Shipping policy
SHIPPED to Locations in the USA:
Merchandise orders under 120 lbs. typically go UPS or USPS (if you have a preference, please tell us…otherwise, we will choose the least-cost method); orders over 120 lbs. typically go Truck Freight. Shipping rates are calculated at the checkout.
CLICK HERE for shipping to Canada
CLICK HERE for Shipments to other locations OUTSIDE of the USA
Lost or Damaged Parcel Carrier Shipments:
LOST SHIPMENTS: PLEASE NOTE that for orders shipped by parcel carrier (US Postal Service [USPS] or UPS): If the goods are lost or delayed while in transit, we cannot file a “loss” claim until 30 days [for USPS] or 15 days [for UPS] have elapsed since the ship date…and then it may take up to 2 weeks to receive “approval” for the claim. If you want a duplicate order sent out BEFORE these time periods have elapsed, you can purchase the items again, and then we will credit your account for the full amount of the “replacement” order when the claim is approved.
DAMAGED SHIPMENTS: PLEASE NOTE that if your order is damaged while in transit through UPS or the US Postal Service, you MUST retain all of the original packaging materials (box and “padding”) until AFTER a damage claim has been approved by the parcel carrier.
On Truck Freight orders, call us for a rate quote to your door (or to the nearest freight terminal, if you are in a location that cannot be accessed by semi-trucks) Our truck freight rates are discounted 70% [or more] because of our volume discounts…we ship a lot of stuff! All truck freight orders are shipped via 18-wheeler (semi truck), and although the shipping companies we use have agreed to very low “Residential delivery” and “Lift-gate” charges (in most areas), you still have to be able to get a semi-truck to your location safely to receive the shipment. PLEASE NOTE THAT EVEN IF A SEMI-TRUCK CAN GET TO THE END OF YOUR DRIVEWAY, IT IS LIKELY THAT THEY WILL NOT COME INTO YOUR DRIVEWAY…The trucks are usually much too large to be able to get into a residential driveway, and likely could not turn around, even if they could get in. (We’ve had customers say “Oh, yeah, they can turn around in that field!”…well, if a semi gets “stuck” on your property, guess who gets the tow-truck bill!) So they will typically unload the pallets at the end of your driveway. However, if you live in a location where a semi-truck just cannot get, there are a few options:
- You can arrange to meet the delivery truck somewhere (a local business parking lot, the side of a road with a wide shoulder, a neighbor’s farm who has a large lot, etc.) and off-load the goods onto your truck, trailer, van, etc….the lift-gate on the delivery truck will lower the pallets down to the correct height.
- You can pick the goods up at the nearest freight terminal operated by the shipping company (we can tell you the location based on your ZIP/Postal code).
- There is also an option of having the goods delivered on a “straight-truck” (20 or 24 foot van truck)…but this can add $250 to the shipping charge, so usually one of the above options is best.
NOTE #1: If residential/lift-gate service is quoted, the trucking company is only responsible for getting the goods off the truck and down to the ground… additional charges may apply if you want the driver to move it to a location other than “right off the back of the truck”.
NOTE #2: If you set up a delivery appointment with the trucking company and for some reason are significantly late to the appointment or it takes an unreasonably long time to unload the shipment which is no fault of the truck driver, the trucking company can charge extra for the driver having to wait. Also, if you set up an appointment for delivery and have to cancel (or just don’t show up), the trucking company will likely charge a “re-delivery charge”, which could be in excess of $100.
NOTE 3#: If you tell us that a delivery location is a “commercial address” but the trucking company says that it is actually a “residential” address, the trucking company will bill us for the extra charges associated with Residential Delivery.
What doesn’t qualify as a “commercial address”:
1. Farms, orchards and vineyards
2. Any location that has a residence on the same property
3. Any location where there are NO posted business hours
4. Any location where there is not always someone there who can receive shipments during business hours
5. If a “commercial” delivery location does NOT have any of the above issues, but is still significantly rural, hard to get to, and / or in an area zoned residential or agricultural, a “limited access” fee may apply (which is essentially the same as a “residential delivery” charge).
—All “extra charges” from trucking companies get billed back to US, since we are the “shipper” and the freight account is in our name. These charges are no fault of ours, and we will not “absorb” them. We will charge them to the buyer’s original method of payment.—
When we ship your goods, we will send you an e-mail with the shipment tracking number, the name of the shipping company, and, if it shipped by truck freight, how many pieces and pallets the shipment consisted of. (If you are expecting a shipment from us, CHECK YOUR JUNK / SPAM FOLDER for our shipping notification e-mail!! Sometimes they end up there…)
FOR MOTOR FREIGHT SHIPMENTS: When you receive your shipment, if there is any evidence of shipping damage OR a shortage, MAKE SURE to note it with the driver, and sign the delivery receipt as “received in damaged condition” or “short 1 piece”, etc. We go out of our way to package the goods in ways to minimize the chances of damage, but accidents happen sometime in transit. The point is: If you sign for the goods “complete, in good condition”, and then discover missing or damaged items later, it is virtually impossible to get the shipping company to do anything about it, because there is no way to prove that the shortage/damage occurred while it was in the shipping company’s possession. If you suspect damage/shortage to a truck-freight shipment, you MUST sign for it as “damaged” or “short” at the time of delivery. It is also a very good idea to snap a picture of the potentially damaged pallet … while the driver is still there. We take pictures of all outgoing pallet shipments, so in the case of damage/shortage, we have a “before & after” record.
FOR ALL OTHER (Non-Motor-freight) SHIPMENTS: Shortages, incorrect items, damaged goods, etc. MUST be reported to us within 7 days of when the goods arrive to you, or within 30 days of when the goods leave here, whichever comes first. Otherwise, neither we nor the shipping company can be held liable.
NOTE: For Motor Freight orders where the PURCHASER arranges the shipping through their own freight account, we reserve the right to add a MINIMUM of a $20 “handling fee” to the order.
PICK-UP:
We would love to have you out to our shop to pick up your order if you want to make the trip! We spend an average of a couple hours with each customer who picks up their equipment here, familiarizing the new owner with the machine while we ‘play’ in the dirt or in the field (weather permitting!). Be sure to call well in advance if you plan on picking your equipment up…it takes awhile to set up & prep the equipment the properly, and we want to have it ready when you get here.
NOTE: During our “peak season” (Feb 1 to June 30), pickups are available for WEDNESDAYS 10am to 5pm, (and possibly Saturdays from 10am to 1pm, if our schedule allows)…again, call well in advance to get scheduled in.