Shipping Policy

1. Shipping Coverage

1.1 Delivery Areas

• Australia-Wide: We ship to all states and territories across Australia
• Metro Areas: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin, and surrounding suburbs
• Regional & Rural: We deliver to regional and rural areas across Australia
• Remote Locations: Delivery to remote areas may take longer (see delivery timeframes below)

1.2 Address Types

We deliver to:

• Residential addresses (home delivery)
• Business addresses (office/workplace delivery)
• PO Boxes (Australia Post boxes)
• Parcel lockers (Australia Post Parcel Lockers)

1.3 International Shipping

We currently do not offer international shipping. All orders must be delivered to Australian addresses only. If you're located overseas and need Australian wiper blades, please contact us for assistance.

2. Shipping Methods & Costs

2.1 Shipping Cost Calculation

Shipping costs are calculated as follows:

• Standard: Always FREE, regardless of order size
• Express: $3.90 per set (if you order 3 sets, express shipping = $11.70)
• Mixed Orders: Express rate applies to all items in your cart if Express is selected

2.2 What's Included

All shipping methods include:

• ✅ Full tracking from dispatch to delivery
• ✅ Email notifications with tracking links
• ✅ Secure packaging to prevent damage
• ✅ Insurance coverage (standard carrier insurance)
• ✅ Carbon-neutral shipping (Australia Post's carbon offset program)

3. Order Processing & Dispatch

3.1 Processing Time

• Order Confirmation: Instant email confirmation upon successful payment
• Payment Verification: Usually instant (Stripe/PayPal), may take 1-2 hours in rare cases
• Packing: Orders are packed within 1 business day of payment confirmation
• Dispatch: Orders are dispatched within 1 business day (Mon-Fri)

3.2 Cut-Off Times

3.3 Business Days

"Business days" refers to Monday through Friday, excluding public holidays. Processing and delivery timeframes do not include weekends or Australian public holidays.

4. Delivery Timeframes

4.1 Standard Shipping Estimates

4.2 Express Shipping Estimates

Important Notes:

• Delivery timeframes are estimates only and are not guaranteed
• Timeframes begin from the date of dispatch, not the date of order placement
• Delays may occur due to weather, carrier backlogs, or unforeseen circumstances
• Peak periods (Christmas, holidays) may result in longer delivery times

5. Tracking Your Order

5.1 Tracking Information

Once your order is dispatched, you will receive:

• Shipping Confirmation Email: Contains your tracking number and direct tracking link
• Carrier Name: Australia Post, StarTrack, DHL, or TNT
• Estimated Delivery Date: Approximate delivery timeframe
• Tracking Link: Click to track your parcel in real-time

5.2 How to Track

1. Check your email for the "Order Shipped" confirmation from GWC Wiper Blades
2. Click the tracking link in the email OR visit the carrier's website
3. Enter your tracking number on the carrier's tracking page
4. View real-time updates on your parcel's location and delivery status

5.3 Tracking Direct Links

• Australia Post: auspost.com.au/mypost/track
• StarTrack: startrack.com.au/track
• DHL: dhl.com/au-en/home/tracking

6. Delivery Process

6.1 Delivery Attempt

When the carrier delivers your parcel:

• Safe Drop: Standard parcels can be left in a safe location (porch, mailbox, etc.) unless signature is required
• Signature Required: Express parcels may require a signature (driver will knock/ring doorbell)
• No One Home: If no one is home and signature is required, a card will be left with pickup instructions
• Pickup Locations: Parcels can be collected from the nearest Post Office or parcel locker

6.2 Delivery Instructions

You can provide delivery instructions during checkout (e.g., "Leave at front door", "Ring doorbell"). However, the carrier is not obligated to follow these instructions if it compromises security.

6.3 Address Accuracy

7. Delivery Issues

7.1 Delayed Parcels

If your parcel has not arrived within the estimated timeframe:

1. Check your tracking information for updates
2. Wait an additional 2-3 business days (carriers may experience delays)
3. Contact the carrier directly using your tracking number
4. If the carrier cannot locate your parcel, contact us at [email protected]

7.2 Lost Parcels

If your parcel is confirmed lost by the carrier:

• We will work with the carrier to lodge a lost parcel claim
• Once confirmed lost, we will send you a replacement parcel at no additional cost
• Replacement parcels are dispatched within 1-2 business days
• Lost parcels typically take 7-14 days to be confirmed by carriers

7.3 Damaged Parcels

If your parcel arrives damaged:

1. Inspect immediately: Check the contents before the driver leaves (if possible)
2. Take photos: Photograph the damaged packaging and product
3. Contact us: Email us at [email protected] with photos within 48 hours
4. Resolution: We will send a replacement or issue a refund

7.4 Wrong Address Delivery

If the carrier delivers to the wrong address due to their error, contact the carrier immediately. If the error was due to an incorrect address provided during checkout, you will be responsible for any re-shipping costs.

7.5 Refused or Unclaimed Parcels

If you refuse delivery or fail to collect your parcel from a pickup location within the carrier's holding period:

• The parcel will be returned to us
• You may be charged return shipping costs
• Re-shipping charges will apply if you wish to have the parcel re-sent

8. Shipping Restrictions

8.1 No Local Pickup

We do not offer local pickup or will-call at this time. All orders must be shipped to a valid address.

8.2 PO Box Limitations

PO Boxes are accepted for Standard Shipping only. Express shipping cannot be delivered to PO Boxes in most cases.

8.3 Dangerous Goods

Wiper blades are not classified as dangerous goods and can be shipped without restrictions.

9. Risk and Title Transfer

10. Peak Period & Holiday Shipping

10.1 Christmas & Holiday Rush

During peak periods (November-January), expect:

• Increased processing times (up to 2-3 business days)
• Longer delivery timeframes (add 2-5 days to standard estimates)
• Carrier delays due to high volumes
• Earlier order cut-offs (order by December 15 for pre-Christmas delivery)

10.2 Public Holiday Closures

We do not process or dispatch orders on Australian public holidays. Orders placed on public holidays will be processed the next business day.

11. Order Modifications

11.1 Change of Address

Once an order is dispatched, we cannot change the delivery address. If you need to change your address, contact us immediately after placing your order (before dispatch). After dispatch, you must contact the carrier to redirect the parcel (fees may apply).

11.2 Upgrade to Express

If you would like to upgrade from Standard to Express shipping, contact us within 2 hours of placing your order. We will invoice you for the express shipping upgrade if the order hasn't been dispatched yet.

12. Contact Us

For shipping inquiries, tracking assistance, or delivery issues, please contact us: