Shipping Policies
Utopia Aquatic ships orders through the United States Postal Service. Domestic orders are shipped on Mondays. International orders are shipped on Fridays.
Domestic Shipping
What shipping methods are available?
We can ship via USPS Priority Mail or USPS Express Mail. USPS Priority Mail is our primary method. This service averages 2-3 days in travel time to reach destination. USPS Express Mail averages 1 day travel time to reach destination.
If no one will be able to accept the package, please provide an alternative address such as a work address.
Costs for USPS Priority Mail: $7.50 for the first plant and $1.50 for each additional plant; $7.50 for any amount of tubers or vivips.
Costs for USPS Express Mail : $19.50 for the first plant and $1.50 for each additional plant.
Orders over $99 are shipped via USPS Priority Mail for $1!
Your Items are always packaged securely. We follow a process which creates a cushion around your plant(s) and ensures that they are not able to freely move around within the box (which if occured could damage your plant(s)).
What kind of plants can I expect to recieve?
Your plants are guaranteed to be true-to-name and will arrive bare-root. They will have a healthy set of roots and the size of the foliage averages larger than a DVD disc. Every effort is made to send a blooming plant--however this is not always possible.
When can I expect my order to be shipped?
Shipping is done on Mondays. You will automatically recieve an email with a delivery confirmation number when your order is processed through PayPal or Google Checkout. We will notify you via email when your order is shipped out.
Is there a cutoff time for orders to be processed that same week?
The cutoff time occurs Sundays at 6pm ET. Orders recieved by this time will be shipped out the next day. Orders recieved after this time will be shipped out the Monday of the following week.
International Shipping
Shipping abroad (exporting) is a detailed & controlled process. Your Items will be packaged securely, will be guaranteed to be true-to-name, and will arrive bare-root. There are additional requirements that must be met in order for a shipment to arrive succesfully: phytosanitary inspection, shipment via USPS Express Mail International, and minimum order amount.
What is a phytosanitary inspection?
All shipments require a unique certificate of phytosanitary inspection. This is to ensure that plants are free of pests & diseases. The cost for this is $50 plus a mileage surcharge.
Note: some countries may require plants undergo specific chemical treatments.
What is USPS Express Mail International?
USPS Express Mail International is the most economical service for worldwide delivery. This service is also known as EMS. Delivery time takes about 7 days and is guaranteed. The cost of this service begins at about $40.
What is is the minimum order amount?
The minimum amount is $99.
When can I expect my order to be shipped?
Shipping is done on Fridays. This is the same day in which phytosanitary inspections occur.
You may place an order by adding Items to your cart and completing checkout. This will initiate the order process. We also recommend looking at the International section of our Secure Ordering page. You may also email your order directly or send it through our Contact page. This will also initiate the order process.