How are your products delivered?

We usually ship via UPS or FedEx at an additional charge.

How are shipments for chocolate items sent during the Summer? 

Our products are heat sensitive and therefore, during the warmer months, shipments are insulated and include ice packs at an additional charge of $10 per case. Often, cases are combined so fewer insulation charges are incurred.

Additionally we often need to ship the items via expedited methods which will incur additional shipping costs.

How long does the insulation last?

Typically it holds for about 48 hours. For this reason, it is often necessary to expedite such shipments when going to destinations with a 3 or more day UPS ground delivery time from our Lakewood, NJ facility. States like FL, CA & TX are among those states requiring expedited shipping during
warm months at an additional cost.

The States of NY, NJ, PA, CT, MD, OH, MA are all within 2 day UPS ground delivery and would not need additional expedited shipping during the summer, though insulation charges still apply. EXCEPTIONS are made only during extreme heat when even such shipments are sent next day. However, often such shipments are held back if a break in the heat is expected within the next few days.

At what temperatures do shipments begin requiring insulation?

Generally if the high/low forecast range is 75 & 63 Fahrenheit or higher we insulate (and expedite if necessary).

What States generally have longer warm weather seasons and are thus more affected by higher freight charges?

FL, GA, AZ, TX, HI

Can I set up a direct truck to deliver my order at a reduced cost?

Yes, direct trucks are generally set up by Astor Chocolate when the order qualifies. Qualifications are based on order size and weight and vary by carrier. Truck carriers vary by state. Contact your rep for additional details.

Weekend Shipping:

Astor Chocolate does not generally ship over the weekend. Orders placed on Friday will be processed the following Monday.