International
Shipping Information

How long will it take to receive my order?

• Orders are usually shipped within 3 to 5 business days from receipt of payment.

  The US Postal Service says that packages will arrive in 6-10 business days.  We have found that most packages arrive within two weeks, but there is a lot of variation in actual shipping times and it sometimes takes even longer!   No one at the US Post Office seems to have an explanation for the variability in shipping times.  As our post office loves to remind us, once it lands in the destination country, they have no control of the delivery of mail.

• Orders placed on Friday are posted the following business day

• Business days are Monday through Thursday! 

  To our Customers from Italy:  Our packages leave the US the day after they are shipped.  Italy tends to be very slow at getting packages through customs.  In our experience delivery can be as soon as 10 days, but often the range is 30-45 days from shipping from the US.  We have had some packages arrive 60 days after shipping.  Italian customs is very strict on what can enter the country and some areas seem to be more strict than others. They may open the packages and a few times required that the soaps be tested at the expense of the customer or they would be shipped back to the US.  Please understand that we have no control over packages once they leave the US and cannot be responsible for problems with customs in Italy or any other country!

  **See information on Shipping Notification below**

HOW to CHOOSE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING:
International shipping quotes do not include any duties or
other charges that may be applied by your country's government.
Any duties and taxes for international shipments are at the cost of the customer

Priority Mail International FLAT RATE Envelope****: 

• This is the option that most international customers choose for smaller orders
• We can ship for a flat rate of $16.95 to about 80 countries
• The cost is $13.75 to Canada & Mexico. 
•  Each LARGE envelope can hold up to 7 full size bars of our soap OR 16 samples, or the equivalent--see chart below
• This is the most economical method of international shipping.  But please be aware...
  *******There is NO insurance available for Flat Rate Envelopes.
  ******The USPS does not provide tracking information for Flat Rate envelopes!
• We ship most of our international orders using the International Flat Rate envelope and we have had very few problems, but please understand that we CANNOT replace lost or damaged packages. 
• If you would like to be able to track your package and have some insurance, please use the Priority Mail International Flat Rate Box or regular Priority Mail International.
• This option CANNOT be used for gifts,  Howard's woodshop items, or items that will not fit!

Priority Mail International FLAT RATE BOX: 
       FOR ORDERS UP TO $150.00 (This box only comes in one size--for larger orders please e-mail us)

• We can ship for a flat rate of $49.95 (includes insurance and handling) to about 60 countries (If flat rate is not available to your country, the option will not appear when you check out.)
• The cost is $34.95 (includes insurance and handling) to Canada & Mexico
• Each flat rate box can hold about 25 bars of soap (or the equivalent--see chart below). There will be little room for cushioning with this much soap, but the box is more durable than the envelope and includes a small amount of insurance based on the weight of the package--not the price of the contents. If you require more insurance, it is available at an additional charge only through e-mail orders.  There are some countries for which the US Postal Service does NOT offer extra insurance.

The chart below will help you figure how some other items will fit
in the Priority Mail International FLAT RATE BOX or ENVELOPE
 

1. FLAT RATE Envelope: can hold up to 7 full size bars of our soap or shampoo (or the equivalent--see below).  

2. FLAT RATE Box:  Although we recommend this box for orders about $150.00, it can hold about 25 bars of soap (or the equivalent--see below).  NOTE: With this many bars there will not be room for protective packaging. 
 

The chart below will help you figure how some other items will fit
in the Priority Mail International FLAT RATE BOX or ENVELOPE

Priority Mail International FLAT RATE shipping is not available to all countries. 

To Help you see the cost difference for the different postage options here is an **Example Order
 

**This example order was for two bars of soap and 2 samples to the United Kingdom!

• importing soap/body products
• maximum allowable value of goods imported
• other general rules that may affect receiving your package

Please understand that we cannot be responsible for problems receiving your order
due to policies within your country!

Missing International Orders
 

Flat Rate Envelopes:  Please remember there is NO INSURANCE available for flat rate envelopes

• The US Post Office will not even begin looking for a missing package until 30 days after the expected delivery date.
• After that date they will initiate a search. 
• After 60 days, if no information has been discovered, they will declare the package missing
• Please understand that we CANNOT replace lost international packages. 

Flat Rate Boxes:

• The US Post Office will not even begin looking for a missing package until 30 days after the expected delivery date.
• After that date they will initiate a search. 
• After 60 days, if no information has been discovered, they will declare the package missing and issue claim forms for us to fill out and mail back.
• It then takes up to 60 days for them to issue a refund based on the insured value.

All orders are shipped via
United States Postal Service Priority Mail

USPS Gone GREEN

The United States Postal Service is the ONLY shipping service in the US to achieve "Cradle to Cradle" certification at the Silver level from MBDC (McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry) for human and environmental health.

To learn more about the USPS "Cradle to Cradle" certification  click here!

SHIPPING NOTIFICATION

When your shipping labels is printed you will receive an e-mail from PayPal or the US Postal Service***with a transaction/label number.   Unfortunately, if your shipment is via FLAT RATE ENVELOPE, when you check your shipment you will receive the following message:
 

The US Post Office does NOT track Flat Rate Envelopes.  All International packages must be shipped on the date posted on the address/postage label or the label becomes invalid.  So you will know the date that your order will be or has been shipped.

If your order is shipped via the FLAT RATE BOX there is "usually" some tracking information available!