Shipping
Orders usually ship within 2-3 BUSINESS DAYS from the time we receive your order.
Expedited processing and delivery options are available.
US Shipping (to the lower 48 states)
Free Shipping
You can get free shipping to the contiguous continental states if:
- Your order of $25 or more qualifies for Media Mail shipping
- Your order is over $150 (you get trackable shipping)
- You are a Sonlighter Club Member
- You get fast, trackable shipping.
- Your package arrives within 3-10 business days after your order leaves the Sonlight warehouse.
- You can get your order even faster with Expedited Shipping.
History / Bible / Literature customers get this free service for a full year. Heirloom members get free shipping for life! See the other benefits of Sonlight.
If your order does not qualify for free shipping
- $5 Media Mail is available for qualifying items under $25.
- $10 trackable shipping is available for orders under $150.
- Other Options can be arranged. Contact us to setup a specific alternative service you would like to pay for.
Notes About Media Mail Shipping
- Allow up to 2 weeks for delivery.
- What if I have items that do not qualify for Media Mail?
You can upgrade to standard trackable shipping for $10. You will not save money (or time) by splitting your order and placing one order with free Media Mail and one order with trackable shipping. - What if I want Media Mail, but I also want a catalog with my order? Unfortunately, we cannot ship Sonlight catalogs via Media Mail. If your order qualifies for Media Mail, please do not check "add a catalog to my order" at checkout. Instead, place your order without a catalog and then request a catalog here. We will ship your order via Media Mail and send you a catalog for free.
Notes About FedEx Shipping
FedEx® requires a street address (no PO Box) and a phone number.
AK, HI, APO/FPO and Shipping to US Territories
Orders of $25 or more may qualify for free Media Mail shipping!
All the items in your order must qualify for Media Mail.
Notes About Media Mail Shipping
- Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.
- What if my order is under $25?
You can pay $5 for Media Mail shipping (if your items qualify for Media Mail). Or add additional qualifying items to make it reach $25 for free Media Mail shipping. - What if I want Media Mail, but I also want a catalog with my order? Unfortunately, we cannot ship Sonlight catalogs via Media Mail. If your order qualifies for Media Mail, please do not check "add a catalog to my order" at checkout. Instead, place your order without a catalog and then request a catalog here. We will ship your order via Media Mail and send you a catalog for free.
Other Shipping Options
You may choose FedEx shipping to AK/HI or USPS shipping to APO/FPO.
Alaska and Hawaii
- Take advantage of our Media Mail/trackable split-shipment option. You will receive the items that do not qualify for Media Mail by trackable shipping, and the rest of your materials typically will arrive within 2-4 weeks via Media Mail.
- Or simply select trackable shipping if you want everything sooner.
| Order Amount | Media Mail Split-Shipment Cost |
|---|---|
| $0-$100 | $20 |
| $100-$500 | $40 |
| $500-$1000 | $50 |
| $1000-$2000 | $60 |
| $2000 and up | $85 |
APO/FPO and US Territories
- Take advantage of our Media Mail/USPS split-shipment option. You will receive the items that do not qualify for Media Mail by USPS Priority Shipping, and the rest of your materials typically will arrive within 2-4 weeks via Media Mail.
- Or simply select USPS Priority Shipping if you want everything sooner.
| Order Amount | Media Mail Split-Shipment Cost |
|---|---|
| $0-$100 | $10 |
| $100-$500 | $20 |
| $500-$1000 | $30 |
| $1000-$2000 | $40 |
| $2000 and up | $50 |
Notes About FedEx® Shipping
FedEx® requires a street address (no PO Box) and a phone number.
International Shipping (including Canada)
Sonlight usually ships internationally via FedEx because it is the most cost-effective option for you. Keep reading for details:
- Fuel Surcharges are additional. Use our shipping calculator to find to find your shipping rate, including the current Fuel Surcharge. The surcharge fluctuates with market conditions. During 2008 it fluctuated between 2% and 34% of the base rate.
- FedEx® requires a street address (no PO Box) and a phone number.
- If your international order contains backordered items, Sonlight will typically hold your order for up to four weeks in order to ship all possible materials together.
- Please be aware of the available shipping options and shipping limitations on orders sent to your country. You are responsible for all duties, taxes, and other charges required by the country of destination.
- Incorrect address or address without a phone number can result in your package being held up in customs, resulting in additional delays and charges. Please be sure that the address you give is accurate for delivery within your country.
- When you order, please tell us which word (name) is the Country, Province, City, and Postal Code. Please include your phone number and email address.
- We want you to be able to get the curriculum you need, so Sonlight has already negotiated a discounted rate with trackable shipping, and then subsidizes the cost of that discounted rate. You'll find it is significantly cheaper for Sonlight to ship to you via trackable shipping than for you to use FedEx's international services on your own. If you're curious, you can calculate the non-subsidized/discounted rate you'd pay on your own with FedEx. (For Sonlight's rates, use the shipping calculator.)
Notes for Canadian customers:
Standard shipping via trackable shipping generally takes 3-10 business days for delivery.
A 5% Canadian GST-Goods and Services Tax will be applied to your order if shipping via FedEx or UPS. If your order is shipped to a PO box, we must use the postal service. You will pay GST at the time of delivery, and you will also be charged a customs broker fee of $5.00 per package.
How to calculate your shipping costs
Your shipping charges can be found at final checkout, or by using the Shipping Calculator.
Shipping Calculator
Get an estimate of your shipping costs. For exact value, proceed to checkout.
Expedited Processing and Shipping Options
Rush Service (faster service in our warehouse)
Rush Service moves your order to the front of the line in our warehouse. If you place your order before 11am (MST), your order will be on its way to you that day. If you place your order after 11am (MST), we will ship your order the next day. It is currently 9:45 AM.
| Order Total | Rush Cost |
|---|---|
| $0-$149.99 | $14.95 |
| $150-$299.99 | 10% |
| $300-$699.99 | 8% |
| $700-$999.99 | 5% |
| $1000 and up | 4% |
| Maximum: | $50.00 |
Expedited Shipping
Sonlight's Rush Service is included in the shipping price displayed any time you choose an expedited shipping option. Expedited shipping options include:
- FedEx Ground Home
- FedEx Express Saver
- FedEx Home Delivery
- FedEx 2Day
- FedEx Standard Overnight
- FedEx Priority Overnight
- FedEx International Priority
Use the Shipping Calculator if you'd like to estimate your shipping costs.
Drop-Shipped Items
We special order a few items--such as less common Rosetta Stone® packages--as needed. You still get all the benefits of ordering through us, but it takes an additional 10 business days for your items to ship.
FAQs
Is my shipment insured against theft or damage?
Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd. insures items against damage or theft during transit when shipped via trackable shipping anywhere in the world. We do not insure Postal Service (e.g., Media Mail) deliveries unless you specifically request and pay for the service. Though we don't often ship via UPS, we do insure items against damage or theft during transit when shipping via UPS.
Which items qualify for Media Mail shipping?
The following items generally qualify for Media Mail:
- Books
- Instructor's Guides
- CDs
- DVDs
- Computer programs
- Extra Activity sheets and other stacks of paper
- Binders (if you also order an Instructor's Guide)
These items do NOT qualify for Media Mail:
- The Sonlight Catalog
- Science supply kits and components
- Non-media resources such as microscopes, the markable map, art supplies, puzzles, etc.
- Math kits and components
- Handwriting supplies/manipulatives such as the chalk board, chalk, foam mat, etc.
- Instruments
- Binders (if ordered alone)
- Free Gifts
Please note: The United States Postal Service maintains these rules for Media Mail. Unfortunately, Sonlight cannot make exceptions to what we can ship via Media Mail. If you have any questions, please contact us.
When you start the check-out process, your shopping cart will let you know if you order qualifies for Media Mail. If you cannot choose the Media Mail option when you check out, your order does not qualify for it (either because your order is over $150 and receives free trackable shipping, or because your order contains one or more items that we are not allowed to ship Media Mail).
What Import Restrictions are there for Sonlight products?
- Restrictions on biologically active items to Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and South Africa: Due to import restrictions on biologically active items (soil, seeds, yeast, etc.), Sonlight cannot ship certain science supply kits to certain countries. Here is a list of those items, plus the countries we may not ship them to:
- Science Supplies Kit A (#ASK)—Anguilla, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa
- Science Supplies Kit D (#DSK)—Australia, New Zealand and South Africa
- Microscopy Science Supplies Kit E (#ESKM)—Australia, New Zealand and South Africa
- Science Supplies Kit G (#GSK)—Australia, New Zealand and South Africa
- General Science Supplies Kit H (#HSKA)—Australia, New Zealand and South Africa
- Science Supplies Kit 150 (#150-35)—Australia, New Zealand and South Africa
- Advanced Dissection Kit with Specimens (#250-30)—Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and South Africa
- Advanced Biology Dissection Animals & Trays (#550-16)—Australia, New Zealand and South Africa
- Extra Dissection Animals & Trays for Additional Student (#SS122)—Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and South Africa
If you live in one of these countries, you will have to find equivalent items locally. If you order a package containing restricted items, we will remove those items from your package and reduce your cost accordingly.
