Here's the latest information about deliveries, and some FAQ's etc.

Here’s the latest update about our delivery system etc, since we changed it a couple of months ago. There are some minor tweaks here and there, but, nothing too major. I also added some extra information to cover some of our mostly FAQ’s. It’s not the most gripping read tbh, but, it’s probably worth giving it a once over as there may be the odd little thing you didn’t know etc.

James

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Our new delivery system

Where we can deliver

We only deliver to mainland England, Wales & Scotland (including Highlands). We can also deliver to the Isle of Wight.
We cannot deliver to Northern Ireland or any other islands due to logistical reasons and/or customs regulations. If in doubt the general rule is if you started in London in a car and you could drive from there to your house without needing to get on a boat, a plane, or go through the Channel Tunnel then we can deliver to you.
If there’s a big piece of blue wobbly stuff in the way, then we can deliver to the nearest point on our side and you can meet us there if you like. The only exception to this is the Isle of Wight which we can deliver too.

How much is delivery

Delivery is £20 per order, or, free (see below). Once you’ve paid delivery (or got it free) it covers all items on that order being delivered.*
Each order has a delivery charge applied. We do not do collections or “add to my order” anymore.
FREE DELIVERY £149+ - If your order is for £149 or more then delivery is automatically discounted to free (it will show as £20 charge and £20 discount equalling zero).
FREE DELIVERY FOR REGULAR CUSTOMERS - We have a complicated system for what qualifies you as a regular customer. There are numerous ways to qualify you, as long as you hit any one of these then chances are you’re a regular customer (see below for list). Near the end of each month I check who qualifies as a regular customer, and then if you qualify we email you a code giving you free delivery on all orders for the following month. Please note depending on your marketing preferences, and inbox settings, the email might not send or might go into your spam/junk folder. If you are in any doubt at all whether you count as a regular customer then please do ask, I don’t mind checking and don’t want people missing out. See below for a list of what may qualify you as a regular customer.
FREE DELIVERY FOR RANKED CUSTOMERS - The top 3% of our customers get a special rank, these are rare, there are 3 ranks in total. The 3 ranks are: 1- El Capitan, 2- La Generale, 3- Padre de Camellos. It is very hard to gain a rank, but, once you get a rank you never lose your rank. Ranked customers get a code giving them free delivery on all orders each year, discounts on all orders, some priority for packing and delivery slots, and other benefits. As a rough guide to how rare they are at the last count out of around 4,000 customers on our database only 142 have a rank. There are 86 El Capitan’s, 42 La Generale’s and just 14 Padre De Camellos.

How long does delivery take

WYSIWYG items ordered by 11:59pm Sunday night are offered a delivery day the following week. Any non-WYSIWYG items may arrive with them or may arrive later. You only need 1 delivery charge per order, so even if that order is delivered in 2 or 3 parts there is no charge for the extra deliveries on that order.
Most normal items are on 14-30 days delivery.
SPECIAL ORDER ITEMS - There are not many SPECIAL ORDER ITEMS, and they are clearly marked. They are typically 28-60 days for delivery. This is usually rare items that we farm, where if one is not available at order sometimes there is a wait for the next baby to be produced etc.
We are not open to the general public, and you cannot collect from store. There is a very tiny number of people I do allow in store that I have known for a very long time. Other than that strictly no entry, even for reps etc. This follows a serious security breach on 29th April 2023, during which I was very badly injured. I am pleased to say that while it is taking a while, the person responsible is likely facing a lengthy prison term.
We will email you when your order is ready for delivery. Please avoid emailing us unless it’s essential to do so, as replying to emails uses up a lot of time and may delay your order. Because answering emails (messages etc) uses up a lot of time, and just 2% of people account for 50%+ of emails, we reserve the right to cancel and refund their orders if they fall into this 2% bracket. It’s not something we want to do, but, we simply can’t have 2% of people using up a lot of our time, and causing delays to the orders of the other 98% of people.

Other stuff

EXPRESS VIP HAND DELIVERY - This is faster, and you can usually pick almost any time, on almost any day. This service is free on all orders over £1,000. On orders of £500-£999 we charge 50p per mile from IP28 7AS as determined on Google maps, plus £20. On orders of £499 or less this delivery option is £1 per mile, plus £20.
Minimum order value is £19.
If the amount of items ready for delivery is less than £39, and you got free delivery then we reserve the right to wait until you have £39 of items for delivery. This isn’t something we generally enforce, and if most of your deliveries are larger, or you paid delivery then it’s fine. It’s just there in case anyone with a free shipping code decides to only ever order £20 at a time, with free delivery every time (as with anything there’s always one).

Am I a regular customer?

The formula we use is very complex, and we keep that secret so it isn’t manipulated, but, as a general rule if any one of these criteria below apply to you then chances are you are, and should be eligible for free shipping. Email us to ask if in doubt.

If you placed orders in 2 or more of the 3 last Calendar months. So for example say it’s the end of June. If out of April, May and June you placed orders in any 2 (or 3) of those months, you’d qualify for free shipping in July.
If you placed orders in any 3 Calendar months out of the last 12 months.
If you have placed an order this year, last year, and the year before.
If you have placed 10+ orders in total, and at least one of those was in the last 3 months.
If you have spent £500+ with us online, and at least one order was in the last 3 months.
There are also other ways to qualify.
Regular customer status is kind of “sticky”, so the list above is how you gain regular customer status, however, once you gain regular customer status it’s easier to keep it. The easiest way to ensure you definitely keep it is to spend £30+ a month, or only miss the odd month.
If you are a regular customer long enough, or qualify on other grounds then you may eventually reach a ranked status. The first rank is El Capitan. Once you are an El Capitan you get free delivery on all orders for life, and 5% off all orders for life, and some other benefits too. Once you gain a rank you cannot lose your rank or be demoted.* There are 2 higher ranks, La Generale and Padre De Camellos.
If you order with us regularly, or spend quite a bit, then you will eventually gain El Capitan status. Unlike regular customer status which is (mostly) computerised, ranks are handed out personally. The two higher ranks are much harder to achieve. You can get to a higher rank by spending a lot of money, it tends to go on largest single order, or most expensive item ordered, rather than total spend. You can gain a higher rank by buying a lot of one type of item, especially if you buy El Presidente Personale Collezione grade items. You can gain a higher rank by buying something truly unique, for example the only specimen of that species we have ever had or something else really cool. Most people gain a higher rank not because of what they buy, but, because of what they do. Helping us out in store, answering lots of comments for us on Facebook, etc.

All the latest news about our delivery service. - Last updated 8th August 2023.