAYS or email at smithsonianfolkways@si.edu. (This email address is for informational requests only! Do not place orders through this address, as it is not secure.) Want more information? Check out our FAQs page.