Shipping policy
Shipping Information:
LOCAL PICKUP: Leave us a note in the checkout area to let us know when you will be picking up your order. We are more than happy to do curbside service. Simply call when you are parked out front (double-parking is okay).
FREE SHIPPING: When an order qualifies for free shipping, WE determine the shipping method based on our costs. IF you need your items right away, it is your responsibility to select the method that will satisfy your time requirement AND pay for that shipping method. We never ship Express for free, but most often we do use Priority. If it’s a very large order, we may use UPS Ground or USPS Parcel Post. If you require special handling, such as signature required drop-off, you will need to contact us prior to shipping and we will let you know what the post office charges for those requests.
INTERNATIONAL DISCOUNTS are applied when the package(s) leave our facility. We will refund the amount of the discount back to the payment method used to pay for the order.
The Shipping Staff at Melt Glass Art Supply makes every effort to ensure that your order will be quickly processed and safely delivered.
We can ship products anywhere in the United States, and to most International destinations, using several available shipping options.
When you place an order with Melt Glass Art Supply, it should ship within 48 business hours. Our days of operation are Tuesday-Saturday. We do not ship on weekends or postal holidays. Our web site is based on a real time inventory, so your items should be in stock and ready to ship. Your credit card or PayPal account will be charged at checkout.
In the unlikely event that we have unexpected breakage or an inventory error, and cannot ship your item right away, we will notify you and make arrangements for a substitution or a timely refund, when appropriate.
We do not take special orders or back order items through the website, unless the item is noted as being Special Order. Otherwise, special orders must be placed via phone or email.
**NOTE ABOUT SPECIAL ORDER ITEMS:
1. Grinders, Saws and Torches are Special Order Items.
2. Special Orders can take 1-4 weeks to ship. You will receive an email when we receive your Special Order items.
3. If your order has both Special Order and stock items, the entire order will be held here until the Special Order items arrive. If you would like to have your stock items shipped right away, please create a separate order for the Special Order items.
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We offer several shipping options for both USPS and UPS shipping, including expedited methods, so you can control your cost vs. shipping speed. We never use third party carriers or International freight handlers, so please don’t ask. Here is a preview of the shipping options you will see at checkout –
NOTE – USPS delivery times can vary. The shorter time shown is typical for delivery to USA West Coast locales (we are in Washington state), and the longer time shown is typical for East Coast deliveries.
Delivery time is shown in USPS working days (Monday-Saturday). Delivery time is calculated from the day your package leaves our facility, NOT from the moment your order is placed. Melt Glass is not responsible for delays or exceptions in shipping time that occur after the package has left our facility. When your order ships you will receive a link to tracking information containing the projected delivery date.
USPS Priority International – Varies greatly by location, typically 1 to 2 weeks
USPS First Class International – Varies greatly by location, typically 3 to 4 weeks. CANNOT BE TRACKED OR INSURED. Shipping with this method is at your own risk, as the USPS will not track or insure these items against damage or loss. This means that YOU are accountable for all loss or damage and Melt Glass Art Supply is not held liable for any loss or damage when you select First Class USPS as your shipping method.
USPS Priority Mail – 1 to 3 days
USPS Express Mail – 1 to 2 days
USPS Parcel Post – 2 to 10 days
USPS First Class domestic – 5 to 10 days, cannot be tracked or insured. Shipping with this method is at your own risk, as the USPS will not track or insure these items against damage or loss. This means that YOU are accountable for all loss or damage and Melt Glass Art Supply is not held liable for any loss or damage when you select First Class USPS as your shipping method.
UPS Ground – 1 to 5 days (in working days, M-F)
Note – Delivery time is calculated from the day your package leaves our facility, NOT from the moment your order is placed. Melt Glass is not responsible for delays or exceptions in shipping time that occur after the package has left our facility. When your order ships you will receive a link to tracking information containing the projected delivery date.
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Our shipping charges are retrieved from the shipper’s web site at the time of checkout, based on the actual weight of your specific order. If there is a miscalculation, or we find we can ship your order for less than the amount charged at checkout, we will refund the difference to the payment method used for the original purchase. Due to charges we incur from the credit card companies and PayPal, we do not refund postage unless it is wildly different.
Package Tracking / Lost Packages:
Tracking information for your package is sent to you by email at the time the package leaves our possession. If you cannot locate this emailed information, you can retrieve it from your Order History on our site and track it through the shipper’s website. This will be either www.usps.com (for express, priority, first class and parcel post packages, including International) or www.ups.com. We do not have access to any additional tracking information. After 30 days has elapsed from the date of shipment, we will be able to assist you in filing insurance claims and/or package locator requests with the shipper. If you have chosen First Class USPS or First Class International USPS, there is no way to track these packages nor are they insurable. The USPS takes no responsibility for these packages, as they are treated like a first class letter. Therefore, Melt Glass Art Supply takes no responsibility for lost items shipped via USPS First Class, whether domestic or international.
If the tracking information shows that a package was delivered, we will not replace the items. It is the recipient’s responsibility to either state that a signature must be required or provide us with a secure delivery address. If the delivery service leaves the package in an unsecured location or delivers to the incorrect address, we do not take responsibility for any resulting loss or damage.
Damaged Packages:
If your items arrive damaged, and if you have the option, PLEASE do not accept delivery. If the items were left in your mailbox on or your doorstep, you obviously won’t have this option.
Please contact your local post office and complain about the state of your package. TAKE PHOTOS! The more photos you have, the better. If they tell you that the shipper needs to complain, please let us know and we will file a claim from this end. Please file any and all claims that you are able to, even if we are asked to do the same.
We insure packages at our discretion, based on value of contents and delivery destination. That being said, if there is no insurance on a package, then often there will be no responsibility taken by USPS or UPS. So, if you want insurance, you must contact us and pay for it.
OUR LIABILITY: Please understand that we ship THOUSANDS of packages a year, and have for 20+ years, with an average of LESS than one instance of damage per year. Because of this, we are happy to replace the damaged items when we can, and refund for anything that we cannot replace. We MUST have photos of the broken items, so that together we can determine what the refund should look like. For example, if it is simply a corner knocked off of a quarter sheet, the refund would look different than an entire quarter sheet shattered into multiple pieces. We are always more than fair and will always strive to make sure you are satisfied with the resolution.