shipping information
overview
orders placed by 3pm ship the same day
Our shipping rates are very reasonable. Ground is a flat $3.75. Second Day is always $9.75. Next Day rates are calculated based on weight and distance. Orders placed by 3pm EST are shipped the same business day, ensuring a prompt and timely delivery of all your packages. We will always attempt to ship from the location closest to you, but on rare occasions will be required to process your order through the more distant warehouse. We ship with UPS and USPS, with smaller orders (under 32 ounces) routes through USPS. In all case, however, we offer a tracking number to gauge progress.
Time in Transit
Ground shipments arrive in one to four business days. The map above provides an estimate of days in transit for UPS. UPS delivers Monday to Friday. Please allow an additional business day for the delivery of those orders routed through USPS (orders to PO Boxes and those weighing under 2lbs). Saturday delivery is handled by USPS.
Free Shipping
Orders of $49 or more addressed to a physical location (sorry, no PO Boxes) within the contiguous United States qualify for free Ground shipping. If your zip code is classified as rural, a $2 surcharge will apply. The free shipping promotion may not be combined with others, including our Frequent Cups points. As such, Frequent Cups or other promotional certificates do not count towards the total required to earn free shipping.
Rural Surcharge
Delivery to rural areas requires more oomph, and therefore costs a bit more. If your zip code is on the rural delivery list, a $2 surcharge will apply whether sent via UPS or USPS due to the increased cost of shipping to these locations. This may appear unfair, but once you consider the bad air and traffic that the city folk put up with, it's an absolute bargain!
Alaska & Hawaii
We gladly ship orders to Alaska and Hawaii. The only caveat is that the shipping fee is higher. Since UPS is not a viable option, we must ship AK and HI orders with Priority Mail, a more pricey option at $9.75 per order. Transit time is 2-3 business days, but may be longer during the holidays.
PO Boxes and APO/FPO shipping
We happily ship to PO boxes, as well as APO/FPO addresses via USPS Priority Mail service. The only caveat is that the shipping fee is higher at $7.75 per order.If you plan to ship to a PO box and you wish to take advantage of lower shipping costs, please change your shipping information to display a physical (street) address.
Incorrect and Old Addresses
If you make a mistake in entering an address that requires a correction, we'll gladly contact UPS or USPS on your behalf. However, these services charge an $11 fee for intercepting a package already in transit, an amount we regretfully must pass on to you. To prevent this, please double check your order before submitting and please remove from your account any addresses which are no longer valid. This will prevent you from selecting them in error.
Carbon Neutral
All orders shipped via UPS ground will automatically be enrolled in our carbon offseting program.
Your passion for tea supports Asian tea artisans and contributes to a cleaner planet.
