Shipping and Fulfillment Policy

Effective Date: March 26, 2026

This Shipping and Fulfillment Policy explains how we handle production timing, shipping, delivery, fulfillment, pickup, and related logistics for orders placed with us. This policy should be read together with our Terms of Sale and Service, Refund, Return, and Cancellation Policy, and any quote, invoice, proposal, proof approval, or written order confirmation we provide.

When you place an order, approve a quote, approve artwork, make a payment, or move forward with a project, you're letting us know you understand and agree to this Shipping and Fulfillment Policy.

1. Our Custom Fulfillment Approach

At Cre8Merch, we create custom, branded, personalized, and made-to-order products. Because of the special nature of custom production, our fulfillment timelines work differently from standard retail shipping timelines.

Most orders go through one or more of these stages before shipment or pickup:

• project review
• quote approval
• artwork preparation
• proofing or mockup approval
• sourcing
• supplier coordination
• production setup
• manufacturing, printing, embroidery, or assembly
• packaging
• dispatch or pickup preparation

That's why shipping time and production time are separate, and both affect when your order arrives.

2. Production Time vs. Shipping Time

Any timeline we give might include both production time and shipping time, or just one of those components, depending on the context. Unless we've expressly stated otherwise in writing, estimated timelines aren't guarantees.

Production time is the time needed to prepare, source, customize, manufacture, print, embroider, assemble, inspect, and package your order.

Shipping time is the time needed for a carrier or delivery provider to move your order after it has been dispatched.

An order isn't ready to ship until all required approvals, payments, specifications, and production steps have been completed.

3. Understanding Timeline Estimates

Any shipping estimate, fulfillment estimate, dispatch estimate, production window, lead time, transit time, expected completion date, or delivery target we provide is an estimate only unless we've expressly confirmed in writing that a date is guaranteed.

Estimated timelines are based on information available when we give the estimate and may change due to project revisions, supplier availability, stock conditions, approval delays, production capacity, shipping conditions, customs processing, and other operational factors.

We're not able to accept liability for losses arising from estimated timelines not being met, including missed deadlines, event-related losses, missed marketing windows, lost opportunities, or third-party costs.

4. Rush Service Availability

Unless we've expressly agreed in writing, we don't offer automatic rush fulfillment, same-day dispatch, or guaranteed expedited turnaround.

If you need rush handling, event-critical timing, or priority production, please communicate that requirement in advance and we'll let you know if we can accept it. Additional charges may apply, and even when we accept rush service, we can't guarantee carrier performance or events outside our reasonable control.

5. Shipping Methods and Carriers

We might use one or more third-party shipping carriers, couriers, freight providers, delivery partners, or fulfillment service providers, depending on the size, value, destination, timing, and nature of your order.

We reserve the right to select the shipping method and carrier we consider appropriate unless a different arrangement has been expressly agreed in writing.

Use of a specific carrier, service level, freight method, or delivery option you request is subject to availability, feasibility, and any additional charges that may apply.

6. Understanding Shipping Charges

Shipping, freight, handling, packaging, delivery surcharges, insurance, customs-related costs, brokerage, duties, address-correction fees, redelivery fees, liftgate fees, and other logistics-related charges may apply unless we've expressly stated otherwise in writing.

When we quote shipping charges in advance, those charges are based on information available at the time and may change if order details, packaging dimensions, destination, carrier rates, service level, or shipment structure changes.

Any additional shipping-related costs arising from inaccurate information you provide remain your responsibility.

7. Getting Your Address Right

You're responsible for making sure all shipping addresses, contact names, recipient information, unit numbers, postal codes, phone numbers, email addresses, and delivery instructions are accurate and complete.

We're not responsible for delays, failed delivery attempts, losses, returned shipments, storage charges, rerouting fees, redelivery fees, or other issues caused by inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, or unclear shipping information you provide.

If a shipment needs to be rerouted, reshipped, corrected, or recovered because of address-related errors, you'll be responsible for all resulting costs.

8. Delivery Windows and Carrier Performance

Once your order has been dispatched, delivery timing largely depends on the carrier or delivery provider.

We can't guarantee carrier transit times, scan updates, weekend delivery, signature handling, weather performance, customs clearance timing, delivery appointment timing, or other carrier-controlled events.

Carrier delays, missed scans, routing issues, mechanical failures, service interruptions, and operational disruptions don't constitute a breach by us.

9. Delays Beyond Our Control

We're not liable for any shipping, dispatch, fulfillment, or delivery delay caused in whole or in part by circumstances outside our reasonable control.

This includes things like:

• supplier delays
• inventory shortages
• client approval delays
• artwork revisions
• material shortages
• production constraints
• labour disruptions
• customs delays
• border delays
• weather events
• transportation disruption
• courier issues
• system outages
• public health events
• governmental action
• force majeure events

When such circumstances arise, we may extend timelines, adjust shipping arrangements, split shipments, substitute reasonably comparable methods, or delay fulfillment without further liability.

10. Partial Shipments

We reserve the right to ship orders in installments or partial shipments where commercially reasonable.

This might happen when products are produced in stages, when part of an order becomes available earlier than the rest, when multiple suppliers are involved, when items are shipping from different locations, or when split fulfillment is necessary to reduce delay.

When we make partial shipments, each shipment may be treated as a separate shipment for logistical and administrative purposes.

11. Pickup Orders

When pickup is available, we'll notify you when your order is ready for pickup.

You're responsible for collecting your order within a reasonable time after we notify you. Orders not collected within a reasonable time may be subject to storage limitations, availability constraints, or other handling requirements.

We're not responsible for loss, damage, or deterioration that occurs after pickup or after the order has been made available for pickup.

12. When Responsibility Transfers

Unless applicable law requires otherwise, risk in the goods passes to you at the earliest of these moments:

• delivery to the address provided by the client
• pickup by the client or the client's representative
• release of the goods to the applicable carrier
• the order being marked delivered by the carrier
• the order being made available for pickup

After that point, you assume responsibility for the goods, including any loss, theft, delay, damage, storage issue, or delivery issue not directly caused by us before transfer.

13. When Delivery Is Complete

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, an order will be considered fulfilled and delivered when any of these occurs:

• the carrier marks the shipment as delivered
• the shipment reaches the address provided by the client
• the order is signed for by the recipient or recipient location
• the order is handed to the client or the client's representative
• the order is made available for pickup

A carrier's proof of delivery, delivery scan, signed receipt, pickup confirmation, or similar record may be relied upon by us as evidence of fulfillment.

14. When Deliveries Don't Go as Planned

If a shipment is refused, undeliverable, unclaimed, returned, or can't be completed because of recipient unavailability, access restrictions, address issues, customs issues, or failure to provide required information, you remain responsible for the order and all related shipping or handling costs.

We may, at our discretion, reship your order once any additional charges have been paid. Reshipping isn't automatic and may be subject to new carrier pricing, storage conditions, or other operational limitations.

We're not obligated to refund shipping charges or product charges in these circumstances.

15. International Orders

When we agree to ship internationally, you're solely responsible for understanding and complying with all import requirements that apply to the destination.

Unless we've expressly stated otherwise in writing, you're responsible for all duties, taxes, brokerage charges, import fees, customs clearance costs, local delivery charges, and any other destination-related costs.

We're not responsible for customs delays, border holds, seizure, inspection, import restrictions, local compliance issues, or refusal of entry by foreign authorities.

16. Please Check Your Order

We ask that you inspect all goods promptly upon delivery or pickup.

Any claim for shortages, visible damage, suspected defects, or material non-conformity should be submitted in writing within 5 business days of delivery or pickup, together with photographs and sufficient supporting detail where applicable.

If we don't receive notice within that time, the order will be deemed accepted to the fullest extent permitted by law.

17. Shipping Insurance and Special Handling

Shipping insurance, signature requirements, appointment delivery, inside delivery, special packaging, premium handling, temperature considerations, or other special logistics services aren't included unless we've expressly stated them in writing.

If you need any enhanced shipping protection or special handling, please request that in advance and we'll let you know if we can accept it.

18. Understanding Our Liability Limits

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we're not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or event-related losses arising from shipping, dispatch, fulfillment, transit, or delivery issues.

This includes things like missed event losses, launch delays, lost revenue, lost profits, missed campaigns, substitute sourcing costs, customer commitments, reputational losses, or third-party claims arising from estimated timelines not being met.

19. Following Applicable Law

Nothing in this Shipping and Fulfillment Policy excludes, limits, or overrides any right or remedy that can't lawfully be excluded under applicable law.

Ontario's consumer rules emphasize clear written delivery details for qualifying transactions, and online purchases can carry cancellation rights where delivery isn't made within the statutory period after a promised delivery date.

If any part of this policy is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder will continue in full force and effect to the maximum extent permitted by law.

20. We're Here to Help

If you have questions about this Shipping and Fulfillment Policy, please contact us: