Shipping Policy

Holiday Shipping Policy
(Valid Thanksgiving-Christmas Day)

Most if not all orders are fulfilled within 1 business day from when the order is placed. All orders receive standard shipping unless otherwise specified. Orders within the lower 48 United States have average transit times of 3-5 days. 

Most orders will be shipped by Federal Express or the USPS depending on which carrier provides the best service for your order. The above map illustrates normal transit times for orders shipped from our Ohio warehouse. Some orders may ship from different locations depending upon available stock and destination. Contact us for the most accurate transit times on your order.

Sometimes orders ship in multiple packages, so allow some time for all packages to arrive. Feel free to call us if you feel like there is a missing item. Tracking numbers are automatically provided; please call or email if you do not receive yours.

Shipping costs vary based on the subtotal of the order placed. Below is a breakdown of shipping charges for most items.

$99.00 and Over = FREE!
$98.99 - $75.01 = $2.50
$75.00 - $50.01 = $5.00
$50.00 - $25.01 = $7.50
$25.00 - $0.00 = $9.50

Very heavy (150 lb or more) or oversized (as defined by the shipping carrier) items may have to incur extra costs, or have to ship via truck freight, which will incur additional shipping charges. While we have made every effort to indicate which items will be shipped via truck freight services, if you are at all unsure please contact us BEFORE placing the order. The freight companies require that someone be present at the time of delivery. In addition, they only obligate themselves to get the item to the back of their truck. Unloading is not their responsibility, although the drivers will sometimes help. Liftgate service is normally available but at an additional cost.

Arrangements will need to be made to accept these larger orders. Sometimes appointments can be made, but at an additional cost. Deliveries to commercial addresses for truck freight are often less expensive. Some residential deliveries may have higher fees if they are very rural.

We will make every effort to quote for any additional fees before any order is shipped!

Standard Shipping Policy:

Shipping is $9.50 (or less) for all orders under $99, and FREE for nearly all orders $99 or above for most destinations in the continental 48 United States.  Most orders will be shipped by Federal Express or the USPS depending on which carrier provides the best service for your order. There may be additional shipping if your order is going to Alaska, Hawaii or any non-traditional shipping destination like an island.

In most cases, your order will ship in 1-2 business days and should arrive within three to seven business days from when it was placed.

Sometimes orders ship in multiple packages, so allow some time for all packages to arrive. Feel free to call us if you feel like there is a missing item. Tracking numbers are automatically provided; please call or email if you do not receive yours.

LIVE PLANTS & SNAILS:

Live plants sometimes take a few days longer to process as since we only can ship on a Monday or Tuesday or (if in our local, Ohio region) Wednesday so they don't sit in a terminal over a weekend during extreme weather. Plants & snails may be shipped separate from any other items ordered. ANY ADDITIONAL FEES FOR SHIPPING LIVE PLANTS OR ANIMALS ARE NORMALLY INCLUDED IN THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE ORDERING!

OTHER DETAILS & EXCEPTIONS:

Very heavy (150 lb or more) or oversized (as defined by the shipping carrier) items may have to incur extra costs, or have to ship via truck freight, which will incur additional shipping charges. While we have made every effort to indicate which items will be shipped via truck freight services, if you are at all unsure please contact us BEFORE placing the order. The freight companies require that someone be present at the time of delivery. In addition, they only obligate themselves to get the item to the back of their truck. Unloading is not their responsibility, although the drivers will sometimes help. Liftgate service is normally available but at an additional cost.

Arrangements will need to be made to accept these larger orders. Sometimes appointments can be made, but at an additional cost. Deliveries to commercial addresses for truck freight are often less expensive. Some residential deliveries may have higher fees if they are very rural.

We will make every effort to quote for any additional fees before any order is shipped!

INTERNATIONAL ORDERS SHIPPING:

We only accept international orders from Puerto Rico, U.S. Protectorates,  Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries of our discretion at this time. There is a minimum charge of $100.00 to ship international orders.

Orders shipping internationally or to any destination outside the continental (48 states) U.S. will be subject to additional shipping charges which will be custom quoted and approved before shipping your order. International orders are sometimes subject to extra duties payable at the time of delivery (or pickup from a terminal). These duty fees are not included in Pond and Garden Depot's fees and are unpredictable. THEY ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUYER. International Shipments by the USPS are preferred because they avoid most if not all of these additional fees.