Home > Customer Service Information > Important Policy: Shipping Details & Cancellations

ORDERING & SHIPPING FAQs
I. When and how will my order ship?
II. How much will it cost to ship my order?
III. What about delivery guarantees and insurance on my order?
IV. What about international shipping?
V. What do we do if the package does not arrive or is damaged in transit?
VI. Order Cancellations
VII. Orders of Multiples That Must Match

Please note: All orders for which we are reasonably sure availability is secure are charged and processed weekly.

I. When and how will my order ship?

The introduction of this internet shop to our original storefront concept has changed how we handle inventory greatly; it has changed how we think of inventory and the term "in stock" forever. It also presents a challenge in working with our anxious clients or those requiring an item immediately.

The internet shop brings us many orders on styles and items featured online. This means we rotate our inventory several times weekly. So, we rely on multiple shipments each week to accommodate orders. To be fair, we handle all orders in the sequence received. Through this process we maintain fresh dye and material lots on our garments and also achieve a high level of quality control.

While we hope to offer convenience and a quick processing time on all orders; we do not consider The Briar Patch a "fast food" internet retailer of childrens' finery. We are a true boutique storefront and maintain similar processes for both venues of sale. Our purpose is to bring a lovely selection of merchandise to you; but we do assume our clients are sharing with us the time we need to handle orders with integrity.

We ask our clients to consider a delivery time of 10-14 business days on orders. This is just under three weeks and compares well with wait times up to six months for many special occasion shops. While we maintain a large amount of stock in inventory; it is dynamic and changes radically each day as orders arrive.

If you require an item IMMEDIATELY, please email us at brpatch@sbcglobal.net so we may confirm the urgently needed item is available immediately. We actually assign your inquiry to our inventory team to be sure the report is correct, the item you desire is physically located and not just a number on a screen. Too often relying on electronic representations of available inventory has lead to disappointments.

Upgraded shipments will ship as soon as possible, but please remember that we cannot ship the same day. Items must be inspected, prepared, and packaged. Urgent orders are also shipped in sequence by order date; so there is usually a wait as any day brings us 100's of urgent orders. We must also secure authorization from your credit card company or bank if you use a debit card. This is usually a 24-48 hour process. Every day, there is also a line of 100's of orders already placed and requiring urgent attention. Your urgent order will have to wait in line to be fair. This is unavoidable.

Normally, a shipping upgrade can get us closer to 7-10 business days for delivery. If the item you desire is actually with us and not enroute via replenishment, we can ship closer to 5 business days. This is an estimate based on historical shipping times and availability; it is not a guarantee.

REGARDLESS OF THE WEAR DATE OR DELIVERY DATE you request on your order, we will ship your item/s as soon as possible. An order placed in May will not be delayed because the shared wear date or delivery date is in October.

All normal orders ship via USPS Priority Mail with Signature Confirmation. Second Day Air orders will ship via USPS Express Mail which often delivers on Sundays in metropolitan areas and is a cost reduction to UPS Second Day. Overnight packages, once processed, will ship by UPS Next Day. There are additional charges for Saturday Delivery.

II. How much will it cost to ship my order?

For most regular priced dresses and suits, we ship your items for free. For orders that are of many accessory items, shipping is assessed from the table below for Priority Mail shipping.

For Priority Mail delivery within the United States, the following rates apply:
Amount of Order
$0.00 to $14.99................$8.50
$15.00 to $49.99..............$10.00
$50.00 to $74.99..............$10.00
$75.00 to $84.99.............$11.00
$85.00 to $99.99.............$12.00
$100.00 to $134.99..........$13.00
$135.00 & Over...............$15.00

Estimates on Express Delivery are as Follows:
USPS Second Day Air...........$27.00 to $35.00
UPS Next Day Delivery......$55.00(one item) to $110.00(for several large items); averaging $65.00 for one to two dresses.

When placing your order, the order form will ask your permission to upgrade shipping, if absolutely necessary, for a.) your Event Date, b.) a requested Delivery Date, or c.) No, Not at All. While we are never frivilous concerning a shipping upgrade, if an upgrade is necessary for urgent orders (those that must deliver in less than 10 working days) or for items backordered or awaiting restock, the additional charge will be made to the purchasing credit card. By selecting the option for upgraded shipping for event date or delivery date, you are giving your consent for an additional charge to be made to the purchasing credit card. We do not charge any handling fee and do not profit in anyway from the urgency of delivery for any order.

For International Air Mail Insured on Foreign Deliveries, the following rates apply:
$0.00 to $15.99................$19.00
$16.00 to $34.99..............$22.00
$35.00 to $54.99..............$29.00
$55.00 to $74.99..............$39.00
$75.00 to $94.99..............$45.00
$95.00 to $124.99.............$49.00
$125.00 to $174.99............$50.00
$175.00 & Over.................$59.00
*Please note that we will refund shipping amounts per this schedule should the actual shipping cost be significantly less.

Estimate an additional $10.00 for International Global Express Mail (7-10 Day International Delivery, no delivery guarantee, but better tracking and faster delivery on the average).

***IMPORTANT NOTE ON INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING: While we are happy to ship internationally, the cost of doing so places all risk for loss, damage, and the complete cost of shipping exchanges and returns for any reason with the client. We will only ship international with the understanding that there is no condition under which we can reimburse international shipping expenses. This is the only way for us to ship outside of the United States.

III. What about delivery guarantees and insurance on my order?

Unless otherwise specified, your order will ship via USPS Priority Mail with SIGNATURE confirmation for tracking packages. You may request insurance be added to your order on Priority Mail in the "Note" section of your order.

Upgraded delivery services with guaranteed delivery times are offered and may be selected.

The decision on how to ship your package is ultimately your choice and we will ship as you request.

Our shop cannot take responsibility for work being done by the postal service or other carriers to bring your order to you. Once the item leaves our shop, its ownership is with the customer. Any disputes on delivery times, package condition, etc. are between the customer and the delivery service provider chosen. Of course, we will always do whatever we can to help resolve a problem concerning delivery. We maintain shipping records and will be available to help in any way possible.

IV. What about international shipping?

International shipping can be risky. Our standard practice is to ship via Internation Airmail through the United Sates Postal Service. We also insure the package contents as the risk of loosing an order is higher when shipping outside this country. Global Express Mail is another option and is comparable in cost to Airmail, however there are no guarantees for delivery time (but it is estimated to be one week delivery to most countries).

There are no guarantees for delivery times on International Airmail or Global Express Mail. For guaranteed delivery times, you will need to consider Global Express Mail Guaranteed or UPS International Air. Both methods are very expensive, and we do require your request to ship through such venues. ALL RISK AND COST OF SHIPPING INTERNATIONAL IS 100% WITH THE CLIENT. THERE IS NO SITUATION THAT WILL RESULT IN REIMBURSEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING COSTS.

V. What do we do if the package does not arrive or is damaged in transit?

We will track your package for you, if at all possible and try to locate an order gone missing. We will also do our best to file the appropriate complaints and investigations to recover your order or claim reimbursement.

However, we can only ask of the delivery service what was requested of them. Meaning, if no insurance or delivery time guarantee is purchased through the shipping provider selected, what can be done on your behalf may be limited.

Please email us with any more detailed questions, we will do our best to acquire the particular item that will make your child happy.

VI. Order Cancellations.

Orders can only be cancelled within 24 to 48 hours of order placement. This policy is no way intended to restrict your freedom of choice concerning our merchandise. However, our ordering & processing system is streamlined to handle orders swiftly. We can normally intercede to cancel an order up to 48 hours of order placement. Some orders will ship more swiftly. If your order is already packaged and shipped, you will have to return the merchandise per policy. Should a client insist on cancelling an order after 48 hours; there will be a 25% fee assessed to cover additional staff time and original preparation expenses of the order. If an order has already shipped, the customer is responsible for all shipping charges concerning the order when it is returned. We can not guarantee we are able to cancel an order after it is placed, but will do our best if notice is received within 48 hours of order placement.

On orders that are required urgently and are multiples of the same style and color, cancellations are more difficult as we order these specifically for your special event directly from the designer to ensure the same dye, material, and accent lots. When these orders are needed swiftly, we urgently order from the designer and we are not able to cancel the urgent order ourselves. This means extra stock for us. In these situations, the 25% restock fee will apply regardless of when the cancellation takes place. Shipping estimated on the order will not be refunded as your special order shipped to us outside of our normal restock orders, and this shipping is additional. Please be sure about orders you are placing for multiples that will require immediate attention for a swiftly approaching event.

Please understand that we ship all orders as swiftly as possible and if your order is already packaged or in transit for delivery, we cannot cancel the order and it must be handled as a return.

To cancel your order within 48 hours of order placement, simply send us an email and be sure to reference your order number.

VII. Orders of Multiples That Must Match

Normal procedure at The Briar Patch is to order all multiples of special event clothing that are requested in the same color and style directly from the designer. This is to ensure the best possible matching of dye lots, accent lots, and material lots. Variations in production times that accumulate in inventory often mean dresses and suits do not match perfectly. For multiples, delivery times may extend beyond the published 10-14 working day. This is especially possible with dresses that require hand embellishments, such as petals, sashes, and custom accents. If you have an urgent need to receive your multiple order more swiftly, be sure to share a delivery date on your order form so we may toggle the system to keep you well informed.

Please know that we do not require linings and underskirts to be of matching material and dye lots, only the outer shells of dresses and suits.