CurioDen ships physical kits and accessories to the United States and Canada. In-stock orders are processed within one to three business days. Transit time depends on destination and service level. This page covers zones, timing, freight, customs, and what happens if a shipment arrives damaged. One thing first: we do not ship live ants. Kits ship without live ants, and that exclusion applies to every destination.
Where we ship
| Destination | Service | Typical transit after processing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contiguous United States | Ground or 2-day parcel | 2–6 business days | Parcel carriers; larger orders may ship freight |
| Alaska and Hawaii | Parcel, air | 3–7 business days | Rates are higher; ground service is not available |
| U.S. territories and APO/FPO/DPO | Parcel | 7–21 business days | Kits only; no live ants, and no temperature-sensitive goods |
| Canada | Parcel or freight | 5–10 business days plus customs | Duties and taxes depend on the Incoterm quoted |
Processing time
Orders placed before 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on a business day usually enter processing the same day; orders placed later, on weekends, or on U.S. federal holidays begin the next business day. Processing covers picking, packing, and label creation, and takes one to three business days. Tracking is emailed when the label is created, so the first scan can appear a day later.
Shipping rates
Retail rates are calculated at checkout from destination, weight, and service level. Wholesale freight is quoted per order: parcel for small case counts, LTL freight for pallet quantities, and delivered pricing with duties and taxes handled if you prefer a single landed cost. We confirm the Incoterm and delivery address in writing before a wholesale shipment leaves.
Canada: duties, taxes, and paperwork
Kits and accessories ship to Canada. Two arrangements are available: delivered, where we quote a single landed price that includes duties and taxes, or DDU, where the importer pays duties and taxes on arrival. Canadian orders require bilingual English and French labeling, and the importer of record must be identified on the commercial documents. We prepare that paperwork. Live ants are excluded from all Canadian shipments.
Live ants are excluded from every shipment
CurioDen does not ship live ants to any destination, including within the continental United States. There is no live-insect option, no live-arrival guarantee, and no temperature-controlled live service. Every kit ships with local-sourcing guidance and, where the SKU includes one, a voucher for redeeming a colony separately. If you are sourcing a colony yourself, read the live-ant shipping policy before you order from a third party — state rules and seasonal temperature limits apply to that purchase, not to ours.
Damaged, missing, or short shipments
Open the carton within 48 hours of delivery and check the contents against the packing slip. If something is damaged, missing, or wrong, email within seven days of delivery with the order number, photographs of the carton and the damaged part, and a photograph of the packing slip. We replace or refund at no cost, including freight, and we do not ask you to return a damaged kit. Wholesale accounts can report a short case count on the same route.
Tracking and delivery issues
If tracking shows delivered but the parcel is missing, check with the front desk, mailroom, or neighbors first — school deliveries are often signed for at the office. If it is still missing 48 hours after the delivered scan, contact us. For an incorrect address, tell us before dispatch if you can; once a parcel is in transit, an address correction is billed by the carrier and may delay delivery by one to two days.
Backorders and split shipments
If part of an order is not available, we ship what is ready and backorder the rest unless you ask us to hold the order. Backordered items ship at no additional freight charge. Wholesale accounts can request a single consolidated shipment for a district delivery window; ask when you place the order.
Freight for pallet quantities
Orders above parcel size ship LTL freight. We quote either to your dock or inside delivery with liftgate, which matters for schools without a loading dock. Pallet configuration, carton count, and total weight are on the spec sheet in your quote. Deliveries to schools should include a receiving contact and the hours that office is staffed.
Returns and questions
Return windows and exclusions are on the returns and refunds page. Shipping questions that are not answered here can go to or through the contact page. Wholesale freight questions belong with your quote — reply to the quote email and you will reach the account team directly.