Shipping, Delivery & Returns

Below are common questions regarding orders placed online.  Don't see your question listed?  Please contact us and we'll happily get the answer for you.

We now offer Cheep Shipping Protection as an option at checkout where we fully cover damaged, lost, or stolen packages with the same in-house customer service you've loved since 1984.  No third-party hassles or waiting, DC has you covered with this optional service.  Signatures are not required for ground shipments, and porch pirates are real... protect your shipment! 

📨 Q: How long will it be before I receive my order?

For standard shipping to Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, and most of Florida, in-stock orders placed before 2 PM usually land on your doorstep within 1–2 business days. Outside the Southeast, ground shipments typically take 2–5 business days.

We pack fast — if it’s in stock, it’s rolling out the door the same day.

 

🏪 Q: Do you offer In-Store Pickup for web orders?

Yes we do! Choose In-Store Pickup at checkout, and we’ll email you as soon as it’s ready. When you swing by, bring a state-issued ID and the credit card you used. (If you paid with PayPal, bring that receipt too.)

We love seeing our local customers in person — it’s the best part of the day.

 

🌎 Q: Do you ship to addresses outside of the United States?

Right now, we only ship internationally through our partner platforms — Reverb.com and eBay.com. If you spot something on our site and want it shipped abroad, just reach out. We can often list it on one of those marketplaces so you can check out smoothly.

 

📦 Q: What do you charge for standard shipping on an order?

Honestly, shipping’s gotten weird since 2020. Carriers have nearly tripled some rates, and they change constantly. Many small orders ship for a flat $8, but bigger or heavier gear gets hit with “oversize” or “dimensional” rates. (Basically, if it’s large or pricey, carriers bump it into a higher bracket.)

You can use the shipping estimator on the Cart page to see costs before checking out. And yes, some items show $500 shipping — that’s our polite way of saying “we really don’t want to ship this right now.” If you truly want it, we’ll make it happen.

Standard shipping = our choice of USPS, FedEx, or UPS (USPS only for APOs/PO Boxes). Expedited = actual carrier cost. No handling fees.

Pro tip: Store pickup is always free, and we offer local delivery if you need something fast.

 

📬 Q: How do I check the status of my order?

Click the My Account link in the top right (desktop) or the three lines in the top left on the homepage (mobile) to log in. From there, you can see your Order History, addresses, and details on each order.

 

📦 Q: Hey, what’s up with the used box you packed my order in?

We reuse boxes and packing materials whenever we can. So your box might look a little “experienced,” with old stickers and tape. That’s on purpose — “do more with less” is one of our Core Values, and we’d rather reuse than waste perfectly good materials.

 

🔁 Q: What are the shipping charges for returning an item?

If we made an error or your item arrived defective, we’ll email you a prepaid return label. If you simply changed your mind, return shipping is on you.

If you think something’s defective but it tests fine here, we’ll send you a quick video demo — original and return shipping aren’t refundable in that case.

Pack returns carefully in the original box with all packaging and accessories. Remove or cover old labels, and use a trackable shipping method (UPS or FedEx preferred). Postmark within the return period and ship to:

Dirt Cheep
Attn: Returns, With Love
2415 S Cobb Dr SE
Smyrna GA 30080
770-433-0196

 

💥 Q: Oh no! My order arrived damaged, defective, or incomplete. What do I do?

“Oh no” is right — this is rare, but sometimes the universe throws us a curveball.

Defective items: We’ll replace or exchange them quickly and send you a return label in most cases.
Incomplete orders: Check your tracking — sometimes we split a shipment into two boxes to get it to you faster.
Damaged shipments:

1️⃣ If you purchased Cheep Shipping Protection, skip to step 2 — we’ll file a claim and get it resolved fast.
2️⃣ If not, contact the carrier first (UPS/FedEx/USPS) with your tracking number, then let us know.
3️⃣ Keep all boxes and packing — the carrier may need to inspect. Don’t ship anything back until we say so, or the claim may get denied.
4️⃣ Once the process starts, hang tight — we’ll keep you in the loop and push to get you squared away ASAP.

We want every transaction to be perfect, and we take damage claims seriously. We’ll walk you through it step by step.

 

💲 Q: Why does it say shipping is $500 on Prime items?

Because Prime gear is local pickup only for the first few weeks — we want to give our Georgia customers first crack at the good stuff. The $500 shipping rate is just a deterrent, not the real cost. If someone far away tries to order during that local-only window, we’ll cancel and refund the order (no hard feelings). Once the local priority period ends, we open Prime items up for normal nationwide shipping.