A Guide for Inventors & Corporate Clients
How Shipping Your Bulk Order Works
One bundled shipping price. No surprise invoices. Here’s exactly what to expect from the moment your toys leave our factory to the moment they reach your dock.
Why We Bundle Shipping Into One Price
Years ago, clients used to call us upset. Their toys had arrived — and a week later, a separate invoice for shipping. Then a dock fee. Then a customs charge. Then a brokerage fee. Some clients ended up with up to seven invoices for what they thought was one transaction.
So we changed it. Now we approximate the full shipping cost up front and write it directly into your Letter of Agreement. One price covers freight, customs, brokerage, and dock handling. No surprises after delivery.
“I’ll approximate the price for shipping and use that price in your Letter of Agreement. As your product is being prepared to ship out I’ll get a firm quote at that time and we may adjust your final invoice up or down — we’re typically within $100 of the original estimate.”
— Rob, Custom Plush Toys
What Common Carrier Shipping Actually Looks Like
For bulk orders, the economical method is common carrier — the same way Walmart and grocery stores receive their goods. It’s very different from a UPS or FedEx package showing up at your door.
- •An 18-wheeler arriving at your facility
- •Pallets of your finished toys
- •An approximate arrival window
- •A single bundled price
- •A tracking number
- •Doorstep delivery
- •An exact delivery time
- •A dozen separate invoices
Receiving infrastructure matters. Common carrier means a truck and a pallet. To unload at the truck, you’ll need a loading dock, a forklift, or a pallet jack — or you’ll need to choose one of the delivery upgrades below.
Three Delivery Options
Pick the one that matches the receiving facilities you have. We’ll quote whichever you choose.
Standard Dock Delivery
An 18-wheeler backs up to your loading dock. You unload from the truck using your dock, forklift, or pallet jack. Lowest cost.
Tailgate Lift
No dock? The truck has a hydraulic lift that lowers the pallet to street level. You unbox and carry items in by hand. Modest upcharge.
Inside Delivery
The driver brings the pallet inside your building. Convenient but adds 30–50% to the shipping cost. Worth it for some, overkill for most.
What to Expect on Delivery Day
Your delivery date is approximate, not exact
Multiple orders ride together on a single truck. Earlier or later stops on the route can shift your window. We’ll keep you posted as the date firms up.
Weather and routing can move things
Storms, dock strikes, and rerouting are normal. Sometimes goods arrive a day or two early; sometimes a day or two late. We’re here to help navigate it either way.
Inspect before you sign
Take a minute to look over the pallets before signing the delivery paperwork. If you see major damage, note it on the receipt. Once it’s signed clean, the carrier’s liability ends.
“Can’t We Just UPS It?”
Yes — and people sometimes do. UPS or FedEx ground for a bulk order typically runs 4–5× the cost of common carrier. For small samples or rush portions of an order, it can make sense. For the full quantity, common carrier almost always wins.
If you want a portion of your order air-shipped while the rest comes by sea or ground, just ask. We can split shipments to hit a tight deadline.
Questions about your specific delivery?
Every facility is different. Tell us where you’re receiving and we’ll quote the right option.
Contact us →