Shipping Information
Important Holiday Shipping Notice:
We will be closed on Wednesday, December 25th in observance of Christmas and Wednesday, January 1st for New Year’s Day. During this time, shipping and order processing may be delayed. Please consider these closures when placing your orders.
Thank you for your understanding and happy holidays!
Holiday Shipping Cut Off Dates:
3 Day: Order by 12/19 1:00PM EST.
2 Day: Order by 12/20 1:00PM EST.
Next Day: Order by 12/23 1:00PM EST.
Economy
Ships within 3-5 business days
Transit time is 3-10 business days
Transit time is not guaranteed
Ground
Ships same day*
Transit time is based on your location. View Times
3 Day/Express Saver
Ships same day*
Transit time is 3 business days guaranteed
2 Day
Ships same day*
Transit time is 2 business days guaranteed
Next Day/Standard Overnight
Ships same day*
Transit time is 1 business day guaranteed
Freight
Delivered by either tractor trailer or 26ft box truck
Ships in 3-5 business days
3-10 Days transit time
*Cutoff time for same-day orders is 1:00 ET. Merchandise in stock is guaranteed to ship the same day. Merchandise shipped direct from the manufacturer will ship within 5-7 business days. This means even if you select Next Day shipping your merchandise won’t ship for 5-7 days.
*excludes weekends and holidays.
Free Shipping on Orders $65+ Economy shipping only.
Interruption of Service: Online stores, USPS and UPS shall not be liable for any interruption of service due to causes beyond its control, including, but not limited to, the following: the unavailability or refusal of a person to accept delivery of the shipment; acts of God; acts of public authorities acting with actual or apparent authority; acts or omissions of customs or similar authorities; insufficient information provided by a customer; the application of security regulations imposed by the government, or otherwise applicable to the shipment; riots, strikes or other labor disputes; civil unrest; disruptions in air or ground transportation networks and natural disasters.
Restrictions & Exclusions:
Free shipping & Flat rate shipping DOES NOT apply to select teapots, various glass items, and large/irregularly sized products such as gift baskets & all tea chests (applicable items will state if the item does not qualify for free shipping in the product description) and any customized items. Purchase orders are not eligible for free shipping.
Orders placed within the contiguous 48 US states only qualify for free shipping. We reserve the right to choose the shipping method based on cost. Typical delivery time for orders that qualify for free shipping is 3 to 10 business days.
Orders shipping to APOs, PO Boxes, Hawaii, Alaska, US Territories, or any Islands DO NOT qualify for free shipping.
We also offer all UPS services including 3 Day, 2 Day and Next Day Air (UPS delivery rates apply).
Shipping Times:
All orders shipping economy method and orders that qualify for Free Shipping will be processed and shipped within 2-3 business days of order placement.
Economy shipping takes 3-10 business days after order is processed and is not guaranteed.
Most orders that ship ground usually ship within 1-2 business days if placed before 1:00PM EST and the items are in stock. Orders that ship economy will ship within 2-3 business days if placed before 1:00PM EST and the items are in stock.
Expedited Shipping Information: Deadline for orders requiring Next Day, 2 Day, or 3 Day delivery is 1:00 PM EST (Eastern Standard Time) for items in stock. Expedited orders placed after 1:00 PM will ship by the end of the next business day for items in stock. Next Day, 2 Day, or 3 Day orders placed on a Friday after 1:00 PM EST will ship the following Monday.
Shipping costs are calculated at time of checkout by our shopping cart, based on the weight of your order and the method of shipment.
We ship to all US States and US Territories only.
Shipping Clotted Cream, Candy and Items Containing Chocolate:
To increase the likelihood that our chocolate, cookies with chocolate, and clotted cream products arrive to you in good condition, we suggest that you choose Next Day for your shipping method, especially during the summer months (March-October), and you can purchase a Insulated Shipping Liner & Cold Gel Pack.
Due to estimated time in transit, we do not recommend shipping these perishable items to APO or Canadian addresses. For further information or advice on shipping these perishable products, please contact our Customer Service Department at 1-888-393-5247. In order to ensure that your order does not sit and perish at a hot shipping facility or truck over a weekend, we will only ship out orders containing chocolate, cookies with chocolate, or clotted cream products Monday through Thursday, regardless of shipping method.
Please note:
- Next Day orders containing perishables placed on Fridays will ship the following Monday.
- Second Day orders containing perishables placed on Thursdays or Fridays will ship the following Monday.
- Three Day or Economy orders placed on Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays will ship the following Monday.
Transit Times:
Shipments are made by UPS, FedEx, or US mail from our warehouse in Pittsburgh, PA. The diagram below shows typical transits time by UPS. Days are business days from when we ship your order, and do not include weekend or holidays like Thanksgiving. Please add 1-2 working days from when you place your orders for us to process, package, and ship it.
We strive to ship within two business days. Sometimes a delay will occur if we are out of stock. Some items do list alternate shipping times on their specific web pages. Only expedited orders will be notified of a delay.
Delivery will not be made on a weekend unless special Saturday delivery is arranged. This service is available at an extra cost to certain areas specified by our carriers. Please contact us for availability to make arrangements.
You can email us at support@onlinestores.com or call 888-393-5247, 5 days per week, Monday-Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST
Which Shipping Option is best?
We would like to remind our valued customers of the option of adding an Insulated Shipping Liner & Cold Gel Pack to your order for an added charge and ship by NEXT DAY AIR to increase the likelihood that your items arrive to you in good condition. All of our clotted cream and candy ships from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Please keep in mind how the weather is in your region and your distance from us when when placing your order.
UPS Ground - best if you are not in a rush and the shipment weighs more than 1 or 2 lbs. UPS has very good tracking. UPS ground reaches the entire continental US plus HI and AK. Do not use for APO or PO boxes
Economy – All orders shipping Economy method and orders that qualify for Free Shipping will be processed and shipped within 2-3 business days of order placement.
Economy shipping takes 3-10 business days after order is processed and is not guaranteed.
Economy shipping will work for USPS PO Boxes, APO and FPO addresses. This will include shipping methods of UPS & FedEx Ground & USPS.
3 Day - Takes 3 days for delivery and costs more than Economy. This option is good if you are on the west coast and need your order within 3 days. 3 Day shipping is available to US only and cannot be used for APO or FPO addresses.
2 Day – Takes 2 days for delivery and costs much more than Economy. Orders shipped via this method arrive by the end of the second business day after shipping. 2 Day shipping is available to US only and cannot be used for APO or FPO addresses.
Next Day – Next Day shipping offers guaranteed overnight delivery for day-definite shipments. Next Day shipping is available to US only and cannot be used for APO or FPO addresses.
Alaska, Hawaii and APO Addresses - Shipments to Hawaii and Alaska can now be shipped by Economy. In some cases our shipping calculator may underestimate the actual shipping costs if the package is oversized. In this case we will notify you of any additional charges before shipping. You may cancel your order at this point without penalty.
Common Carrier & Freight Shipping Information
Items that are too large to ship by standard ground carrier such as UPS or FedEx are required to ship freight. Orders and items that are shipped by freight are delivered on a large truck, such as a 26 ft. box truck or a tractor-trailer.
- Once your order ships, you will receive a tracking number that has an estimated delivery date to your local freight terminal.
- The carrier will call you at your provided phone number to schedule a delivery appointment within the next 1-2 business days. Only weekday appointments are available. If you are unable to receive the shipment within 1-2 business days of its arrival at the freight terminal, contact us at 1-888-393-5247
- All standard freight shipments are delivered curbside. The driver will bring the item to the curb and is not authorized to move it further. Anything past curbside delivery must be arranged before placing the order.
- Most freight orders are delivered on a pallet. If you do not have a dock height delivery door, you most likely will require a truck with a lift gate. This is an additional charge and can be added to your order at the time it is placed. Please call 1-888-393-5247 for additional information.
- Upon delivery, you will need to inspect and sign for the shipment. Prior to signing, any visible damage to the shipment and products, along with any missing items, must be noted on the delivery receipt. We need to be notified of product damage and missing parts within one business day of receiving your shipment.