Shipping policy

At The Alternative Bead, we're dedicated to bringing you the charms and jewelry you love, directly to your doorstep. We are a small family business run by Veronica and Martin, and we take great care in preparing and shipping your orders.

 

Processing Times

We aim to process and dispatch all orders of items in stock within 1 business day. You will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking information once your order has been dispatched.

If an item is marked for Backorder, we will order your product immediately from the manufacturer but depend on their shipping time to us. This usually takes between 3 to 5 working days before we can dispatch it to you.

 

Shipping Rates & Delivery Times

Shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on your location and chosen shipping method. Below you will find a detailed breakdown of our new shipping options.

 

Shipping to Germany

  • Delivery Estimate: 1-2 business days.

  • DHL Paket / UPS Standard: €6.49

    • FREE on orders over €100.

  • UPS Express: €15.99

    • FREE on orders over €500.

  • Special Express Upgrade: For orders between €100 and €500, upgrade to UPS Express for only €8.49.

 

Shipping to the European Union

  • Delivery Estimate: 5 business days for UPS Standard. Express is significantly faster.


EU - Zone 1
(Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden)

  • UPS Standard: €13.99

    • FREE on orders over €150.

  • UPS Express: €25.99

    • FREE on orders over €500.

  • Special Express Upgrade: For orders between €150 and €500, upgrade to UPS Express for only €16.99.


EU - Zone 2
(Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Spain)

  • UPS Standard: €15.99

    • FREE on orders over €150.

  • UPS Express: €30.99

    • FREE on orders over €500.

  • Special Express Upgrade: For orders between €150 and €500, upgrade to UPS Express for only €16.99.

 

International Shipping (Outside the EU)

 

Tax-Free Shopping for Non-EU Customers

We have great news! As a customer outside the EU, you shop tax-free. The German VAT (19%) is automatically deducted from all prices you see.

Please be aware that your order may be subject to customs duties or import taxes levied by your country upon arrival. These charges are your responsibility as the importer.

Policy on Refused Deliveries: If you refuse to accept the delivery of your order (e.g., due to unpaid customs fees), all costs incurred by us will be deducted from your refund. This includes:

  • The original shipping costs to you.

  • All return shipping costs charged to us by the carrier.

  • A 20% handling and restocking fee based on the merchandise value.

 

Europe (Non-EU Countries)

(Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom)

  • UPS Standard: €15.99

    • FREE on orders over €150.

  • UPS Express: €30.99

    • FREE on orders over €500.

  • Special Express Upgrade: For orders between €150 and €500, upgrade to UPS Express for only €16.99.

 

Rest of World - Express Shipping only

For the countries listed below, we offer fast and reliable service with UPS. Please note that delivery times are estimates and may vary due to factors outside of our control, such as customs processing.

  • UPS Express Saver (est. ~5 business days): €26.99

    • FREE on orders over €250.

  • UPS Express (est. ~3 business days): €40.99

    • FREE on orders over €500.

  • Special Express Upgrade: For orders between €250 and €500, you can upgrade from Express Saver to the faster UPS Express service for only €20.99.

This service is available for the following countries grouped by zone:

  • Zone 1: United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, China, India, Taiwan, Thailand.

  • Zone 2: Albania, Aruba, Cyprus, Iceland, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Serbia, Trinidad & Tobago, Türkiye, Turks & Caicos Islands, US Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Gibraltar, North Macedonia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Sint Maarten, St. Barthélemy, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, U.S. Outlying Islands.

  • Zone 3: Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, Israel, Malaysia, New Zealand, Panama, South Korea, UAE, United States Northern Mariana Islands, Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, Seychelles, Bahrain, Brunei, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, New Caledonia, Guyana, Uruguay.

 

Additional Information

Order Tracking

Once your order has shipped, you will receive a tracking number via email. You can use this number to track the progress of your shipment on the respective carrier's website.

 

Packaging

Your precious charms and jewelry will be carefully packaged to ensure they arrive in perfect condition.

 

Questions about your Order?

If you want to add an item or have any questions about your order or our shipping policy, please do not hesitate to contact us at shop@thealternativebead.com or click on the Chat Bubble on the bottom of the Screen.