What carriers do you use?
All of our packages are shipped via UPS.
Why don’t you offer free shipping or flat rate shipping everywhere?
Unlike large meat companies, we produce what we sell and ship it from here in central Idaho. We can reach most of the western U.S. with affordable ground shipping, but more distant orders will require a shipping upgrade to 3 day select or 2nd day air. As a small shipper, these upgrades are very expensive for us, and we simply cannot afford to absorb those costs.
If we used a Flat Rate shipping price, we would over charge customers living near us and under charge customers living on the East Coast, or we would have to make up the difference by raising our product prices. We do not believe that is fair to anybody.
We recognize that shipping to the eastern half of the U.S. is expensive, and we are humbly grateful for our eastern customers who continue to purchase from us. We completely understand if the shipping costs aren’t feasible for those of you who live in the Eastern or Midwestern US. We recommend checking out eatwild[dot]com to find producers who are more local to you that may deliver to your area!
How do you calculate the shipping costs?
During the checkout process, our system receives the shipping costs directly from the UPS computer system and is displayed with no profit added onto the price. We don’t pad the shipping rates to add profit for us; in fact, we pay a portion on our end. It’s costly to ship a box of frozen beef to the midwest or eastern US because we have to ship using high-speed expensive options in order to get the beef to you quickly before it thaws!
How often do you ship?
We ship every other Monday, some major holiday weeks excepting. We only ship on Mondays to ensure that your beef reaches you frozen solid, and does not sit thawing over a weekend or a holiday. If you place an order before a holiday, check your email receipt for the shipping date.
Where do you ship?
We ship to all 50 states except for Alaska and Hawaii. We cannot ship to Canada or other countries outside of the US, sorry!
How can I enter a delayed delivery date?
Put your preferred Monday delivery date in the comments section of your order.
Will I receive a tracking number with my order?
You will receive two emails from us. The first confirmation will be sent upon completion of your order and will detail your purchase. You will receive a second confirmation e-mail at the time that your order is shipped via UPS, which will provide you with a tracking number and shipping information.
If you have not received either of these emails, first check your spam folder in your email program. If you still can’t find the information, send us an email at Help@Alderspring.com, and we’ll get you the information.
It’s Monday night and my UPS tracking just says “shipping information received,” but when I try to track it there is no information.
We ship from our shipping warehouse in Salmon, Idaho. Your box is loaded directly on a UPS truck and heads to a hub in Idaho Falls, ID, and then reaches the major hub of Salt Lake City at about midnight. The boxes are scanned into UPS’s system in Salt Lake City, but sometimes that doesn’t happen until Tuesday morning. Check your tracking on Tuesday, and it should be upgraded with a delivery estimate and a current location.
Do you ship fresh or frozen?
We only ship frozen products, except for cheese (in season). We believe that flash-freezing our wild protein within hours of processing gives you the freshest, highest quality, and safest food.
How do you ship frozen beef through the mail?
To ensure that the beef arrives at your home still frozen, we package it in an insulated freezer box with several pounds of dry ice. We have been shipping for over a decade, and have perfected our shipping system. Open your box with care, as there may still be dry ice in the box, and it can freeze skin on contact!
If your meat reaches you thawed or rotting, we’re going to make that right with you! Just email Kelsey at help[at]alderspring[dot]com.
Most of the materials in the box are curbside recyclable, including the box, insulation, and paper wrapping we use to keep beef packages from breaking in transit.
Is your packaging recyclable?
Yes! The packaging is almost 100% curbside recyclable in your cardboard or paper bin.
How is my order packaged?
We are a small outfit with personal attention to your order. We do not use a fulfilment center. First, Glenn selects each cut that goes into your box and personally vets the beef for quality, weighing each cut to make sure that you get what you paid for. Your order then gets passed to one of our daughters, who double-checks each cut for quality and weight and makes sure that you got everything you ordered. Another daughter or hand here at the ranch then packs the order, wrapping valuable cuts in recyclable paper and placing the beef in an insulated recyclable freezer box. Donay then prints out your label and makes sure that your order has been packed correctly before passing it on to one of our crew members, our designated “icer” that day. Whoever that is puts the labels on the box, and tapes your box shut. Your order then gets loaded onto the UPS truck and sent off, to arrive at your home 2-4 days later.
What should I do with my cooler once I receive my order?
Some folks like to reuse it as a cooler for camping or car trips (and one of our customers likes to build forts out of the inserts for his kid). However, if you don’t have a use for it, the entire box and all interior packaging is fully curbside recyclable. Just put it in the cardboard/paper bin!
What happens if I provide an incorrect shipping address?
Always double check your order using one of our many confirmation methods. Please email us at Help@Alderspring.com as soon as you notice any address errors. We will do everything possible to make sure the order is shipped to the correct address. Please be advised that if an incorrect address was provided, and the beef is shipped/delivered to the incorrect address, we will be happy to reship your meats to the correct address. However, we will have to charge you for the reshipment.
Because the product is perishable, orders that are already in transit cannot be canceled or rerouted.
What if there isn’t any dry ice in the cooler?
All shipments are sent in insulated coolers with dry ice. It is possible and quite common to have no dry ice remaining in the insulated cooler when your meats arrive. If this is the case you need not be concerned.
As long as the product is still cold or partially frozen, the quality has not diminished. You may refreeze the product for up to 1 year if the product remains in the original Cryovak packaging. Or refrigerate the product for serving within 7 days.
If the beef is not still cold when it arrives, we guarantee a complete refund. It’s our job to get it to you in great condition.
An item is missing from my shipment.
Check the invoice included with your shipment. We mark out of stock items there and you’ll see a refund show up on your credit card within a few days to a week.
If you were supposed to get an item, double check that it is not in the bottom of the box. We have had people miss something in the bottom of the box and then look at it again a few days later to find the missing cut thawed and rotting (once it was a couple of tenderloin steaks…so sad!).
If you are definitely missing an item, shoot us an email at Help@Alderspring.com. We try our best, but we’re human and occasionally forget something!! We will always make things right with you.
