FAQ

Orders

A. We take all precautions to ensure this does NOT happen. That’s why all new sets are sent out in shrink-wrapped bricks. Each brick is inspected before it is sent to you. There are 40 tiles in each brick, and the extra 2 jokers and 1-2 blanks (depending on the set) will be in a separate Ziploc bag, making a total of 163-164 tiles in an American set. Check the product description of the set you purchased to see how many tiles your set come with. When you open the tiles, make sure you CUT the shrink wrap, and do not “break bread” with the bricks to open them. If you do that, tiles will fly out and you might misplace one. WE CANNOT SEND YOU ANOTHER ONE IF YOU MISPLACE ONE. You will have to use one of your blanks to have it re-engraved to match your set. OPEN THEM CAREFULLY!

A. Our standard shipping and handling is 8-14 business days but as soon as the label is created, you will be notified via emailed that your order has shipped.

First class mail can take up to 14 days and does not have tracking. Orders that are less the 1lb will not include tracking, please contact us directly if you would like to add tracking to an order that is less than 1lb.  

Custom items: When standard shipping is selected, custom orders take 4-6 weeks to process, make and ship out. We will wait for your custom items to arrive and then ship everything out together. When expedited shipping is selected, we ship your non-custom items in 2-4 business days and then ship your custom item in 2-3 weeks. 

A: Send us a blank tile from your set, a SISTER tile (so we know what tile we are engraving), and a check for $25.00 to the address below. Both tiles will be returned to you

ATTN: Re-engraving Tiles
Where The Winds Blow
5608 Rampart St
Houston, TX 77081-1302

2) Don’t forget to include the return address, YOUR PHONE NUMBER, and email address
3) Put the tiles into a PADDED envelope and send it USPS First Class Mail WITH TRACKING. This should cost no more than $3.00.
5) Your tiles will be returned to you in about 3-4 weeks

We do not engrave tiles that were not purchased from Where The Winds Blow. 

If you have any questions, please contact us.

A. Make sure you are on our email list! That is the best way to be notified when products come back in stock.

A. We’re happy to exchange your tiles or offer a full refund.

There is a $10 restocking fee, and you pay the shipping to return the tiles to us. That’s why we offer example tiles!

Read our full return policy. 

A. Click the Return Policy tab in the panel to the left or you may CLICK HERE to be immediately directed to our return policy.

A. We do not accept payment by check.

A. No. Our website can’t process visa, discover, master card, or any other cash equivalent  gift card. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. 

Product colors are as accurate as possible. Please be aware that screen resolution varies by device.

We do our very best to make sure our photos are an accurate representation of what you are purchasing. Because of that the photos may appear slightly less vibrant based on the device you are using. Devices with higher resolution will be more accurate while devices with lower resolution will appear less saturated with color.

Next time you visit a big box store, look at TVs next to each other you can see the TVs with more resolution are brighter and more realistic looking.

We do not enhance the colors of the photography, we only put the products on a white background so their beauty can speak for itself.

We suggest everyone take advantage of our example tile program to get your hands on some examples of what tiles you can purchase. This way you can customize with confidence!

Customers are responsible for the cost of return shipping. Read Our Full Return Policy

If you have difficulty receiving your order confirmation, please check your junk and / or spam mail folder. Some emails may go directly into your junk/spam folder because your email provider does not recognize the domain it has been sent from. We advise you to add [email protected] to your email contacts or safe sender list to ensure emails go directly to your inbox folder.

GOOGLE MAIL® |

  1. Click into the email message.
  2. Click on the down arrow next to ‘Reply’ on top right of the message.
  3. From drop down menu click on ‘Add to Contact List’.
  4. Our email address will be saved in your contacts list.

If the problems still persist, Google Support

WINDOW LIVE HOTMAIL® |

  1. Click into the email message.
  2. Click on ‘Mark as safe’ at the top of the message.
  3. Our email address will be saved in your Safe senders list.

If the problems persist, Window Live Hotmail Support

YAHOO® |

  1. Click into the email message.
  2. Click on ‘Add’ icon next to “From address”.
  3. The email address will be filled in the email field in the “Add Contact” pop-up box.
  4. Add additional contact information.
  5. Click ‘Save’.
  6. Our email address will be saved in your address book.

If the problems still persist, contact Yahoo Support

MICROSOFT OUTLOOK 2003/2007® |

  1. Click into email message.
  2. Click on ‘Actions’ from the menu bar.
  3. Go into ‘Junk E-mail’ from drop down menu.
  4. Click on ‘Add Sender to Safe Senders List’.
  5. Our email address will be saved to your Safe senders list.
  6. Click on ‘Junk E-mail’ from drop down menu.

If the problems persist, contact Outlook Support

EARTHLINK® | 

  1. Click into email message.
  2. Click your mailbox’s “Message” menu and click “Add Senders” to your Address Book.
  3. Your email message will be saved to your address book.

If the problems still persist, contact EarthLink Support

AOL® WEBMAIL |

  1. Click into the email message
  2. Click on ‘More Details’ at the top of your email message.
  3. Hover mouse over the From address.
  4. The email address will be filled in the email field in the “Add Contact” pop-up box.
  5. Add additional contact information.
  6. Click on ‘Add Contact’.
  7. Our email address will be added into your address book.

If the problems still persist, contact AOLSupport

AOL® |

  1. Click into email message.
  2. Click on the “Add Address” icon.
  3. Our email address will be shown in the name and email field in the “Add Contact” pop-up box.
    Check the information is correct.
  4. Click the Save button.
  5. Our email message will be saved in your address book.

If the problems persist, contact AOL Support

Products

A. Standard racks with brass ends hold 18 tiles, and the new combo racks hold 19 tiles.

Standard tiles are 1 1/8″ x 7/8″ x 1/8″.

Jumbo tiles are 1 3/8″ x 1″ x 3/4″, and generally are not used with racks.

A. A standard racks comes with brass ends, and a combo rack has the pusher, or helping hand, permanently attached with a hinge.

Our standard American tile sets include:

  • 36 Dots
  • 36 Bams
  • 36 Craks
  • 16 Winds
  • 12 Dragons
  • 8 Flowers
  • 8 Seasons
  • 10 Jokers
  • and 2 Blanks

The blanks are in case you lose or break a tile, you can have it re-engraved at a cost of $20 per tile. As for the ones that most people play with, they include 36 dots, 36 bams, 36 craks, 16 winds, 12 dragons, 8 flowers, and 8 jokers. So when you get your tile set, you should remove the 8 extra flowers, 2 jokers and 2 blanks before play. 

American sets have numbers and letters on them, and include 8 jokers. Asian sets do not have numbers or letters engraved on their faces and the set does not include any jokers.

Most sets are not hand-made, but they are hand ENGRAVED and hand PAINTED. No two tiles will be exactly the same and there will be slight variations in the ENGRAVING. All the tiles (size, shape, color) will match, so you can play a good, challenging game!

A. No. We do not make substitutions for special value sets. (Color change, bag change, etc..) Special value sets are always changing so be on the lookout for your favorites!

Pro tip: We announce new special value sets, coupons and discounts in our newsletter. Sign up to receive these emails today!

Customization

A. There are two main ways people customize their sets. They get custom engraved jokers (that match your set perfectly, of course), and they embroider their bag. Here is the pricing:
Bag embroidery: $20
Joker engraving (8 jokers): $40 for just text, add a graphic for $50, text and graphic for $60

A. Send us a message letting us know what you are interested in and we will send you options. We have a large library of graphics. If there is something else you’d like that we don’t have, there is a $35 setup fee.

A. We’d love to! Give us a call at (281) 578-7571 during business hours. 

You can also take a look at our Idea Gallery and Font Tool for inspiration.

If you would like to place your order over the phone there is an additional $5.00 service fee and your order may have additional processing time.

When custom jokers are in stock for a tile or special value set you will see the option to add them to your cart while you are on the tile product page.

How To Add Custom Jokers To Where The Winds Blow American Mah Jongg Tile Set

Availability for jokers is in limited supply and subject to change. You may see custom jokers available for purchase on Monday and they are out of stock by Tuesday. If you fall in love with tiles and want to add jokers make sure to act fast!

Tile Customization Process:

  • Purchase your tiles with custom jokers
  • If you have jokers or full set engraving with graphics, we will send you a proof.
  • Additional proofs are $10 each.
  • Proofs will not be supplied until your order comes through.

A. In addition to the cost of the jokers, add $2 for each kind of engraving. So if you are getting 4 jokers with one kind of engraving and 4 of another, add $4. For 8 different jokers, add $16.00.

A. This is very popular and makes the set a real treat to play with. The cost is $175 to have every tile of the set engraved. If you want customized jokers in addition to the regular jokers that come with the set, normal joker engraving rates apply.

You may select any of the following colors. These swatches were provided directly from our engraver. If you print your jokers, you can have any colors you want.

Samples of our beautiful new printed jokers. Truly unique and expands your customization options as far as your imagination will go!

A. Please send us the image. There is a $35 setup fee, and we will send you a proof for your approval before engraving.

A. Absolutely for any proof involving graphics! Visit our font tool page to see how your name, monogram, or other text will look. Text only custom jokers do no receive proofs. If you have something very specific in mind that includes a graphic, then we can send you a proof first. The first proof is complimentary. Edits to the proof cost an additional $10.

A. We only engrave blanks from sets that we sell. Contact us directly if you aren’t sure where you purchased your set.

Monograms are done with your last name as the center letter.

If your name is: Jane Elizabeth Smith Your monogram would be J S E 

Visit our font tool to preview the fonts you are able to  use for monogram.

We only engrave blanks for Mah Jongg tiles we can replace. If we don’t sell it, we can’t engrave it.

Our wonderful customization crew has let us know they are not able to embroider small purses, pouches, etc.. with metallic thread because it snags. 

If you want to embroider your velour tile pouch to match, I would suggest trying a monotone thread to match with the bag itself. It is truly a gorgeous look.  

Shipping

We offer free shipping on orders over $100. All orders less the $100 have a flat fee of $5. Some restrictions may apply. On almost every item, the shipping costs us more than what we charge our customers, because we choose reputable carriers and we ship with tracking on most items. We want our customers to receive their items in a timely fashion and in good condition.

A. Absolutely! International shipping generally runs about $30 for 0-5 lbs, and $70.00 for 5-10 lbs, depending on destination. At this time our website doesn’t automatically calculate international shipping. Please contact us with your shipping information for an accurate quote.

Skip the Line shipping on standard orders (no custom items) is standard shipping with no processing time. With custom orders it is standard shipping with faster processing times (as you are skipping the line) which will take 3-4 weeks for your order to be sent out.

Expedited shipping (with no custom items) is priority shipping and no processing time which ensure your order being sent out within 2-4 business days. With custom items and Expedited shipping your non-custom items will be sent out within 2-4 business days and your custom items will be sent in 2-3 weeks. Expedited shipping is the fastest shipping and processing class we offer.

Great question! Your phone order will experience a processing delay, 7 – 14 days before shipping. Orders placed over the phone have a $5.00 service charge and are subject to additional processing time.

If you choose to upgrade to expedited shipping, your order must be placed by 12:00 PM to ship the same day. Expedited orders placed after 12:00 PM with expedited shipping will be shipped the next business day. If the expedited order is placed on Thursday the next business day is Monday. 

Phone Orders

We do! Phone orders are subject to a phone order fee of $5.00.

We can help answer your questions about products you are interested in purchasing from our website. If you would like us to take your order over the phone there will be a phone order fee of $5.

Return Policy

Any new item purchased from us, which is in resalable condition, may be returned within 30 days of ordering for a refund, replacement, or store gift certificate. Shipping costs are not refundable.

Returns Due to an Error in Ordering, or a Change of Mind

If you ordered something in error or changed your mind, or just simply don’t like it, the item may be returned within 30 days of purchase. You are responsible for the return shipping costs. The item must be returned to us with a tracking number. Once we receive the item at our facility in good, resalable condition, the original cost of the item will be refunded to you. The original and return shipping costs are not refundable.

Returns Due to Manufacturers Defect or Error on Our Part:

If an item needs to be repaired or replaced due to a manufacturer’s defect or error on our part, we must be notified within 30 days of receipt of the item. Return shipping costs will be reimbursed, provided they have been authorized by us in advance.

Products under our imperfect product section are deeply discounted, playable products with visible blemishes. These blemishes are noted on the specific product pages. Imperfect products are non-refundable and non-returnable. No exceptions.

PLEASE NOTE THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES CAN PERSONALIZED ITEMS BE RETURNED.
Returning Tiles

If returning tiles, the entire set of tiles, including additional blanks and/or jokers which came with the set, must be returned within 30 days of receipt of the item. The tiles must be sent well packed in bubble wrap with tracking. If the tiles are no longer in their original shrink-wrap, a $10 restocking fee will be charged against the refund.

EXAMPLE TILE SAMPLE PROGRAM
Returning tiles can be costly because of their shipping weight, so please take advantage of our EXAMPLE TILE SAMPLE PROGRAM. Select up to five example tiles which we will send you so you can see how they look before ordering a set. This will avoid disappointment in getting tiles you may not like, which you will have to return. That way you will be happy, which will in turn make US happy!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER EXAMPLE TILE SAMPLES BY PATTERN NAME.

More Questions

A. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to match tiles to an older set because tile dye lots (for the same kind of tiles) can differ greatly. We can offer some resources for you. Please contact us directly.

A. Do NOT leave tiles in the car! Temperature changes can ruin tiles, and sets get stolen that way. Instead, keep them in a cool, dry, safe place. Clean with non-alcoholic baby-wipes. NEVER wash tiles with hot water, soap, or in the dishwasher. Do NOT use abrasive cleaners of any kind on the tiles. They are made with love and care, and should be treated that way.

A. Let us know which ones you are interested in and we will be happy to send you up to 5 example tiles to look at first for a small fee. Return shipping on tiles can get expensive, and we would like you to be happy with the tiles you get the first time around. Please CLICK HERE to order your example tiles!

A. Contact us directly – there’s a lot of ways we can help with tournaments, and we love to help!

A. YES! Use the Contact Us form on our Contact Us page and we will get in touch with you. You must have a valid reseller’s permit to see our wholesale pricing.

A. YES! We love our teachers! Please contact us directly for details.

A. We prefer that you make an appointment beforehand so we can be sure to have salespeople on hand to assist you. But if you find yourself in the neighborhood, or need something right away and are close-by, please come see us.

Please take a look at the website and let us know what you want so we can get it ready for you.

Absolutely! Come visit us between 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. Our hours are subject to holiday closure. Holiday hours will be posted on the website as applicable.

A. We recommend learning Mah Jongg in a small group with a teacher. Visit our teacher’s page to find one near you. If you ARE a teacher and want to be added, please send us your name, location, and email address.

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