The stones are not washed or oiled prior to shipping for several reasons:  

  -- If they were pre-oiled you would really have no way whatsoever to know for sure whether or not they were "used" stones.

  -- If the stones have been pre-oiled and then sit around in hot shipping boxes, in warehouses, in hot UPS or USPS trucks during transport, etc., that oil on the stones is going to go rancid from the heat and confinement, so you will be delivered a set of rancid smelling, largely contaminated stones -- So unfortunately pre-oiling has a huge potential to instead become a breeding ground for germs and rancidity to grow.  Not a good idea at all really.

  -- The stones I sell have flecks of quartzite and pyrite in them which are most visible prior to the stones being oiled.  So I like to recommend that when you first receive your stones, prior to cleaning and oiling them, take them outside (and if you have a magnifying glass even better) and study the tiny little "tan patches" in the sunlight and you will discover amazing beautiful crystalline worlds right there on the surface of many of the stones.  These tiny small patches do NOT interfere in any way with how smooth the stones are overall, and the little patches are not nearly as visible once the stones are oiled the first time.  So this is something you would want to do prior to oiling the stones.  I highly recommend doing this.  It will provide you an even deeper appreciation of the healing potential of these stones.

  -- Another reason not to pre-oil stones is that some folks have allergies to certain types of massage oils (nut derivatives especially, i.e., coconut oil, almond oil, etc.) so it is preferable not to oil them ahead of time until you know who will be using them and whether or not they have sensitivities to certain oils.  Some folks also have negative reactions to scents and aromas which might be present in certain massage oils, so that is to be considered as well prior to oiling them.  I recommend using a non-scented, non-nut oil based massage oil when you do oil them the first time.  Any scents in the oil will remain with the stones for a very long time thereafter, so I recommend that if you wish to use aromas, perhaps you consider using aromas through other avenues of delivery rather than directly on the stones, and let the stones remain unscented.

  -- Some stone massage traditions especially from Asian countries do Not oil the stones at all -- they rather feel that the just ever so slightly textured surface of the stones, if handled correctly, will increase circulation and toxin release better if Not oiled, by allowing slightly more resistance on the skin surface, and more exfoliation -- so they simply do not use oil with their method of stone massage, so they definitely would not want pre-oiled stones.   

  -- Some folks will oil the smaller "working" stones, but not oil the larger heat and weight placement stones.  So again, here is a preference folks develop on their own if given the chance of receiving stones straight from the beach.

  -- Most people will want to handle and get to know their stones and prepare them for use for themselves.  It gives one the opportunity to fully examine and get to know the stones, and it gives you a beginning of handling the stones and becoming familiar with what they feel like when they are cold, hot, wet, oiled, and so forth -- which are the crucial and most important things to become familiar with prior to beginning a stone massage on a recipient.  Many people will have their own little ritual or welcoming for the stones into their practice as well, so by providing very freshly gathered stones directly from the beach to you, you will be receiving the most natural and "nature" charged stones available.

I have been selling hot stone sets since January 2001. There are a limited number of sets available from time to time. Availability depends on the churning ocean and how many perfect rocks it turns up to be found.  

I personally gather these stones, they are not imported from somewhere else or bought in bulk at some cut rate discount price from somebody who does not care where they come from or how they will be used.  Buttercup and I gather each and every stone and we do our very best to always show our gratitude to the earth for its wondrous healing gifts each time we go sea stone harvesting.  

Also, we often travel several hundred miles to harvest the stones so we can alternate between over a dozen different pristine remote beaches to gather these stones, so that no one beach ever becomes over-harvested.  We recognize the importance of leaving more perfect stones behind than what we gather.  It would never be okay to take so many that one day there would no longer be perfect stones on the beach.  Consequently I only fill individual orders, and I have time and again turned down requests and opportunities to sell in bulk or large quantities to any one person or business.  My focus is to sell intentionally gathered sets of sea stones to individuals who will use these stones to their very best healing potential.  

Here are excerpts from my positive feedback for the hot stone sets:

• "I can't say enough good things! Fantastic, friendly, helpful! Wow!"

• "Fabulous stones!-Wonderful customer care!-Great transaction!-Recommended! A+"

• "The stones were great, I rec'd great feedback from clients, will pur. a 2nd set!"

• "Wonderful SeaStones! Great Transaction!! Thanks !!!"

• "excellent seller, good communication, fast delivery, AAAAA+++++"

• "Excellent service, very pleased with stones, thank you so much"

• "Excellent seller - would purchase again A+++++++Lots of heavy smooth stones"

• "Absolutely wonderful to deal with!!!!Awesome stones!!!!Very knowledgable!!!"

• "Nicest, friendliest vendor I've ever dealt with! Highly recommended!! A++++++++"

• "Incredible Stones! Incredible to work with. Very conscientious and prompt."

• "Wonderful customer service, beautiful stones! Customized order @ a great price!"

• "Smooth transaction item as described with perfect instructions. A+"

• "Great stones, fast shipping, simple transaction, great communication A+++++"

• "quick response,A+++++++!!!!!!!"

• "Got my stones. And MUCH concern and communication from the seller. A++++++++++++"

• "Wonderful, efficient, caring seller. Feel like I've already had a massage."

• "Great! Great support after. Will buy again. Beautiful rocks. A+ packaging"

• "Fabulous all around. Highly recommend to all"

• "Love the stones, Fast delivery, good communication"

• "Excellent product and friendly exchanges! Highly Recommended!"

• "the product arrived timely. will definitely use this seller again AAAA++++"

• "Great packaging, wonderful stones. Very caring seller. I'll be back! AAAA+++++"

• "Wonderul woman to do business with!

• "Very nice woman! My first online buy was easy because of her! AAAA+++++"

• "Fantastic communication, a five star seller! A++++++++"

• "Beautiful stones!!! Love them!!! Seller is GREAT!!! Highly recommend her!!!!"

• "very nice communication, nice stones -- Thank you!"

• "spectacular item - Thanks again and again"

• "Love the rocks!! Fast Shipping, just as described! Thank You so much! A+"

• "Excellent transaction. Great communicator. Really cares!"

• "A+++ Excellent Service."

• "Excellent response, would buy from again"

• "Product as represented. Very prompt delivery. Good communication"

• "Highly recommended. Product exceeded my expectations. Seller very attentive."

• "Beautiful Stones, Outstanding service-Highly recommend"

• "awesome- rocks really hold the heat well- great to deal with- thank you!"

• "Extremely helpful! Wonderful lady!"

• "Super great communication, great product...A+++++"

• "Wonderful service A++++. Super fast & great product, I love my rocks!!!!!!!"

• "Speedy transaction, excellent communication, great stones!! Highly recommended!"

• "Great transaction.received beautiful stones as promised.excited to try them."

• "Awesome experience. Stones are amazing. Service was excellent in all ways."

• "She worked very hard to get me the perfect set. Wonderful person. A++++++++."

• "Great product, service!!!! Excellent communication A+++++"

• "Great transaction! Wonderful personality!! Thanks, so much!! Donna"

• "great seller, definitely recommend, fast and smooth transaction, A+++"

• "Geat Lady! Great Rocks! Great Service! Great Buy! Bid Now!"

• "U can buy with confidence! Very much a pleasure to purchase from; great  seller!"

• "Very polite & caring dealer, the stones she hand picks have very positive energy"

• "Wonderful transaction, very smooth! Great product!!! Thanks so much!!!!AAAAAA+++"

• "Seller is so helpful and polite, goes extra 10 miles for you. Great deal!"

• "Great Preson, would do business w/ this seller again."

• "A++ Great selller, prompt shipment!"

• "Great Communication,Great Product, Excellent to do business with.Very Pleased!"

• "Quick delivery, prompt service! The stones are wonderful. A++++"

• "Excellent transaction, very accomodating, tremendous product, highly recommended"

• "Very nice rocks. Fast shipping. A+++++++++++++Friendly person"

• "Fast and Friendly Communication! Highest Recommendation! Thank you!"

• "Product was better then described! Extremly Fast Shipping! Great to do business!"

• "Fast, easy transaction. Item as described. Highly recommended. Thanks, Steve"

• "stones work great, highly recommend"

• "Smooth transaction, thanks"

• "Bought some; bought more, loved them, will recommend to others!! THANKS! Great!"

• "great transaction....&...communications....AA++"

• "Great doing business with you again"

• "Thanks! Great transaction! Fabulous rocks- definitely above the ordinary A++++++"

• "Love the stones! Very 'personal'. Good packing! AAAAAAAAAAAA"

• "Great buy would do business with again.  Thanks."

• "Thanks so much, I received the rocks and they are perfect"

• "love the product, good service"

• "gr8 item thanks would buy from again 5 stars"

• "Excellent communication, product, & service, very pleased with transaction!"

• "Great Service, Thank you!"

• "Great item, fast delivery. Highly recommend. A+++"