Q. How can I get more information on IPI products and services?
A. To receive printed catalogs, please fill out the Literature Request Form. You may also contact Customer Service at ipicustomerservice@iowa.gov or 800-332-7922 with your inquiries.
Q. Who makes the products that IPI sells?
A.
Iowa Prison Industries employs incarcerated individuals in our shops located at several prisons in Iowa. Incarcerated employees, supervised by IPI staff, manufacture all the products IPI sells.
Q. What is the warranty on your products?
A.
All our products are covered by our Customer Satisfaction Guarantee as well as a limited warranty.
Q. Do my tax dollars support IPI?
A.
Iowa Prison Industries is a self-supporting division of the Department of Corrections. Revenue from the sale of products pays for all cost of operation, including civilian salaries, associate allowances, raw materials, and equipment. No tax dollars are appropriated by the legislature.
Q. Am I (or my company) eligible to purchase from IPI?
A.
The following groups and individuals are eligible to purchase from Iowa Prison Industries:
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Tax-supported institutions and government subdivisions, including state, county and city agencies, and school districts.
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Non-profit groups, including churches, fraternal organizations, and parochial schools.
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Employees of eligible institutions agencies, and organizations.
Q. My company is not located in Iowa. Can I purchase IPI products?
A.
The same eligibility requirements apply to all organizations or individuals whether they are located in Iowa or another state, although additional requirements must be met by out-of-state customers. Please visit the Eligible Customers page for details.
Q. I’d like to see a sample before I place an order. How can I do this?
A.
IPI allows for customers to request a sample/loan of a product for 7 business days. Items must be returned in the same condition as received or the customer may be subject to charges for repairs. We also have a large variety of products on display at the Des Moines Sales Office & Showroom. Please contact your sales or customer service representative for more information.
Q. Do you need my tax exempt number or certificate?
A.
If your organization is sales tax exempt, IPI requires a tax exempt certificate to be kept on file and updated every three years. Completed forms can be emailed to ipicustomerservice@iowa.gov or faxed to 800-741-0390.
Q. Do you need a purchase order to place my order?
A.
No, IPI does not require a purchase order number to process your order; a verbal commitment, email or other written approval is all that is needed. IPI will, however, include provided purchase order numbers on your order acknowledgements, packing lists and invoices for your convenience.
Q. Do you accept credit card payments?
A.
IPI accepts MasterCard & Visa for orders under $10,000 placed on the IPI website only; other restrictions may apply. State of Iowa P-Cards are not allowed to be used for purchases from IPI.
Q. Where will my order ship from?
A.
An order may ship from several IPI locations depending on the type of product(s) ordered. The Order Acknowledgement you receive from Customer Service will indicate where a product is manufactured. This information is also indicated on the product pages on the website and on website order confirmation emails.
Q. How do I make a “shopping” list on the website?
A.
From any product page, click the “Move to Wish List” button. To save a wish list for future reference, you will need to set up a website account as save the wish list. If you have any issues or questions, please contact Ann Baughman at ann.baughman@iowa.gov or 515-725-8711.
Q. How do I know if a product is in-stock?
A.
Nearly all IPI products are made-to-order. Please visit the Lead Times page for detailed lead times by shop and product line. Select products may be kept in-stock; please visit the following sections of the website for stocked items and quantities:
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Bargain Furniture
Q. How do I request a quote?
A.
Please fill out the Quote Request Form or contact Customer Service at ipicustomerservice@iowa.gov or 800-332-7922.
Q. Can I get a tour of your facilities?
A.
Customers are welcome to visit Iowa Prison Industries facilities to see our shops in action, place orders or discuss special needs. Please call or e-mail before visiting to set up an appointment and review tour policies.
Q. What will the shipping charges be on my order?
A.
Please visit the Freight Policy page for details.
Q. Is there a difference between Promise Date and Delivery Date?
A.
The Promise Date indicated on our Order Acknowledgements is determined by our current lead times and is utilized by our shops to plan the production timeline for your order. The warehouse then uses this date as a guideline for scheduling delivery. Unless special arrangements have been made, deliveries are typically scheduled only a few days in advance. If you have special requests or need a notification prior to delivery of your order, please indicate that when placing your order.
Q. How long will it take to receive my order?
A.
Nearly all IPI products are made-to-order. Delivery lead times depend on several factors such as the type of product, the current workload in the shop and our delivery schedule. Please visit the Lead Times page for detailed lead times by shop and product line.
Q. How can I find out the status of my order?
A.
IPI understands how important your order delivery date is to you. Please contact Customer Service at ipicustomerservice@iowa.gov or 800-332-7922.
Q. When will you bill us?
A.
IPI invoices orders after delivery. Invoices can be mailed or emailed. If you would like to receive your invoices electronically via email, please send a request to ipicustomerservice@iowa.gov.
Q. I have a question about my bill. Who should I contact?
A.
Questions concerning billing can be directed to the Anamosa Business Office, 319-462-3706, or your Customer Service representative.
Q. Who do I contact to get a product I’ve purchased from IPI repaired?
A.
For repairs, please contact your Customer Service representative at ipicustomerservice@iowa.gov or 800-332-7922 or fill out our Request For Warranty / Repair / Return form.