HERE’S A QUICK GUIDE TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND OUR SHIPPING PRACTICES AND POLICIES.
Our standard shipping is with USPS Priority Mail, which only takes 2-3 days to arrive anywhere in the United States. That’s after processing time of 1-3 days, so please allow 4-7 days between when you order and when you need the cacao to be in your hands! (International shipping info below.)
We also offer UPS Ground shipping in the U.S., which takes 2-4 days (after processing time) and could offer extra security.
On the checkout page you will be shown shipping options based on what you're ordering, how much (size/weight), and also your destination.
NOTE: "Small package" might be a cardboard box, paperboard envelope, or plastic padded envelope, depending on the size of the product(s) you order.
U.S. orders of $120 or more automatically get free shipping by USPS! Most of our products are heavy, so shipping options tend to be expensive compared to other products of a similar size. For orders that qualify for free shipping, we automatically choose the most economical option while also taking into account the size and shape of the product(s) in your order.
If you want to guarantee that your order ships in a cardboard box (rather than a bubble mailer or envelope), then please instead choose a Medium or Large box option at checkout.
FREE PICKUP
To order online and pick up in-person in Portland, Oregon, look for the Delivery Method section on the checkout page.
We've partnered with Cafe Zamora, a local Guatemalan coffee shop, to make free pickup available to you. However, our staff operates separately, and they don't yet have many of our products available for retail purchase. Soul Lift Cacao staff have to receive and process the online order. Currently we are able to do that Tuesday through Friday.
So if you choose local pickup, please wait til you receive an email stating that your order is ready for pickup and providing you with further instructions. In other words, if you order on a Sunday and show up before getting a confirmation that your order is ready, chances are that you won't be able to retrieve your order.
Because space is very limited, they can hold orders for 3 business days after we send the "ready for pickup" notification. On the 4th day, we'll have to refund the order minus a 3% re-stocking fee.
SHIPPING ERRORS, DAMAGES, AND MELTING
All packages are fully insured for the order value case of loss or damage (e.g. a torn bag) during shipping, so you can purchase with confidence. We include instructions for what to do about damages on the packing slip. Basically, send us photos by email and hold onto everything until we provide further instructions.
If a month passes and you have no received your package, Contact Us and we can submit a claim for loss.
PLEASE NOTE:
- We are not responsible for mistakes in the shipping address submitted with orders. If a package gets returned to us, you’ll have the option to pay for shipping a second time.
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Melting due to high heat doesn't count as damage or qualify for insurance reimbursement. Check upcoming weather in both Portland, Oregon (where we are), and your location before ordering. If either one is over 90 degrees F, then there's a chance that some melting might occur. We do what we can to insulate your product using wrapping paper or shredded paper. We also put a sticker on packages asking postal workers to keep the package out of high heat and direct sunlight.. but there's no way for us to guarantee they'll honor the request. Melting doesn't actually harm the cacao. Just put it in a cool, dark place until it re-solififies. Then you can chop and use it like normal. If you're concerned about melting, we recommend buying blocks of cacao (which don't melt as easily) or a single serving of drinking chocolate (which can easily be broken up to make a drink) – not larger bags of ground cacao or drinking chocolate.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
We do ship internationally at extra cost. This is automated in our online shop when you enter your destination country at checkout.
International priority mail usually takes 6-10 days after the 2-3 days of processing time. There may be additional delays to due global events beyond our control.
Also please note that the “tracking number” provided by USPS does not always give progress updates for international shipments, other than to say if it has shipped and arrived.
NOTE: We are also not responsible for any duties or taxes incurred for shipping items to your destination country (if you're outside the U.S.) Please research that before ordering so you can be prepared. Canadian customers will see a shipping option at checkout which includes duties. We're working on a similar solution for other international orders!
IF YOU STILL HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE READ OUR FAQ PAGE AND THEN CONTACT US IF NECESSARY!