Shipping Policy

Key Timeline Notes:

• Standard Shipping (via Royal Mail Tracked 48 or DPD Local):
  • UK Mainland (Major Cities: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh): 2–3 business days (London local deliveries often arrive in 1–2 days).
  • UK Remote Areas: 4–5 business days (extended due to limited courier frequency).
  • Isle of Man/Channel Islands: 5–7 business days (requires ferry/air transit + customs checks).
• Expedited Shipping (via Royal Mail Tracked 24 or DPD Next Day):
  • Available for all items in UK Mainland (excludes remote/offshore regions).
  • Delivery Timeline: 1–2 business days. Orders placed before 10:00 AM GMT qualify for next-day delivery; orders after this time ship the next business day.
• Holiday Delays: Add 2–3 business days during peak periods (Christmas, Easter, half-term breaks). For birthday gifts (e.g., a Mystery Box for a party), order at least 5 business days in advance to avoid disappointment.

3. Order Processing Time

• Small Items (Mystery Boxes, ≤200pc Building Blocks): Processed within 1 business day of order placement (excludes weekends, UK public holidays: Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Bank Holidays).
• Large/Delicate Items (Early Education Machines, >200pc Building Blocks): Require an extra 1 business day for pre-shipment checks:
  • Building Blocks: Count pieces to ensure no missing parts (critical for play!), and seal small pieces in labeled bags to avoid loss.
  • Early Education Machines: Test functionality (e.g., buttons, lights, charging), wrap cords neatly, and secure fragile parts (e.g., touchscreens) with foam.
• Urgent Requests: If you need an item for a last-minute event (e.g., a birthday), email noonday-23-gingery@icloud.com with your order number and “Urgent Kids’ Toy” in the subject line. We’ll prioritize processing and confirm if expedited shipping is available.

4. Packaging & Delivery Details

Protective (and Fun!) Packaging

• Mystery Boxes: Wrapped in colorful, kid-friendly paper (no boring brown boxes!) and sealed with “Open Me!” stickers—perfect for gifting.
• Building Blocks: Small sets go in padded envelopes (with dividers to prevent scratching); large sets use rigid boxes with foam inserts to keep pieces organized and intact.
• Early Education Machines: Placed in their original box (with internal padding) and wrapped in bubble wrap—extra tape reinforces corners to avoid dents.

Tracking & Delivery Confirmation

• Tracking: A unique tracking number is sent to your email within 24 hours of shipping. You can check status via Royal Mail Track & Trace or DPD Track—great for letting kids “count down” to their toy’s arrival.
• Delivery Confirmation: Required for all Early Education Machines and orders over £35 GBP (to prevent theft). If no one is home:
  1. The carrier leaves a note with instructions to reschedule delivery or pick up from a local depot (valid for 10 days).
  2. Most carriers attempt redelivery once (next business day) before returning the package to us.

5. Delivery Issues & Claims

Lost or Delayed Orders

1. First, check the tracking link—carriers often mark items as “in transit” even if delayed, or hold packages for address checks (e.g., missing apartment number).
2. If your order exceeds the estimated timeline (e.g., UK Mainland standard shipping takes more than 4 days), email us with your order number and tracking ID.
3. We resolve issues within 3 business days:
   • For birthday/holiday gifts: Send a replacement via expedited shipping (free of charge) to ensure it arrives on time.
   • For non-urgent items: Offer a full refund or replacement—your choice.

Damaged or Missing Items

1. Inspect packages immediately. Note damage on the carrier’s receipt (if possible) and take photos of:
   • Damaged packaging (e.g., torn box, crushed corner).
   • Damaged toys (e.g., broken Building Block, cracked machine screen) or missing pieces (e.g., 10 blocks short in a set).
2. Email us within 24 hours of delivery with your order number, photos, and a description of the issue.
3. We fix it fast:
   • Damaged toys: Send a replacement (no need to return the broken one—we prioritize getting the toy to your kid quickly).
   • Missing pieces: Ship the missing parts for free (we keep extra Building Blocks and machine accessories in stock for this!).

Incorrect Address

6. Additional Shipping Restrictions

• PO Boxes: We ship Mystery Boxes and small Building Blocks to PO boxes, but not Early Education Machines (too large) or >500pc Block sets (risk of damage in PO box sorting). A physical street address is required for these items.
• Bulk Orders: For nurseries/schools (e.g., 10+ Building Block sets, 5+ Education Machines), contact us in advance. We offer discounted shipping and can label packages for classroom use (e.g., “Year 1 Building Blocks”).
• Gift Wrapping: Add a free gift note (write your message in the order comments!)—we’ll print it on colorful paper and include it with the toy. For an extra £3 GBP, we’ll wrap the item in festive paper (great for holidays!).