Frequently Asked Questions

Need help? Have questions about your order? Check out our frequently asked questions below. If you don't see what you're looking for or need clarification, we’re here for you. Get in touch with us today for design advice, order assistance, or to discuss your client’s project with us.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Where are you located?

Color Cord Company is located in Denver, CO. All of our custom products are made to order in the USA. We are housed in a closed warehouse and do not currently have a storefront for retail operations or sales representatives in other cities. However, if you are a local customer, we can arrange a free pick-up for you with an advance order. Please contact us for details or to make an appointment to pick-up. Pick-up orders may require additional production or warehouse lead time.

Do you have a catalog?

We do not offer a print catalog of our products. We are constantly adding new products to our website making any print catalog out of date. Our website is the best place to see our complete product offering. If you are interested in ordering color samples of our wire you can order them here.

Where are your products made?

All of our hardwired and custom fixtures are handmade in our warehouse in Denver, Colorado. The majority of our other products and components are manufactured in China unless otherwise noted in the product description.

Do you sell wholesale or give trade discounts?

Absolutely! We have a designer and trade program as well as wholesale pricing for retailers, OEM and light makers. Please contact us with a description of your business and the products you’re interested in. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Does Color Cord Company offer design services?

No, we do not offer design services. However, if you have a lighting idea or inspiration image, we’re happy to take a look at it to see if our custom and production team can make it come to life. Otherwise, we invite you to check out our Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for lighting ideas using our products that you can create on your own or create in our Customizer.

Do you offer free samples of your products?

We sell 4-inch samples of our 18g round color cord. You can also purchase one foot of any cord so that you can see the cord in person before committing to a larger order. We do not provide complimentary samples of our parts. However, if you are a designer or lighting manufacturer, please contact us regarding your project needs.

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

I need assistance wiring a DIY lighting project, can you help me?

For liability reasons, Color Cord Company personnel do not give recommendations on how to wire or what applications to use our products for your specific project. Actions such as hard-wiring a pendant set or making any type of light fixture from our products should be done so at your own risk. Please consult a licensed electrician for all electrical and wiring inquiries.

Are your products UL/CSA listed/recognized?

You can find which products are UL Listed on the individual product pages. Most of our products are UL and cUL Listed, but there are a small handful of exceptions.

  • Our fabric covered wire is fully UL Listed including the fabric braiding as SVT-B and SJT-B flexible wire. We partnered with UL to create and obtain this listing on our cloth covered electrical wire. The only exception is our twisted-pair 2-conductor wire, which is not UL recognized.
  • Our SPT/Flat type cloth covered wire uses UL Listed wire but is not listed with the fabric covering.
  • Our wire is rated for small appliances and is suitable for pendant light applications and can be independently approved by inspectors.

As with any project involving electricity, please consult a licensed electrician to discuss what applications you are planning to use our products for.

Please note that our products are UL (ULus (USA) & cUL (Canada) recognized and have not gone through CSA testing. Feel free to contact us directly for more information in regards to UL and CSA.

How much weight will your pendant cords hold?

Our plug-in pendant cords are pulled force-tested and are rated at 2.5 kilograms or 5.5 pounds. Any shade or light fitting must not exceed this weight.

Our cord is SVT cable and is tested by force applied perpendicular to the direction of cable-outlet. The cable is subjected to a tension force of 30N and repeated 25 times. Each increment lasts 1 second. The displacement of the cable must not exceed 2mm to be approved.

Please note, for swag type situations for ceiling hook use, the hook must be properly mounted to the ceiling to support the weight. The pull force rating does not apply to how the swag hooks are mounted.

Our flush mounted fixtures can also safely hold a maximum weight of 5.5 pounds. Should your application exceed that weight, please contact our team for other options to increase the maximum weight load such as alternative strain reliefs and suspension cable systems, in addition to a local electrician who can be made familiar with your project.

Are your products compatible with a dimmer?

Yes, our fixtures are compatible with dimmer switches. You will want to make sure that the bulb and the dimmer switch work together. Our plug-ins do not have dimmer toggles, but you can look into a smart plug from an outside vendor to provide this functionality.

SHIPPING

When can I expect to receive my order?

Color Cord Company ships out Monday to Friday. We strive to get your orders picked and packed as quickly as possible. However, there are some items including canopies, whips, and fixtures that are made-to-order. Production times for these items are listed on the product page and can range from a few days to a few weeks depending on the order. If you have any questions, please contact us for the status of your order.

Can I get an order expedited?

Yes! We offer a variety of expedited shipping services at the checkout. If you have any questions about delivery please see our Shipping Information, or contact us.

Do you accept international orders?

Due to all the different international wiring standards, we typically only sell to the North American market. You can, however, contact us with your inquiry and we will do our best to meet your needs. Please note that any shipments outside of the contiguous United States will not be eligible for free shipping and may be subject to duties and fees related to importing goods.

ORDER ISSUES

Can I return my order?

We gladly accept returns on all eligible products. We do not offer refunds on our DIY pendant light cord sold by the foot, however. The bulk cord is cut-to-order and for this reason, is not returnable or exchangeable.

We also do not accept returns or exchanges on light bulbs. Due to their fragile nature, we can only ship them once. All customized fixtures and products are final sale, as they are built to your specification and cannot be resold. Any other custom work is not eligible for returns.

Click here for more return information. In order to initiate a return request, please email us your order number and the reason for your return so that we can provide return authorization details.

How do I cancel or change an order?

Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to modify or change an order. Since we do our best to ship orders as quickly as possible, we cannot modify any orders that have already been shipped. We also may not be able to modify any custom orders that have already entered production without additional costs.

My item is not as ordered/something is missing/my item is damaged, what should I do?

We want to make sure your order is better than you expected! Please contact us and we will do our best to make sure you get exactly what you need.

PRODUCT QUESTIONS

I'm looking for a specific product that is not on your website, can you help me find it?

We would love to help you in any way we can! Please give us a call, connect with us on live chat, or send us an email and we will see how we can help.

Will your fixture work with my lampshade?

We sell sockets and parts that are intended to be used for hanging pendants with a Euro-style shade. There are actually many different types of shades and fitters so you will need to make sure that your shade and our shade-ready socket will work together. Otherwise, there are outside vendors that specialize in the wide variety of shades and shade parts where you can find reducers and adaptors to allow your shade opening to work with our fixtures and sockets.

Unfortunately, shades do not have a universal size and there are many variables that go into the shade compatibility, so we can not answer this question without more details and possibly viewing images to help us assess your shade.

Do you provide any fixtures or cord that will work outside?

All Color Cord Company products are intended for dry locations only. At this time, we do not offer any products that are suitable for wet or damp locations where it may come in contact with moisture or humidity.

INSTALLATION QUESTIONS

How do I install a flush mount fixture to a junction box?

To install your flush mounted fixture to a junction box, first, you’ll want to turn everything off. Next, attach the mounting plate and connect the wiring. To secure the canopy, you’ll need to push the wires into the junction box and attach it to the mounting plate with the canopy screws. Finally, add your light bulbs, flip the breaker and watch your lights go on!

Find more detailed instructions and a video here.

How do I add swag to my fixture installation?

You’ve designed a unique way to hang up your fixture and you need a little help putting all the pieces together. We get it and we’re here to help! To install your swag hooks, hammer the anchor into your ceiling or wall until you get to the threaded portion. Use a screwdriver to twist the anchor the rest of the way into the ceiling or wall until it’s flush with the surface. Now, mount the backplate to the structure by inserting the screw into the anchor. Finally, use an allen wrench to completely secure the hook to the backplate.

For more tips and examples, check out our step-by-step guide.

How do I wire a thumb switch?

Wiring a thumb switch is one of the more complex types of wiring guides. You’ll need pliers, a blade, screwdriver, electrical tape, wire stripper, thumb switch, switch cap, and your cloth covered wire.

Follow our guide for simple instructions that can help you make this work!

How to wire a grounded plug end?

Making sure your wire is grounded is critical to lighting installation. Guarantee your safety when you follow our tutorial and have a professional inspect your work. We make it easy to understand with video tutorials and easy-to-follow instructions.

How to cut and strip cloth covered wire?

There are several ways that you can strip a cloth covered wire. Whether you prefer using a wire stripping tool, a razor blade, or super glue, follow the Color Cord Company guide every step of the way.

Check out our video example to follow along as our pros demonstrate all three ways to strip cloth covered wire for installation.

If you have a question about assembly or other product instructions, we recommend that you check out our blog and product videos first, but if you can’t find what you’re looking for, then please contact us. We are happy to help!