This article contains the following sections:
Who Pays for Shipping?
The Buyer always pays for shipping, unless the sellers has decided to offer free shipping on an item.
The cost of shipping is added to the buyer's order during the checkout process, ensuring that the buyer sees the same item price regardless of where they are located. This ensures that there are no unpleasant surprises for either buyer or seller.
Shipping Costs
Shipping prices are not one-size-fits-all. Quotes are generated from carrier rates and depend on several variables:
- Distance: The farther an item travels between seller and buyer ZIP codes, the higher the carrier rate.
- Size and weight: Carriers price by either actual weight or dimensional weight (based on the size of the box). Whichever is higher is used.
- Fragility and packing needs: Extra padding, double boxing, and custom crating for fragile pieces add weight and size, increasing cost.
- Service level: In-home delivery (ex. for large furniture) costs more than standard parcel service because it involves additional labor, equipment, and insurance.
- Item form factor: If an item cannot be dismantled, it must ship as one large piece, which often pushes the package into more expensive rate categories.
Calculating Your Shipping Costs
To see the shipping cost on any item to your location, click on the Calculate Your Shipping Costs link under the 'Details' section and enter your zip code. You will receive a real-time, accurate quote. Additional charges may apply in some cases. This includes but is not limited to: delivery locations that are not accessible by road, require a ferry ride, and/or items that require special handling or equipment to complete delivery.
If a shipping quote looks off, verify your full delivery address at checkout. If it still seems unusual, contact us with the item link, your full address and ZIP, and a screenshot of the shipping quote so we can review.
Extraneous Shipping Invoices
Your purchase price should include the shipping charges shown at checkout. If you later receive separate invoices from UPS/FedEx, do not pay them before checking with us. Send us an email with the following:
- Your order number
- The invoices (PDF or photos) you received from UPS/FedEx
- Tracking numbers
- Your shipping address
Possible causes include carrier billing to the wrong account or accessorial fees being misapplied. We'll investigate with the seller/carrier and dispute or resolve any charges that shouldn't be billed to you.
Reducing Shipping Costs
You can save on the cost of shipping by searching for items in your area that offer local pickup or delivery. To do so, use these search filters found under the 'Shipping & Delivery' section along the left side of the page when searching for an item:
- Free Shipping
- Shipping Under $50
- Free Local Pickup
Free Shipping
- Free shipping may be offered on select listings at the seller’s discretion.
- Smaller items are typically delivered within 2 weeks of the purchase date, while larger items and furniture may take up to 6 weeks for delivery, and up to 8 weeks when either the buyer or seller is located outside of standard shipping routes.
- When an item with Free Shipping is returned, the cost of return shipping fees will be charged to the buyer.
Additional Shipping Options
Items being delivered via Local Delivery or Parcel delivery also tend to ship for lower costs than other shipping methods.
You can also ask the seller if they would allow you to arrange your own shipping, which may also save on shipping costs.
If you're interested in purchasing an item but would like to use a shipping method that is not listed in the item details, you can message the seller to see if they offer any other shipping options.
Combining Shipping
Combining shipments isn't always possible and can sometimes increase cost due to dimensional weight rules:
- Different sellers: Orders from different sellers ship separately and cannot be combined.
- Same seller: The seller may be able to pack items together, but only if it's safe and cost-effective. A larger combined box can trigger oversized or dimensional-weight surcharges and cost more than separate parcels.
- Existing orders: Once an order is placed, it's often already in processing with a label/booking. Adding another item may require a separate shipment or a revised booking fee.
To explore options, send an email to support@chairish.com before purchasing with links to the items, your zip code, and your preferred timeline. We'll ask the seller/carrier whether combining is feasible and quote any savings, or confirm if separate shipments are more economical.