Shipping
Most orders placed before 2:30 pm central (M-F) time ship out the same day! You can trust that your order will be quickly processed and safely delivered. Each and every package we ship is insured - either by the carrier or by us. This means you WILL receive your package. When you place an order, your delivery time will be based upon the shipping method selected and your shipment’s destination. We honestly do not attempt to make any profit on the shipping process. The shipping prices you are presented with during the checkout process are returned from our shipping providers based on the package size, weight, destination and expediency. We do not add any surcharges.
We are currently shipping only through USPS and UPS but are working to include other carriers. Although the system only accepts and gives quotes for shipping prices for the contiguous United States, contact us and we will happily quote shipping costs to all U.S states, territories and protectorates. Most areas of Canada and its neighbors are also welcome. Some products cannot be shipped to international destinations so please submit a message to us from the Contact Us page if you would like to discuss any International ordering options.
Free Shipping
If you are within the contiguous U.S. and you order is $100 or more (before shipping and taxes) you will be presented with the option for free shipping during the checkout process. If you leave this option selected, we will choose the most economical and efficient shipping method based on the size, weight, and destination. For free shipments we typically use USPS Parcel Post, USPS Priority Mail or UPS Ground but we reserve the right to use any shipping options available from our providers. You may certainly override the free shipping option during checkout and choose your own shipping method at your cost. If you do so, you will be charged appropriately based on the shipping option you choose.
Damaged and Lost Shipments
It is important that your keep track of your shipment with the tracking number. If your package does not arrive in a timely manner, you should promptly contact your local post office with the tracking number. We have a great track record of successfully shipping products throughout the United States. In our experience, lost packages are rare but when they do occur it is almost always at the point of delivery. A quick check with your local post office and neighbors for the lost package almost always resolves the issue.
If it is determined that your package is indeed lost, it is important for you to be aware that it will take approximately 45 days for the post office and insuring agency to conduct an investigation and pay the claim for the lost item(s). As part of the claims process, you will be required to file a signed form stating that you did not receive and are not in possession of the lost item(s). Failure to assist the USPS or the insuring agent with the investigation or failure to assist us with the filing of any documentation required to fulfill the claims process dismisses the claim and you will not receive any reimbursement for the lost item(s).
Damaged shipments can be resolved more promptly. Since we are addicted to bubble wrap and Styrofoam peanuts, damaged shipments are a rare occurrence so in the event that you do receive a dented box, your item is probably safe! However, if you do receive a package that is damaged by the carrier make sure you note it to the carrier and take a picture of the damaged package so we can file the proper claims. Please contat us promptly in the event that you receive any items that appear to be damaged. We may require the return of the damaged item(s) in order to process the claim.
Please remember that you should call us in the event that you have any issues or concerns regarding your order.
Our “In Stock” Pledge
One of our pet peeves is the online "In Stock" faux pas. This is where you search the web high and low to find your particular part in stock; you place your order and then receive the “Dear John…out of stock” email or phone call a few days later as you await its arrival. This is caused by Hobby Shops selling over the counter or over the phone all day with their web presence only supplemental to their over-the-counter or phone order business. They run separate databases between their online store and their real store and level their databases once a week, or even once a month. Some shops even list their goods on static HTML pages – good luck placing an order at those shops.
At RC DumbThumbs there is only one database and that database is used for all transactions. Orders placed online update the stock status in real-time with the same priority as orders placed in our back end system. That is why our stock status is LIVE. And that is why if the part says it’s IN STOCK then it is indeed IN STOCK. We constantly make spot audits on our stock levels and cross-check it against the database and are confident in making the following guarantee: If we cannot fill your order, we will send your missing item as soon as it arrives and we will pay for the shipping.