Our busiest time is expected to be during the first 3 weeks of December with that last week being the very busiest. During that time, there may be a delay of an additional day or two before your order ships. Shipping notices are sent out automatically with the information also available online when you sign on to your account.
Also be aware that both UPS and the US Postal Service will also have significant volumes during that same time and during the week before Christmas, it is not unusal that there be an additional 3 to 5 business day delay in delivery for UPS Ground and US Priority Mail. US Parcel Post usually takes 2 weeks or more for delivery and during the Christmas season, that will almost certainly be longer. To be sure your order arrives before Christmas, your order should be placed at least 2 weeks before Christmas.
We have UPS 3-Day Select, 2nd Day Air, and Next Day Air services at additional expense for orders placed after that date. These services get priority and in-stock orders placed before Noon EST will usually ship out the same day. One week before Christmas, these are the only services that are likely to be delivered in time for Christmas. If you ship by USPS or UPS Ground less than 2 weeks before Christmas, be prepared for the possibility that the order is delivered after Christmas. Everyone works very hard to get packages to the destination on time, but volumes have a significant impact.
All orders ship from Traverse City, MI. Ground shipping time varies with the destination. Shipments to the West Coast normally take 4 to 5 days. Shipments to the Southern states and the East Cost normally take 3 to 5 days. Shipments to states close to Michigan normally take 1 to 3 days. It is not unusual for Christmas time Ground shipments to be delayed by up to 1 week.
For last minute orders (within 1 week of Christmas), be aware that only UPS Next Day Air and UPS 2nd Day Air shipments will be delivered on Dec 24 - USPS, UPS Ground, and UPS 3-Day Select will not be deliveed on Dec 24. No deliveries will occur on Christmas Day. With that in mind, to ensure delivery in time for Christmas, please you select a delivery method that will have the delivery occur on or before Dec 23. Also keep in mind that weekends are not shipping days, so an order placed near the end of the week will not be progressed during the weekend - only on business days.
To deliver in time for Christmas:
USPS Parcel Post – before Noon December 6 or earlier
USPS Priority Mail – before Noon December 10 or earlier
UPS Ground – before Noon December 10 or earlier
UPS 3-Day Select – before Noon Dec 20 or earlier (Delivered as late as Dec 23)
UPS 2nd Day Air – before Noon Dec 22 or earlier (Delivered as late as Dec 24)
UPS Next Day Air – before Noon Dec 23 or earlier (Delivered as late as Dec 24)
We will continue ship out orders that will not be expected to arrive before Christmas. Note that orders which are placed after 10PM EST and cancelled overnight or in the morning will probaby be in progress for processing for shipment. It will not be possible to cancel as will be in process to ship once the process is complete. Shipments which are refused will be refunded for the product price less a 15% restock fee ($10 minimum) along with return shipping costs.
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