Shipping Policy
General Shipping Guidelines: It is FSC Coatings' and our staff's desire to help YOU keep shipping costs down and provide the best shipping service for you possible. We will discuss our shipping strategy and give you insight into how to reduce your freight costs.
Normally we ship smaller shipments by UPS and FedEx. Larger shipments will go freight in most cases, unless a special request is made. We use a variety of common carriers for larger shipments and hazardous goods given the diverse nature of our customers across the U.S. Most hazardous and/flammable shipments will be shipped via freight lines due to UPS/FedEx Fee Structure.
Good Advice to Our Customers to Reduce Freight Costs: When possible, ship to a commercial or true business facility address to avoid residential fees and lift-gate requirements. If you use of your home as your business location, you will be charged by the freight companies as a residential customer. Shipments to job sites without fork lifts now attract additional charges by freight companies as well -- so have a fork lift to save money.
When Shipping Overseas and Internationally: When shipping international (including Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico Guam, Samoan Islands and Canada), please call as there is a lot of work involved in handling and coordinating these shipments. This is a normal course of business having done projects in Canada (routinely) Japan, the Samoan Islands, Hawaii, Alaska, Norway and Germany to name a few. That said, it is very time consuming and many special requirements apply to type of can(s) required, pallet type, load specs, etc. Please have your freight forwarder information in hand when you call to expedite orders. Costs can be reduced when shipping full container loads: 1500 gallons and higher. Additional charges will apply depending upon the services needed to complete, package, coordinate and ship the order. Minimum overseas coordination charge: $350.
Note: Items ordered and shipped together may arrive on different days.
Ground Shipments -- Small or Large:Most purchases are shipped from our San Diego warehouse with normal arrival times from 3-7 business days of the acknowledged receipt of the order (order must be received by noon on a weekday to make it on out the same day; custom colors and added services will take longer). UPS and FedEx are generally used for the smaller shipments to the 15-20 gallons range; various common carriers are used for the larger shipments and most hazardous shipments. Generally, we will notify you by email or phone of any delays. By January 1, 2015 you will be able to log in to our new FSC Coatings web site which will also update you with tracking information when your order ships. Call our Shipping Manager if there is a special need or desire regarding YOUR shipment....it can help us to better serve you and your special needs or requests.
Overnight and 2nd Day Air Shipments in the Lower 48: For paints, coatings and stains, overnight and 2nd Day Air is VERY expensive due to their weight and their chemical nature when not in the immediate vicinity of Southern California and certain Northern California locations. Most oil-based products must be shipped "ground only" due to current regulations since they are generally rated as flammable or combustible. We ask that you call FSC (858-558-0800; 800-579-8459) for rates on these situations...and ask for the Shipping Manager.
Return Policy
Damaged Orders & Returns:
We work very hard to prevent damage by using the most reliable carriers and packing methods. However, damage does happen and we cannot be held responsible for any delays due to such. In any case, any product that is accidentally damaged causing product loss during shipping will be replaced at no charge after a claim has been made though and accepted by the shipping company. Cans or pails that are dented during shipment will not be replaced unless leaking with significant loss of product. A digital picture will be required.
Return Authorizations:
Damage claims will be handled by us after receipt of digital pictures for proof of damage (very important as the freight lines want absolute evidence to process any claim). Please call FSC Shipping Manager (858--558-0800; 800-579-8459) during normal business hours (7 am to 3:30 pm PST) to discuss the situation and receive an authorization code for returning the product. We will not accept any returns that has not been approved prior to return and does not have the return authorization code with the shipment paperwork.
The following terms and rules will apply to all returns:
B) Tinted Paints and Coatings: whether in large or small batches, tinted/pigmented products cannot be returned once made to color. This applies to all MaxLife Paints, Benjamin Moore Paints, custom stains, custom coatings, floor coatings, concrete or wood sealers, wood finishes or metal coatings.
C) Restocking Fee: All returns and canceled orders are subject to a 20% restocking fee unless we made an error in the shipment...and only that product that had the error can be shipped back without a restocking fee.
D) Shipping Costs on Returns: Customer is responsible for all shipment costs unless it is due to our error or there is damage.
E) Packaging of Returned Items: Please, Please, Please....be sure to package your returned product carefully and insure your shipment. Shipments with damaged goods will be refused. Freight COD shipments will not be accepted unless the return is due to our error.
F) Opened or Used Merchandise can not be returned – NO EXCEPTIONS!