Orders placed by 2.30pm (Monday-Friday) will leave our premises on the same day.
Orders placed after 2.30pm on a Friday, or at weekends, will leave our premises on the following Monday, excluding bank holidays.
Recycling
Wherever possible we will recycle packaging and will reuse clean second-hand boxes. Some of our carriers forbid us to tape boxes together, therefore it is sometimes necessary to repackage items that otherwise wouldn't physically fit the shipping cartons we have in stock. The condition of sterile items will not be compromised. The alternative is for us to buy shiny new double walled cardboard boxes and to pass that cost to the customer. We have yet to encounter a customer who is happy to pay an extra £2.40 for a pretty box.
Dispatch
It is not possible to place an order unless the item is physically in stock, therefore orders placed before 2.30pm (Mon-Fri) should leave our premises on the same day (excluding holidays/closures).
Costs (UK)
Express/RoyalMail Tracked - 1-2 working day aim - £6.29
Economy/Royal Mail Tracked 48 - 2-5 working day aim - £4.99
Costs (overseas)
A range of Airmail and courier-based services are available to customers requiring delivery outside of the UK. Costs will vary according to order weight and value.
All delivery times may vary in times of adverse weather and peak periods such as December
1st class/RoyalMail 24 - 1-2 working day aim
*Courier with tracking - 1-2 working day aim (Northern Ireland from two working days)
*UPS/Interlink/DPD (or RoyalMail Special Delivery for Highlands/some Offshore)
Airmail (Europe) - 1-2 weeks
Airmail (Rest of World) - 2-3 weeks+
Please understand that the above are aims and not guarantees.
We no longer use Royal Mail Special Delivery. This IS a guaranteed service, but they do not guarantee to deliver your package on time, they just guarantee to give you your money back if and when they don't. This is of no use to us or our customers.
We do however fully understand that our products are frequently required urgently and will despatch on time.
Further information
When placing your order with our company, there will be an opportunity to select a shipping method from the drop-down menu within our shopping cart.
Our systems are set up to block the purchase of items which are 'out of stock', therefore all orders placed before 2.30pm (Monday-Friday, excl. holidays) will normally be sent out on the same day.
The shipping prices are based upon order value and order weight. Note that practically everything on our website falls into one of Royal Mail's 'parcel' bands (and that cost of return often exceeds our charge to you for delivery).
We charge for postage and packaging according to order value and weight. Whilst some companies will increase the cost of the goods and offer so-called 'free' shipping, we find that this is impractical since it seriously disadvantages customers who order more than one item.
Royal Mail services (UK)
Your orders will be brought to your door by your regular postman.
Should you be out when the item is delivered, Royal Mail will take your package back to the local Delivery Office/Customer Service Point, or may leave it with a neighbour, dependent upon local Royal Mail practices.
If you would like us to write a specific instruction on the package, then let us know by using the 'send a personal message' text box immediately after inputting your delivery address. Items held locally by Royal Mail may be collected in person or arrangements can be made for redelivery online.
If you live in an apartment, please ensure that you make adequate arrangements for your postman to access your home. For security reasons, packages or calling cards will not normally be left in communal areas.
Consider supplying a 'work' address for delivery to avoid having to collect your undeliverable package from your local Delivery Office.
Express/1st Class
The vast majority of 1st class letters and packets are delivered within one day of despatch to UK mainland addresses.
Royal Mail 1st Class package labels are scanned upon delivery and are traceable back to the delivery office if you do not have your item.
Larger orders will often be shipped in more than one box (marked 1 of 2, 2 of 2 etc) - these will be despatched at the same time but may not arrive at the same time.
Airmail (ROI, Europe, Rest of World)
Airmail has proven to be a very reliable service for all overseas destinations. Most EU countries are served within a week of despatch, rest of the World within two weeks.
Package size and weight limitations may require us to split your order into several consignments. We will tell you if we need to do this before your order is despatched. Packages may or may not arrive at the same time, so where practical, we will divide a mixed order equally between boxes.
Tracked Airmail or alternative courier services may be used dependent upon order value.
Where goods are shipped outside of the EU, our sales tax (VAT) will have been removed from your shopping cart total. The amount displayed on the Customs sticker or invoice will reflect the true value of the contents of your package.
Courier (where available)
Customers wishing to track their deliveries may prefer us to use a courier. Our current preferences are ParcelForce 24 and UPS which have a delivery aim of 1-2 working days to most parts mainland UK, and DPD who provide our European services. A tracking number will be provided by email once the item is collected from us.
Please understand the difference between a delivery 'aim' and a 'guarantee'. We do not offer 'timed' or 'guaranteed' delivery options. Experience has shown that such service providers have a habit of breaking their deadlines, leaving us liable to provide an alternative solution, usually before the 'late' or 'lost' item has been located.
As winter sets in, delivery times may be affected by adverse weather conditions en route. We will monitor Royal Mail's daily Service Bulletins and do our best to warn customers before the items are shipped if we feel that delivery of their order is likely to be problematic
New Irish postcodes
Customers in Ireland can find their postcode with the search tool/maps on the following webpage: