Shipping Information

Shipping Time Estimates: We have many shipping options. Please see our Shipping Cost Calculator HELP page for quick shipping cost estimates. Typical shipping times are here Shipment Times.

Claims: ALL claims for shortages, damage or incorrect items MUST be reported within 2 days of delivery TO BOTH THE CARRIER AND US.

Truck Freight Claims:  These MUST be noted upon receipt. If box is damaged, make a note on the delivery receipt when signing. Truck Freight Carriers will not allow claims, including shortages, subsequent to delivery which are not somehow noted on the delivery receipt. Call us if you have a question.

The CARRIER is responsible for damage to products. Please take digital pictures of any suspect package upon delivery and prior to opening, and then pictures of the damaged product after opening. Send us a copy of these and any claim request. Once the claim is validated, we will provide you a credit or replacement. We cannot process claims which are not documented as above.

Ship-out Time / Late Delivery: There is NO guarantee of same day shipment on overnight, 2nd day shipping etc. We provide our best possible effort to get these orders on the way quickly. If there is an exceptional delay, we will notify you. We do NOT provide any compensation for added project costs or delay costs due to shipping delays, ship-out delays or shipment errors.

California Drop Ships: Customers who request special shipping direct from manufacturers who have Nexus (presence) in California, will have an additional product fee added to the order.  The fee is based on sales tax we must pay on goods to fulfill the order within California. It runs 8-10%.

Canada Shipping: Complete information is here about our Canadian Shipping, Options and Taxes.

Guam Shipping: If using UPS, select Guam the Country for the Ship-To Address. If using USPS, select US as the country and Guam as the State. Add the postal Code in the zip code field. See Example.

Puerto Rico Shipping: If using UPS, select Puerto Rico as the Country for the Ship-To Address. If using USPS, select US as the country, and Puerto Rico as the State. Add the postal code to the Zip Code Field. See Example.

U.S. Postal Services Notes:

• ALL U.S. Postal service shipments ship the NEXT day after ordering. No Same Day Shipments.

• USPS Parcel, Package or 1st Class Mail service does not provide tracking information. 

• USPS Lost Shipments and Damaged Items: Using USPS service is at YOUR risk. We are not responsible for lost or damaged USPS shipments. YOU must make claims with USPS directly. USPS insures for $50. No extra insurance is included in your shipment. Use of an alternative shipping method is highly recommended. File a Claim with USPS.

• U.S. PRIORITY mail does not GUARANTEE quick or timely delivery, only expected delivery. Real Time tracking is not reliable. NO REFUNDS are available from for poor USPS delivery service.

• DO NOT USE ANY USPS ENVELOPE OPTIONS. We cannot get your item in an envelope, and selecting this will put your order on hold while we contact you for collecting additional freight charges.

• Hazmat and Mailing Restrictions: Many items are not mailable by USPS. We will advise if there is a problem. See the USPS Mailability standards here http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/601.htm#1064962

• USPS "Package" Service for outside US (formally Parcel Post): This is the lowest cost shipping method. But delivery can be 2 to 10 weeks. There is no method of tracking these nor a provision for lost shipments. Shipment is NOT INSURED. You cannot make claims to us.

• Priority Mail Flat Rate Options: The Priority Mail Flat-Rate Boxes are size specific. Most items will not fit smaller boxes. We review Priority Mail shipments for Flat-Rate box options during PACKING. If a Flat-Rate box size is available, we will attempt to use this, and then make a shipping credit to you.

Shipping Terms and Information:

• Green Practices Notice: We are environmentally oriented and try to use and reuse (recycle) good packaging materials whenever possible. This includes both outer boxes and inside packing materials. We also endeavor to ship-direct from the closest manufacturing plant or warehouse where possible to avoid extra or multi-shipping. These savings are reflected in our prices and passed on to you. Thanks for your support!

• Our normal UPS Ground ship-out time is the next business day (freight carriers do not pick-up on weekends). Most UPS orders received before 1PM will ship the same day. USPS shipments ship the next day in most cases.

• Truck Freight: We have cost effective ground truck freight available on all items. Online, many items can get real-time quotes by selecting either UPS FREIGHT LTL or FreightQuote as a shipping option. Both will provide a selection of truck delivery options during your checkout. The Shipping Cost Estimator can be used for all services except UPS FREIGHT, which is only available during the checkout process. Some items still have freight limitations; please contact us if you are having a problem or questions.

• SAME-DAY SHIPPING EXCLUSIONS: Special order items, anything painted or tinted, hazardous or flammable materials, ground truck freight items, items which ship from our EAST COAST warehouses, items which are custom cut to size, some oversized items, many pallet-quantity orders (shipped from manufacturing plant), all overseas items.

• Confirmations: For UPS shipments, you will receive an email with the carrier tracking information the evening of the shipment day. The shipment can then be tracked the NEXT day on UPS. Truck shipment tracking information is sent in a few days. USPS Priority Class mail customers will get tracking the next day.

• Shipping Times: Normal UPS delivery (see delivery map) within the continental U.S. is 1 to 6 business days, depending on your location.

• Saturday Delivery: Our online shipping calculators do not currently provide a Saturday delivery option.

• Signature: By default, we ship UPS with NO SIGNATURE REQUIRED. Signature upon delivery may be required by carrier for shipments over $400 in value, and on ALL TRUCK SHIPMENTS. You MUST specify if you want signature for delivery.  Please type this in the special instructions box.

• Package Shipping Credits: Items may be shipped by a variety of carriers, but UPS is generally used for less than pallet sized orders. If your shipment requires a pallet, ground truck shipping will be used. Generally there are savings in shipping this way. You will be credited accordingly.

• Truck Freight Credits: We try our best to get special ground truck freight rates on larger orders and heavy items. We will credit you the savings. These credits are applied after the shipment and after the final delivery rates are determined.

• Without special pre-authorization, we cannot ship to P.O. boxes or to overseas agents.

• Canada Fees: Please see this link to more information about Canadian Shipping and Terms. You can get more information on Canada taxes and added fees at this site:  UPS Canadian Customs Clearance Fees

• Oversized Packages and Dimensional Weight: Small parcel shipping costs are calculated by UPS and USPS. They factor in both weight and size. Items which are large but lightweight are charged "dimensional weight". Items which are oversized (more than about 8.9 cubic feet) are charged additional special handling adders. More information is here: UPS Dimensional Weight and Oversized Packages.

• Other Special Charges: Oversize, Hazmat, Special Handling, Remote Area, Etc.

• High VOC Items: Many states and counties have restrictions on sales and use of high VOC items. These standards vary and change. We try to make note of all restrictions, but cannot cover every situation prior to all order. In this case we will contact you and advise the best options. Restrictions on high VOC include: Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia (several northern counties), S. California SCAQMD (aka South Coast)  and California Air Districts.  California has a mess of a system, which changes frequently.

• Hazmat Shipments and Returns: Our facilities are fully certified to ship out hazmat items. But NO parcel carriers will accept or pick up ANY hazmat return packages from non-certified shippers. Most UPS 3rd party shippers are not certified. You may not be able to return these goods, other than by TRUCK carriers.   

Special Shipping: Yes, we handle truck, ocean, and air international shipments to most countries. Please email us for a rate quote.

• Alaska: Special ground truck rates to Alaska are available for large shipments.

• Hawaii: We have both air, "ground" and ocean shipping available. Ocean is best for pallet sized items.

• Mexico: We have special ground truck rates.

• Other, Non-USA: We have both air and ocean shipping available. Ocean is best for pallet sized items.

Delivery Time Estimates: ALL DELIVERIES ARE ESTIMATES AND ARE ESTIMATED IN REGULAR BUSINESS DAYS. ESTIMATES EXCLUDE SATURDAY, SUNDAY & HOLIDAYS. We do our best to accurately estimate when items will ship and deliver. Estimated shipping dates are based on several factors, including your destination address, time of day your order is received, payment processing and holiday season delivery traffic.  WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LATE DELIVERY BY CARRIERS.

Flammable and Hazardous Classified Materials: Most hazardous or highly flammable materials are shippable by ground freight only. NO hazardous or flammable materials can be air shipped international. NO expedited international delivery is available on hazardous or flammable materials.

In-Store Pickup: Use the "Will Call" shipping option during check-out. (also see "Will Call" below). PLEASE CALL BEFORE ARRIVAL so your order can be ready. Some items are not stock and cannot be will called. Call first to check before ordering will call.

International Shipping and Customs:

  International Payment: We do not accept credit cards which do not have address verification by your bank. Paypal, bank wire or a check is required. International checks can take 7-10 days for bank clearance.

  International Shipments: We offer competitive international shipping rates. However, currently our automated rate calculators do not work for some international shipments and weight categories. Contact us before ordering so that we can accurately estimate shipment costs and times.

  International Shipment Tracking: Current U.S. security measures can prohibit supplying the MAWB (master air weight bill) information PRIOR to actual flight departure. You may not receive ANY shipment information until AFTER departure of a flight.

  Custom Clearance Rates & Additional Fees: You may be subject to import duties, taxes, freight carrier collection fees and brokerage fess, which are levied once a shipment reaches your country. Additional charges for customs clearance are borne by you; we have no control over these charges and cannot predict what they may be. Customs policies vary widely from country to country; you should contact your local customs office for further information. Additionally, when ordering you are considered the importer of record and must comply with all laws and regulations of the country in which you are receiving the goods. Generally, customs forms for international packages will list the value of your order's contents by product type.

  Canada Fees: For UPS Standard, there ARE substantial additional Brokerage and Duties fees which will be collected by the shipper before you get your items. Choose UPS Worldwide Expedited to save most of these fees. You can get more information on Canada taxes and added fees at this site: UPS Canadian Customer Clearance Fees

  Additional Fees: (out of country items) Customers are responsible for payment of any special brokerage, duties and taxes. When funds are not provided in advance by the customer, a fee (minimum $5.85) of the amount advanced by UPS will be charged. To avoid disbursement fees call 1-800-PICK-UPS and ask about UPS pre-payment and EFT plans.

  Privacy: Your privacy is important to us, and we know that you care about how information about your order is used and shared. We would like our international customers and customers shipping products internationally to be aware that cross-border shipments are subject to opening and inspection by customs authorities. Also, we may provide certain order, shipment and product information, such as titles, to our international carriers, and such information may be communicated by the carriers to customs authorities in order to facilitate customs clearance and comply with local laws.

If the order is a gift, the package is marked "Gift," but the cost of the item is still stated on the customs form. Customs authorities require us to state the value of the gift item directly on the package.

Special Handling: Oversized or extremely heavy items (> 150 lbs) require special handling and may have a surcharge. Also, some flammable/hazmat rated items. This may include common carrier (large truck) shipment. We will advise you prior to your shipment of any problems, special requirements and any surcharges. You can choose to cancel your order without penalty if the requirements and charges are not acceptable.

  TAIL GATE Delivery (large / heavy items): Common carrier deliveries are "tail gate" only deliveries. This means that the truck driver will only move the item to the tail gate of the truck. The customer is responsible for off-loading the item and moving the item from that point. Please arrange to have help present to assist you in offloading your product.

  LIFT GATE Delivery Options: (For heavy or bulky items). Lift gate trucks are specially designed trucks that have a lowering system present to assist in off-loading your item from the truck to the ground. A lift gate delivery can be arranged IN ADVANCE at an additional charge. It must be arranged in advance of shipment. Please speak to call us for additional information and a lift gate delivery quote. We will be happy to help you with this. Charge is additional and will be billed separately.

  Residential Delivery Surcharges: "Residential Deliveries" are deliveries that are made to NONCOMMERCIAL addresses regardless of the presence of a company name at that address. Residential delivery of oversized items have additional charges. To avoid these additional charges or delays do not specify business delivery unless the address is in a commercial zone. Other options are available for delivery, such as shipping the item to the nearest truck terminal for pick in your area or by shipping it to an alternate address such as a work address. Additional charges are incurred due to the need for switching your order from a large truck to a smaller one for delivery to your home. In many cases, large trucks cannot drive onto residential streets. Please call us for further information and exact rate quotes.

Shipping Preferences:  We consolidate your items into the fewest shipments possible. (We'll always show you the minimum number of shipments needed to complete your order.) Depending on the availability of the items you're purchasing, you might have to wait a bit longer for your order to ship, but you'll save money on shipping.

The number of shipments we make for your order is dependent upon items requiring special shipping and handling: Items that require special shipping and handling (for example, items that are large and/or heavy) are marked on their product detail pages as such and will ship separately from other items in your order. Note that in some cases, these items require an adult signature upon delivery.

 In some cases, you might receive your order in multiple shipments.

Shipping Restrictions & Surcharges for Flammable or Corrosive Items: Certain flammables and other items may have restricted shipping options or surcharges for handling flammables or corrosives. We will advise you prior to your shipment of any problems, special requirements and any associated surcharges. You can choose to cancel your order without penalty if the requirements and charges are not acceptable. California has a mess of a system, which changes frequently.

Tracking Your Package: If you have a tracking or delivery confirmation number, follow the links below for more information. If you're not sure whether or not your order has been shipped, check the status of your recent orders in Your Account.

UPS

         • Package Tracking: http://wwwapps.ups.com/etracking/tracking.cgi

         • Phone: 1-800-742-5877

U.S. Postal Service (comment: MANY times, USPS fails to scan items and tracking is not available. We do not recommend this service if you want tracking information).

         • Priority Mail Package Tracking: http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm

Undeliverable Packages:

Occasionally packages are returned to us as undeliverable. When the carrier returns an undeliverable package to us, we will contact you about redelivery or return processing. If a credit is due we will issue a refund,  EXCLUDING shipping charges and LESS a restocking fee.

If items are returned to us as undeliverable and we cannot reach you or receive no response regarding the delivery, items will be restocked according to our return policy, and a return credit for the items less shipping expenses will be applied to your account.

If you suspect your order cannot be delivered as addressed and you have not received confirmation of its return or refund after 4 weeks from the estimated delivery date, please contact us in writing or by email so that we have a written record. 

Why Was My Package Undeliverable? Carriers may deem a package undeliverable for one of the following reasons:

- Incorrect Address. If the address is incorrect or outdated, the package is typically returned to us by the carrier or the unintended recipient. Please double-check your address carefully when placing a new order.

- If an APO or FPO address is entered as an international address, the package will not reach its destination. Click here for more information on entering an APO or FPO address on the order form.

To remove an outdated or incorrect address from your account, login and click the "Manage your address book" link under the Account Settings heading in Your Account. Click either the Edit button or the Delete Address button beneath the address you want to change or remove.

- Address Format. If a post office box address was entered in a format our system does not recognize, the package may be shipped through a carrier that cannot deliver to a post office box. To ensure that such packages are routed through the proper carriers, please enter the box number as "PO BOX" followed by the number.

Other Address Problems: If the order is being shipped to a prison, there may be delivery restrictions associated with the items or shippers. These restrictions are determined by the penitentiary and may vary.

In rare cases, it is also possible that address label became illegible during the shipping and handling process.

Failed Delivery Attempts. Most of our carriers make three attempts to deliver a package. Packages that contain more than $400 of merchandise may require a signature; otherwise, it is generally up to the driver's discretion to determine whether a signature is required. If the driver feels it is best to obtain a signature and no one is present to accept the delivery after three attempts, the package will be returned to us.

Refused by Recipient. If a gift recipient is not expecting a gift, they may refuse the package if they believe it was sent to them in error. If you still want to send these items, you may want to let the recipient know that a surprise is on the way.

Will Call: You can advance-purchase your items to save both time and money! You only need to order and pay for your product on-line. Select the WILL CALL delivery option from the SHIPPING ADDRESSES during your check-out. SEE THIS EXAMPLE.

Your products will be waiting for you at our Will-Call counter (see "Contact Us" for a map). Simply present your printed reference information, a valid photo ID and you are on your way!

Delivery Time Estimates: ALL DELIVERIES ARE ESTIMATES AND ARE ESTIMATED IN REGULAR BUSINESS DAYS. ESTIMATES EXCLUDE SATURDAY, SUNDAY & HOLIDAYS. We do our best to accurately estimate when items will ship and deliver. Estimated shipping dates are based on several factors, including your destination address, time of day your order is received, payment processing and holiday season delivery traffic.  WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LATE DELIVERY BY CARRIERS.

Shipment Times:

Days shown start/count AFTER the ship day.  UPS transit times EXCLUDES weekends and holidays.

Example: You order Friday before noon. Shipment selected is 2-day. It will normally arrive on Tuesday.

Next Day Deliveries: We will contact you if we cannot ship the same day.

There is NO guarantee we can ship the same day as the orders are received. Many items ship from our East coast warehouses, which operate on different hours.