The Holiday season is upon us, and unfortunately that means the nightmare of Holiday shipping. This year it’s bad, really bad. Experts are saying there’s going to be 5-10 times the normal amount of packages being shipped this month. With what we’re seeing, it’s a mess. Quite a few shipments are going through normally, but a considerable amount are seeing delays. Mostly, either packages are stalling somewhere along the way, or bouncing back and forth between locations because they’re being loaded on the wrong truck. So far everything is being delivered eventually but expect delays! Don’t order at the last minute, and don’t depend on purchasing a small amount every week. It most likely won’t show up on time.
We just set up Priority Mail Express at checkout as a shipping option for up to a kilo. Priority Express is USPS’s “overnight” shipping service. The first thing to note is that even in the best of times it’s not a true 1 day service to everywhere. Quite a few places see 2 day shipping times normally, and for some of the most remote places it can be 3 days. That’s at the best of times. Right now don’t bet on any of that. They’re much better at keeping up with it the Express mail then they are the regular Priority, but there’s still every possibility we’ll see delays.
For up to a kilo express it’s $25.49 . After that it can get pricey fast depending on your location. That’s why we only listed it for up to a kilo. If you want more than a kilo overnighted contact us, and we’ll give you a quote. Unless your close it probably won’t be worth the cost. Close can be $30-$40, further out easily $50-$120.
We are offering Express shipping with one disclaimer. We have to do it with a strict “no guarantees on shipping time policy”. That’s the sole reason we’ve never offered it at checkout before. Even though the Post Office has a money back guarantee on Express mail it’s next to impossible to get them to honor it. Most of the time they’ll want you to have the original package in hand to get a refund, or make you jump through so many hoops it’s not worth it. Shipping was already bad this year with COVID-19. With how bad things are likely to get this month there is no way we can offer refunds on it. So express shipping is an at your own risk option at least as far as shipping time. We will of course always make sure you do get your order eventually, and in one piece.
We do have good news on restocking. We have two shipments coming. The first should be here in about two weeks give or take, and the one coming behind should arrive shortly after. So, we will have plenty of stock soon!
We’re very likely to add either UPS or Fedex shipping option in the near future too. Though at least out here our luck with receiving packages through them isn’t much better then USPS right now. One of the things we’re waiting on with those is to receive proper packing materials for them. Which of course have been delayed in transit.
There’s every indication that the shipping delays are only going to get worse throughout the month. Your best bet is to order early.
