Shipping FAQ

KnowledgeBase > Shopping on Lulu > Shipping FAQ

Where in the world does Lulu ship?

Projects that creators publish through Lulu can be available to buyers almost everywhere with access to the World Wide Web. When ordering, please keep the following in mind.

  • Important: Lulu has to make your book, calendar, artwork, DVD, or CD before we can ship it to you. The number of shipping days listed in our help does not include manufacturing times. We send you an email when an item ships. Downloadable digital media, of course, is available as soon as you publish it.
  • Shipping times are estimates and not guarantees. They may be affected by factors over which Lulu has no control, including incorrect delivery addresses, customs delays and Post Office delivery restrictions. Orders affected by these factors tend to arrive in 5-6 weeks; Lulu will take no action on these orders during that time.
  • CDs, DVDs and Calendars as well as mass-market and comic trim sizes currently are produced only in the United States, so allow 10-20 days for shipping of any order containing one of these products.
  • Local Customs and Immigration agencies determine any duties or taxes that may be levied against packages arriving from outside the destination country. These additional fees are the responsibility of the recipient. Lulu cannot be held responsible for any costs incurred by the purchaser or recipient of orders due to shipment failure or late delivery.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:31 | Back to top

Shipping to the United States

Expect paperback books, calendars and discs to ship within 4 business days after your order date and hardcover books to ship within 10 business days after your order date. Lulu sends you an email when an item ships.

See the table below for average delivery times for orders with at least one ship-to destination in the United States.

US Shipping Methods
Delivery Method Delivery Times
UPS Ground 2-6 business days
UPS 2nd Day Air 2 business days
UPS Next Day Air Saver Next business day
USPS Priority Mail 2-3 business days average
USPS Media Mail No time guarantees (usually 1-3 weeks)

We do not offer shipping insurance.

Note: The shipping times we provide are estimates and not guarantees. Allow time for manufacturing before shipping. Duties and taxes are the sole responsibility of the purchaser or recipient. Lulu is not responsible for certain lost or late shipments. Please see Where in the world does Lulu ship? for more information.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:31 | Back to top

Shipping to Canada

Paperback books, calendars and discs usually ship within 4 business days after your order date; hardcover books usually ship within 10 business days after your order date. You will receive an email from Lulu when an item ships.

The following table shows average delivery times for orders with at least one ship-to destination in Canada.

Canadian Shipping
Delivery Method Delivery Times**
Standard 10-15 business days*
(May take up to 30 business days.)
Express 4-8 business days

* Please note: You will not be able to choose Standard shipping for your order to Canada if Standard shipping is more expensive than Express shipping.

* USPS business days are Monday through Saturday. USPS customers receive a Delivery Confirmation number for each package.

* Orders to APO or FPO (military mail) must use USPS.

* UPS business days are Monday through Friday. Tracking numbers are available for all UPS orders. UPS is not available for Post Office (PO) Boxes.

* International Economy packages are delivered via the postal service of the destination country. Lulu cannot ship to international PO Boxes.

** Note: The shipping times we provide are estimates and not guarantees. Allow time for manufacturing before shipping. Duties and taxes are the sole responsibility of the purchaser or recipient. Lulu is not responsible for certain lost or late shipments. Please see Where in the world does Lulu ship? for more information.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:39 | Back to top

Shipping to Mexico

Expect paperback books, calendars and discs to ship within 4 business days after your order date and hardcover books to ship within 10 business days after your order date. Lulu sends you an email when an item ships.

The following table provides average delivery times for orders with at least one ship-to destination in Mexico.

Mexican Shipping
Delivery Method Delivery Times**
Standard 10-15 business days*
(May take up to 30 business days.)
Express 4-8 business days

Note: The shipping times we provide are estimates and not guarantees. Allow time for manufacturing before shipping. Duties and taxes are the sole responsibility of the purchaser or recipient. Lulu is not responsible for certain lost or late shipments. Please see Where in the world does Lulu ship? for more information.

* USPS business days are Monday through Saturday. USPS customers receive a Delivery Confirmation number for each package. All orders addressed to an APO or FPO (military mail) must be shipped via a USPS method.

* UPS business days are Monday through Friday. Tracking numbers are available for all UPS orders. UPS is not available for Post Office (PO) Boxes.

* International Economy packages are delivered via the postal service of the destination country. Lulu cannot ship to international PO Boxes.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:55 | Back to top

Shipping to the European Union

Flat Rate Shipping

Customers in the European Union who order three items or fewer may qualify for our discounted Flat Rate Shipping!*

Flat Rate Shipping
Items
Shipping Rates
1 Items
£3.50 or €4.99
2 Items
£4.50 or €5.99
3 Items
£5.25 or €6.99
Region
Delivery Times
Spain
5 - 15 days
Rest of Europe
5 - 20 days
*The following restrictions apply...

  • To qualify you must purchase 1 to 3 physical books. If shipping to Europe (excluding the UK) you must pay in Euros (€). If shipping to the UK you must pay in Pounds Sterling (£).
  • Flat Rate Shipping is available for the following countries: United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Republic of Ireland, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Belgium, Luxembourg

This table shows the average delivery times for orders shipping Internationally.

Shipping Method
Delivery Times
Economy
Europe: 5 - 20 days
Standard
5-15 days
Express
1-2 days*
*Large hardcovers, Dust-jacket 6 x 9” hardcovers, brochures, pocket sized books and calendars will take 3-5 days to deliver.

Note: The shipping times we provide are estimates and not guarantees. Allow time for manufacturing before shipping. Duties and taxes are the sole responsibility of the purchaser or recipient. Lulu is not responsible for certain lost or late shipments. We do not offer shipping insurance. Please see Where in the world does Lulu ship? for more information.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:56 | Back to top

Shipping to Latin America

Lulu is committed to the growth of the Latin American market. To help our creators succeed, Lulu has implemented a limited-time discounted shipping special (up to 70% off regular price) for Express and Standard shipping to the region. Enjoy great shipping prices that let you buy and sell your books with ease!

Latin America Shipping
Standard 5-10 days
Some restrictions apply.*
Express 3-7 days
Some restrictions apply.*

Note: The shipping times we provide are estimates and not guarantees. Allow time for manufacturing before shipping. Duties and taxes are the sole responsibility of the purchaser or recipient. Lulu is not responsible for certain lost or late shipments. Please see Where in the world does Lulu ship? for more information.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:10:00 | Back to top

How long should it take to receive an order?

When you purchase content on Lulu, the amount of time it takes for you to receive your purchase varies. It depends on the format you select (for example, print or download) and the shipping method you choose. (If your order stays in a Fulfilling state for longer than the stated fulfillment time, please report the problem from your order history page.)

  • Paperback books, calendars, CDs and DVDs must go through the print on demand manufacturing process. They usually ship within 4 business days after your order date. (Orders of more than 25 may take from 6-8 business days.)
  • Expect your order to arrive in about a week plus the shipment time associated with the class of shipping you selected.
  • Hardcover books go through a more extensive print on demand manufacturing process. They usually ship within 10 business days after your order date.
  • You will receive an email from Lulu when the item ships.
  • If you feel that your shipment time has been exceeded, make sure you entered the correct address for the order. Many times orders are returned to us with undeliverable addresses. You can find the shipping address in your order receipt email or by checking your order history.
  • If you purchased a title in download format, it is available immediately in your downloads/purchases.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:30 | Back to top

How much does shipping cost?

  • Shipping and handling charges are not included in an item's sale price. They vary by carrier and are updated frequently.
  • To see the shipping options and their costs, add the desired items to your cart and begin the checkout process. When you select a shipping method, Lulu displays the corresponding rate.
  • Find out your shipping costs before entering any payment information by clicking the >Back to Cart< button at the bottom of the page where you provide your payment and billing information.

Note: You must provide your shipping address in order to calculate shipping costs.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:30 | Back to top

How do I check the status of an order?

The My Recent Orders section of on your My Lulu tab lists your 5 most recent orders and corresponding status. For more detail, and to see all of your orders, click the >View All Orders< button at the bottom of the module which will take you to your Order History> page. For help with specific orders, click the "Need Help?" link next to the order for which you request assistance.

Your order history shows the order number, date, status and amount for each purchase you make on Lulu. Click the order number to see the order receipt, which includes items, quantities, prices, shipping and handling charges, order status, shipping date and tracking numbers (if available). On the Order History> page, the status of your order is next to the order date. See an explanation of status assignments in the following list.

Paid
The order has been processed and your payment accepted. You can find your download purchases on your Downloads page. For print orders, the status changes to "Fulfilling."
Fulfilling
For print or disc orders, this designation means your item is in production. If you've waited more than 10 business days (15 business days for orders containing hardcover books) and your order is still "Fulfilling," click Receive Status to ask for help. We'll be happy to provide an anticipated delivery date. When the order ships, the status changes to "Shipped."
Shipped
This means the order has left the printer and is on its way to you. If you are not satisfied with your purchase or have not received it yet, click Report a Problem to enter a help request.
  • If you chose UPS for shipping, the status for your purchase is automatically updated to "Shipped" when your item leaves the printer. A tracking number displays on the Tracking Number field. Go to UPS to track your order using the tracking number.
  • If you chose USPS for shipping, you see an order confirmation number in the Tracking Number field. Go to USPS to track your order using the confirmation number. In the order receipt, find the ship date beside the order status. We update the status of your order twice daily. If you chose USPS, you may see a "Fulfilling" status when the order has been shipped.
  • Refund
    If your Status is "Refund," you returned the order and Lulu refunded your money.
    Waiting Funds
  • If you paid with a PayPal e-check or another method that involves retrieving funds from a checking or credit account, it can take up to 7 business days for these funds to clear; meanwhile, your order has a "Waiting funds" status. Once your funds clear, your order begins the printing process and then ships using the method you selected. Your order remains in Waiting Funds status until the payment clears.
  • If you did not pay using that method, there may be a problem with the credit card charge. Click Need Help? and ask us to investigate the order. You will need the order number.
  • Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:30 | Back to top

    Can I get my order Rushed?

    exped_shipping

    Lulu offers two rush production options for orders – Super Fast and Super Mega Fast.

    To qualify, your order must meet the following criteria:

    • Saddle-stitched or perfect-bound paperback book
    • Single book title (Orders containing multiple book titles cannot be rushed)
    • 25 copies or less

    Super Fast = $25 Rush Production Charge + The Cost of Shipping

    Example -
    $39.88 (UPS Next Day Air Saver) + $25 (Rush Production) = $64.88 (Super Fast)
    $64.88 (Shipping Cost) + $15.00 (Book Cost) = $79.88 (Total Cost)

    You must place your order before 4 p.m. ET (21:00 UTC) for your order ship on the next business day.

    Shipping method within the 48 contiguous United States uses UPS Next Day Air Saver. More info.

    Shipping outside of the U.S. uses UPS Worldwide Express. More info.

    Note: Orders placed after 4 p.m. ET (21:00 UTC) will ship in two business days. Orders placed on Friday will ship Monday.

    Super Mega Fast = $50 Rush Production Charge + The Cost of Shipping

    Example -
    $43.85 (UPS Next Day Air Early AM) + $50 (Rush Production) = $93.85 (Super Fast)
    $93.85 (Shipping Cost) + $15.00 (Book Cost) = $108.85 (Total Cost)

    You must place your order before 10 a.m. ET (15:00 UTC) for your order to ship the same business day.

    Shipping method within the 48 contiguous United States uses UPS Next Day Air Early AM. More info.

    Shipping outside of the U.S. uses UPS Worldwide Expedited. More info.

    Note: Orders placed after 10 a.m. ET (15:00 UTC) will ship the next business day

    Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:23 | Back to top

    What is the difference between tracking numbers and Delivery Confirmation numbers?

    USPS offers Delivery Confirmation numbers. Delivery Confirmation allows you to verify delivery. This service gives you the date, zip code and the time your article was delivered. If delivery was attempted you will get the date and time of attempted delivery. Packages with Delivery Confirmation do not get scanned at each checkpoint on their journey. To view the status of your USPS package, go to http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm

    UPS offers tracking numbers. Tracking numbers are used by UPS to identify and trace every package. Packages with tracking numbers get scanned at each checkpoint on their journey, allowing you to see the location of your package as it moves through the UPS system to its destination. To view the status of your UPS package, go to http://www.ups.com/WebTracking/track

    Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:30 | Back to top

    Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:28

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