Shipping & Care
IMPORTANT SHIPPING INFORMATION
FREE SHIPPING POLICY LIMITATIONS:
Free shipping is for chocolate products only, and it does not apply to wine products. This means that if you order wine in the same shipment as chocolate, and even if the shopping cart value may be over the free shipping threshold, then shipping charges will be applied to the wine shipment. This is due to the wine shipments originating from a bonded warehouse that requires extra expense related to this type of shipping. Free shipping is not possible in this model. Free Shipping Policy Limitations are subject to change and are often based on weather temperatures. Always check the current policy and rate before ordering. Thank you for understanding!
WINE SHIPMENTS:
Wine products are shipped from a separate warehouse from chocolate products. This means that if you order wine and chocolate in the same shopping cart, you will receive two different boxes that will have two different tracking numbers. They may also be shipped using two different shipping carriers. Do not be alarmed if you receive one box before the other - that is fairly common. Also, free shipping never applies to wine orders. This is due to the wine shipments originating from a bonded warehouse that requires extra expense related to this type of shipping. Free shipping is not possible in this model.
WARM WEATHER SHIPPING IN EFFECT (5/29/2024):
This is Texas! We make every attempt to deliver your chocolate in warmer months (for us, sometimes that is year round!) but be prepared for some extra steps. Our standard shipping rates apply, but given the excessive heat wave this summer, we have unfortunately had to incorporate additional packaging requirements which add a $25 surcharge for insulated shipping containers. 1) We will freeze your chocolate for 24 hours prior to shipping. This plus cooling packs will help to mitigate some of the Texas heat. 2) Please make sure someone is available to receive your packages. Although we do everything we can to work with UPS, we can't prevent a package from being left for several hours outside at your delivery location. 3) We may have to limit shipping options during certain times to particular destinations. If we feel we need to change your shipping options, we will contact you and ask you if you want to proceed with the shipping. Please note that this might entail upgrading shipping transit times and that may come at an additional cost. 4) If your chocolates do arrive melted, please send a photo to info@hillcountrychocolate.com and we will issue you a prompt refund. Thank you for understanding!
Nothing is more important to us than your complete satisfaction. That is why we take great care in creating our chocolates and hand-packing your order. Due to perishability, our chocolates are shipped via Local, Express, or Overnight methods.
Please familiarize yourself with our shipping rates and policies before you order. Changes to orders, such as address updates, may not be able to be made if an order has already been printed for shipping. This is especially true during peak shipping seasons around the Holidays. Wine is shipped from our wine warehouse and carrier rates apply depending on weight and region. This will be in addition to your chocolate order.
Shipping Methods and Fees for Chocolate
- Ground* - 2 to 5 Business Days $10.95 {variable in warm weather months from May to September}
- Express* - 1 to 2 Business Days $19.95 (variable in warm weather months from May to September)
∗ These shipping methods may only be used when the weather allows.
∗∗ Shipping rates are flat per package based on chosen and available shipping methods. If shipping to multiple recipients, additional shipping charges will apply for each shipment. Larger quantity orders may require more shipping costs. We do not ship to AK or HI addresses or internationally at this time.
∗∗∗ Delivery timelines do not consider unexpected weather delays, which may affect delivery timelines, ship dates, and arrival dates. We cannot be held responsible for delays due to weather, incorrect address provided, or other circumstances beyond our control. We can not ship to P.O. or APO boxes.
∗∗∗∗ Ground Shipping has no guaranteed delivery date.
ORDER PROCESSING
- We try hard to get orders out before the next business day on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, but delays may occasionally occur during peak holiday seasons. If you need your order by a specific date, email us at info@hillcountrychocolate.com and discuss your needs with one of our chocolate team, and we will help you with your order.
SHIPPING OVER THE WEEKEND
- Our chocolate shipments are shipped early in the week (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays) to avoid having the chocolates sit over the weekend in an unconditioned warehouse. If you send a package to a warm-weather destination over a weekend, your parcel will be held until the following Monday to ensure minimal time in transit. Depending on your address, wine may be shipped on different days.
PACKAGING
- We take significant measures to ensure our chocolate is delivered fresh and in perfect condition. We use insulated packaging and gel packs to protect the chocolates to reduce the risk of melted chocolate in transit to warmer climates and seasons (65 degrees and higher). Our boxes consist of corrugated cardboard and insulation, but shipping chocolates in the American Southwest can be challenging during the summertime. Therefore, in the summer, please select Overnight shipping as the preferred option: Overnight - Next Business Day $38.95
DELIVERY TIMES FOR BUSINESSES & RESIDENCES
- UPS is our preferred shipping vendor, but we may also ship FEDEX in certain circumstances. All of our shipping vendors only deliver on business days. Business deliveries typically occur between 8 AM and 5 PM, and deliveries to residences can generally happen between 9 AM and 7 PM. It is helpful to have someone available to place your chocolate orders inside, away from the environment, when they arrive. Wine orders will require an adult signature. Since chocolate and wine are shipped from different warehouses, it is possible that your shipment may arrive in different containers and on different days.
INTERNATIONAL ORDERS
- At the current time, we cannot ship to international destinations.
WHEN WILL MY ORDER ARRIVE?
- Track your order here with your UPS tracking number(s). All orders leave our Fredericksburg, Texas factory within 24 hours of processing, subject to inventory availability and our shipping policy of only shipping on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. To ensure the best possible product, orders cannot ship over the weekend most of the time. Thus, standard shipment packages may be held until the following Monday to ensure minimal time in transit. You may occasionally get a notification over the weekend concerning a label created for your order. Please note that it will not ship out of Fredericksburg, Texas, until Monday.