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TechNote #6 - 10/15/2008 - Shipping Methods

Shipping options can be confusing enough for domestic packages but once you factor in International shipping, it can become a major headache. I will try to give you a rundown of the various options that we use and their uses in certain situations.

Domestic United States Delivery options

Priority Mail: US Postal Priority Mail can be a cost-effective solution for many orders, especially those that don’t weigh much. In fact, if the order is under 1 pound, the charge is a flat-rate $5.80 anywhere in the country, whereas UPS rates will vary considerably depending on your ZIP code.

Delivery for Priority mail is generally 2-4 business days but there is no specific delivery date guarantee. Delivery Confirmation is included with Priority from us so the package is scanned "en Route" and "Delivered", but there is no point-to-point tracking. What that means to the customer is that if a package hasn’t been delivered there is no "paper trail" of where the package may be located. Claims can be filed on packages that are not delivered, so this is a safe shipping method but perhaps not the best if you have a definite timeframe requirement.

UPS Ground Residential: This is our most common shipping method, and for very good reasons. Through our exclusive arrangement with UPS, packages we ship via UPS Ground have a guaranteed delivery time of 1-3 business days anywhere in the continental U.S. When you choose your shipping method on our Web site, that screen features a map of the time frames (also shown below this section) so that you can see how long it will take your package to arrive. UPS also offers point-to-point tracking so that you can see where your package is at all times. This makes it easy to find a package in the event of it being mis-delivered or delayed due to inclement weather, etc. Ground shipping is also automatically insured for 100 dollars so that in the rare cases that a package is lost or misdirected, we can usually authorize a reshipment more quickly than with Priority Mail.

UPS Next Day Air and 2nd Day Air services: We also offer faster UPS services if you are in a hurry to get a package before a road trip. UPS guarantees Next Business Day or 2nd Business Day delivery anywhere in the U.S. As with ground service, you have full point-to-point tracking, plus the shipping charges will be refunded if UPS does not meet their delivery commitment.

Free Shipping: We carry several products that feature free shipping for online orders. These products are sent USPS First Class Mail and are only applicable to U.S. customers. 1st Class is cheap and very prevalent in the U.S. but it comes at a cost for its cheap price. It can take anywhere from 3 days to a week to be delivered and there is no tracking or insurance for packages sent by first class mail. As is often the case, you get what you pay for. We only use this method for low cost, low weight items such as our Sliks Helmet Liners.

International Shipping, anywhere in the world

For our international customers there are a few pitfalls to shipping orders across the world. The first main obstacle is cost, especially where heavy orders are concerned. International costs can vary greatly between countries and by weight. We offer international shipping via both US Postal Service (USPS) and UPS to try and cover any need and most budgets.

The second obstacle is Customs and the dreaded import duties. Any package being sent from the U.S. to another country is subject to that country’s customs regulations. You, the customer, are responsible for any charges that may be involved with importing goods from our company.

USPS Global Express Mail: The postal service delivers almost anywhere in the world at a very reasonable price. Service times will usually be from 3-6 business days but this can be extended by customs delays. Packages are not tracked but there is a scan at delivery for confirmation. This service is much cheaper than UPS, especially for heavier packages. You may be required to pay customs fees, brokerage fees, duties, and/or taxes upon receipt. Often these can amount to a significant percentage of the cost of the order, so before you place your order you may want to research what your country may require you to pay.

UPS Worldwide Expedited: Using UPS for international shipment gives you several benefits over USPS Global Express Mail. There is full Point-to-Point Tracking, so you will be able to follow your package to your door. All brokerage and customs fees are included in the shipment cost, so the only thing you might have to pay upon receipt is your country’s specific duties or taxes.

Worldwide Expedited service is available to almost any destination, and typically features delivery in 2 to 5 business days. The cost is considerably higher than USPS Global Express Mail, but the fees paid upon delivery are often much less so the true cost difference isn’t as much.

UPS Worldwide Express: UPS offers a faster Express service to some countries, with a 1 to 3 day delivery time. Worldwide Express can be pricy and a larger package, by volume or weight, can increase that price dramatically. Expect costs between US$80 for a small package and upwards of US$200 for a sizable order. All the other benefits of Expedited apply to Express as well.

UPS Ground to Canada: This service is available to our Canadian customers. Expect 4-7 business days for delivery but the cost will be fairly low, often in the US$20 to US$40 range. You still have tracking and the same delivery service as Worldwide Expedited and Worldwide Express; however, unlike those services brokerage and customs fees are not included in the shipment cost and you will have to pay those upon receipt (along with PST/GST) before you take possession of your shipment.

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