Shipping Policy
We ship from our shop in San Francisco to every US state, with same-day courier for the Bay Area and case-by-case international service. Every order is tracked, every box is packed to survive carrier handling, and every claim is handled on our end.
Track any order in one click
Enter your order number and we will pull up live carrier status, delivery estimate, and any exception notes from UPS, FedEx, or USPS in real time.
How We Ship Your Parts
Every order includes tracking. Carrier selection depends on the part, the destination, and the urgency. We pick the best option and tell you in the confirmation email.
UPS Ground & Next Day
Our default for domestic shipments. Reliable tracking, insurance included up to $200, and pickup at our dock every weekday at 4:30 pm.
FedEx Priority & Standard
Preferred for time-sensitive orders. FedEx Priority Overnight reaches most US addresses before 10:30 am the next business day after shipping.
USPS Priority Mail
Best for small, lightweight orders under $100 in value. Priority Mail reaches all 50 states plus APO/FPO addresses. Slower than UPS or FedEx for rush orders.
What Shipping Actually Costs
Transparent pricing. No surprise shipping fees at checkout, no handling charges buried in the invoice.
Orders over $150 ship free via UPS Ground or USPS Priority Mail, our choice. Upgrade to FedEx Priority Overnight at checkout if you need faster.
We do not charge a packing fee, a materials fee, or a pickup fee. The carrier rate is what you pay, with our volume discount passed through to you.
Every shipment includes $200 of carrier insurance at no charge. Higher-value orders can add more coverage for $1 per $100 of value.
How We Pack a Part
A well-printed part can still arrive broken if it is packed badly. Here is exactly what happens between the inspection room and the loading dock.
Photograph before packing
Three angles of every finished part, uploaded to your order file. This is the record we use if anything is disputed later.
Foam wrap on every part
Each part is wrapped in 3 mm closed-cell foam, then placed in a snug inner box so it cannot shift during transit. Delicate features get additional foam blocks.
Rigid outer box
200 lb burst-test double-wall cardboard. No soft mailers, no poly bags, no unmarked envelopes.
Recyclable void fill
Kraft paper, not bubble wrap or plastic air pillows. The whole package is curbside-recyclable.
QC sticker and initial
Sealed with a printed QC sticker showing the order number, batch ID, and the initials of the technician who packed it. Chain of custody for any claim.
Skip the Shipping Entirely
If you are in the Bay Area, picking up in person is faster and cheaper. Free, no appointment needed during shop hours.
Where to come
2150 Market Street, Suite 340
San Francisco, CA 94114
Ground floor, Market Street side. Look for the orange PrintForge logo on the door. The side alley entrance is for deliveries only.
Pickup hours
All times Pacific. No appointment needed for pickup, but we email you when the order is ready.
How it works
- Choose "Pickup" at checkout
- We email you when the order is ready
- Walk in and give us the order number
- Sign the pickup slip and take your parts
Bring photo ID if the order value is over $500. Someone else can pick up for you with a note from the account holder.
Where Your Order Goes After It Leaves the Shop
The full chain of events after shipment, plus what to do if any step goes sideways.
Handed to carrier
Your order is on the carrier's truck the same day it finishes inspection. You get a tracking number by email within 30 minutes of the handoff.
First tracking scan
The carrier scans your box at their sort facility. If you do not see a scan within 24 hours of shipping, email us — it usually means a scanner was skipped, not a lost package.
In transit
Standard transit is 2 to 5 business days for UPS Ground, 2 to 4 for FedEx, and 2 to 3 for USPS Priority. West Coast is fastest, East Coast is slowest, Alaska and Hawaii add 1 to 2 days.
Out for delivery
The carrier marks it "Out for Delivery" in the morning. Orders over $500 require a signature; if you cannot be home, redirect to a pickup location through the carrier's app.
Claim window closes
Any shipping damage must be reported within 30 days of delivery. We cover reprints for damage that happened before you opened the box, but we need to inspect the failure mode while it is fresh.
Six Common Shipping Problems
Every one of these has happened to us. Here is how we handle each one and what you should do.
Box is stuck in transit
No scan updates for 3+ days. We open a trace with the carrier the moment you tell us, and if it does not move within 48 hours we reprint and reship at our cost.
Box marked delivered but not there
Check the porch, neighbors, and any safe drop spot. If it does not turn up within 24 hours, we open a carrier investigation and reprint within 3 business days.
Parts damaged in transit
Photograph the box before opening if damage is visible. Send us the photos within 30 days and we reprint the affected parts at no cost, filed under our carrier insurance.
Delivery date missed
If the carrier misses their own delivery estimate, we will file a service guarantee claim on your behalf. Refunds from that claim go to you, not us.
International customs hold
Customs can hold a package for 2 to 6 weeks. We provide the commercial invoice and any documentation requested, but we cannot speed up a government agency.
Order refused at delivery
If nobody accepts the package and it comes back to us, we contact you to confirm the address and reship at the normal rate. Return shipping is your responsibility on refused deliveries.
Orders Outside the United States
We ship internationally on a case-by-case basis. Here is what you need to know before requesting a quote.
Which countries we ship to
We ship to most countries, but we do not ship to countries currently under US trade embargo or export restrictions. If your destination is on that list, we will tell you at quote time.
Who pays duties and import taxes
You do. Customs duties, VAT, GST, and any brokerage fees are the recipient's responsibility. We cannot prepay these and we do not mark packages as gifts.
Documentation we provide
A commercial invoice with correct HS codes, a packing slip, and a Certificate of Conformity where applicable. All paperwork is filled out by our shipping coordinator, not a template.
Typical transit times
Canada and Mexico: 3 to 7 business days. Europe: 5 to 10 days. Asia-Pacific: 7 to 14 days. Every international shipment is tracked end-to-end.
Returns from outside the US
If a reprint is needed, we ship the replacement free but we do not cover customs on the return. Defective parts do not need to be returned — we reprint from the photos.
Export-controlled items
We decline any order that appears to fall under ITAR or US export control regulations. This is non-negotiable, regardless of destination or stated end use.
Every Email You Will Receive
No marketing email is mixed into order notifications. Every message below is transactional.
Order confirmed
Sent within 5 minutes of payment. Contains your order number and a link to live status.
Part finished & photographed
Sent when the print passes QC. Includes photos of the finished part from three angles.
Shipped with tracking
Sent when the box is handed to the carrier. Includes carrier name, tracking number, and estimated delivery date.
Out for delivery
Sent by the carrier's own system, not by us. You can turn this off in the carrier's app if you prefer fewer emails.
Delivered (only on request)
We do not send a "delivered" email by default because the carrier does. Reply to your order email if you want us to add one.
Follow-up 7 days later
One email a week after delivery asking if everything is working. Reply with feedback or ignore it, no follow-up.
Shipping FAQ
Fastest option is Rush tier: your part ships within 12 hours of order approval, then FedEx Priority Overnight delivers it the next business morning. From file to door in under 48 hours is possible if you order before noon Pacific.
Yes, if the order has not shipped yet. Email [email protected] with the order number and the new address. If the box is already with the carrier, redirect it through the carrier's own app — we cannot intercept a package in transit.
Yes, via USPS Priority Mail only. UPS and FedEx do not deliver to PO boxes. If your order requires a signature, PO box delivery is not an option.
Yes. If you have two orders in the shop at the same time, tell us and we will hold the first one until both are ready. This saves on shipping cost and usually arrives together anyway.
Saturday morning pickups are available on request for local customers. UPS and FedEx do not pick up on Sundays, and Saturday delivery from any carrier costs extra. Rush orders placed Friday afternoon ship Monday morning unless you pay for Saturday service.
Signature is included automatically on orders over $500. On smaller orders, you can add signature required for $6 at checkout. We recommend it for anything going to an unsecured address.
Yes, for palletized production runs. Freight quotes are handled by our shipping coordinator — email [email protected] with the pallet count and destination ZIP for a rate.
Wait 24 hours and check with neighbors first — misdeliveries resolve themselves more often than not. If it is still missing, email us and we open a carrier investigation. Most lost packages turn up within 48 hours. If not, we reprint within 3 business days at no cost to you.
Need Something Shipped Fast?
Call the shop or email us. Rush orders and freight quotes are handled by a real person, not a form.