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Frequently Asked questions & policies

Window Gem Application Instructions

They stick with static cling so you will need a clean, smooth glass surface for them to conform to.  A mist of water on the glass helps them stick better.  Gently wipe away any excess water, smoothing down all edges so that the Gem is flat against the glass.

How do I put these on?

There is no simple answer to this question, as every window is different with landscape reflections and varied bird activity.  Closer spacing of decals will increase protection. Here are some guide-lines:

Good – 12″-18″ Spacing – Effective.  A good starting place.
Better- 8″ -10″ Spacing – Increased bird protection.
Best – 4″ x 2″ grid  – Scientists recommend spacing decals no more than 4″ apart horizontally and 2″ apart vertically.  We acknowledge that the industry standard calls for a decal every 2″- 4″.  A large amount of anecdotal evidence and citizen science shows Window Gems to be highly effective at a wider spacing.  The unique prismatic shifting colors of our material catches birds’ eyes and warns them away.  That being said, if you try a wider spacing and still have a strike in an empty spot…you need a  closer spacing. Getting something on your windows is a great place to start. 

No.  In order to protect the fragile tinting layer, do not place Window Gems on the side of the window that has the tinting.  If the tinting is on the inside, then by all means place Gems on the outside.  That would be ideal.  Unfortunately, the tinting is usually on the outer surface.  Placing Gems on the inside in this situation will be pretty much invisible to birds… but they will still look nice to us. 

In cold conditions,  (lower than 55° F) you will need to soften the Window Gems first by dipping them in a bowl of hot water.  Place them immediately one at a time on your window, wiping away excess water with a soft cloth.

The short answer is yes…  We recommend placing them on the outside where they are much more visible to birds and can break up reflections on the outer surface the glass.  However, if you can’t reach the outsides of your windows these are still going to help on the inner surface.  We have had many customers report that they do work from the inside.   If you simply want the gorgeous rainbows that they create, it doesn’t matter which side of the glass they are on. 

Yes!  Window Gems do not need direct sunshine to create shifting colors. The prismatic material refracts any ambient light, and birds can see color much better than we can. Outside application will work much better in shaded situations.

 Anytime sunlight shines THROUGH the window gem material, it will act like a prism and turn that part of the sunbeam into a rainbow.  In the northern hemisphere you will get the best rainbows on east, south or west facing windows.  Gems on windows facing due north will still be pretty, but won’t throw a rainbow on your floor.

Window Gem Maintenance

We highly recommend washing your windows at least once a year, and in the process, removing the Gems, rinsing them off, and re-applying them to your clean windows.  Moving them around once a year will prevent any dirt or water deposit from building up around them.   

Absolutely!  You can move them, reuse them, and swap them out as much as you like.  Some people change them every season or according to their mood.  Store flat with paper between each Gem.

So far the original ones we hand cut 8 years ago are still as effective as when we first made them.  These have been up through sun, wind, rain, snow… etc with no changes. 

Window Gems will always stick to clean glass.  If any of them didn’t, it is likely due to one of these 3 things.

1)There is dust, oil or water deposits creating a not perfectly smooth glass surface for them to stick to.

2)It was cold out when you applied them and the Gem material was too stiff to conform to the window.  (See cold weather application in the section above)

3)They were applied backwards.  There is a smooth side and a textured side.  The textured side will not stick well.   It is hard to see, but you can feel the little ridges of the textured side with your fingertips.  Make sure the smooth side is facing the glass.

Creating a bird safe environment

Placing bird feeders within 3 feet of your windows or on the window is the safest place for them.  Birds startling off the feeder will not have time to build up enough speed to harm themselves on your windows.  The next best placement is to keep feeders at least 30 feet away from any windows.  This keeps all the crazy bird activity further from danger.  

Cats are designed to hunt.  It is their nature. If you can keep your own cats indoors, do.  If you cannot keep them in or there are neighborhood cats in your yard, you can help keep birds safer by making sure the space around the base of any attraction like a feeder or birdbath is clear of any cover for cats to hide in.  If you let your garden flowers go to seed in the fall, be aware that many birds will flock to eat the seeds, often quite low to the ground.  If you can thin out around major seed sources it will give the birds a greater chance of spotting a cat.  There are bright colored safety collars that have been proven to significantly decrease the number of birds caught.  For more info, visit birdsbesafe.com 

Window Gem policies

We will never share any of your information with any other entity. Ever.  

We ship everything via USPS with tracking.  Please use US mail compatible addresses.  Orders usually are shipped within a day or two of placement.  We send them out as quickly as we can.

If you changed your mind or placed an order accidentally, let us know as soon as possible so we can cancel your order.  We often ship within a day, so the cancellation window is rather short.  If you miss it we can do a return/refund, but that takes longer.

We are happy to replace items if they are defective or damaged.  If you need to exchange something, send us an email at info@windowgems.com describing the problem (photos always help)… and we will send a replacement.   To return your product, email us and we will give you an address to ship to.

You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Wholesale order shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of shipping will be deducted from your refund.

If you are returning more expensive items, you may consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. 

Once your return is received and checked, we will send you an email notifying you that we have received your returned item and are issuing a refund.  A credit will automatically be applied to your original method of payment.  It might take several days to show up on your bank records.

Need help with something else?  Just reach out to us from our contact page.  We are really nice!

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