FAQ
Store Location & Hours
Opening February 4, 2025! Open both Tuesday and Wedneday opening week
130 Main Street Suite 101 Ames, Iowa
Thursday – Saturday 11am to 6pm Sunday 11am to 4pm
Yes we buy vintage too!
We buy vintage adult clothing, accessories, and jewelry for all genders up until the 1990s. We particularly love the ’60s and ’70s, bold colors, fun prints, feminine details, intimates, leather, suede, western wear, and items with unique features. If you’re interested in selling to us, please email our owner [email protected]
Return policy
All sales are final
When buying online please double check measurements and feel free to ask any questions before purchasing. To ensure the most accurate fit, we recommend comparing the provided measurements in the description to a garment you own. For guidance on how to measure your body and how to accurately measure garments, please check out the “Measuring” story highlight on ourinstagram. It’s also worth noting that most vintage is preowned unless labeled “deadstock” and may have minor signs of use. Our owner, Malena, always does their best to remove stains, make repairs, and disclose any major flaws, but they’re a human being who misses things on rare occasions. If you feel we’ve significantly misrepresented an item, please contact us to resolve it.
Sell your “slow-made” items
We are currently accepting handmade items to be sold in our shop by artists/makers. We’re looking for jewelry, handmade or upcycled clothing, bags, ceramics, home goods, and small-scale artwork.
We sell both premade work and collaborate with artists to make limited edition pieces created exclusively for The Slow Era. If you’re interested in learning more, please email our owner, Malena, at [email protected] and include photos of your work.
Our inventory is sustainably sourced and we strive for our packaging to be as well. We do not buy plastic, but to reduce waste we do reuse packaging including boxes from other companies and plastic wrap that’s included in packages we receive. All of the packaging we purchase is biodegradable, recyclable, or made from natural materials that break down over time to lessen our impact on the planet.
Orders are shipped within 1-2 business days. If you need your order expedited or delivered by a certain date, please contact us about the item prior to purchasing to ensure we can meet your needs. If you contact us after an order is placed, we cannot promise it will arrive by a specific date.
Layaway
Option 1
Use PayPal Pay Later during checkout for orders over $30 and pay it off in four increments. Interest free and doesn’t affect your credit score. Your item is shipped immediately, within 1-2 business days.
Option 2
For items over $100, pay us directly with 20% down and pay off the remainder within two months in any increments of your choosing. Interest free and doesn’t affect your credit score. If you need to delay a payment due to adverse circumstances, you MUST communicate with our shop owner, Malena. Payments will be made by Venmo or PayPal. The item is shipped within 1-2 business days after your final payment. More than one item cannot be on layaway at once, but you can buy other items at full price.
For this option, email us with a link or photo of the item at [email protected] or you can DM us on Instagram @theslowera.
All payments made towards the item while on layaway are NON-REFUNDABLE. If we haven’t received full payment by the end of the payment plan period and without communication to delay payments, the layaway period will end and the item will become available to another person to purchase.
International shipping
We only ship within the United States, US Territories, and to Canada. Traveling shorter distances isn’t only better for the environment, but it also decreases the chances of your package getting lost. To get a shipping quote for deliveries to Canada, prior to purchasing, please contact us with the item(s) you wish to purchase and your shipping address. Any purchases made before receiving a shipping quote will be refunded.
Create an account and subscribe to our email list! Account subscribers get early access to new items at a discounted price and it’s free to sign up! We also email special offers that aren’t advertised on our website or social media.
Local Delivery
For residents of Ames, Iowa, we offer a local delivery option. If the shipping cost is over $5.00, select “Local Delivery” at checkout and pay $5.00 instead of the higher amount. Items are delivered within 1-2 business days. If you prefer tracked delivery, unfortunately, you’ll need to pay for shipping.