Shipping policy

This page summarizes our shipping and handling policies.

The following are estimated handling times. These are a general guideline, not a guarantee.

Handling Times

 

Custom Work, Large Orders, and International Orders

Anything custom-made or requiring custom finishing or any kind of altar work generally has a 25-day handling time. And if you order more than one item that needs customization or altar work, it may not be possible for us to make them all simultaneously.

Posted handling times are estimates only and can vary considerably depending on the item/order and what else is going on. Not every altar is free at every moment, for instance. A stretch of bad weather can mean candles and paint take longer to cure, roots take longer to dry, and it takes longer to get packages physically to the post office.

Larger orders and international orders usually take longer, as well.

An order taking longer than expected is *not* grounds for a cancellation unless we had an agreement on shipping date in writing before the order was placed. 

Shipping Notification

We will send a notification email when we purchase your shipping label for your packaged order, so when it's ready to ship, you know as soon as we know. We are not able to provide updates or play-by-plays during order processing beyond this.

Any unusual issues affecting handling times will be announced on our blogs and social media channels. (See the footer of every page on this site for the blog links.)

If you have not received a shipping notification, then your order is still processing. As soon as it's ready to ship, you'll know because you'll get a shipment notification.

Shipping Rates

U.S. orders ship flat rate for $5 (most items) or $10 (a few large, heavy, fragile items). Domestic orders of $100 or more ship free. See the Shipping Rates page for more details and for international shipping rates.

International Buyers Please Note

*Due to importation laws that place an undue administrative and financial burden on very small e-commerce businesses, I can no longer ship to Poland, Slovakia, Germany, France, Greece, Spain, or Lithuania.*

Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Customs fees are not additional shipping charges and we don't control them. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to buying. 

We won't under-value merchandise or mark the item as a gift on customs forms; it's against U.S. and international laws.

International orders may be delayed by customs and sellers have no control over these delays.

Customers from Australia are advised to write first before purchase about the items they plan to order. Customs and agriculture can be notoriously tricky, especially for herbal items.

Be aware that international orders that have left the US cannot always be traced. We cannot put in a trace request or lost package claim for items sent via the First-class International service if you aren't in one of the 55 countries offering door-to-door tracking (listed on the Shipping Rates page). That means you order at your own risk. This has only happened twice in 15 years, but you can see the Shipping Rates page for details and other options if you're concerned.

Packages in Transit

Be aware that tracking has *never* been real-time, packages do not necessarily get scanned at every hub or when you might expect, and in spite of everything, the USPS is still excellent about not losing packages. Accidents in transit are very rare, but packages can sometimes take the scenic route. This is not a cause for panic or for contacting us to tell us about it. We do not have any further information about your package or any way to track your package other than the USPS link which you get as well, so we can't tell you anything more than that website is telling you until/unless sufficient time has passed for us to put in a trace request/claim.

Due to COVID and the USPS being especially beleaguered right now, delivery times in transit can be longer than usual and updates to online tracking can be slower than usual. Shipping carriers are experiencing an unprecedented volume of packages and limited employee availability due to the impacts of COVID-19. Although rare, packages can take up to 20 business days for final deliveries. We greatly appreciate your patience as unforeseen delays may occur due to operational challenges from shipping carriers.

If you have not received your domestic package within 20 business days of the shipping date on the label (30 days for international), see your order acknowledgment email for instructions on how to proceed. Your package is not considered lost and there is no action we can take on it until/unless 20 *business* days from the label ship date have passed and your package is showing no movement in the system. 

Be aware that packages can be shipped in batches. The date you get the shipment notification is not necessarily the shipment date for the package label. Labels can be printed several days in advance, so shipment notification does NOT mean the package will always be in your hands in two days.

If you want to use another carrier or expedited shipping, see the Shipping Rates page for info on options.

Damages in Transit

Please retain all packaging if your order arrives damaged. You must contact us with documentation within 7 days or we cannot file a claim with our carrier and cannot accept your request for return or replacement. See your payment confirmation email for details.

Last updated: 082122