Shipping & Delivery Policy

1. Shipping Coverage

We currently ship to addresses across the entire territory of India, including all states, union territories, and major island groups. Our logistics infrastructure, powered by Shiprocket, gives us access to a wide network of courier partners including Delhivery, Blue Dart, DTDC, Ecom Express, Shadowfax, Xpressbees, and others, allowing us to reach over 29,000+ pin codes nationwide.

However, there may be certain remote or restricted areas where delivery services are limited or unavailable. If your delivery pincode falls outside the serviceable area of all available courier partners, we will notify you as soon as possible after your order is placed and work with you to find an alternative arrangement, or process a full refund if delivery is not feasible.

At this time, we do not offer international shipping. All orders must be delivered to a valid address within India.

2. Shipping Charges

We believe in fair and transparent pricing. Our shipping charges are calculated based on the order value, total weight, and delivery destination. The general shipping structure is as follows:

Additional shipping charges may apply in the following circumstances:

• Weight-Based Surcharge: For orders exceeding standard weight thresholds set by courier partners, an additional weight-based shipping surcharge may be applied. This will be clearly displayed during the checkout process before you confirm your order.
• Remote Area Surcharge: Deliveries to certain remote or hard-to-reach areas may attract an additional surcharge as determined by the courier partner. If applicable, this will be communicated to you prior to order dispatch.

The exact shipping cost applicable to your order will be calculated and displayed on the checkout page before you complete your purchase. No hidden charges will be added after you confirm your order.

3. Order Processing and Dispatch

We take great care in preparing your orders. Each item is freshly checked for quality, properly weighed, and carefully packed to maintain product integrity during transit. Here is what to expect after you place an order:

3.1 Order Confirmation

Once your order is successfully placed — whether through online payment (Razorpay) or Cash on Delivery — you will receive an order confirmation email to your registered email address containing your unique order number. This does not indicate that the order has been shipped; it only confirms that your order has been received and is being reviewed by our team.

3.2 Order Review and Acceptance

After receiving your order, our team reviews it for product availability, payment verification (for online payments), and address serviceability. Once verified, the order status will change from "Pending" to "Processing," and our warehouse team will begin preparing your package.

3.3 Packaging

All our products are packaged using food-grade, tamper-proof packaging materials. For orders containing multiple items, products are carefully arranged within the shipping box to prevent damage during transit. Fragile items such as glass jars or powdered mixes are given additional cushioning and protection. We aim to minimise environmental impact by using recyclable and minimal packaging wherever possible.

3.4 Dispatch Timeline

Orders are typically dispatched from our central packaging and fulfilment unit located in Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu within the following timeframes:

• Orders placed on business days (Monday to Saturday) before 2:00 PM IST are usually dispatched within 24 to 48 hours.
• Orders placed after 2:00 PM IST, or on Sundays and Indian national/regional holidays, will be processed on the next available business day.
• During peak seasons (festivals like Diwali, Pongal, Onam, Navratri), dispatch timelines may extend to 48–72 hours due to higher order volumes. We will notify you if there is any significant delay.

4. Estimated Delivery Timelines

Delivery times are estimated from the date of dispatch (not the date of order placement) and vary depending on your geographical location within India. Please note that these are approximate timelines and may vary due to factors beyond our control such as weather conditions, public holidays, courier partner operations, or local disruptions.

These are estimated timelines and not guaranteed delivery dates. We are not responsible for delays caused by the courier partner, customs (for certain regions), natural disasters, civil unrest, pandemics, or any other force majeure events. If your delivery is significantly delayed beyond the estimated window, please contact our support team and we will follow up with the courier partner on your behalf.

5. Order Tracking

Once your order has been dispatched and handed over to the courier partner, a shipping label with an Air Waybill (AWB) tracking number is generated through our Shiprocket integration. You will be able to track your shipment through the following methods:

• Order Details Page: Log in to your account, go to your order history, and click on the relevant order. The tracking number and a direct link to the courier's tracking page will be displayed once the shipment is in transit.
• Email Notification: You will receive a shipping confirmation email with the AWB tracking number and courier partner details once your package is dispatched.
• Courier Partner Website: You can track your shipment directly on the courier partner's website or app using the AWB number provided to you.

If tracking shows your package is stuck in transit or has not been updated for more than 48 hours, please contact us at support@zeroartificial.net, and we will initiate an inquiry with the courier partner.

6. Delivery Attempts and Failed Deliveries

Our courier partners typically make up to 2–3 delivery attempts at the shipping address you provided. If delivery cannot be completed after all attempts — due to the recipient being unavailable, incorrect address, refusal to accept the package, or inaccessibility of the delivery location — the package will be returned to our warehouse as a "Return to Origin" (RTO) shipment.

In the event of an RTO:

• For prepaid orders, a refund of the product value will be processed after we receive the returned package in acceptable condition. Shipping charges are non-refundable in RTO cases.
• For COD orders, no refund is applicable as no payment was collected. You may re-order the items at your convenience.

To avoid failed deliveries, please ensure that:

• Your shipping address is accurate, complete, and includes all necessary details (house/flat number, floor, building name, landmark, pincode).
• The recipient's phone number is reachable and active, as the courier partner may call before delivery.
• Someone is available at the delivery address to accept the package during business hours.

7. Damaged or Tampered Packages

We take extensive care in packaging your products, but occasionally, damage may occur during transit due to rough handling by the courier partner. Upon receiving your package, we recommend that you:

1. Inspect the outer packaging for any visible signs of damage, crushing, tearing, or water exposure before accepting the delivery from the courier executive.
2. If the outer packaging appears significantly damaged, you may refuse to accept the delivery and immediately inform our support team.
3. If you accept the delivery and then discover damage to the products inside, take clear photographs and/or video of the damaged items and packaging immediately.
4. Submit a return/refund request through your account within 24 hours of delivery, including the photographic evidence.

We will review your claim and, if validated, process a refund or arrange a replacement as per our Cancellation and Refund Policy.

8. Cash on Delivery (COD) Policy

Cash on Delivery is available for select orders and pincodes at our discretion. When choosing COD:

• You agree to make full payment in cash (or via UPI/digital payment to the delivery executive, if offered by the courier partner) at the time of delivery.
• Refusing to accept a COD order at the time of delivery without a valid reason may result in the order being shipped back to us (RTO). Repeated refusal of COD orders may lead to COD being disabled for your account.
• We reserve the right to restrict or disable COD for certain pincodes, high-value orders, or accounts with a history of order refusals or suspected misuse.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or need assistance regarding your shipment, delivery, or this Shipping Policy, please do not hesitate to reach out to us: