Shopping 101: Ordering and Shipping the Chocolate Alchemy Way

Please take the time to read the following if you have not ordered on our new shopping cart as it may save you and us time and frustration.

All our shipping is done as quickly as possible. With this in mind it is generally 2-4 days from the time you order to the time we ship the order.  We are a small company, each wearing a few hats, but generally do not ship every day unless the need arises.  With an emailed request (with your order number please), we will do our best to ship sooner rather than later. We will notify you of delays as soon as possible, and we do our utmost to avoid them.

Kits which contain roasted beans may take up to a week to ship as the Alchemist only roasts a couple times a weeks.

Shipping Methods

FedEx and UPS: Within the continental United States we prefer to ship by FedEx or UPS (United Parcel Service). FedEx is generally the most economical and traceable method. It is also because the Alchemist is approaching 100 (very slowly, I don’t keep track of such trivial details as how old I am, ask my partner!) and prefers to be as curmudgeonly as possible and does not like to change anything. Also, it is automatically insured for the value of the order. With all UPS orders you will receive a UPS tracking number when the order ships.

USPS: If you ship to a PO Box, there is a live person here and your order will go by USPS Priority. . All non-USA orders ship by USPS (Canada can also ship UPS).

USPS Flat Rate Priority Mail: These are a great deal  We can fit the following into Flat Rate boxes and envelopes:

Flat rate Envelope: 2 lbs of Cocoa beans, nibs or butter.
Medium Box: 8 lbs of whole cocoa or nibs or butter.
Large Box: 12 lbs of whole cocoa beans or butter.

During checkout, you may see variations of “cocoa beans only” or ‘No molds please’ on the Flat rate Envelope. The reason for this is that checkout and shipping methods are based on weight, but in most cases none of the chocolate molds will fit in a Flat rate Envelope, but because they are so light, you will see it as an option. Please don’t pick it.

USPS Priority Mail 2,3 or 4 Day - Please try and not be fooled by the Postal Service.  These "2-Day" listings are NOT guarantees.  The are estimates only, and a nice bit of marketing misdirection. by the Postal Services.  The delivery time is EXACTLY the same as the Flat rate options above.  Unfortunately we are not able to change the text the Postal Service feeds the live rates. 

USPS Parcel Select Ground - This is the cheapest and slowest method of delivery.  It also does NOT come with insurance.  If your package is damaged or lost you are sadly out of luck.  That is the consequence of the lower shipping rate.  Choose wisely my friend.

International Orders

Outside the continental US, your only choice is Insured US Mail (USPS), and you have a choice of speeds that you can choose (Priority, Express, First class, etc).

We will ship anywhere the Post Office claims delivery is available to. However internationally there is little way to guarantee delivery. If you live in Upper Left Nowhere, and are waiting patiently for a package from Chocolate Alchemy and your delivery person tells you “still no package” and then offers you a sample of their home made chocolate, we can’t help you. If you have concerns, just outline them in the space available when you place your order (just prior to checkout, and where your Country goes).

Prices do NOT include any duties, custom clearance, taxes, bribes, payola or anything else your country may require.

And as a reminder, please don’t pick a Flat Rate envelope as your shipping option if you have purchased any chocolate molds – they just don’t fit.

Payment

We accept credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, and Discover (but not American Express)) both directly via Authorize.net and via Paypal. If you choose this option, you will be routed to Paypal and back. Will not actually charge your credit card until we complete and ship your order. We will of course take checks and money orders, but will not ship until they clear. Those and other correspondence can go to:

Chocolate Alchemy
3796 Stewart Road
Eugene OR 97402

If you choose to pay by check or money order, you will receive an email after your order is complete. Just print it out and send it in with the amount indicated.

Rushes
If you are in a rush for your order, the first step is to let us know. Add a note telling us you need it in a hurry, or even better yet, send us an email (with your 5 digit order number) . We never charge extra for helping you get your order quicker. We will do what we can to speed things up. If we can do it we will, if not, no amount of money will make it happen. Regardless, after that, choose the speed of delivery you want (UPS next day, USPS Express, etc) on the final page of checkout. Again, the same 2-4 day ship time applies, but we will do our best to get a “rush” package out ASAP. Communication is the key.

Notifications, Deliveries, Damage and Claims

We send out tracking numbers with all UPS and USPS shipments, both local and international.  Please allow 2-3 days for the tracking to update.

It is your responsibility to keep track of a shipment and notify Chocolate Alchemy if your shipment does not arrive.  We do not track packages and are not notified of delivery issues.  If a package does not arrive, you must contact us within 30 days.  After that we may be unable to trace the package or file a claim.

Should your package arrive damaged, please contact us within 7 days and keep all packaging.  Please do not just refuse a delivery.  Photos and packaging may be needed to file a claim.  We will attempt to assist if you don't let us know in that 7 day window but in many cases these rules are set by the carrier.  And a reminder, USPS Parcel Select does NOT come with insurance.  If your package is damaged you are sadly out of luck.  That is the consequence of the lower shipping rate.  Choose wisely my friend.

Other stuff
If there is anything that we have missed that you would have found helpful, please let us know. We are here to serve you and can only make changes once we know there is a problem. Any comments no matter how bitter or sweet can go to Orders@ChocolateAlchemy.com