Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Shouldn’t 1980’s topics be considered vintage instead of retro?
Maybe. It is possible that the decade has or is ageing out of the “retro” label. However for the purpose of our website, a magic elixir will be used to stop the ageing process and allow the 80’s to remain “retro” past the expiration date.
What makes you an expert on the 1980’s and ’90’s?
I am by no means an expert. What I do offer is: an uncanny memory for details big and small from my lived experience; a dedication to conducting thorough research on the topics covered here; an openness and hope that any interesting information that I share, will be enhanced by the contributions of others who are willing to share their unique perspectives.
Why didn’t you pick one decade instead of two?
For me, I find it hard to separate a lot of my memories into specific decades. There are a lot of things that span the late 80’s into the early 90’s. From what I’ve researched about the early 1980’s, there is a lot of overlap between the late 70’s up until around 1983 or more. I find so many things interesting from the 80’s and 90’s that I couldn’t pick just one. (Also, I am a pretty indecisive person.)
I thought you said that you were going to provide a nuanced perspective. Why are a few articles written about pure nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake?
Great question! In my humble opinion, sometimes we all just need a small smile or a little chuckle and not delve into anything too heavy duty. Rest assured, any articles that I post that are just for fun, will only cover topics that do not involve any negative connotations or controversial hot takes.
Why are you selling stuff here? Don’t you realize that some criticisms of the 80’s and 90’s circle around the shallow consumerism and focus on acquiring materialistic things to be cool that surfaced in popular media and advertising during the twilight of the 19th century?
I definitely don’t want to be a soulless peddler of unneeded things. I do want to keep the lights on here and to continue to explore another creative outlet that holds my interest at the moment, that being graphic design and trying to recapture aesthetics form the 80’s and 90’s. It’s a bit of a passion project and a (naive) attempt to generate a small income to sustain the website. If you find anything in the shop interesting, I’d be tickled if you purchased anything. However, I know that life is expensive, and that you have to keep your lights on too. Please never feel any icky pressure to buy anything.
What if I have an idea for something you should write about?
I’d love to hear about your idea. Please reach out to me through the contact page on this site: https://retrorelevance.com/index.php/contact/
Shopping FAQ
How long will my order take to process and ship?
Orders are typically processed within 24 hours of being placed. It then takes 3 days to make your product(s), and then 5 days to ship them. US/Canadian customers can expect to receive their order within 5-10 days of the order being placed. Orders from all other countries should be received within 10-14 days.
How do I cancel my order?
If you made a mistake during checkout or need to cancel your order for some reason, please contact me within 24 hours of placing your order using the contact form here: https://retrorelevance.com/index.php/contact/ . If you need to cancel your order after 24 hours have passed since placing it, please reach out to me (the sooner the better) using the same contact form and we can see what we can figure out given your unique circumstances.
What is your return/exchange policy?
If you are not satisfied with your order, or there are any defects in the products you receive, please reach out to me by using this form: https://retrorelevance.com/index.php/contact/ within 30 days of receiving your order to discuss whether you would like to exchange the product or return it for a refund. Depending on the reason for returning the item, shipping costs may not be refundable. However, I do want you to be satisfied and am confident that we can figure things out should the unfortunate need arise for you to need to return a purchase.
Infrequently Asked Questions:
What is your favourite song from the 80’s
Yikes! Just one? Off the top of my head ti would be: “Kickstart My Heart” by Motley Crue (please note, this answer is subject to change based on my mood, the time I take to really think hard about the answer and/or what I had for breakfast.
What is your favourite song from the 90’s
The song that I consistently never skip if it comes on the radio or on my spotify playlist is: “Interstate Love Song” by Stone Temple Pilots. I think it is my fave from the 90’s; albeit by the slightest of narrow margins.
What is your favourite movie from the 80’s or 90’s?
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back! It just barely squeaks in here with a release date of May 21, 1980. I am a huge Star Wars nerd. You may notice this pop up from time to time while reading some of the articles I published.
What do you like to do in the present day, when you’re not stuck thinking about the past?
How nice of you to ask; I appreciate you wanting to get to more about me. I like spending time with my fam, getting outside for some fresh air and vitamin D, walking my dogs, messing around with tech, gadgets and graphic design, listening to true crime podcasts, eating food, playing guitar, and generally trying to be kind to myself and others while committing to a journey of continuous improvement.
Do you consider yourself to be a healthy, well-adjusted grown-up?
Ha! Nope. I do try though. I struggle with anxiety and depression from time-to-time and the grown-up thing is overrated in my book. However, I’m working on all the things and being mindful to try to take care of myself and cope with any challenged that I encounter. I hope that isn’t oversharing. I do want to put it out there though, just in case there is anyone struggling and feeling alone that may read this. To you, I would like to say that although I will never truly understand your unique situation, I can tell you that you are not alone. Try in any small way that you feel up to, to be gentle and kind to yourself. You may even be able to find a little community here to connect with. Take good care. I’m happy that you are here.