Stony Brook Orchids Shipping Policy
We do not have an order minimum, so don't hesitate to place an order even if you only need another bottle of fertilizer or a bag of potting mix.
We accept Visa, MasterCard or American Express. If you prefer to pay by check, the check must be printed with your name and address. All orders paid by check will not be shipped until your check has cleared, so that may entail a delay of one to two weeks in mailing out your order. Orders placed by New Jersey residents will be charged the state sales tax of 7%, regardless of where the plants are shipped; tax is applied to the entire order amount, including shipping and handling.
We normally ship on Monday or Tuesday of the week following receipt of your order; however, we do occasionally take vacations, particularly around major holidays such as Christmas, which might cause a week's delay in shipping.
Unless you specify otherwise, we ship our plants in pot to minimize plant stress. We strive to pack our plants so carefully that upon your receipt, they will look as if they never left the greenhouse. Bear in mind, however, that shipping can damage flowers and buds. Since weather conditions can vary dramatically depending upon location and season, flowers and buds are not guaranteed to arrive intact. If the shipper severely damages the box, harming your order, immediately contact the local office of the carrier, file a claim with them and notify us within 24 hours.
In winter, if the temperature is below freezing, we will not ship plants until the weather moderates. We add heat packs to winter plant shipments as needed. Non-plant orders are shipped regardless of the weather.
Most of our non-plant products can be back-ordered if you wish, however plants generally cannot; if a certain hybrid or mericlone sells out, it may be impossible for us to acquire it again; in this case, the early bird certainly gets the worm (or orchid)!
The minimum box and packing charge for most orders is $15. Heat packs for winter orders are $2 per pack; these heat packs are not reusable, so do not reheat or reuse them.
We will ship by the least expensive route, unless you specify otherwise. You will be sent an e-mail with a tracking number once your order has shipped. If you will be at work on the day that your order is estimated to arrive, and you've asked us to ship your order to your home address, please make sure someone will be at home to accept your package to avoid exposing plants to extreme heat or cold.
We ship orders only within the contiguous United States.