Product Information
Here are answers to some of the most common questions I'm asked about RatPrints products.
Are the materials you use pet safe?
Absolutely. If they weren't I wouldn't be using them with my own boys. All of our products are printed from PLA (polylactic acid), a plant-based bioplastic that is labeled as safe for food contact by the FDA. Further, I only use products that are RoHS certified to be free of harmful substances like cadmium and lead.
In rare instances where an adhesive is required (such as holding the spots on the mushroom hide) I utilize an aquarium-safe pure silicone adhesive.
Are 3D printed products safe?
Yes! The primary concern that I see brought up about 3D printed products is that the small layer lines created by laying down each successive layer of plastic can trap bacteria and make products unsafe. With the same regular cleaning that you would complete with other products, 3D printed items are just as safe and sanitary. You have a greater ability to clean them when compared to absorbent materials like wood, lava ledges, and "edible" options.
How do I clean these products?
I recommend cleaning all ratprints products with a warm solution of water and a pet-safe soap. Due to the 3D printed nature of our products, I would not recommend fully submerging and soaking them in water, but rather I recommend:
- Rinse and wipe any dirt or grime from the item, taking care not to fully submerge it in water or pour water through mounting holes.
- Make a solution of warm water and pet-safe soap, then using a cleaning rag, or a small brush (such as an old tooth brush) wipe and scrub the item, taking care to also scrub in the direction of the layer lines. Layer lines may not be immediately visible, but you should be able to feel and hear them by running your fingernail along the surface of the product.
- After thorough scrubbing, gently rinse, again avoiding getting water inside of the product's mounting holes. Dry thoroughly.
Can you customize A PRint for me?
Definitely! If you would like an item modified or customized in any way, I am happy to help! Just reach out to support@ratprints.com!
Can you print this custom thing for me?
I am definitely open to printing items that aren't my own, as long as either:
- You are the designer of the item.
- You have permission from the original creator.
- The original license of the product does not restrict commercial activity.
Unfortunately, even if you purchased 3D print files for personal use, I cannot print them for you without a commercial license or express permission from the original creator. You can always email support@ratprints.com if you're not sure!
Can you design and print a custom item for me?
I can, but please be aware that it may be expensive. It can take a good deal of time and material to design, test, and iterate on new designs to get them to a commercially viable stage. If you reach out I will let you know if it's something I'll realistically have time to do as well as give you a detailed quote.
International Shipping
That's right! It turns out that our shipping provider has an opt-in program to ship worldwide at a significantly discounted rate! We've signed up, and the savings are significant!
Orders up to 1.81kg (4lb) now ship for $30 USD, which is about less than half the normal shipping rate.
We've also taken it on ourselves to try to split the cost with you to save you even more. Here are the shipping rates you can expect to pay if you order from outside the US:
| Up to Weight (kg) | Shipping Rate (USD) |
| 0.23 | $10 |
| 0.45 | $13 |
| 0.91 | $17 |
| 1.36 | $25 |
| 1.81 | $30 |
If your order is over 1.81kg (4lb) it will be split into multiple packages. Maximum possible shipping cost for international orders is $80USD.
How Does It Work?
Our shipping provider uses a bulk international shipping service. The same service used by large online marketplaces such as Etsy.
For example, if you sell an international item on Etsy, you actually ship it to a processing facility in the U.S. that preps the item for international shipment as part of a bulk international shipment.
By shipping items in bulk like this, it means the cost of shipping each individual package is cheaper!
What are the Disadvantages?
There aren't many down sides to shipping like this, but here are a couple:
- Orders do not have shipping insurance included. This doesn't
necessarily affect the customer as much as it affects RatPrints. We'll
have to either purchase separate shipping insurance, or eat the cost and
replace items if your package is lost or damaged.
- Tracking is done through the bulk shipping supplier's website and may not update as frequently as normal until the packages reaches the postal service provider in your country. Once your local postal service has the package, you should receive regular tracking updates as normal.
How much does it cost to ship X Item to my country?
The easiest way to determine the shipping cost for international orders is to complete the first "checkout" step and enter your delivery address:
- From the cart overview, hit "Checkout."
2. Enter your shipping address, then hit "Continue Checkout."
3. You can now see the delivery cost for your cart. Hit "Back to cart" to exit the checkout process.
4. The shipping cost will now update in your cart as you add more items.
Transparent Pricing Policy
We're a small, home-based business, and we depend on our relationship with the small animal community to continue. That’s why every product on our site includes a clear estimate of material cost, production cost, and our profit.
We can't compete with large corporations on price. We know that. But what we can do is treat ouR customers with respect and honesty.
We want RatPrints to succeed, but we also want to strive to sell our products at a reasonable price.
Material Cost
This represents the direct cost of materials that go into the product you order, like 3D printer filament, threaded inserts, and thumbscrews.
Production Cost
This includes indirect costs like machine wear and maintenance costs, electricity consumption and packaging and shipping supplies. If we're lucky enough to grow and need to employ people in the future, labor costs will also be included here.
Estimated Profit
This is how much we anticipate actually making on an item before payment processing fees and federal tax. Do note that this amount is often less than shown due to print failures during production, us having to pay more for shipping than we charge, or material price fluctuations outside the norm due to things like tariffs.