Shipping policy

Stage Stop Candy Shipping Policy

Updated October 2025

Order Processing & Fulfillment

We strive to ship orders within 1-2 business days. During holidays and times of reduced staffing, there may be additional delays. If you have questions about when an order will ship, please contact us by email (support@stagestopcandy.com) or by phone (508-394-1791) for assistance.

Shipping Carriers & Delivery Times

All orders are shipped using either the United States Postal Service (USPS) or United Parcel Service (UPS). Delivery times are calculated during the checkout process and are an estimate of when a shipment would be expected to arrive.

Please note: Once a shipment has left our building, Stage Stop Candy does not have control of the package or the ability to change the delivery timeframe. Shipping times cannot be guaranteed by Stage Stop Candy and we do not have control over delays associated with packages once they have been transferred to a shipping carrier.

Shipping Methods & Options

SSC Ground Shipping (Seasonal Budget Option)

Available: October 1 - April 15 for orders $20 or more

Our budget-friendly flat rate shipping option during fall and winter months:

  • Cool Climate States (all except FL, CA, TX, HI): $7.00 flat rate
    • Standard box packaging
    • USPS or UPS delivery (typically 3-10 business days)
    • No ice pack or temperature control
    • Perfect for fall and winter orders
  • Warm Climate States (Florida, California, Texas, Hawaii): $20.00 flat rate
    • Standard box packaging
    • USPS Ground Advantage delivery (typically 3-5 business days)
    • Basic protection appropriate for climate
    • Discounted alternative to calculated shipping rates

Minimum order requirement: $20 (before shipping, after discounts). The minimum helps us offer this lower rate while maintaining Stage Stop quality standards.

Select Shipping (Customer Choice)

Choose your preferred carrier and service level for more control over delivery timing:

  • USPS Priority Mail (typically 2-3 business days)
  • USPS Ground Advantage (typically 3-10 business days)
  • UPS Ground (typically 3-5 business days)
  • UPS 2nd Day Air
  • UPS Next Day Air

Rates calculated at checkout based on package weight, dimensions, and destination. These options include appropriate ice pack protection when needed for warm weather shipping.

Warm Weather Shipping Guidelines

Seasonal shipping schedule: From May 15th until September 30th, Stage Stop Candy typically ships Monday through Thursday only to avoid packages spending the weekend in hot shipping containers or postal hubs.

Ice pack protection: We include ice packs when shipping during warm weather when the high temperature in Dennis Port or at the destination is 72-74 degrees or higher and the products being purchased include chocolate items.

SSC Ground Shipping availability: Our budget SSC shipping option is only available October 1 - April 15 to ensure your chocolates arrive in perfect condition. During warm weather months (April 16 - September 30), please use our Calculated Shipping options which include appropriate temperature protection.

Heat-Safe Items (Year-Round Shipping)

The following items can safely ship year-round regardless of temperature:

  • Fudge
  • Fruit slices
  • Salt water taffy
  • Freeze-dried candy
  • Gummies
  • Hard candy
  • Stuffed animals

These items do not require ice pack protection and can be shipped using any method during any season.

Free Shipping

Threshold: Orders totaling between $150 - $300 in products may qualify for free shipping depending on the shipping destination.

Geographic limitations: Free shipping is not available to exceptionally warm climates such as California, Florida, or Texas. If applicable, this adjustment will display during checkout automatically.

Promotional thresholds: Occasionally we offer lower free shipping thresholds which will be advertised in the banner on our homepage. If there is no current promotion, the $150 threshold applies.

Large orders: For orders over $300, shipping is charged as a percentage of the total order:

  • 5% for Northeast US
  • 10% for rest of United States

Temperature & Chocolate Care

Due to the delicate nature of chocolate and candy as it relates to temperatures, Stage Stop Candy does not offer any warranty or guarantee that chocolates will arrive in a solid (not melted) condition.

If your items are melted or soft upon arrival:

  1. Leave them in a cool (air conditioned) room for 2-3 hours
  2. Chocolate and all of our candy will return to solid form if the temperature is between 65 and 72 degrees
  3. Melted chocolate is still perfectly safe to eat and enjoy (it may just not look as pretty as it did when it left our shop)

Why we offer SSC shipping seasonally: Our SSC Ground Shipping option is only available during cool months (October-April) to minimize the risk of temperature-related issues. During warm months, we recommend our Select Shipping options which include appropriate temperature protection.

Shipping Rate Calculation

Shipping rates are based on several factors:

  • Distance from our shop in Dennis Port, Massachusetts to your destination
  • Shipping method selected (SSC flat rate or calculated Select Shipping)
  • Package weight and dimensions (for Select Shipping)
  • Season (SSC rates available October-April only)
  • Order total (for free shipping eligibility)

All shipping costs are calculated and displayed during the checkout process before you complete your purchase.

Questions or Special Requests?

If you have specific shipping needs, timing requirements, or questions about which shipping method is best for your order, please contact us:

We're happy to help ensure your Stage Stop Candy arrives exactly when and how you need it!

Summary of Key Points

✓ SSC Ground Shipping: $7 (cool climates) or $20 (warm climates), October-April, $20 minimum ✓ Calculated Shipping: Choose your carrier, rates calculated at checkout, includes ice when needed ✓ Orders ship: Within 1-2 business days typically ✓ Warm weather schedule: May 15 - Sept 30, Monday-Thursday shipping only ✓ Free shipping: Available on orders $150-300 (geographic restrictions apply) ✓ Ice packs: Included when needed at no extra charge ✓ Heat-safe items: Can ship year-round without temperature concerns

Last updated: October 2025