Shipping Methods

Orders are typically processed within 1 business day of receipt. We ship Monday through Friday. Once processed, the order is taken to the post office for delivery. Shipping time varies based on the customer's country of residence and the type of shipping requested. Orders within the United States are sent using the United States Postal Service, First Class or Priority Mail. Express Mail shipping is available upon request for an additional fee. Orders outside of the United States are sent via First Class Int'l (aka Air Mail). International Express Shipping is available upon request, for an additional fee. Due to security restrictions, certain countries such as Mexico and Taiwan may require Global Express shipping. See details below.

USA - First Class Rate
First Class is used for the shipping of small orders, such as one or two music CD's or DVD's in a standard or slimline jewel case. The USPS suggests that First Class mail usually takes 3-4 days, but this is only an estimate based on average shipping times, and is NOT GUARANTEED. Tracking is used for all First Class shipments.

USA - Priority Mail
Priority Mail is available for all shipments sent within the U.S. The USPS states that Priority Shipping takes 2-3 days, but this is only an estimate based on average shipping times, and is NOT GUARANTEED. Tracking is used for all Priority Mail shipments.

USA - Express Mail
Express Mail is available for an additional fee. Express mail orders sent within the USA very often arrive overnight if the order is placed early enough in the day, although certain locations can take two days*. One the item has been shipped, a guaranteed arrival time will be given in the confirmation email.

International First Class (Air Mail)
All orders sent to countries other than USA are sent using Int'l First Class rate. The actual length of time varies from country to country and is NOT GUARANTEED. Under normal circumstances, however, shipping to most countries takes 7-10 days. NOTE: WE REGRET THAT TRACKING IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR INTERNATIONAL FIRST CLASS SHIPMENTS.

International Express Mail
Express Mail shipping is available outside of the United States for an additional fee. Orders normally leave the U.S. within 1 business day. Once outside of the US, the time for delivery is variable. Customs will sometimes hold packages for inspection. However, in most circumstances Express Mail International orders normally take no longer than 3-4 days to arrive. Tracking is used for all International Express Mail shipments.

* Remember:
One to two days is the time it takes the post office to deliver after receiving the package. If you factor in our processing time, it is actually possible in certain rare circumstances that a package can take as much as three days to arrive from the time the order is placed. Therefore, we do not guarantee overnight service.

 

Shipping Costs

Shipping & handling charges are calculated based on estimated postage and insurance fees, the cost of materials and packaging, and "handling" charges (i.e. employee compensation for time spent packaging orders). Shipping options and prices are available on the shipping page at checkout, prior to payment, once the items have been added to your shopping cart.

FREE Shipping is available on certain items such as gift cards, and sometimes on other items during promotional events. When free shipping is selected, customers should expect delivery time to be equal to the least expensive options we provide, such as First Class mail for orders within the U.S.A., and standard Air Mail to all other countries.

INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS PLEASE NOTE: Every country has its own rates and policies for imported merchandise. Please be aware that your country may impose additional duty or import taxes, and factor them into your purchasing decision accordingly. WE CAN NOT PAY THESE TAXES IN ADVANCE, AND THEY ARE NOT FACTORED INTO THE SHIPPING COST.

 

Late & Missing Shipments

With the exception of Express Mail sent to U.S.A., no shipping methods have a GUARATNTEED delivery time. The amount of time suggested for each shipping method is based on averages, and in no way indicates a guaranteed date of delivery. However, if your package takes longer than average, you should contact customer service.

If a shipment does not arrive by the latest estimated date, its status will be monitored by customer service until the issue is resolved. However, it can not be considered lost or stolen until after the maximum allowable time for shipping has passed, which is 30 days for shipments sent within the U.S.A., and 45 days for international shipments.

International customers please note: Most late shipments are not delayed due to the postal service. Delivery itself is generally very efficient. The most likely cause of a late package is the customs process. Whereas most of the time, the customs process only takes 1-2 days, in certain rare circumstances a package can be held for an extended period of time.

Please also be aware that if a shipment is late, it might be found by contacting your local post office. Occasionally post offices of various countries may hold a package in order to collect additional import taxes or a signature.

If a shipment is determined to be lost or stolen (after 30 days for USA, 45 days for Int'l), an insurance claim will be filed. Once the claim has been approved, the customer can choose to have a replacement shipment sent, or a refund issued.