Shipping and Delivery

We use a variety of methods to ship our orders. We consider delivery time and order weight in choosing the most efficient carrier.

Shipping and Handling Costs

U.S. Shipping and Handling Rates

  • Subtotal under $60: add $5.95
  • Subtotal over $60: add 10% of subtotal

AK, HI, APO/FPO, and U.S. Territories Shipping and Handling Rates

  • 20% of subtotal ($7.50 minimum)

Canada Shipping and Handling Rates

  • Individuals: 20% of subtotal ($10.50 minimum)
  • Canadian Schools: Schools have two options for shipping and handling.
    • 13% of subtotal ($10.50 minimum); Customer is responsible for customs, duties, and taxes (see details below).
    • 20% of subtotal ($10.50 minimum); HWT is responsible for customs, duties, and taxes.

International Shipping (excluding Canada)

You will be contacted via email by HWT Customer Service with a specific shipping charge quote for your order. Customer is responsible for customs, duties, and taxes (see details below).

Delivery Time

Business days do not include weekends or holidays.

  • U.S. and U.S. Territories: 7-10 business days
  • APO/FPO: Up to 15 business days
  • Canada: Approximately 15 business days
  • Other International: Approximately 15 business days

Customs, Duties, and Taxes

The recipient of an international shipment may be subject to customs brokerage fees, import duties, and taxes after the shipment reaches the destination country. Additional charges are the responsibility of the recipient because we have no control over these government-imposed charges and cannot determine what they may be. Customs policies vary greatly among countries. Please contact your local customs office for information.

To avoid a delay in receiving your order from customs, consider the following:

  • Provide us with a phone number where you can be reached by customs when your product arrives. This phone number will be listed on the commercial invoice so customs can reach you to clear your order.
  • Please do not refuse a shipment or ignore requests from carriers regarding duty and/or tax liability charges. Be aware that most carriers will hold a shipment for 5 days after arrival in your country before they return it to the sender.
  • We do not refund original shipping charges for goods that are refused for delivery at customs.

Canada Residents: Customs, Duties, and Taxes

Handwriting Without Tears has established two shipping rates for Canadian customers. One is for individuals and the other is for schools and businesses (schools/businesses may also choose the individual option). We created the new shipping option based on customer requests, recognizing that schools/businesses often have their own broker relationships and can receive rebates from the Canada Revenue Agency on any Canada GST they pay for printed materials. Here is the difference:

Individual Option

Handwriting Without Tears® is the importer of record on shipments to Canada made to an individual. This means HWT is responsible for paying customs, duties, and taxes for the order to clear customs and be delivered to the recipient. The customs charges are included in the overall order shipping and handling rate of 20%. The customer receives one invoice from Handwriting Without Tears for all charges.

Schools/Businesses Option

When Handwriting Without Tears ships an order to a school or company in Canada, the customer/recipient is the importer of record. This means that the recipient is responsible for paying customs, duties, and taxes for the order to clear customs. Our 13% shipping and handling rate does not include any customs charges. Instead, these will be invoiced to the recipient by the carrier or brokerage company. This allows the school or company to save some money by obtaining a rebate for the GST from the Canada Revenue Agency. See Canada Revenue Agency for more information about the printed book rebates; see Application for GST Rebate

NAFTA Certificates: If you are a resident of Canada or Mexico interested in reducing import duties, contact HWT Customer Service to obtain a NAFTA certificate for HWT workbooks, teachers’ guides, and paper. E-mail
customerservice@hwtears.com or call 301-263-2700.

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“Jan’s understanding of children, behavior, writing curriculum, and the role of teachers and parents in the school system all mesh into a very practical and useable method of solving hard writing problems that teacher, parents and therapists have felt inadequate to solve for many years.”

— Elaine F. Mullin, OTR/L, Executive Director, Cincinnati Occupational Therapy Institute