Shipping policy

Last Updated: 2nd April 2026 | Applied to: United Kingdom

We want your order to arrive quickly, safely, and exactly as expected. This policy sets out everything you need to know about how we deliver, what to expect, and your rights if something goes wrong.

1. Delivery Options & Costs

The following services are available at checkout for delivery addresses within mainland England, Scotland, and Wales.

Service	Price	Estimated Delivery	Details
Standard Delivery	£3.95 FREE on orders £65+	2–3 business days	Tracked to your door.
Next Day Delivery	£5.95	Next business day	Order before 3pm (UK time) for next working day dispatch. Tracked to your door. Orders placed after 3pm or on weekends/public holidays will be dispatched the next working day.
Premium Tracked 48 (Signed)	£6.95	2–3 business days	Fully tracked with signature required on delivery.
Premium Tracked 24 (Signed)	£7.95	1–2 business days	Fully tracked with signature required on delivery. Ideal for gifts or higher-value orders.
Seed Delivery	£2.99	2 business days	Fully tracked delivery for seed packet only deliveries.

All delivery costs are shown clearly at checkout before you confirm your order. Delivery time estimates begin from the point of dispatch, not the point of ordering.

2. Order Dispatch

All orders received on weekdays before 3pm (UK time) are dispatched the same day. Orders placed after 3pm, or on Saturdays, Sundays, or UK public holidays, will be processed and dispatched on the next working day.

We aim to dispatch 100% of orders within one business day. In exceptional circumstances where standard processing times cannot be met, such as during high-demand periods like Cyber Monday, priority will be given to the oldest and largest orders, which will be dispatched first.

Once your order has been dispatched, you will receive a shipping confirmation email containing your tracking number and a link to follow your delivery.

Pre-orders: Pre-order items are dispatched separately and may have extended lead times. The estimated dispatch date will be shown on the product page and confirmed in your order confirmation email.

3. Signed Deliveries: If You're Not In

For our Premium Tracked 24 and Premium Tracked 48 (Signed) services, a signature is required on delivery. If no one is available to sign:

• Our courier will leave a calling card with instructions for re-delivery or collection.
• Re-delivery will typically be attempted on the next working day.
• You may be able to redirect your parcel or arrange collection from a local depot via the courier's app or website using your tracking number.

Please ensure someone is available to sign, or consider an alternative delivery option if this is not possible.

4. Delivery Restrictions

We currently deliver to addresses in mainland England, Scotland, and Wales only. Unfortunately, we are unable to deliver to Northern Ireland or international addresses at this time due to courier restrictions. We hope to expand our delivery areas in the future.

5. Marketplace Seller Deliveries (e.g. Dandy's Topsoil)

Some products available on AllotMate Essentials are supplied and fulfilled by third-party marketplace sellers. These are clearly identified on the product page.

Please note the following when ordering marketplace products:

• Delivery costs for marketplace items are calculated separately and shown at checkout. They may differ from AllotMate Essentials' standard delivery rates.
• Mixed orders containing both AllotMate Essentials products and marketplace products will be delivered in separate shipments. You will receive individual tracking details for each shipment.
• Marketplace seller deliveries are fulfilled directly by the seller (e.g. Dandy's Topsoil) on your behalf. Delivery timescales will vary by seller and will be shown at checkout.
• For any queries relating specifically to a marketplace seller delivery, please contact us and we will liaise with the relevant seller on your behalf.
• Perishable goods supplied by marketplace sellers, including turf and bespoke mixes, are non-refundable once dispatched, due to their perishable nature. Please ensure you are satisfied with your order before purchase. This does not affect your statutory rights in the event that goods arrive damaged or not as described.

Please note: The free delivery threshold of £65 applies to AllotMate Essentials products only and does not apply to marketplace seller items.

6. Delivery Timeframes & Your Legal Rights

All delivery times stated are estimates only and are not guaranteed. Actual delivery may be affected by factors outside our control, including courier delays and adverse weather.

Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, if no specific delivery date has been agreed, your order will be delivered within 30 days of the date of purchase. If we are unable to meet this timeframe, we will notify you as soon as possible.

Risk and ownership of your goods passes to you upon delivery to your specified delivery address.

7. Delayed or Lost Orders

A parcel is considered lost if it has not arrived within 15 business days of your dispatch confirmation. If your order hasn't arrived within this period, please contact us and we'll work with our courier to resolve the issue promptly.

Once your parcel has been dispatched, delivery is handled by our courier partners. In the event of a delay or loss, please contact us directly and we will liaise with the courier on your behalf. Please be aware that we remain responsible for ensuring your order reaches you, regardless of any courier issues.

If your order is confirmed lost, you are entitled to your choice of:

• A replacement order dispatched at no extra cost, or
• A full refund

8. Incorrect or Incomplete Delivery Address

Please double-check your delivery address carefully at checkout. If a parcel is returned to us because the address provided was incomplete or incorrect, we will contact you to arrange re-delivery. Re-delivery costs in this circumstance will be your responsibility.

If you notice an error in your delivery address after placing your order, please contact us as soon as possible at hello@allotmate-essentials.com and we will do our best to amend it before dispatch.

We cannot accept responsibility for orders that are lost or undeliverable due to an incorrect address being provided at checkout.

9. Important Notes

• Delivery time estimates are from point of dispatch and exclude weekends and public holidays.
• All shipping costs are displayed clearly at checkout before you confirm your order.
• Seed Packet Delivery is only available on orders containing seed packets with no other products.
• The £65 free delivery threshold applies to AllotMate Essentials products only.

For our returns and refunds information, please see our Returns & Refunds Policy.