Shipping policy

How much does shipping cost?

We offer free ground shipping on orders over $100. In the summer and during warm weather, we use ice and insulation as needed in all shipments, and we will also check the temperatures at origin and destination and hold them if over 90F. Shipping for orders under $100 is $10 for USPS Ground Advantage and $16 for USPS Priority (maximum weights apply). We currently do not offer UPS or FedEx options because of their contracts with ICE. These options may change during the year based on weather conditions and changes in carrier rates. We highly recommend selecting USPS Priority during warmer months. As a small business, we are doing all we can to keep our shipping costs as low as possible for our customers. 

How long will my order take to arrive?

Most USPS Ground packages take 2-3 business days to arrive to destinations on the west coast and 3-5 business days to make their way across the country but these times can vary. You can track your package along the way using the tracking number provided to you by email when you placed your order or when the package ships. Check your email and if you can’t find it, just drop us a note at info@chococolatedispensary.com with your name and order number in the subject line. 

We are not responsible for postal delays due to staffing shortages, weather, any type of government interference, increased postal activity, or any other circumstances. Once the package leaves our hands, we do not have any control over it and cannot issue refunds if the package is lost. 

What kind of packaging do you use?

The Chocolate Dispensary takes every care to use the most eco-friendly and sustainable packaging we can find. We reuse as much of the packaging that we receive from our vendors as possible, including boxes, wrapping and packing paper, bubble wrap, crinkle shred, ice packs, and more. We receive a lot of chocolate (as you can imagine), and instead of just throwing the boxes and packing materials out, we reuse them whenever possible. We’ll put a cute little sticker on your box, though, so that you'll know it’s from us.

Any new packaging we use is made from recycled paper and can be recycled, repurposed, and reused. Many of the products we use for shipping are also biodegradable, made with 95% post-consumer waste that has been diverted from landfills, plastic-free, and made in the USA. We make the same conscious decisions about our packaging as we do with the chocolate we carry, and we believe it is with an extra dollar here and there to protect our planet and our future.

During summer months, we need to use additional insulation, ice packs, and other packaging to ensure that your chocolate is protected in transit. We do, of course, recommend selecting USPS Priority to ensure your chocolates arrive at your destination in good shape. Please do your part and reuse what you can!

How can I track my package?

The email you receive when your package ships will contain a tracking number. That tracking number corresponds to the shipping carrier used (USPS), so you’ll be tracking your package directly on their site. The Chocolate Dispensary is not responsible for delays that happen once your package lands in the hands of the selected carrier. If there is an issue with your order or the projected delivery time provided by our page, please reach out to info@chocolatedispensary.com.

Can you ship to a P.O. Box?

Unfortunately not. We must have a street address for delivery.

Can you ship overseas?

Right now we only ship within the United States. 

Do you offer expedited shipping?

Sure thing. Just make the selection for USPS Priority at check-out, and the cost will be automatically calculated for you.

What happens if it’s blazin’ hot?

Shipping in warm weather comes with some inherent risks. It’s possible that, even if we use all precautions, including insulation and not shipping over a weekend, that your chocolate will melt, especially if there's a long trip from the post office to your destination. We will work with you to handle any shipping issues but we do reserve the right to hold shipments if temperatures either on our end or yours are (or are expected to be during the course of transit) 90F or more. During warm months, we only ship Monday-Wednesday. We highly recommend selecting USPS Priority for packages traveling during the warm months and cannot offer refunds.

I’m not going to be home to receive my chocolates. What now?

If you’re not home when your chocolates are delivered, please arrange for someone to pick it up for you and keep the items at room temperature until you can pick them up. The Chocolate Dispensary is not responsible for refunding or replacing orders with incomplete or invalid addresses, orders that are sent to recipients who cannot accept packages on the delivery date, or for packages that were left outside or unclaimed and may, as a result, melt. We are also not able to reship packages at no cost that are returned to us by the carrier. 

Can I return my chocolate?

Sorry, friend. We can’t accept returns on food items. However, if there’s a problem and you’d like our help just email info@chocolatedispensary.com with your order number, and include details and photos in the body of the email. We’ll do what we can to make it right. We know you need your chocolate, after all!

How can I reach you with a question?

Please email info@chocolatedispensary.com or call us at (323) 372-9865.