Shipping policy
Last updated: August 27, 2026
This Shipping Policy explains how we process, pack, and deliver orders from Dread WickCo. It works together with our Terms of Service and Return & Refund Policy. By placing an order, you agree to these terms.
Where We Ship:
We currently ship only within the United States (at this time).
We ship to:
- All 50 U.S. states
- Washington, D.C.
- U.S. territories and possessions, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands
- APO / FPO / DPO military addresses when the carrier accepts the package
We do not ship internationally at this time. Orders with a non-U.S. shipping address will be cancelled and refunded.
Processing Time for Items Not in Stock: (Please Read)
Dread WickCo candles are hand-poured in small batches and **must cure** before they ship. Curing is part of making a candle that burns and throws scent the way it should. It is not optional.
- Typical processing time: *up to four (4) weeks* from the date your order is placed and payment clears
- That window includes pouring, the *approximately two (2) week cure*, quality check, packing, and handoff to the carrier
- Business days are Monday–Friday, excluding U.S. federal holidays and days we are closed
- You will receive a shipping confirmation with tracking when the order leaves us
*Processing time is not the same as delivery time.* Delivery time starts after the carrier scans the package.
If we cannot ship within the stated processing window, we will contact you. You may wait for the order or cancel for a refund of unshipped items.
Peak Seasons and Holidays:
Halloween and the winter holidays are our busiest periods. Processing and carrier transit can run longer than usual.
Expect extra time during:
- Halloween season: September 1 through November 5
- Christmas / holiday season: November 10 through December 31
- Other high-demand windows (Valentine’s / “Valloween,” major horror-release dates, site restocks, and limited drops)
During these periods:
- The full *up to four (4) week* processing window still applies and may be used
- Carriers experience delays, weather holds, and scanning gaps
- We cannot guarantee a candle will arrive by a specific holiday, party, or event date unless we have confirmed that in writing
*Order early.* If you need a candle for Halloween, Christmas, or a gift date, place the order as far ahead as possible. A last-minute order placed inside the four-week window may not arrive in time.
Shipping Methods, Rates, and Transit:
Available methods, rates, and estimated transit times are shown at checkout and depend on destination, package size, and carrier.
- We typically ship with major U.S. carriers (for example, USPS, UPS, or another carrier we select)
- Transit estimates at checkout are **carrier estimates**, not guarantees
- Tracking can take several hours after the first scan to appear in the carrier system
- Signature may be required on some shipments
We reserve the right to choose the carrier and service level that will get the order to you safely.
Packaging:
Candles are glass (or similarly breakable vessels) and are packed for standard parcel transit. Please inspect the box when it arrives.
Damaged, Broken, or Incomplete Orders:
If your order arrives broken, leaking, or missing items:
1. Take clear photos of the *outer box*, *inner packing*, *damaged item(s)*, and *shipping label* before you throw anything away
2. Email us at dreadwickco@gmail.com within *seven (7) calendar days* of the carrier’s first “Delivered” scan
3. Include your order number and the photos
A claim window for broken glass in the mail is 7 days from delivery. Claims opened after that, or without photos, may be denied.
If we confirm damage or a packing error on our end, we will replace the item or refund it, at our option. We may require the damaged goods to be discarded and not returned (broken glass and wax are often not worth shipping back).
Slight surface scuffs on a vessel, label wrinkles from heat or humidity, or normal wax settling after shipping are not defects.
Lost Packages:
If tracking stops moving for an extended period, or the carrier marks a package lost:
- Contact us at dreadwickco@gmail.com with your order number and tracking number
- We will open a carrier inquiry where available
- Replacement or refund is issued only after the carrier investigation (or after a reasonable waiting period if the carrier will not investigate)
“Delivered” But You Don’t Have It:
Carriers sometimes scan “Delivered” before the package is actually in your hands, or they leave it at a side door, locker, or neighbor.
- Wait 48 hours and check around the delivery location, with household members, and with neighbors
- If it still has not appeared, email us with your order number and tracking. We will help file a carrier claim
Once the carrier marks a package delivered to the address you provided, risk of loss generally passes to you. We may still help with a claim, but we are not required to replace a delivered package that was stolen from your porch.
Wrong or Incomplete Address:
You are responsible for the shipping address entered at checkout.
- If the package is returned to us because of an error in the address you provided, we may charge a reship fee or refund the product minus original shipping
- We are not responsible for delays or loss caused by an undeliverable address, a full mailbox, a carrier access problem, or failure to pick up a held package
Refused or Unclaimed Packages:
If you refuse the shipment or do not claim it and it comes back to us, we will refund the product after it is received and inspected, minus original outbound shipping and any return-to-sender cost, unless the refusal was because we shipped the wrong item.
Taxes:
Applicable state and local sales tax is calculated at checkout based on the shipping address and our collection obligations.
Changes After You Order:
We may combine items from the same order into one or more shipments. If part of an order is delayed (for example, one scent is still curing), we may ship available items first or hold the order complete, and we will try to tell you which.
Contact:
Questions about an order in transit:
dreadwickco@gmail.com
Dread WickCo.
Please include your order number.