2025 Shipping Policies and Insurance
Incidents of package loss, theft and damage have gone up significantly at the same time the rates for shipping have increased across all carriers. We are updating our Shipping Policies and Shipping Insurance options from 25 July 2025 onward. PLEASE READ THESE NEW POLICIES BEFORE PLACING YOUR ORDER.
New for 2025: Add Shipping Insurance to your Shipment- For US and Outside US Shipments
The checkout page gives you the opportunity to ADD Shipping Insurance to your parcel or to OPT OUT from the insurance. When you place an order that includes Shipping Insurance, your shipment is protected against loss, theft and damage. If your insured package is lost, stolen or damaged we will make a CLAIM and when the claim process is complete, we will replace or refund your lost, damaged or missing package. With Shipping Insurance in place for your parcel, we will also assist in tracking/locating a missing parcel to the extent allowed by the carrier.
If you choose NOT TO ADD the Shipping Insurance option, you will save some money on shipping costs. But all the risks associated with loss, theft or damage are solely your responsibility. For parcels shipped without Shipping Insurance, we are not able to assist you in any way in tracking, documenting and submitting claims or other issues once your parcel has left our custody.
Other Important Notes:
- USPS intake scanning for tracking purposes can be inconsistent. In many cases, USPS packages go into the custody of USPS without being recognized for tracking purposes. In many instances, packages are delivered to the recipient before showing up anywhere in the USPS tracking system. We do not have any access to carrier updates or tracking information beyond what you have as the purchaser.
- Tracking Marked ‘Delivered’-- But Missing: Occasionally a package is reported as ‘Delivered’ by USPS, but does not show up to the customer until later that day, the next day, or two days. If you do not have the package when USPS reports ‘Delivered’ please immediately start a ‘Missing Mail’ search (https://missingmail.usps.com/#/) with USPS; we cannot help you with this. In almost every case we can recall, the package does end up getting delivered.
- Package sizes- padded envelopes, letters, boxes: USPS has gotten very strict about envelopes, packages and parcels. Although many of the items we sell are small and light, we are required to ship those items in a padded envelope or box using a parcel rate, not in an envelope using a letter rate. Please do not ask us to try and ship items in small envelopes using letter rates.
- Shipments to Outside-US Addresses using USPS/GlobalPost: When you select USPS for your outside-US shipment, we use the GlobalPost service, a consolidation service cooperating with USPS that takes outbound parcels and processes them through a central facility in New York. Tracking information for outbound USPS Global Post packages can be inconsistent, and the delivery times vary widely, with the average around 7-8 business days and many shipments taking 15 or more business days. Please use the GlobalPost Tracking service using the USPS Tracking Number. (https://www.goglobalpost.com/tracking/) ; it is better / faster than the USPS tracking and often includes ‘final mile’ tracking from your national carrier.
- Shipments to Outside-US Addresses – Customs and Duties : Often, parcels are handed off to your local country carrier and Customs/Duties office. When that occurs, we can’t do anything about it. Every country is different; often parcels get delivered quickly with no issues, while other times it can take weeks or more. The responsibility of tracking your package and communicating with your Customs office is entirely yours; we cannot help in any way. Customs disclosures and inspections have become more automated and strict. Our shipping software produces the required customs documentation for every outside-US order; please do not ask us to make manual edits in order to skirt customs and duties.
- Shipping to Australia/New Zealand is quite expensive and getting more so every day. We wish this were not the case, but we can’t control shipping rates.
- RETURNS:All returns must be pre-arranged and need to be requested via email within 10 days from arrival. If you received an incorrect/defective item, we will send a replacement and a return label. If you wish to return your order for any reason that is not synthCube’s responsibility, you are responsible for shipping costs.
- SHIPMENTS RETURNED BY POSTAL SERVICE TO THE SHOP: We occasionally get overseas parcels returned. If your parcel is returned you have two options: 1) Cancel the order. We will refund the total order value minus the shipping costs. 2) Request that we re-send the order. We will invoice you for the shipping and ship the parcel a second time. We will hold returned parcels for six months and make attempts to contact you. If unable to do so, the order is forfeited.
- CONTACT INFORMATION: Please make sure your telephone number is accurate in your user profile. This is included on the label for overseas shipments so your local customs/duty/delivery service can contact you. Many customs/duty/delivery services will return packages to us if they cannot reach the recipient via telephone.
- Credit card orders over USD $500 will be held a minimum of ten days before shipping due to an increase in recent credit card fraud.