Below if a brief series of answers to commonly-asked questions. For product specific questions, please visit that product's page and click the "FAQ" button to te right. For more detailed Policies questions you may also feel free to visit our Policies section.

Please feel free to contact i n f o AT kemplar DOT com for further details.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Product Questions:
Where do these products come from?
Is the Operating System in English or Japanese?
Will you install Linux on the machine?
What does the keyboard look like?
Do these products come with DVD-RW drives? If not, how do I install my programs and files on it?
Do these products come with any instructions in English?
What if I need to reinstall the Operating System?

Warranty & Support:
Do these products come with a warranty?
What happens if my computer breaks?

Payments:
What type of payments do you accept?
Do you accept Paypal?
Do you offer a discount for bank wire transfers?
Do you offer discounts for large volume orders?

Shipping:
How long does shipping take?
Can I get overnight shipping?
Where do I ship the product if something goes wrong?

Returns:
Can I return a unit if I don't like it?
What about if it arrives DOA?

Special Orders:
Can you purchase this or that product for me?

Site Questions/Concerns:
How come the price of this product keeps changing?
What does "the spartan lifestyle made digital" mean?

:: Products Questions:

Where do these products come from?
Most of our laptops and personal computers are manufactured and distributed in Japan, while our wide-range of cellular phones, PDAs, and miniature cameras hail from multiple locations, including Japan, Taiwan, and China.

Is the Operating System in English or Japanese?
All of our units have been converted from the original Japanese OS to English OS. We do this before shipping.

Will you install Linux on the machine?
Due to the uniqueness of many of these devices where most components does not have Linux drivers readily available, we currently does not offer Linux installation on all devices. However, we are more than happy to assist you to find resources that can assist you on installing Linux OS yourselves.

What does the keyboard look like?
The keyboards on these units are layed out much like those in the U.S. They sport predominately Roman characters with Japanese subtitles. A few keys (such as the @ key and the ' key) are, however, placed in more convenient locations, much like the "International" keyboard styling found throughout Europe. You can see a picture of one such layout below.

Do these products come with DVD-RW drives? If not, how do I install my programs and files on it?
Some of the larger units we sell do indeed come with built-in DVD-RW drives, but most of the smaller units do not. This is done in order to conserve both space and battery life and creates a lighter, more portable machine. Most clients who choose tp purchase such units find that they don't miss the optical drive in their day and choose to purchase an external optical drive for the occassional program or file installation. (Note: All of our units come with USB ports and can support nearly every kind of optical drive and floppy drive available. Portable slim-line drives are also available in some cases.)

Do these products come with any instructions in English?
Most of our units come with Japanese documentation only. Most clients find that the units are just as self-explanatory as their American counterparts. That said, we are happy to address any questions you might have regarding your product and, in some cases, English quick start manuals are available. We also host a community forum where product users can exchange ideas, questions, tips, and tricks.

What if I need to reinstall the operating system?
Kemplar.com provides all the necessary English drivers for reconfiguring the device in the event reinstallation is necessary. We are also happy to provide, free of charge, Disk Images of the English install so as to make this process quicker. We can make these Disk Images available on CD in both Norton Ghost and Powerqest DriveImage format. You will simply need to purchase one of said programs and create a set of boot disks to take advantage of these Images.

:: Warranty & Support:

Do these products come with a warranty?
Yes, all products come with, at the very least, a One (1) year Japanese Manufacturer's Warranty. In some cases, Three (3) Year Warranties are available. As these warranties are supported only in Japan, the unit will need to be returned to our Tokyo office in order to be serviced. Kemplar.com will pay for all shipping for any warranty work required during the first 30 days of your purchase. After that date, all shipping fees will be the responsability of the buyer/client. In most cases, the product will never require service during the life of its warranty. Extremely well made, these items rarely require warranty-based repair. (Note: In some cases, international warranties are offered on a product.)

What happens if my computer breaks?
As stated above, if the unit experiences any hardware-related issues covered by the warranty, it can be sent to our Tokyo office. There are representatives will serve as your advocate in getting the unit repaired by the manufacturer. In such cases, you will need to contact your Kemplar Customer Representative in order to acquire a Warranty Repair Number. He or she will then direct you step-by-step through the repair process. (Note: Damage caused by the user/client, such as a broken screen, is rarely covered under the manufacturer's warranty. In such cases, please contact your Kemplar rep for possible solutions.)

:: Payments:

What type of payments do you accept?
Kemplar.com accepts all major forms of Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX) directly. We are also happy to accept Cashier's Checks, Money Orders, and Bank Wire Transfers. In the case of the latter methods of payment, waiting periods may be applied in order to verify the authenticity of the transaction.

Do you accept Paypal?
No. Paypal isn't necessary, as we accept Credit Cards and Bank Wire Transfers directly through our merchant seervice providers (Chase & Bank One.) Paypal is a division of eBay, and, while quite handy in that sphere (where most "merchants" are casual sellers), it offers little to no protection to the buyer or the seller in transactions such as these. Banks require complete and thorough background checks and credit checks for merchants wishing to process credit cards. Paypal requires little to none. We advise all of our clients to beware of "merchants" who accept credit cards only via Paypal, as this implies an inability or reluctance to submit to background checks.

Do you offer a discount for Bank Wire Transfers?
Yes, we offer a variable discount for such payments. Please ask your Kemplar Customer Representative for the exact discount amount at the time of your order.

Do you offer discounts for large volume orders?
Yes, we do. Generally, such orders are handles by our Corporate/Reseller Sales Reprsentatives. They can be contacted here, or via our Corp/Business Sales section.

:: Shipping:

How long does shipping take?
Kemplar's standard shipping method takes 3-5 days from the time that payment is received, using either Global EMS or FedEx Air. That said, inventory is kept both in our Colorado offices as well as are Tokyo offices. In some cases, shipping can be expedited based on availability.

Can I get overnight shipping?
In some cases overnight shipping is available. Contact your Kemplar Customer Rep for details.

Where do I ship the unit if something goes wrong?
This depends on both the nature and origin of the problem. In the event of an issue covered by the products warranty, the item will be shipped to our Tokyo office for repair. In the event of user-related damage, we can arrange local repair or replacement on your behalf. All charges incurred would be the responsability of the user/client.

:: Returns:

Can I return the product if I don't like it?
No. Items may only be returned due to deficiency or defect, and only within the first 7 days of receiving the item. If the item displays deficiencies after that time, such defects will have to be addressed via the manufacturer warranty. We at Kemplar do, however, strive to make our clients happy. If for some reason the product does not properly meet your needs or approval, we will be more than happy to attempt to resell the item on your behalf. In such cases, we will only charge a $50 transaction fee as well as the actual credit card/payment processing fees incurred.

What about if it arrives DOA?
Though such cases are rare, we will issue a full refund in such an instance.

:: Special Orders:

Can you purchase this or that item for me?
In most cases, yes, though there will be a fee applied. Feel free to email one of our Customer Represenattives(preferably with a link to the product or products interested in) and we will be happy to look into such a purchase.

:: Site Questions:

How come the price of this product keeps changing?
The yen/dollar ratio is an ornery beast. Exhange rates rise and fall daily, and such fluctuations require adjustments in prices.

What does "the spartan lifestyle made digital" mean?
It is indicative of our commitment to selling minimalist-oriented products for those individuals interested in getting the most amount of technology with the least amount of technological invasiveness. That's all. No actual Helots were harmed in the making of Kemplar.com