Shipping Information

PLEASE NOTE: I am located near BOSTON, MA on the EAST Coast -02370
Keep this in mind when requesting a shipping cost if you are on the West Coast
Usually orders ship in the order they are received. Items that are marked "Pre-Boxed" may ship 1st. All other items needs to be boxed before they are shipped

Effective May 1st 2010 there will be a $1 service charge for EACH shipping estimate. I can no longer respond to the hundreds of E-mails I receive asking for a shipping quote
This must be paid by PayPal ($1.05), Check or Money order
This charge is non-fundable
If you purchase within 90 days the estimate cost(s) will be applied towards the cost of your order

I need a full address, City, State & Zip Code for shipping Estimates - the shipping software requires this, no exceptions
I am now shipping via UPS & USPS
FedEx has increased their fees & keep tacking on additional charges without explanation
FedEx charges $8 a week to USE their services, and if your package is shipped one week & delivered the next week that is an ADDITIONAL $16 charge - which in many cases exceeds the cost of shipping!!! They have also started to tack on addition $2+ charges without explanation. In 2007 due to a problem with their address book I had 6 deliveries go to the wrong location. One package was NEVER recovered. I had to reship the boxes at my own expense ( I was never reimbursed for the lost item). FedEx has already announced their rates are going up 5.9% as of Jan 5th. With additional problems in 2008 I have decided to stop using FedEx

LOCAL PICKUP is ALWAYS WELCOME!!!
I ship to the US, Canada (via USPS - Max size 108" girth) & Hawaii (via USPS usually around $30 - Max size without a surcharge is 108" girth). Any other shipping is VERY Expensive ($300 to Australia as an example).  I haven't shipped anything to Alaska at present
Please Read this page regarding shipping information & options, shipping is via FedEx, USPS, or UPS
I do this as a HOBBY, if you wish an Immediate response & a Customer Service phone number please purchase from a normal store at normal prices
HOURS
Vacation & Holidays - I do take time off & travel - for a week, long weekend etc. If you do not receive an immediate response please allow time for a response.  During the "Busy" season from July thru the end of December I receive as many as 100+ E-mails a day. During this time SALES (paid for) come 1st - shipping estimates are 2nd, all other inquiries are handled as time allows. Please note I do this as a hobby, not a FT or PT job
ALL SALES, Questions & Issues are via E-mail: Sales (at) Holidaves.com
I need a full address, City, State & Zip Code for shipping Estimates - the shipping software requires this, no exceptions
A PHONE NUMBER is REQUIRED by the Carriers for shipping. If they have a problem with delivery they will try to call you. If they can't contact you they will send the item back to me. You will then need to pay for the return shipping to me & shipping to you AGAIN (this did happen once). Shipping costs are NEVER refundable. If you do not provide a phone number I will still ship the item at your risk
Shipping is VERY Expensive, I live near Boston, MA - 02370 - keep this in mind.  I'm not a large company & do not ship enough to qualify for huge shipping discounts from carriers.  If you find better shipping from someone else - buy from them - no sense spending more $$ on shipping.
Shipping to a BUSINESS is less money, if possible have your purchase shipped to a Commercial address
Please NOTE: The shipper  decides if the address is a Commercial address - NOT ME. If you run a business out of your house & tell me that it is a Commercial address & Carrier lists it as Residential - There is NOTHING I can do...Sorry

I do not ship anything COD, all items are sold "AS IS"
I do not have anyone else selling for me & do not drop Ship anything. You can buy something & have it shipped to another address (IE as a gift)
If you see someone else advertising/selling for my site or using my pictures they are doing so without my knowledge or permission.
Please let me know if you see my pictures being used on another site
Payment via Check & Money Order WILL delay shipping of your item by approx 10 days after deposit to allow payment to clear
Please note some scratches & paint rubbing off is normal in both the manufacture process & shipping of blow molds
I pack items in newspaper & styrofoam (if available).  My home is a smoke free environment, I do have  a cat
Please note I re-use boxes, so some may come from a "smoking environment"
C-7 light bulbs that come from the Mfg with items are not guaranteed & not checked before shipping
I enter your E-mail address when an item is shipped (FedEx/UPS). You will then receive an update via E-mail when the item ships & when it is delivered. I also receive an E-mail when the item is delivered

Shipping Size - UNDER 84" in Girth is 1st Rate schedule, between 85"-108" is 2nd Rate schedule (LARGE - Oversize 1), 109"-130" is 3rd Rate schedule (Oversize 2).  OVER 130" (Oversize 3) in girth is very expensive to ship - usually much cheaper to split the shipment up between (2) boxes
Shipments to Canada via USPS are restricted to 108" MAX size (FedEx after that & expensive - $75+ on larger items)
Shipments to Hawaii are usually around $30 UNDER 108" girth and takes approx 3-5 weeks (usually closer to 5 weeks)
Girth = 2x height + 2z width + Length (where length is the longest side)

USPS:  Smaller items are usually less expensive to ship via USPS - United States Post Office. This involves dropping the items off at the PO, so usually items are sent out ONCE per week, on Saturday. This is usually the only day I can make it to the PO box when they are open
Smaller packages are usually the same to ship via USPS Parcel Post or Priority mail. Usually I will try to ship these items Priority Mail as it is faster
Delivery time:  Priority Mail generally takes an AVERAGE 2-3 days, Parcel Post takes between 2-9 days = I have seen OVER 14 days
Please note these time frames ARE NOT GUARANTEED by USPS. I shipped a small snowman to New Hampshire (next state) via USPS & it took over 4 weeks to get there
Tracking Information: This costs extra, normal tracking only lists when the postage is printed, & is then updated once delivered
If you want your package tracked as it is shipped you must request this option (added cost)
USPS has a size limit of 84" girth for Priority mail & 130" for Parcel Post, over 108" is a VERY HIGH SURCHARGE - up  to $100
Insurance for Items shipped via USPS is EXTRA, I usually quote with insurance

How do I Save on shipping costs?
#1 Order all of your items at once. Its not that much more shipping another item in a slightly larger box VS shipping a 2nd box
Multiple boxes shipped to the same address at the same time are usually a reduced rate from the Carriers

#2 Ship to a Commercial address (Carriers decide what is a Commercial address - not me)

#3 Skip the Insurance? That's up to you, I do not recommend it. I've only had 1 shipment out of 100's that went missing & it was insured

#4 EBAY UPS rates- I have found the UPS rate Calculator to be WAY OFF. Sometimes MUCH higher, sometimes MUCH lower. It's also WAY OFF when calculating multiple items purchased thru the same Auction
I contacted EBay about these issues, they "admitted" it could be off in certain circumstances
NOTE: FedEx can charge $8 a WEEK just to USE their software!!! I have lower rates thru FedEx, but that $8 week charge makes it less expensive to ship via UPS/USPS when I am only shipping 2-3 packages, In addition if your items ships one week & is delivered the next week  THEY CHARGE $8 for EACH WEEK = $16 !!!

#5 I have my own shipping Account with a Carrier, can I have my item shipped thru my account?  Sure, You will need to process & provide a shipping label for me to print - subject to verification & my approval.  You MAY need to pay me for shipping 1st, once the item has shipped & been delivered I will refund your shipping payment.  Why do I need to pay for shipping if I am processing shipping thru my account? I have no way of verifying a shipping label as valid, if there are any problems the shipper will charge me for the shipping

Shipping via Greyhound: While this is usually lower shipping for large items I am not near a Greyhound terminal. It would take me over 2 hours roundtrip to drive into Boston to drop off. With the cost of gas & the time it would take this is not an option at present

Shipping by the pallet - freight: I have looked into this. I do not have a loading dock, so picking up a pallet at my house may not be an option. I have looked into the cost & it can vary widely - anywhere from $275-$550 depending upon location. Process: I send out shipping requests for a pallet, they expect to pick-up within 3 days of sending me a quote. In order to ship by pallet it must be pre-paid, any extra $$ if I can get a lower rate is refunded to you
 

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