FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

HOW MUCH DOES A 2002 BRASS RAT COST NOW?

The promotional pricing for 2002 Brass Rats and accompanying jewelry 
from ArtCarved can be found in the 2002 ring brochure or online at: 

http://web.mit.edu/ringcomm_2002/www/brochure11.jpg

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WHEN DOES THE PROMOTIONAL PRICING END?

The promotional pricing period ends the day MIT's Class of 2002 graduates,
that is Commencement 2002, Friday, June 7, 2002.

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HOW MUCH MORE WILL A 2002 BRASS RAT COST AFTER 
THE PROMOTIONS PERIOD AND WHY?

While dependent on many factors, pricing for MIT's 2002 Brass Rat and
accompanying jewelry will approximately double after June 7, 2002. The
promotional pricing was negotiated by RINGCOMM 2002 with ArtCarved on the
premise that a large majority of MIT's Class of 2002 would purchase their
Brass Rats while still in college, as history as shown. True to form,
sophomore year sales alone topped over 93% of the class. This gain in
business volume offsets ArtCarved's loss in revenue from the promotional 
pricing. 

Also due to this premise, after MIT's Class of 2002 graduates, the 2002 
Brass Rat casts and accompanying designs will be preserved and stored. 
Thus, the higher prices afterwards are due to prevailing market factors 
not protected by contract and the setup and manufacturing costs of 
producing 2002 Brass Rats in low volumes. 

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WHEN, WHERE AND HOW CAN I ORDER?

You can order over the phone or on-site. ArtCarved can be reached via
toll-free phone at 1-800-531-5131. However, you will need to know 
your ring size, finger size, karat, finish and inner engraving. If you
are unsure of these, RINGCOMM 2002 recommends that you wait till the 
third week of March, when ArtCarved will be on campus with sample 2002
Brass Rats. They will size your finger and help you select your Brass
Rat. 

Note, that this is the last time you can order 2002 jewelry in order to 
receive it in time for Commencement 2002. ArtCarved will revisit the 
campus in May, but orders and service requests taken then will most 
likely not be completed in time for Commencement 2002.

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WHAT IS THE WARRANTY AND SERVICE POLICY ON 2002 BRASS RATS?

Simply put, your Brass Rat is protected against damage, improper fit,
imperfection and loss for the lifetime of the 2002 Brass Rat. The 
ArtCarved Warranty & Service Card that you received with your 2002 Brass 
Rat details the rights and privileges you enjoy as an owner of a 2002 
Brass Rat. A summary of the warranty and service policy can be found 
in the 2002 ring brochure or online at:

http://web.mit.edu/ringcomm_2002/www/brochure13.jpg

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I LOST MY 2002 BRASS RAT. WHAT CAN I DO?

As stated above, your 2002 Brass Rat is protected against loss. Rather
than paying full price for a new 2002 Brass Rat (which can be considerable
after the promotional pricing period) as part of the warranty, if you
provide ArtCarved with proof of identity, purchase (your receipt), your 
warranty card and a police report or similar to corroborate the loss, 
they will replace your 2002 Brass Rat for a $100 deductible. 

Since it is the only way to claim a replacement Brass Rat, please store your
receipt and warranty card in a safe place! 

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I LOST MY 2002 ARTCARVED JEWELRY RECEIPT/WARRANTY CARD.
WHAT CAN I DO?

Please contact ArtCarved or speak to them when they are on campus and
alert them of your loss so that they can provide a solution. ArtCarved 
will not honor the replacement policy found in the warranty if you do
not provide your receipt and warranty card, which acts as a proof of
identity and of purchase of a Brass Rat for the claimant.

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MY 2002 BRASS RAT NO LONGER FITS MY FINGER, HAS LOST ITS FINISH 
OR IS DIRTY/DAMAGED. WHAT CAN I DO?

As stated above, your 2002 Brass Rat is protected against improper fit,
imperfection or damage. ArtCarved will resize, clean, refinish, repair
or replace your 2002 Brass Rat no cost to you for the lifetime of your
ring. Please contact ArtCarved should your 2002 Brass Rat require
servicing/maintenance.

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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MIT BRASS RAT AND
THE GRADUATE RING?

The MIT Brass Rat is different from the MIT Graduate ring, the former is 
created by one of many ring companies winning an annual bid process, 
redesigned annually by undergraduates to reflect issues important to the 
class and current times, and sold directly to students, while the latter 
is part of a multi-year contract through the COOP, and thus only 
the year on the ring is changed while the generic beaver and 
MIT buildings remain constant. 

The 2002 Brass Rat contract belongs to ArtCarved, who can be reached at 
1-800-531-5131, while the Graduate ring contract currently belongs to 
Jostens, who can be reached at 1-800-424-1492.

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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MIT JEWELRY SOLD DURING 
MARCH, MAY AND OCTOBER IN LOBBY 10/STUDENT CENTER AND 
THOSE SOLD AT THE COOP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR?

MIT jewelry sold during March, May and October in Lobby 10/Student Center
is part of the Brass Rat program, and thus sold directly to students, 
without a third party, such as a bookstore, while those sold at the COOP throughout
the year is from the Graduate ring program.

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WHO DESIGNS THE 2002 BRASS RAT, PREMIERE AND DELIVERY?

Since 1930, class ring committees, chosen from members of the class, were
charged with designing the Standard Technology Ring, or Brass Rat, one
of the most recognized rings in the world. Over the years, the Brass Rat
process has become more involved and extravagant. Recently, MIT's ring 
committees have not only designed their classes' Brass Rats but organized
events to present these designs to their classes at the Ring Premiere and 
celebrate receiving the Brass Rats at the Ring Delivery. 

The 2002 ring committee (RINGCOMM 2002) held the Ring Premiere at Morss 
Walker Memorial Hall on March 4, 2000 and celebrated the Ring Delivery on a 
Boston Harbor cruise aboard the Provincetown II on May 6, 2000 for the 
entire Class of 2002! RINGCOMM 2002 can be contacted by email at:

ringcomm_2002@mit.edu

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WHO MANUFACTURES AND SELLS THE 2002 BRASS RAT?

ArtCarved, specialty jewelry division of Commemorative Brands Inc., is the
exclusive ring company for MIT's Class of 2002, charged with manufacturing
and selling the 2002 Brass Rat and accompanying jewelry. They can be
contacted by toll-free phone or by mail at their national or local
office at:
ArtCarved College Jewelry
7211 Circle S. Rd.
Austin, TX 78745
1-800-531-5131		 O'Brien & Johnson
871 Washington Street
Braintree, MA 02184
1-800-972-5398

Please mention the "MIT 2002 Brass Rat" account when contacting
them, to receive proper pricing and service information.

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ARE THERE OTHER HIDDEN ELEMENTS NOT MENTIONED IN THE 
2002 BRASS RAT BROCHURE AND WEBSITE?

We'll let you figure that one out for yourself!

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I MISSED THE 2002 RING PREMIERE. WHAT WAS IT LIKE?

The Ring Premiere is one of three moments in a MIT undergraduate's career 
when we are in the company of almost our entire class, the others being
the Freshman Orientation/Picture two years before and Commencement two
years later. 

The 2002 Ring Premiere attracted more than 800 members of MIT's Class of
2002, as they packed Walker Memorial Hall to see their Brass Rat revealed.
If you missed the 2002 Ring Premiere or wish to relive it, streaming video 
is available at:

http://web.mit.edu/ringcomm_2002/www/premiere.html

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WHAT DID MIT'S CLASS OF 2002, THE MIT COMMUNITY AND THE
WORLD AT LARGE THINK ABOUT THE 2002 BRASS RAT?

The 2002 Brass Rat received a considerable amount of media attention 
due to its design and accompanying Premiere and Delivery events. The 
2002 Brass Rat design can be found in the 2002 brochure or online at:

http://web.mit.edu/ringcomm_2002/www/2002brassrat.html

A sampling of articles and features about the 2002 Brass Rat can be 
found online at:

http://web.mit.edu/ringcomm_2002/www/articles.html

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WHO CAN I CONTACT IF I HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS/COMMENTS?

For purchasing inquiries, orders, loss and to request servicing/maintenance,
please contact ArtCarved at 1-800-531-5131.

For 2002 Brass Rat inquiries, events, service issues/resolutions and MIT's Brass Rat tradition,
please contact RINGCOMM 2002 at ringcomm_2002@mit.edu. 

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