Shipping policy

Shipping Policy – The Tea Exchange

At TheTeaExchange, we pack and ship fresh, premium tea across India with trusted courier partners. This Shipping Policy explains processing times, delivery timelines, charges, tracking, COD terms, and exceptions.

1) Processing & Dispatch

  • Order processing time: 24–48 business hours after payment/COD confirmation.
  • Dispatch days: Monday–Saturday (excluding public holidays).
  • Orders placed after 3:00 PM IST are processed the next business day.

2) Delivery Timelines (India)

  • Metro cities: 2–4 business days from dispatch
  • Tier 2/3 cities & district HQs: 3–6 business days
  • Remote/Outlying pincode: 5–9 business days

Timelines are estimates; weather, festivals, strikes, or courier constraints may cause delays.

3) Shipping Coverage

  • We currently ship across India to serviceable pincodes as per our courier partners.
  • P.O. Boxes, Army Post Office (APO), and unserviceable pincodes are not eligible.

4) Shipping Charges & Free Shipping

  • Dynamic shipping at checkout based on weight, pincode, and carrier rates.
  • Promotional free shipping thresholds (if active) will be displayed on product and cart pages.

5) Cash on Delivery (COD)

  • COD may be available on eligible pincodes and order values.
  • Courier may attempt OTP/phone verification before or during delivery.
  • Refused/undelivered COD parcels may incur return shipping charges and COD suspension for future orders.

6) Order Splits & Packaging

  • Multiple-item orders may ship in more than one parcel to ensure freshness and safety.
  • All teas are sealed, food-grade packed, and outer-boxed for transit protection.

7) Tracking Your Order

  • A tracking link/ID is sent via email/SMS after dispatch.
  • Tracking may take up to 12–24 hours to reflect the first scan.

8) Address Changes & Delivery Attempts

  • Address edits are possible until dispatch by contacting support.
  • After dispatch, changes depend on courier feasibility and may attract a rerouting fee.
  • Couriers generally make 1–3 delivery attempts. After failed attempts, parcels return to origin.

9) Delays, Lost, or Damaged in Transit

  • If tracking shows stuck >72 hours or marked delivered but not received, contact us within 48 hours of the scan.
  • For damage/leakage, share unboxing photos/videos of the outer box, inner pack, and shipping label within 24 hours of delivery for speedy resolution as per our Return & Refund Policy.

10) Undeliverable & RTO (Return to Origin)

  • If a shipment is returned due to incorrect address, unavailability, or refusal, we can reship (post payment of two-way shipping) or refund the product value minus two-way freight (for prepaid orders). Consumable safety rules apply.

11) International Shipping

  • International shipping is currently not enabled. If you need it, write to us—some countries may be supported via custom orders.

12) GST Invoice & KYC

  • GST invoices are issued with every order.
  • For high-value orders or restricted pincodes, KYC may be required by the courier as per regulations.

13) Force Majeure

  • We’re not liable for delays caused by events beyond reasonable control (natural calamities, strikes, lockdowns, regulatory checks, etc.). We’ll still work with you and our partners to deliver at the earliest.

14) Need Help?