Real, fresh food takes time.

 

Order Processing Time

We make your chocolate by hand, to order. You are truly receiving the freshest chocolate possible. Orders typically ship within 2-5 days, but may take up to two weeks to ship when we are running a promotion, or during holidays, such as Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, etc. 

Real, fresh food takes time and we are proud to be part of the slow food movement!  We are a small mom & pop handcrafted chocolate company, not Amazon :) That said, we always do our best to get your orders out as soon as *humanly* possible. In addition, during the summer months, or to perpetually hot climates, orders will not ship on Thursdays or Fridays to avoid packages sitting in the heat over the weekend on their way to you.

Please note, your shipping selection starts from when we ship your order out. For example, if you choose 2-day shipping, your order will not arrive to you 2 days from when you placed the order. It may take us 1 day to make and prepare your order, and then we will ship it out with 2-day shipping. 

Holiday Shipping Guidelines

Holiday season is busier than ever for shipping companies. All major carriers have been experiencing unprecedented volume and delays. Carrier delays that occur are outside our control - once your package is dropped off with the carrier, it is out of our hands as to when it is delivered. Order shipment dates are always guidelines, not guarantees. Over the holiday season we always anticipate longer shipping times and tracking delays.

We recommend ordering early for any of your holiday deadlines!

After orders have been placed, package scans from our carriers may also be delayed. As a result, orders may not show tracking for a few days – even when your order is already on the way. Please allow extra time for tracking updates and final delivery.

In rare cases, you may not have tracking visibility – orders may arrive before tracking becomes available. We appreciate your patience during this time.

 

Warm Weather Shipping 

In the summer months (April - September) we ship orders with ice packs and insulation, as necessary. Your chocolate will ship USPS or UPS 1-3 day shipping to expedite the shipping time and help prevent melting. During the summer months, or to perpetually hot climates, orders will not ship on Thursdays or Fridays to avoid packages sitting in the heat over the weekend on their way to you. Outside of April-September, if your weather is still 75+, please add Ice and Insulation to your order for $6. You will see the option at the bottom of your Cart page. 

* * * Temperature Restrictions & Warm Weather Shipping Policies * * *

Chocolate starts to melt around 75 degrees F. Due to the sensitive nature of chocolate, in warmer months shipping options are limited in order to expedite shipping and preserve the quality of our products. Please check the tracking on your package and be there to receive it. Even with adequate ice and insulation, if your chocolate is left sitting in the heat on your doorstep for an extended period of time, you may end up with melted chocolate. If you live in an exceptionally hot climate where temperatures are 100+ degrees, you may want to consider waiting until it cools off to order your chocolate, as we cannot guarantee product will not melt.

If you are shipping a gift to someone in the summer months, it is best to alert them so their chocolate is not sitting on their porch in the sun/heat.

We do our very best to ensure that your chocolate will arrive to you without melting, however, shipping chocolate in the summer is a battle against nature. We are not responsible for melted chocolate and do not offer refunds if this occurs. However, your chocolate is healthy to consume even if melted. You can place it in the refrigerator to solidify it again, and will still taste delicious.

Unattended Packages

If no one is available to receive your order upon arrival at its final destination, our carriers will leave it at the door. If this could pose a problem, we recommend shipping to an address where someone can receive your package. Buddha Chocolate is not responsible for damage or theft incurred after delivery.

Once your order's tracking says your package has been delivered to your address there are no refunds or replacements. Buddha Chocolate is not responsible for lost or stolen packages. Please contact the carrier directly.

Shipping Address Errors

Our website automatically prints your shipping label from the address you enter at checkout. Your label will appear exactly as you entered the address - it is an automatic system. We do not type, edit or adjust addresses ourselves. Buddha Chocolate is not responsible for any typos or an address entered incorrectly that results in your package not being delivered to you. Please check and double check your address to make sure there are no errors. We do not offer refunds or replacements for an incorrect shipping address.

 

Returns

We do not accept returns or exchanges unless the item you purchased has a quality defect that is not the result of the product having been left unattended upon arrival. If you have received an item with a problem, please contact us at info@buddhachocolate.com.

Storing Your Chocolate

Store your chocolate in a cool, dark place, between 65-68°F, and keep out of direct sunlight. Your chocolate is made to order. All bars have a 1-year "best by" date from when you receive them, but will not go bad after that, they may only lose flavor and potency.