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Delivery Timeline

Understanding the full delivery timeline helps set realistic expectations. This guide breaks down processing times, shipping speeds, and what affects delivery dates.

Total Delivery Time​

Formula: Order Date + Processing Time + Shipping Time = Delivery

Example:

Order Date: Monday, Dec 10
Processing: 2 business days (Tue-Wed)
Shipping: 3-5 business days (Thu-Mon)
Expected Delivery: Dec 17-19

Processing Time​

What is Processing Time?​

Time for artist to prepare and ship your order:

Typical Processing:

  • Ready-to-ship items: 1-3 business days
  • Made-to-order: 1-4 weeks
  • Custom/commission: 2-8 weeks

What Artists Do:

  1. Receive order notification
  2. Verify product availability
  3. Package item safely
  4. Create shipping label
  5. Drop at carrier or schedule pickup

Business Days​

Processing counts business days only:

Business Days: Monday-Friday (excluding holidays) Not Counted: Weekends and holidays

Example:

Order Friday → Processing starts Monday
2 business days = Wednesday ship date

Made-to-Order Items​

Longer processing for custom creation:

Typical Timelines:

  • Prints: 3-7 business days
  • Ceramics: 1-3 weeks
  • Paintings: 2-4 weeks
  • Sculptures: 2-8 weeks

Why Longer:

  • Created after order placed
  • Drying/curing time needed
  • Quality control
  • Custom specifications

Shipping Time​

Shipping Methods​

Standard (Most Common):

  • USPS Priority: 2-3 days
  • USPS Ground: 2-8 days
  • UPS Ground: 1-5 days
  • FedEx Ground: 1-5 days

Expedited (if offered):

  • USPS Priority Express: 1-2 days
  • UPS 3-Day Select: 3 days
  • UPS 2nd Day Air: 2 days
  • FedEx 2-Day: 2 days

International:

  • Canada: 7-14 days
  • UK/Europe: 10-21 days
  • Asia/Australia: 14-30 days

Factors Affecting Speed​

Distance: Farther = longer transit Carrier: Different speeds by carrier Method: Priority faster than ground Season: Holidays slow everything Weather: Storms cause delays

Timeline by Shipping Zone​

Domestic (US) Timelines​

Within Same State:

  • Processing: 1-2 days
  • Shipping: 1-3 days
  • Total: 2-5 days

Nearby States (1-2 states away):

  • Processing: 1-3 days
  • Shipping: 2-4 days
  • Total: 3-7 days

Cross-Country:

  • Processing: 1-3 days
  • Shipping: 4-7 days
  • Total: 5-10 days

International Timelines​

Canada:

  • Processing: 1-3 days
  • Shipping: 5-10 days
  • Customs: 1-5 days
  • Total: 7-18 days

Europe/UK:

  • Processing: 1-3 days
  • Shipping: 7-14 days
  • Customs: 2-7 days
  • Total: 10-24 days

Asia/Australia/Other:

  • Processing: 1-3 days
  • Shipping: 10-21 days
  • Customs: 3-10 days
  • Total: 14-34 days

Seasonal Considerations​

Holiday Delays​

Peak Seasons:

  • November-December (Thanksgiving, Christmas)
  • February (Valentine's Day)
  • April-May (Mother's Day, graduation)

Expected Delays:

  • Processing: +1-3 days
  • Shipping: +2-5 days
  • Total: +3-8 days longer

Order Early:

  • Holiday gifts: Order 2-3 weeks early
  • International holidays: Add 1 week
  • Custom items: Add 2-4 weeks

Weather Delays​

Common during:

  • Winter storms (Dec-Feb)
  • Hurricane season (Jun-Nov)
  • Severe weather events

Cannot be Prevented: Carriers prioritize safety. Delays vary by region and severity.

Setting Expectations​

Communicating Timeline​

Product Pages Show:

  • Processing time
  • Typical shipping speed
  • Total estimated delivery

At Checkout:

  • Per-artist delivery estimates
  • Updated based on shipping address
  • Accounting for current date

Order Confirmation:

  • Estimated delivery date ranges
  • Per-artist timelines
  • Track for real-time updates

When Ordering​

Need It By Specific Date?

Calculate Backwards:

Event Date: Dec 25
Buffer: 3 days safety margin
Latest Delivery Needed: Dec 22
Max Shipping: 5 days
Max Processing: 3 days
Order By: Dec 14

Recommended: Order 2+ weeks early for peace of mind.

Next Steps​

→ Returns Policy

Understand return timeframes

→ Contact Artists

Questions about timeline

Timeline questions? Contact the artist via your order page or support@artbase.studio.