Holiday Shipping Delays

The holiday season is still a few months away and most of us aren't even thinking about it this early in October. But, we and most retail companies are already experiencing a significant delay receiving products and we want to make you aware of it as early as possible. 

Everyday life in the United States is acutely dependent on the perpetual motion of the supply chain, in which food, medicine, furniture, and clothing all compete for many of the same logistical resources. As we have all been forced to learn in the last year and a half when supply cannot keep up with demand, when there is not enough containers, longshoremen, truck drivers or postal workers - the effects ripple outward for weeks or months, emptying store shelves and raising prices randomly.  

The supply and demand chain is currently in chaos all over the country because of the hundreds of shipping containers held up at many U.S. Ports waiting to dock and unload goods. There is a shortage of truckers available and some of our vendors advised us they are anticipating delays in shipping products to their customers. 

The shortage of container vessels has prompted some of the biggest U.S. retailers like Walmart, Home Depot, and Target to charter their own cargo ships to deliver their goods as part of wider plans to mitigate the disruptions, a costly and unattainable option for most small business. Chartering ships is a tactic that is out of financial reach for a small family owned company like ours, giving large companies a potential advantage in the coming months. 

The United States Postal Service and UPS have increased their shipping cost for the 2021 holiday season until January 31, 2022. Along with the increased cost retailers are facing there will be a significant delay in delivering packages via USPS and UPS. Currently USPS and UPS packages typically arrive in 1-5 business days but get ready for an estimated arrival time of 3-14 business days as we get closer to holiday shipping. 

The Tea Time Shop is a small family owned business offering the best quality loose leaf tea and your one stop shop for all things tea. We will NOT be increasing shipping cost for the holidays. Instead, we are reducing our FREE SHIPPING threshold from $65 to $55. You, our customer, is our top priority and we understand that this change will impact all of us. 

During the next few months you'll be receiving more discounts, free offers, and special promotions in your inboxes more frequently.  Please place your holiday orders early to support our team in getting them to you on time.  

Enjoy your time with tea!