Shipping Guide

How Free Shipping & Delivery Methods Work at Checkout

Lightweight & Small Parcels: Default free shipping is automatically assigned via Standard Air (All-In). Ocean freight is not applicable to small parcels, though faster expedited options (such as Priority Express) are readily available at checkout with real-time upgrade rates.

Bulk & Oversized Cargo: Default free delivery is provided via Sea Freight (All-In) (or Land Freight for eligible European routes). Expedited air cargo and express upgrades can also be selected at checkout for time-sensitive deadlines.

Remote Areas & Island Territories: Free shipping applies strictly to continental mainland commercial addresses. Non-contiguous regions and offshore islands (including US: Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam; European island territories) do not qualify for standard ocean/land freight and are subject to commercial courier remote surcharges.

Surcharge Confirmation & Price Protection: If your delivery address requires a remote area surcharge, our support team will contact you within 1 business day with the exact carrier fee. If you prefer not to proceed with the freight difference, you are entitled to a 100% full refund and immediate cancellation before mass production commences.

Customs Duties & Taxes: All-In (DDP) vs. DAP Explained

All-In Shipping (DDP – Delivered Duty Paid): Applicable to Sea Freight (All-In), Land Freight (All-In), and Standard Air (All-In). Under DDP terms, IMPRINT5 covers international freight, export customs, import customs clearance, and all statutory import duties/taxes door-to-door. You will not receive surprise invoices from local customs or couriers upon delivery.

Express Delivery (DAP – Delivered at Place, formerly DDU): Applicable to Economy Express and Priority Express via commercial carriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS). Under DAP terms, goods are delivered directly to your door at maximum speed, but the importer/recipient remains responsible for applicable local import VAT, duties, or customs administrative fees assessed by destination authorities.

Regulatory Inspections & Delivery Timelines

Statutory Customs Inspections: While all All-In (DDP) shipments include pre-paid clearance and duties, national customs authorities hold the statutory legal authority to conduct routine random physical inspections. These compliance inspections are outside carrier control and may extend overall transit times by 3–10 business days.

Carrier Item Restrictions & Alternative Routing: Certain promotional items (including products containing lithium batteries, liquids, magnets, or regulated materials) are subject to strict international carrier safety and aviation guidelines. If your ordered items are restricted by the selected carrier, IMPRINT5 reserves the right to re-route the shipment via an authorized alternative compliant carrier to guarantee safe and successful export. While specialized safety routing may occasionally require 2–4 additional business days for compliance clearance, our team will ensure seamless door-to-door delivery.

Event Deadlines: If your promotional merchandise is required for a strict, non-negotiable event date (e.g., trade show, conference, or product launch), please notify your brand consultant prior to production to select a shipping tier with an adequate safety buffer.

Holiday Operating Periods: During annual factory maintenance breaks and peak holiday periods (typically in February and early October), production schedules and carrier dispatches may experience brief operational adjustments. Order confirmations will clearly communicate expected lead times during these dates.

Delivery Address & Acceptance Policy

Physical Street Address Required: Commercial freight and express carriers (UPS, FedEx, DHL, and local LTL trucking partners) require a complete physical street address, company name, building/suite number, and a direct recipient contact phone number. We cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes, APO, FPO, or DPO military addresses.

Delivery Accessibility & Authorization: Please ensure the provided delivery location is accessible during standard commercial business hours and authorized personnel are available to receive and sign for cargo.

Refused Deliveries & Address Corrections: If a shipment cannot be delivered, is refused by the recipient, or is returned by the carrier due to an invalid, incomplete, or inaccessible address, the customer remains fully responsible for the original outbound shipping costs as well as any return freight, storage fees, or re-consignment charges assessed by the carrier. Any such non-refundable expenses will be deducted from any applicable merchandise credit or invoiced prior to re-dispatch.