Frequently Asked Questions

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Where Do You Ship?

I ship throughout Ireland, Northern Ireland and selected European Union countries.

Shipping to the USA and Canada may be available by request, depending on the products ordered and current courier costs.

I do not currently ship to the UK mainland.

 

Why Does Shipping Cost Up to €9.95?

Courier delivery is different from placing a small item in the post.

The charge covers collection from my workshop, parcel handling, tracked delivery and delivery to your address. The cost is based on the complete courier service rather than simply the size of the item inside the box.

The €9.95 rate is based on my current DPD business shipping volume. As a small business, I do not send enough parcels to negotiate the deeply discounted rates available to major retailers.

In most cases, the actual cost to me is slightly higher than €9.95, whether the parcel contains a small box of supplies or a large carton of wood.​

Courier charges and fuel surcharges have also increased as they do every year, and although I absorbed these costs for as long as possible, a small adjustment eventually became necessary.

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Why Was Free Shipping Discontinued?

Shipping discounts come directly from the small margins I make on many products, so the balance must remain sustainable.

After reviewing shipping, packaging and product costs, I discontinued free shipping because it was costing the business more than it was encouraging additional orders.

Instead, I expanded the Rate-per-Price system. This allows shipping to reduce gradually from a maximum of €9.95 to a minimum of €4.00 as the order value increases.

The system has worked well and continues to give many customers discounted shipping while helping me keep product prices fair.​

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Is There a Minimum Order Value?

Yes. The minimum online order value is €10, excluding shipping.

This helps cover the time and materials required to process, pack and dispatch very small orders while allowing me to keep product prices fair.

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How Much Is Shipping in Ireland and Northern Ireland?

Shipping within Ireland and Northern Ireland ranges from a maximum of €9.95 to a minimum of €4.00 for parcels weighing up to 30 kg.

The delivery charge automatically reduces as the order value increases through my Rate-per-Price shipping system.

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How Long Does Delivery Take in Ireland and Northern Ireland?

Most orders are dispatched within one working day.

DPD delivery within Ireland and Northern Ireland is often completed on the following working day after dispatch, although delivery times cannot be guaranteed.

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What Happens After I Place an Order?

Once your order has been received, I pick, pack and prepare it for dispatch from my workshop and stockroom.

You will receive a dispatch notification and tracking details when the parcel leaves.

Once the dispatch email has been sent, your order is already in the DPD courier network.

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Can I Collect My Order in Tralee?

Yes. Local collection is available from my workshop in Tralee, Co. Kerry.

Select the Collection option during checkout and contact me to arrange a suitable collection time.

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Which Courier Do You Use?

I currently use DPD for deliveries within Ireland, Northern Ireland and Europe.

I use UPS for approved shipments to the USA and Canada.

I do not offer standard postal delivery. I live in the countryside without convenient access to a nearby post office, and tracked postal services are often slower or no longer significantly cheaper once tracking and suitable insurance are included.

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Where Will I Find My Tracking Information?

Tracking details are sent to the email address entered during checkout once your parcel has been dispatched.

Please check your spam or promotions folder if the dispatch email does not appear in your main inbox.

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Can I Change My Delivery Details After Ordering?

Please contact me immediately if you notice an error.

Once a shipping label has been created, I may no longer be able to change the address or delivery instructions.

DPD normally contacts you directly using the email address and mobile number entered at checkout. You may then be able to adjust certain delivery preferences through DPD.

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What Happens If Nobody Is Home?

Please use the DPD delivery notification to select an available delivery option.

Where possible, arrange for somebody to receive the parcel.

I cannot accept responsibility for parcels that customers instruct the courier to leave unattended, outside a property or in an unsecured location.

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Does DPD Deliver on Saturdays?

DPD may occasionally deliver a parcel on Saturday when it was dispatched on Friday, but Saturday delivery is not guaranteed.

Availability varies by area and may depend on the local depot or driver.

Check your tracking information on Saturday morning, but order in good time if delivery is needed by a particular date.

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Do You Ship to PO Boxes?

No. I cannot ship orders to PO boxes. DPD does not allow this.

A complete residential or business delivery address must be supplied during checkout.

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What Should I Do If My Parcel Is Delayed?

Most parcels arrive promptly, but courier delays can occasionally occur.

If your parcel has not arrived within three days of dispatch, excluding the dispatch day:

1. Check the DPD tracking information.

2. Contact the courier for the fastest local update.

3. Contact me so I can also check the shipment from my side.

If there is still no resolution after four days, I will begin a further investigation with the courier.

Refunds or replacements cannot normally be issued immediately while a parcel remains active within the courier network.

If the issue remains unresolved seven business days after dispatch, I will discuss the available next steps with you.

Lost parcels are extremely uncommon, but I will assist where a genuine delivery issue has occurred.

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What Happens If DPD Misses a Collection?

DPD may occasionally miss a scheduled collection due to operational problems or unusually high parcel volumes.

If this happens, I will notify you and the parcel will leave on the next available collection day.

This is uncommon, but it is another reason to order early when an item is needed for a particular date.

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Why Is European Shipping More Expensive?

Ireland is an island, so parcels travelling to mainland Europe must pass through the Irish courier network and complete ferry crossings before continuing by road.

The prices shown are based on DPD’s business rates for my parcel volume and the distance involved.

I subsidise part of the cost through the European Rate-per-Price system, but I cannot offer the same delivery rates as a large multinational retailer.

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Can You Ship Aerosols, Oils and Waxes?

These products can normally be shipped within Ireland and the EU because the parcels travel by road.

They cannot be shipped to the USA, Canada or other destinations requiring air transport.

Air freight for these products requires specialist packaging, certification and documentation that I do not hold.

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Will I Have to Pay Customs Charges?

Orders sent outside the EU may be subject to customs duties, import taxes or handling fees.

These charges are not included in the product or shipping price and remain the responsibility of the buyer.

Customs rules vary by country and may change, so customers should check with their local customs authority before ordering.

Customs processing can also delay delivery.

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Are International Delivery Estimates Guaranteed?

No. International delivery times are estimates by DPD only.

Delivery can be affected by:

• Destination

• Ferry and transport schedules

• Customs processing

• Local courier handling

• Seasonal parcel volumes

 

Tracking information will be supplied after dispatch, but delivery dates cannot be guaranteed.​