Shipping

SHIPPING - WITHIN THE US

Customers have the option of selecting their shipping method during the order checkout process. For most orders, the customer can select First Class, Priority Mail (via the US Post Office) or UPS Ground, Standard 3-day, 2-day or overnight.  Please provide us a shipping address appropriate for the shipping method chosen.  As an example, please do not use a P.O. box address for UPS 3 day, 2 day or overnight shipping. 

Please note that for UPS Ground Standard shipping, we use the UPS Sure Post service.  This service will result in the delivery of your order by UPS to your local Post Office for delivery in your mail.  Your postman will then deliver your order on the following day, with your mail.  We believe that this service combines the strongest capabilities of UPS (long distance shipping) with the strongest capabilities of the Post Office (local delivery of your mail) to provide the most reliable shipping service.  UPS SUre Post service arrives one day later than standard UPS Ground shipping.  For UPS Standard shipping service, you can use a P.O. Box. 

FREE SHIPPING ON U.S. ORDERS OVER $60:  For customers who order more than $60 in merchandise, with a shipping address within the US, shipping charges can be waived (note special circumstances for Returns below).  When the customer chooses this option, we will select the most economical shipping method for their order.  For most orders weighing less than 2 pounds, this will result in delivery via the US Mail.  For orders weighing more than 2 pounds, we normally ship via UPS Sure Post.  Orders to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Guam are shipped via the US Post Office regardless of the weight.

RETURNS:  If the customer chooses to return merchandise in an order where the shipping was waived, and the return results in the order total dropping below $60, we will deduct the amount of our actual shipping and handling from the credit back to the customer.  Our complete Returns policy is described here.

Our orders ship from our warehouse in the eastern US, which is a short delivery time for most of our customers.  For the customers on the West Coast, it may take up to six business days to receive your order.

SHIPPING - OUTSIDE THE US

The United States Post Office is in the process of changing their international shipping policy.  Currently, they offer both First Class International or Priority Mail International shipping to most but not all countries.  We hope to be able to offer both services to our customers.  Where possible, during order checkout, the cart will provide a choice between the less expensive and "slower-to-deliver" First Class shipping or the more expensive and "faster-to-deliver" Priority Mail shipping.  We can also ship via UPS international, but this shipping has become so expensive that 99% of our international customers do not choose it.  For most shipments, UPS shipping will cost in excess of $60 (US) to ship a one pound package to an international destination.  Additionally, prior to delivery of the package, UPS will also directly charge the recipient with country specific import duties or taxes. 

Shipping is weigh and country dependent.  Our Internet Store will calculate your shipping charges after you have entered your address during checkout.  To obtain a quote on the shipping alternatives for any order, please fill your "Cart" with the items you want to order and proceed to "Checkout".  After entering your address information, our Internet store will display the shipping alternatives available and the cost for each alternative.  Please note that our price for shipping does not include any local taxes or tarrifs.  We have no control over whether local taxes or import duties will be charged on any shipment.  In general, the local post office may not charge taxes or duties on small shipments while UPS will always charge applicable taxes and duties, but this is a general rule and will not apply to all shipments or all countries. 

When the Post Office is not suitable, we will ship via UPS.  For UPS shipping, we require a street address (not a Post Office Box) and a local telephone number at the destination.  UPS will call the destination phone number if they have difficulties in finding the address. 

Canadian and Mexican customers can print our NAFTA Certificate of Origin here.