Merchant of Wine – Shipping & Delivery Policy

Quick Shipping Overview

We’ve made shipping simple and transparent. Eligible options appear at checkout based on your location and order size:

- Downtown LA (>$100): FREE local delivery
- California (>$100): $20 flat-rate per 12 bottles
- Outside California (>$300): $40 flat-rate per 12 bottles
- Choose “Approved to Ship ASAP” or “Call to Schedule Shipping” at checkout for timing preferences
- All shipments are weather-permitting and require an adult (21+) signature

For full details, please see the complete Shipping & Delivery Policy below.

HEAT SENSITIVITY

Before we ship your wine order, we manually check the weather in your area. At our sole discretion, if the weather appears to possibly cause harm to the wine, we will communicate to you the situation and possibly offer a Weather Waiver if the weather conditions are not favorable for shipping.

SHIPPING METHODS (Displayed at Checkout)

1) Flat-Rate Model (available at checkout when criteria are met)

Eligible flat-rate options appear automatically at checkout once your order meets the required criteria and falls within the correct delivery zone.

- Downtown LA (>$100): FREE Local Delivery
- California (>$100): $20 flat-rate per case (1 case = 12 bottles in 750 ml format unless otherwise specified)
- Outside California (>$300): $40 flat-rate per case

Multi-case orders: Flat rates are charged per case (e.g., 24 bottles = 2× the flat rate).
Qualifying products: Wine only. Tasting kits and non-wine items are excluded from flat-rate benefits and may ship at standard carrier rates.

Flat-rate options become available automatically at checkout when criteria are met. No discount codes required.

2) “Approved to Ship ASAP”

At our sole discretion, we ship weather permitting when this shipping method is selected at checkout.
- We will contact you via email to communicate shipping updates on your order.
- A Weather Waiver may be required and offered to you via email should you wish to ship regardless of weather conditions.
- Rates follow the flat-rate model above when eligible; otherwise carrier-calculated rates apply.

3) “Call to Schedule Shipping”

Selecting “Call to Schedule Shipping” at checkout requires communication with our office to coordinate a mutually agreed upon ship date.
- At our sole discretion, any “Call to Schedule Shipping” order extending beyond a reasonable timeframe without coordination may incur storage charges.
- Any shipping prices collected at order time may be subject to additional shipping charges based on the actual ship date.
- Our Weather Waiver may be required in this method as well, depending on timing and conditions.

LOCAL DELIVERY – DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

- FREE delivery on $100+ orders within 25 driving miles of Downtown Los Angeles (90012).
- Route days: Tuesdays & Fridays, 11 am–5 pm (additional days may be added during peak periods).
- Orders must be confirmed before 10 am for same-day route delivery.
- Rush deliveries can be arranged via Uber pick-up from our warehouse (customer expense).

PROCESSING TIME

Orders require Processing Time + Shipping (Transit) Time. Orders are typically processed Mon–Thu (excluding holidays).
- Orders placed before 2:00 pm PT may ship the same day depending on inventory location and weather permitting.
- We are closed Saturday, Sunday, holidays, and observance days.
- Shipping/Delivery date and time are expected estimates and not guaranteed.
- Once the carrier has possession, we have no control over routing/timing. Private local courier timing depends on traffic/conditions.

Office Hours: Monday–Wednesday 9:00 am–4:00 pm, Thursday–Friday 9:00 am–1:00 pm.

DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER SHIPPING

We ship from California to most states where shipment of alcohol is permitted from out of state; some states are DTC-prohibited. Please check local laws. Regardless of order placement, shipping costs are subject to change depending on location and compliance. If we receive an order for a state we do not ship to, you will be notified via email and offered an alternative option or a refund.

ADULT SIGNATURE REQUIRED

Per state and federal law, an adult 21+ with a valid government-issued ID must be available at the shipping address to sign for any package containing alcohol. Carriers may not leave alcohol shipments unattended.

PRIVATE LOCAL COURIER SERVICE

Within 25-mile radius of Los Angeles 90012 and special private local courier service exceptions within Southern California.

Please be advised and prepared, extreme weather conditions and unpredictable issues with traffic in Los Angeles may unfortunately cause delivery delays. All/any shipping costs are related to private courier service including but not limited to: office processing, warehouse labor, packing materials (tape, sticker labels, labels, ice packs, boxes, recycled boxes), private courier labor, time, mileage, etc. No one particular item dictates the cost of local delivery. There are no refunds/credit for any one particular missing element. We appreciate your business, understanding and support.

The courier is unauthorized to leave any shipment/package containing alcohol unattended for any reason; it is unlawful to leave packages containing alcohol at the door. Additional charges apply for any missed and/or reattempted delivery.

CARRIER TYPE & ADDRESS RULES

Carrier type is subject to our discretion. We reserve the right to select the carrier that best meets our criteria and experience. Certain non-DTC states may require a third-party carrier; additional costs apply.

For security and fraud prevention, our policy does not allow us to alter, change, or modify shipping addresses once declared on your order. Packages held at carrier facilities are at your own risk and discretion.

Additional charges will apply to correct any incorrect address provided by the Buyer/Receiver. Address changes of any kind are not available once the package has been released to the carrier.

SHIPPING TO ACCESS POINTS / CARRIER LOCATIONS

Do not provide a carrier store/shop/final carrier facility as the delivery address (e.g., UPS Store, UPS Access Point, FedEx Store, USPS). Some locations may refuse unknown alcohol shipments. We recommend shipping to a residence or business.

UPS has confirmed that we can ship to a FedEx Office or access point. The recipient must verify that their specific access point will accept their package. Once shipped our team is released from liability and/or responsibility. If shipping to a UPS Access location, the recipient may be required to pay additional fees upon receiving their package.

Buyer/Receiver is responsible for any fees/charges associated with packages being held at any location, including but not limited to the delivery address, carrier facility, third-party facility, or freight forwarder.

STORAGE FEES

Any package held due to weather or other circumstances is subject to review of shipping costs. Any/all prior agreed shipping charges are considered deposits toward actualized costs. If an adjustment is necessary, we will invoice on the shipping date. All prices and promotions are subject to review and adjustment when necessary.

SHIPPING TRANSIT TIME

Defined by the carrier as the time between package pick-up and delivery. Merchant of Wine makes no guarantees on transit time; carrier operations are beyond our control.

SPLIT SHIPMENTS

Additional costs apply for splitting orders, shipments and/or delivery, subject to our discretion.

DROP-SHIP

“Drop-ship” orders are shipped directly to you from the manufacturer.

REMOTE / BEYOND-POINT ADDRESS

Defined by the carrier as an address that requires additional travel beyond the carrier’s standard route and may incur additional charges.

SHIPPING INSURANCE

Shipping insurance is included on all orders and not optional.

PRE-ORDER SHIPMENTS

Pre-order shipments will be processed for transit once we have received, inspected and properly inventoried the wines into our system.

PERISHABLE GOODS

Wine, cheese, chocolate, edible/consumable items are perishable. It is crucial that the recipient make every effort to receive the package during the initial delivery attempt. Missed delivery can jeopardize wine quality. Merchant of Wine is not responsible/liable for missed deliveries; the wine’s state of health during transit/delivery is beyond our control.

PRIVATE CLIENT

Shipping/delivery is responsible and liable for conveying this policy and compliance herein to all/any participating guests in their private event experience. Private clients may request and authorize communication service between Merchant of Wine and their guests for shipping/delivery.

EXCLUSIVE SHIPPING OPTION

Yes, we offer exclusive services. Buyer/Private Client/Receiver has the option to go to extreme lengths to get a package successfully delivered at any time. Additional costs apply via exclusive private courier dedicated to your priority package. Ground support is available to assist. Contact: Alice, alice@merchantofwine.com for immediate assistance.

DAMAGED SHIPMENTS & BREAKAGE

All shipments are insured. The recipient is responsible for inspecting packages at the time of delivery. Any visible damage must be documented with the carrier before signing. Merchant of Wine must be notified of damage within 48 hours with photos for a claim to be filed. Failure to document with the carrier may void the insurance claim.

LOST OR STOLEN PACKAGES

Merchant of Wine is not responsible for packages lost or stolen after carrier delivery is confirmed by an adult signature. Any claims for theft after delivery must be filed directly with the carrier or local authorities.

ORDER CANCELLATIONS

Orders may be cancelled if they have not yet been processed for shipment. Once an order is in processing or transit, it cannot be cancelled. A cancellation fee may apply to cover administrative or payment processing costs.

COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAWS

By placing an order, the buyer represents that shipment and delivery of alcoholic beverages is permitted under applicable laws in the delivery jurisdiction. Merchant of Wine assumes no responsibility for orders placed in violation of state or local regulations.

REFUND POLICY

Except where required by law, all wine sales are final. Merchant of Wine does not accept returns or issue refunds for taste preferences, change of mind, or dissatisfaction not related to shipping damage or spoilage caused in transit. Wine tainted with TCA (“corked”) does not qualify for a refund.

WEATHER DISCLAIMER

Weather conditions may cause shipping delays. There is an option to purchase/upgrade to expedited shipping to try to avoid weather issues; however, we do not guarantee wines will arrive healthy and sound. We do not offer returns, refunds, exchanges, cancellations on wine spoilage during extreme weather. Wine shipments may be held at our discretion until weather permits.

HOLIDAY & PEAK SEASON DISCLAIMER

During high-volume periods such as holidays, processing and carrier transit times may be extended. Merchant of Wine cannot guarantee delivery by specific dates during these periods.

NO-SHIP ZONES

We do not ship to APO/FPO or PO Boxes, military bases, government facilities, schools, countries the carrier refuses to ship to, or where government prevents shipment. A refund will be issued minus the return shipping cost and a 25% restocking fee.

CONTACT US

Email: info@merchantofwine.com | office@merchantofwine.com
Phone: 323-406-2016 | 1-707-200-7810
Fax: 1-310-451-0407