Notes on Shipping / Shipping Policy
Many thanks for using Hi-Fi Collective Ltd. and placing your valued orders with us. On this page, you will find all current and relevant shipping information:
General Notes on Shipping
As long as all the items you have ordered are in stock (excluding inductors and some other items) and we have enough time to prepare your order, we will endeavour to dispatch your order on the very same working day. Please see the cut-off times below. We do not process or dispatch orders on weekends, UK bank holidays or UK public holidays, which are listed here.
When we quote transit times, for example, one day, it refers to one working day. A working day is NOT a UK bank holiday or a weekend day. Our courier services (Fedex, DHL and UPS) will not deliver on the weekend or bank holidays.
Notes on Brexit
As of the 1st of January 2021, the UK has left the EU. As a result, when shipping orders to EU addresses, customers will no longer be charged UK VAT by HiFi Collective. Please see 'Import VAT / Duties / Charges' below for information on import charges.
Import VAT, Duties and Handling Charges
For shipments to non-UK addresses, you may be liable to pay import VAT and duty, and a handling/processing fee once the parcel arrives at the country's border. This is payable to the country's customs department through the shipping carrier. HiFi Collective will not pay these charges (unless selected at checkout - see below).
Pre-Payment of Import VAT and Duty For EU Customers
For our EU customers, we now offer the opportunity to pre-pay your import VAT and duty when you order through the website (some exclusions may apply).
For all the details please read the full Pre-payment of Duties & Taxes article
Non-Stock Items
If you order several products whereby one or more product line has a "NON-STOCK, ALLOW..." notification, we will only send the entire order in one package once the non-stock item has arrived and the order is complete. If you require the stock items from your order urgently, please inform us at the checkout stage in the order comments section so we can arrange further payment for the additional postage charges.
Delayed and lost parcels
The Hi-Fi Collective team prides itself on providing excellent customer service, so we will endeavour to assist with any issues you may have with your shipment.
If your parcel is delayed, please take the following steps before contacting us:
- For non-trackable parcels please allow for the Estimated delivery time (below) to pass - any emails received during this time will not be responded to.
- For trackable parcels please check your tracking information for updates.
- Check with neighbours, in case the parcel has been delivered there.
- Check with your local postal depot; you may have missed a delivery attempt or they may be awaiting payment for import charges.
Our Non-delivery promise
Very few shipments are lost and are simply held up in transit. On the unlikely occasion that your parcel has not been delivered, consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis for opening an investigation with the carrier. The following Non-delivery timeframes (under standard conditions) have been set out as follows and exclude courier shipments:
- UK deliveries = 10 working days / 2 calendar weeks
- Non-UK deliveries = 30 working days / 6 calendar weeks
Should we look to re-send any parts (at our expense), all Non-trackable orders will need to pay to upgrade the shipping to a trackable service (at the customer's expense).
UK Courier Services (Recommended)
We offer several methods of shipping for sending your parcel. For your information, please read the relevant section.
DPD UK:
- UK trackable service
- One of our recommended courier shipping services for quicker delivery within the UK.
- 1:30pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
- Email notification directly from DPD with tracking number & updates, also trackable here
Estimated delivery time: Next working day delivery service (aim, not guaranteed)
FedEx UK:
- UK trackable service
- One of our recommended courier shipping services for quicker delivery within the UK.
- 1:30pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
- Email notification directly from FedEx with tracking number & updates, also trackable here
Estimated delivery time: Next working day delivery service (aim, not guaranteed)
DHL UK:
- UK trackable service
- One of our recommended courier shipping services for quicker delivery within the UK.
- 1:30pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
- Email notification directly from DHL with tracking number & updates, also trackable here
Estimated delivery time: Next working day delivery service (aim, not guaranteed)
UPS UK:
- UK trackable service
- One of our recommended courier shipping services for quicker delivery within the UK.
- 1:30pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
- Email notification directly from UPS with tracking number & updates, also trackable here
Estimated delivery time: Next working day delivery service (aim, not guaranteed)
International Courier Services
FedEx International Connect Plus FICP**:
- One of our recommended courier shipping services for lower cost trackable worldwide delivery.
- Dedicated FedEx Customs channel for quicker clearance
- 1:30pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
- Email notification directly from FedEx with tracking number & updates, also trackable here
Estimated delivery time: 3 -10 working days (aim, not guaranteed), dependent on your location - please check your order confirmation for estimated time scales.
FedEx International Priority**:
- One of our recommended courier shipping services for quicker worldwide delivery.
- Dedicated FedEx Customs channel for quicker clearance
- 1:30pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
- Email notification directly from FedEx with tracking number & updates, also trackable here
Estimated delivery time: 1 – 4 working days (aim, not guaranteed), dependent on your location - please check your order confirmation for estimated time scales.
FedEx International Economy**:
- One of our recommended courier shipping services for lower-cost worldwide delivery for heavier shipments. Some exclusions may apply.
- Dedicated FedEx Customs channel for quicker clearance
- 1:30pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
- Email notification directly from FedEx with tracking number & updates, also trackable here
Estimated delivery time: 4 – 7 working days (aim, not guaranteed), dependent on your location - please check your order confirmation for estimated time scales.
**Additional costs – FedEx
“Extended Area” surcharge
Due to the vast coverage of FedEx deliveries, there may be, on occasion, a postal area that falls outside of FedEx’s "normal" delivery area/route. If the shipping address listed falls outside of this area, there will be a surcharge to pay in addition to the FedEx cost paid at checkout. We will email you directly to settle this balance before shipping your parts. These charges are as follows:
- Tier A = £2.61* for some US and Canadian Postal Code areas
- Tier B = £18.50* for various Postal Codes areas, Worldwide
- Tier C = £23.50* for various Postal Codes areas, Worldwide
*Excludes fuel surcharge at FedEx weekly rate
DHL Express - Trackable & Secure**:
- One of our recommended courier shipping services for quicker worldwide delivery.
- Dedicated DHL Customs channel for quicker clearance
- 1:30pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
- Email notification directly from DHL with tracking number & updates, also trackable here
Estimated delivery time: 1 – 3 working days (aim, not guaranteed), dependent on your location - please check your order confirmation for estimated time scales.
**Additional costs – DHL Express
“Remote Area” surcharge
Due to the vast coverage of DHL Express deliveries, there may be, on occasion, a postal area that falls outside of DHL Express' "normal" delivery area/route. If the shipping address listed falls outside of this area, there will be a £18.00* surcharge to pay in addition to the DHL Express cost paid at checkout. We will email you directly to settle this balance before shipping your parts.
*Excludes fuel surcharge at DHL Express weekly rate
UPS Express Saver/Standard - Trackable & Secure**:
- One of our recommended courier shipping services for quicker worldwide delivery.
- Dedicated UPS Customs channel for quicker clearance
- 1:30pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
- Email notification directly from UPS with tracking number & updates, also trackable here
Estimated delivery time: dependent on your location - please check the shipping calculator or your order confirmation for estimated time scales.
**Additional costs – UPS
“Remote Area” surcharge
Due to the vast coverage of UPS deliveries, there may be, on occasion, a postal area that falls outside of UPS's "normal" delivery area/route. If the shipping address listed falls outside of this area, there will be a £5.99* surcharge to pay in addition to the UPS cost paid at checkout. We will email you directly to settle this balance before shipping your parts.
*Excludes fuel surcharge at UPS's weekly rate
International returns
Should customers refuse any International shipments at the point of import or at delivery or neglect to provide the carrier with the requested documentation for Customs Clearance, the parcel will be returned to HFC. This incurs a minimum charge of £25.00, which will be deducted from any refund amount or be chargeable to you if looking to resend the parts.
UK Postal Services
Royal Mail 24 (1st Class Post)
- A UK non-trackable service
- 4:00pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
Estimated delivery time: Next working day (aim, not guaranteed)
Royal Mail Tracked 24:
- A UK trackable-at-delivery service
- 4:00pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
- Email notification from Royal Mail with tracking number, also trackable here
Estimated delivery time: Next working day (aim, not guaranteed)
Royal Mail Tracked 48:
- A UK trackable-at-delivery service
- 4:00pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
- Email notification from Royal Mail with tracking number, also trackable here
Estimated delivery time: 2-3 working days (aim, not guaranteed)
Royal Mail Special Delivery:
- A UK Fully trackable next day service
- Friday dispatch for Saturday delivery
- 4:00pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
- Email notification from Royal Mail with tracking number & updates, also trackable here
Estimated delivery time: Guaranteed by 1pm, Next day delivery service (aim, not guaranteed)
International Postal Services
DHL GlobalMail Packet Priority Airmail in Partnership with Deutsche Post: (Only available to select destinations)
- An international low-cost non-trackable postal service.
- Delivered by one of Deutsche Post's International delivery partners, typically your local postal service.
- Mandatory pre-paid Import VAT and Duties for private EU individuals on orders under 150 EURO.
- 2:30pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
Estimated delivery time: 7 to 15 working days in Europe, 7 to 21 working days for the Rest of the World - (not guaranteed, excluding time spent in Customs)
DHL GlobalMail Tracked Airmail in Partnership with Deutsche Post: (Only available to select destinations)
- An international trackable postal service.
- Delivered by one of Deutsche Post's International delivery partners, typically your local postal service. Trackable here
- Mandatory pre-paid Import VAT and Duties for private EU individuals on orders under 150 EURO.
- 2:30pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
Estimated delivery time: 7 to 15 working days in Europe, 7 to 21 working days Rest of the World - (not guaranteed, excluding time spent in Customs)
Royal Mail Airmail International Priority (Only available to select destinations)
- An international non-trackable postal service
- Delivered by one of Royal Mail's International delivery partners, found here
- 4:00pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
Estimated delivery time: 7 to 21 working days depending on your location (aim, not guaranteed, excluding time spent in Customs)
Royal Mail International Airmail Signed For / Tracked / Tracked & Signed For: (Only available to select destinations)
- An International trackable postal service
- Delivered by one of Royal Mail's International delivery partners found here or here or here
- 4:00pm (GMT) cut-off time for same working day dispatch
- Email notification directly from HiFi Collective with tracking number link, also trackable here
- International Airmail Signed For - Only trackable in the UK and at the point of delivery.
Estimated delivery time: 7 to 21 working days depending on your location (aim, not guaranteed, excluding time spent in Customs)