Shipping policy

SHIPPING POLICY

Sankofa Collective

Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Last Updated: January 1, 2026

Overview

Sankofa Collective is a curated marketplace featuring Black-owned businesses that create clean beauty and self-care products for melanated people. All products are shipped from our U.S. warehouse, where we conduct quality inspections to ensure every item meets our rigorous ingredient and quality standards before reaching you.

How Shipping Works

Quality-First Fulfillment

Every product—whether purchased individually from our marketplace or included in The Sankofa Travel Kit—ships from our centralized warehouse. This approach allows us to:

Quality check every product before it reaches you
Ensure consistency in packaging and presentation
Consolidate orders from multiple brands into single shipments
Maintain standards that align with our commitment to clean beauty excellence

Order Processing

Standard Processing Time: 1-3 business days

Once your order is placed:

We pick and pack your items at our warehouse
Quality inspection is performed
Your order ships via UPS or FedEx
You receive tracking information via email

Peak Season Processing: During major shopping events (Black Friday, Cyber Monday, December holidays), processing may extend to 3-5 business days.

The Sankofa Travel Kit (Quarterly Subscription)

How Our Subscription Works

The Sankofa Travel Kit is a quarterly subscription featuring 10-12 full-size travel products (3.4oz or less) curated specifically for melanated people. Unlike rolling subscription models, all Travel Kits ship during the same quarterly window, creating a shared unboxing experience for our community.

What Makes Our Kits Special:

TSA-Compliant - Perfect for air travel, gym bags, and weekend getaways
Retail Value $271+ - Carefully curated selection worth far more than the subscription cost
Travel-Size, Full Impact - Not samples—functional sizes you'll actually use
Rigorously Vetted - Every product meets our clean beauty standards AND is formulated for melanated skin/textured hair
Black Wealth Building - Each kit supports 10-12 Black-owned businesses

Quarterly Shipping Schedule

Q1 (Winter Kit): Ships January 15-25
Q2 (Spring Kit): Ships April 15-25
Q3 (Summer Kit): Ships July 15-25
Q4 (Fall Kit): Ships October 15-25

Pricing & Membership Options

Seasonal Membership (Individual Kits):

$150 per kit + shipping ($8-12 based on location)
Pay per quarter, no long-term commitment
Cancel anytime before next billing date
Access to promotional discounts and promo codes

Annual Membership (Best Value):

$500 per year ($125/kit - save $100 annually)
FREE shipping included on all quarterly kits
Billed once annually ($500 upfront)
Priority access to limited-edition products
Cancel anytime (unused quarters refunded prorated)

Billing Schedule

New Subscribers:

When you first sign up for The Sankofa Travel Kit:

You're billed immediately to confirm your subscription
Your first kit ships in the next available quarterly window
You'll receive confirmation showing exactly when your first kit will ship

Existing Subscribers:

Once you're an active subscriber:

You're billed one week before each quarterly ship date (seasonal members)
Annual members: Billed once per year on anniversary of signup
Billing happens automatically unless you cancel before the billing date
Email reminder sent before each billing

Billing Schedule by Quarter:

Quarter	Ship Date	New Subscriber Billing	Existing Subscriber Billing
Q1 (Winter)	Jan 15-25	Immediately upon signup	January 8th
Q2 (Spring)	Apr 15-25	Immediately upon signup	April 8th
Q3 (Summer)	Jul 15-25	Immediately upon signup	July 8th
Q4 (Fall)	Oct 15-25	Immediately upon signup	October 8th

How It Works: Real Examples

Example 1: New Seasonal Member in December

You subscribe: December 10th, 2026
You're billed: December 10th (immediately) - $150 + shipping
Your first kit ships: January 15-25, 2027 (Q1 Winter Kit)
Your next billing: April 8th, 2027 for Q2 Spring Kit ($150 + shipping)
Ongoing: Billed one week before each quarter (April 8, July 8, October 8, January 8)

Example 2: New Seasonal Member in February

You subscribe: February 20th, 2026
You're billed: February 20th (immediately) - $150 + shipping
Your first kit ships: April 15-25, 2026 (Q2 Spring Kit)
Your next billing: July 8th, 2026 for Q3 Summer Kit ($150 + shipping)
Ongoing: Billed one week before each quarter

Example 3: New Annual Member in March

You subscribe: March 15th, 2026
You're billed: March 15th (immediately) - $500 for full year
Your first kit ships: April 15-25, 2026 (Q2 Spring Kit) - FREE shipping
Remaining kits ship: July 15-25 (Q3), Oct 15-25 (Q4), Jan 15-25 (Q1 2027)
Next annual billing: March 15th, 2027 ($500)

Example 4: Existing Seasonal Member

You received: Q3 Summer Kit in July 2026
You're billed: October 8th, 2026 (one week before Q4 ship date) - $150 + shipping
Your next kit ships: October 15-25, 2026 (Q4 Fall Kit)
Automatic renewal: Continues quarterly unless you cancel before October 8th

Why This Billing Structure?

New subscribers billed immediately: Confirms your subscription and reserves your spot in the next quarterly kit
Existing subscribers billed one week before shipping: Keeps your subscription active and ensures payment processes before your kit ships
Annual members billed once per year: Maximum savings + convenience of one payment
Email reminders: Sent before each billing so you're never surprised

Travel Kit Shipping Details

Seasonal Members:

Shipping cost: $8-12 (calculated based on your location)
Shipping added at checkout
Delivery: 5-7 business days after shipment via UPS or FedEx

Annual Members:

FREE SHIPPING included on all 4 quarterly kits
Delivery: 5-7 business days after shipment via UPS or FedEx
No additional shipping charges ever

All Members:

Tracking: Provided via email when your kit ships
Delivery: 5-7 business days from ship date
Cutoff for Changes: Address changes must be made 10 days before quarter ship date

Why Quarterly Windows?

We ship all Travel Kits during the same 10-day window each quarter because:

Community Experience - Everyone unboxes together and shares on social media
Freshness Guarantee - All kits packed within days of shipping
Consistent Quality - Dedicated curation and quality control time
Clear Expectations - You always know when to expect your next kit

Between-Quarter Signups

When you sign up between shipping dates, you'll receive your first kit in the next available quarter. This ensures:

Every kit is freshly curated and packed
You receive the current season's full curation
No rushed or incomplete kit experiences

At checkout, we clearly display: "Your first Sankofa Travel Kit will ship [Quarter & Date Range]"

Marketplace Orders (Individual Products)

Shipping Zones & Availability

Domestic Shipping (United States)

Coverage: All 50 states, Washington D.C., and U.S. territories
Standard Delivery: 5-7 business days after processing
Expedited Options: Available
Remote Areas: Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, and military addresses (APO/FPO/DPO) may have extended delivery times (7-10 business days)

International Shipping

Availability: Currently unavailable
Future Expansion: Sign up for our mailing list to be notified when international shipping becomes available

Shipping Methods & Costs

Standard Shipping (5-7 Business Days)

Cost: Calculated at checkout based on order weight and destination
Carrier: UPS or FedEx
Tracking: Provided for all orders

Expedited Shipping (2-3 Business Days)

Cost: Premium rates apply (displayed at checkout)
Carrier: UPS or FedEx
Cutoff Time: Orders must be placed by 12:00 PM EST for same-day processing
Tracking: Provided for all orders

FREE STANDARD SHIPPING

On orders $100 or more (excludes Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, and military addresses)
Automatically applied at checkout
Promotional periods: Site-wide free shipping during special events (announced via email and website)

Shipping Cost Calculation

Your shipping cost is calculated based on:

Order weight and dimensions
Shipping destination (zone-based pricing)
Selected shipping method (standard or expedited)
Package value (for insurance purposes)

All costs are clearly displayed at checkout before you complete your purchase.

Tracking Your Order

Marketplace Orders

When Your Order Ships:

Tracking email sent within 24 hours of shipment
Includes carrier (UPS or FedEx) and tracking number
Direct link to track package in real-time
Estimated delivery date provided

Where to Track:

Email: Click tracking link in shipment confirmation
Your Account: View all orders and tracking in your Sankofa account
Carrier Website: Track directly through UPS or FedEx

Travel Kit Subscriptions

Tracking information sent when quarterly kits begin shipping (mid-month of ship quarter)
Track via email link or your Sankofa account
All kits ship within the 10-day quarterly window
Delivery typically 5-7 business days from ship date

Shipping Address Requirements

Accuracy is Critical

You are responsible for providing an accurate, complete shipping address. We cannot be responsible for orders shipped to incorrect addresses provided at checkout.

Please include:

Full name (first and last)
Complete street address (no abbreviations)
Apartment, suite, or unit number (if applicable)
City, state, and ZIP code
Phone number (for carrier delivery notifications)

Address Changes

For Marketplace Orders:

Contact us immediately if you need to change your address
Changes possible only before order ships (within 1-3 business day processing window)
Cannot change address once order is in transit

For Travel Kit Subscriptions:

Update your address anytime in your account settings
Deadline: Must update at least 10 days before quarterly ship date to ensure timely delivery
Changes made after deadline will apply to next quarter's kit

Delivery Locations

We Ship To:

Residential addresses - Most common delivery type
P.O. Boxes - Accepted for standard shipping; some expedited services may not deliver to P.O. Boxes
Business addresses - Include business name and any special delivery instructions
APO/FPO/DPO (Military) - Standard shipping available; extended delivery times (10-21 business days); may incur additional shipping costs for remote locations

Apartment/Suite Numbers:

REQUIRED for accurate delivery
Missing unit numbers may cause delivery delays or returns

Order Consolidation

If you order multiple products:

Items are consolidated into a single shipment whenever possible
One tracking number for entire order
Reduces packaging waste and environmental impact
No additional consolidation fees

If items are on different processing schedules:

We may split shipments to ensure faster delivery
You'll receive separate tracking numbers for each shipment
No additional shipping charges (original shipping cost covers all shipments)

Special Shipping Situations

Peak Holiday Shipping

Extended Times During:

Black Friday / Cyber Monday: Add 1-2 days to processing
December Holidays (Dec 10-25): Add 2-3 days to processing
Major Promotional Events: Add 1-2 days to processing

Order early to guarantee holiday delivery.

Weather-Related Delays

Severe weather may cause carrier delays beyond our control, including:

Winter storms, hurricanes, flooding
Extreme heat affecting product integrity
Natural disasters

We work closely with carriers to:

Reroute shipments when possible
Keep you informed of significant delays
Ensure product safety during extreme temperatures

Carrier Service Disruptions

Occasionally, UPS or FedEx experience service disruptions due to:

Mechanical issues or facility closures
Labor actions or workforce challenges
High-volume periods exceeding capacity

If disruptions occur:

We'll notify affected customers via email
Provide updated delivery estimates
Work with carriers to expedite resolution

Delivery Issues & Resolution

Failed Delivery Attempts

If you're not home when carrier attempts delivery:

Carrier leaves delivery notice with instructions
Typically 2-3 delivery attempts before return to sender
Package held at local carrier facility for pickup (5-10 days)
Check carrier tracking for pickup location and hours

To prevent failed delivery:

Ensure accurate address with apartment/suite number
Consider shipping to the business address if you're not home during delivery hours
Sign up for carrier delivery notifications (UPS My Choice, FedEx Delivery Manager)

Lost Packages

If tracking shows "delivered" but you didn't receive your order:

Step 1: Check thoroughly

All entrances to your home/building
With neighbors or building management
Inside mailroom or package lockers
With household members

Step 2: Wait 24 hours

Sometimes carriers mark "delivered" prematurely
Package may arrive the next business day

Step 3: Contact us within 5 days of expected delivery

Email us with order number and tracking information
We'll investigate with carrier
File claim if package confirmed lost

Resolution:

Replacement shipped or full refund issued
Processing time: 3-5 business days after claim confirmed

Damaged Packages

If your order arrives damaged:

Contact us within 48 hours of delivery with:

Order number
Photos of damaged box/packaging
Photos of damaged product(s)
Description of damage

Resolution:

Replacement shipped immediately, or
Full refund issued
No need to return damaged items in most cases

Our Commitment:

All products are carefully packed with protective materials
Damaged items replaced at no cost to you
We file carrier claims on your behalf

Package Theft

If your package was delivered but stolen:

Unfortunately, we cannot be responsible for theft after successful carrier delivery
We recommend secure delivery locations or requiring signature confirmation for high-value orders
We'll assist with carrier investigations when possible

Prevention Tips:

Use signature confirmation for orders over $150
Ship to workplace or secure package locker
Install doorbell camera or request neighbor to retrieve
Hold for pickup at carrier facility (available through carrier accounts)

Returns & Exchanges

Return shipping details are covered in our Return & Refund Policy.

Quick Summary:

Customer responsible for return shipping costs unless item damaged or incorrectly shipped
Return labels may be provided for certain situations
See full Return Policy for complete details

Shipping & The Environment

Our Sustainability Efforts:

Right-sized packaging to reduce waste
Recyclable and biodegradable packing materials whenever possible
Consolidated shipments to minimize carbon footprint
Partnership with carriers committed to carbon offset programs

Important Disclaimers

Delivery Timeframes

Shipping timeframes are estimates, not guarantees. Actual delivery times may vary based on:

Carrier service performance
Weather conditions
Destination location
Peak season volumes

Beyond Our Control

Sankofa Collective is not responsible for delays caused by:

Weather or natural disasters
Carrier service disruptions or delays
Customs processing (if applicable in future)
Incorrect addresses provided by customer
Failed delivery attempts when customer unavailable
Other circumstances beyond reasonable control

Time-Sensitive Events

We strongly recommend not scheduling important events (weddings, birthdays, holidays) around estimated delivery dates. Order well in advance to account for potential delays.

Policy Updates

This shipping policy may be updated to reflect changes in our operations, carrier partnerships, or service offerings. Updates will be posted on this page with the revision date noted above.

This shipping policy is part of our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. By placing an order with Sankofa Collective, you agree to these shipping terms.

Questions? Contact Us!