Shipping and Processing Policy

At Handpicked Gifts, we take great care in preparing, packing, and shipping each order. Please review the information below so you know exactly what to expect once your gift leaves our hands.

Shipping Methods

Handpicked Gifts ships orders via the following carriers:

UPS
USPS

Shipping Origin:

All Handpicked Gifts orders ship directly from North Carolina.
Our shipping department operates Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Orders are typically processed and shipped within 1–3 business days unless otherwise noted on the product page.
Processing time does not include transit time.

Shipping Destinations & Exclusions

We ship to the continental United States only.
We do not ship to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or international destinations.
We do not ship to APO/FPO addresses.
Free shipping (when offered) applies only to eligible, marked products and excludes P.O. Boxes.

Free Standard Shipping (Selected Products Only)

Available only on products specifically marked as “Free Shipping.”
Delivery typically takes 2–10 business days, depending on destination.
Free shipping is limited to the continental U.S.

Local Delivery (Chapel Hill & Carrboro)

Free local delivery is available within Chapel Hill and Carrboro, NC.
Most local deliveries are completed within 24–72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays), unless a specific delivery date is requested.
If we are unable to meet the requested delivery window, we will contact you directly.

For local deliveries, we may leave the gift on a porch or at a front door. Photo confirmation is taken at the time of delivery.

Address Accuracy & Returned Packages

Returned Packages & Unresponsive Customers

If a package is returned to Handpicked Gifts due to an incorrect, incomplete, or outdated address provided at checkout:

We will contact the purchaser using the email and/or phone number provided at the time of order.
The customer is responsible for any additional shipping costs required to resend the order.

If we do not receive a response within 14 days of our initial contact:

The order will be considered abandoned.
Handpicked Gifts reserves the right to:
- Cancel the order, or
- Issue a refund for the product(s) minus original shipping costs and any return shipping fees, or
- Dispose of perishable items, if applicable.

Once an order has been shipped and is in the possession of the carrier:

Handpicked Gifts is not responsible for delays, mis deliveries, or errors caused by UPS or USPS.
If a carrier marks a package as delivered but the recipient cannot locate it, we recommend first checking with neighbors, building management, or the carrier directly.

We are happy to assist by providing tracking details or helping initiate a carrier inquiry when appropriate.

Damaged Items During Transit

We carefully package all gifts to minimize the risk of damage. However, if your order arrives damaged:

Please contact us within 48 hours of delivery.
Include photos of the damaged item(s), packaging, and shipping label.

Once reviewed, we will determine the appropriate next steps, which may include a replacement or filing a claim with the carrier.

Porch Delivery & Theft

For local deliveries where a gift is left at a residence:

Photo confirmation is taken at the time of delivery.
Once a gift has been delivered and documented, Handpicked Gifts is not responsible for loss or theft after delivery.
If your gift recipient lives somewhere where porch delivery is not recommended, please choose shipping at checkout.

Additional Notes

We strongly recommend including the recipient’s phone number at checkout to ensure smooth delivery.
Special delivery requests should be noted at checkout whenever possible.