important holiday shipping information
Order by 8:59 PM PST on these dates with the selected shipping option for expected delivery by December 25, 2025.
FREE / STANDARD
DECEMBER
12
RUSH
DECEMBER
15
EXPRESS
DECEMBER
16
During the holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, shipping carriers operate differently than they do the rest of the year. With an increased nationwide volume of online orders and the added impact of winter weather, packages can take longer to process and tracking updates are often inconsistent. These seasonal challenges have been the norm for many years and are outside of my control. While the deadlines listed above are provided as best-case estimates, they cannot guarantee Christmas delivery. Weather and carrier delays may still affect transit times, so please choose the shipping method that best meets your needs.
Unlike large retailers or platforms like Amazon that offer same-day or next-day delivery, my small business focuses on crafting unique, high-quality products for sports fans just like you. Rest assured, my print partner fulfills orders promptly in the order they are received, with priority given to expedited options that were selected at checkout.
don’t feel like reading about holiday shipping? ask the magic 8 ball
If you’re asking where your package is, when it’ll arrive, or why tracking hasn’t updated during the holidays, you’re not alone. Between carrier volume, weather delays, and limited scans, answers can be… unpredictable. I try to provide as much information as possible, but I get it; you don’t want to read, you just want an answer. Ask the Magic 8 Ball, it knows about as much as the carriers do right now.
the carrier says they don't have the package yet
When you see a message like “Your Tracking Label Has Been Created” or “Awaiting Package,” please know this does not mean your order hasn’t shipped. During the holidays, carriers frequently pick up bins or pallets full of packages and wait until items reach a sorting or destination facility before scanning them individually.
As Christmas gets closer, carriers are overwhelmed and understaffed and it’s common for free / standard shipments not to be scanned until they arrive at the destination post office. USPS systems can take several weeks to update, and while it can be frustrating to see little or no movement, this is a normal part of peak-season shipping.
If you contact your local carrier, they will only be able to share the information displayed in their system, as they do not have visibility into the operations of nationwide sorting facilities.
Because of this, I cannot provide more specific updates or respond to emails asking “When will my order be shipped?” or “Why does the carrier show they don’t have the package?”—as these delays are completely outside my control.
I’ve created a short series of illustrations to highlight the differences in how shipping carriers operate during the holiday season compared to the rest of the year. These visuals are meant to give you a clear, simple look at what happens behind the scenes so you know what to expect when tracking your order.
carriers outside of the holiday season
pickup at printer
carrier scans package at pickup
During non-holiday season, carriers have more resources available and are able to scan packages individually at the time of pickup from my print partner. These scans are typically processed in real time, with tracking systems updating promptly.
sorting facilities
efficient & smooth process
During non-holiday months, sorting facilities operate with full staffing and manageable package volumes. This allows packages to move smoothly through the system without backlog, ensuring consistent processing and timely movement from one facility to the next.
package in transit
package scanned in transit
Outside of the holiday rush, carriers scan each package at every checkpoint along its journey. From pickup to each sorting facility, tracking updates appear in real time, giving customers full visibility into where their package is until it arrives at the destination post office.
carriers during the holiday season
pickup at printer
package placed in bins for pickup
During the holiday season, carriers pick up large bins and pallets filled with packages. Due to limited resources and higher volumes, individual packages are not scanned at pickup and may not appear in the system until they reach a sorting facility or even the destination post office.
sorting facilities
overwhelmed & understaffed
During the holiday season, sorting facilities struggle with extreme backlogs as nationwide volume surges. With limited staffing and space, packages are often stacked in bins or pallets and may sit for days—or even weeks—before being processed. This can create long gaps in tracking updates as items wait to move through the system.
package in transit
package scanned at destination facility
To move mail as quickly as possible during peak season, carriers often bypass individual scans at each transit stop. Instead, packages are grouped and rushed to the next facility without system updates. In many cases, the first tracking scan you’ll see after label creation isn’t until the package arrives at its final local post office, ready for delivery.
ordering after the posted cut-off dates
It is possible that your order may still arrive in time for Christmas Day depending on what was ordered, your shipping destination, and the shipping method selected. However, Christmas Day delivery cannot be guaranteed for any orders placed after the posted cutoff dates.
Orders placed after the deadlines listed above will continue to be produced and shipped promptly, but they are not expected to arrive by December 25. All orders are produced in the order they are received and according to the shipping priority chosen at checkout. Please note that I am unable to modify or upgrade the shipping priority once an order has been placed.
Free and Standard shipping orders are printed, packaged, and placed into large carrier pickup bins, which carriers typically process and scan after December 25. During the back-to-back holiday weeks, it is common for orders placed after the cutoff dates to experience extended transit times, and some may not arrive until after January 1.
print on demand / made to order production
As a reminder, all items are sent to my print partner for production on demand when an order is placed. As a result, production times should be taken into account, as I do not maintain a physical inventory ready for immediate shipment.
Orders are processed in the order they are received, with priority given to those with expedited shipping options selected.
Print Production Times
The following are average production times for my pieces to be produced.
- Small Prints: 1-3 Days
- Large Prints: 2-4 Days
- Drink Coasters: 2-3 Days
- Hardcover Book: 5-7 Days
- Small Canvas Wraps: 2-5 Days
- Large Canvas Wraps: 3-6 Days
- Message On Canvas: Additional (2) days, though I personally try to add these as quickly as possible
- Personalized Add Ons: Additional (14) days for design process
delayed or lost packages
As a small independent artist, there’s nothing I want more than clients to receive their orders in a timely fashion. To keep costs down while maintaining an efficient production and delivery time I am reliant on third party carriers to deliver all orders.
During the holiday season, carriers often experience delays due to an extreme increase in packages and may not update their tracking systems in real time. Once a package is handed over to the carrier, I no longer have access to additional updates beyond what is available on their tracking page. Depending on the shipping method you selected, it is common for tracking updates to take several days—or, in some cases, weeks—to appear.
This inconsistency in tracking updates has been an ongoing carrier issue for several years, and I understand the confusion it may cause. While I wish there were more I could do to address this directly, I can only offer this explanation and assure you that your order has been shipped as stated.
If It Has Been More Than 20 Days Without Tracking Updates
If the carrier’s tracking page has not updated in 20 days, you are welcome to complete a missing package request by proceeding to the next page. Please note this is a carrier imposed policy and submissions for orders with tracking updates less than 20 days old will not be processed at this time.
Your support and understanding mean so much to me, and I deeply appreciate your patience as your order is created and shipped.
