Order windows
This shop is a small operation, so it’s not open for orders all the time. Instead there are one-month order windows a few times a year. If you place an order during one of those windows, it will be dispatched by the end of the following month. Follow the mailing list and social media to hear about upcoming order windows.
The next window for both UK and international orders will be some time in late summer or autumn 2024 stay tuned for updates.
Delivery works differently depending on whether you’re ordering from inside the UK or internationally.
UK delivery
You can choose from two postage options:
- Royal Mail 1st Class (£2.50). Delivery generally takes 1-2 days from dispatch, but can rarely take up to two weeks.
- Royal Mail Special Delivery (£7.50). Delivery is guaranteed by 1pm the day after dispatch.
Orders may be dispatched any time from the date you order, up to the end of the following month. If you want your order sent before or after a certain date, let me know and I will do my best. But be aware that 1st Class doesn’t give a guaranteed delivery date.
For orders of up to around ten cuttings, I usually use flat packages which fit through a normal letterbox. Bigger orders may be in boxes. All orders come with a plant passport as required by UK law.
International delivery
Exporting plants legally requires expensive inspections and phytosanitary certificates. Sending a batch of orders at the same time reduces the fees and makes the admin easier. So international orders will be processed and exported all together after the order window closes.
In the unlikely event that there aren’t enough international orders to cover the fees by the end of the order window, I will cancel and refund all of them.
The delivery cost for an international order is £50 to anywhere in the world. The price includes the shipping and phytosanitary certificate fees. Deliveries are always sent fully tracked with UPS, which usually takes 3-4 working days.
I cannot control the exact date that orders will be sent, because it is determined by the phytosanitary inspectors. But I will send updates about the progress of the order, expected dispatch date, and tracking information when I know it.
If there’s a problem
Plants are perishable items, so they are exempt from the UK Consumer Contracts Regulations right to cancel and I cannot accept returns if you change your mind.
For international orders, I provide the phytosanitary certificate as required by export law. But you are still responsible for meeting any import law requirements in your location. Check your local laws to find out whether you need to have the delivery sent to a particular place, arrange inspections, pay additional taxes, or notify authorities about the delivery in advance.
If your plants are lost, damaged, or dead on arrival, contact me straight away at hello@tradescantia.uk or by replying to any order email.
I will provide a refund or replacement if the issue was caused by:
- The courier losing or destroying the package –
- If Royal Mail 1st Class takes more than two weeks to arrive
- If Royal Mail Special Delivery takes more than two days to arrive
- If a UPS investigation concludes the package is lost or destroyed
- Sending incorrect or unhealthy plants (make sure to send photos of the problem)
- An invalid phytosanitary certificate
I cannot refund or replace for issues caused by:
- A mistake in the address you gave when ordering
- The way you cared for the plants after they arrived
- A delay at customs which is not because the phytosanitary certificate was invalid (e.g. because you had to pay taxes or arrange inspections)
