Shipping policy

Where we ship

• We currently ship orders across India to all serviceable pincodes.

• We also ship to select international locations on request. International shipping is handled separately and charged at actual courier rates.

Order Processing and Dispatch Time

• Orders are processed after payment confirmation (for prepaid orders) or after successful order placement (for COD orders).

• Items listed in our Ready to Ship collection are usually dispatched on the same day or the next working day after order confirmation.
• For all other catalogue products, most pieces are handcrafted to order or made in very small batches, so our usual dispatch time is 3–4 working days (Monday to Saturday, excluding public holidays).
• Customised orders follow a separate timeline depending on the design, quantity and approvals; the tentative dispatch date will be clearly communicated to you at the time of custom order confirmation via WhatsApp.
• If your order contains both Ready to Ship pieces and regular catalogue products, our default process is to ship them together in one parcel, following the standard dispatch timeline for the slower items (usually 3–4 working days). At checkout, you may see an option to ship Ready to Ship items separately for faster dispatch. If you select this option (for example, using a checkbox or delivery preference), your Ready to Ship items will be dispatched first in a separate parcel, and additional shipping charges for the extra shipment will be calculated and added automatically at checkout, as per our Shipping Charges section.
• In rare cases – for example, if we need extra time to source materials, adjust sizes, manage festival or sale rush, or if courier restrictions apply – dispatch may take a little longer. If this happens, our team will update you with the revised timeline via WhatsApp on your registered contact details.

Shipping Charges within India

• Shipping charges for orders within India are calculated based on:

  • The delivery zone (Zone 1 or Zone 2)

  • Your order value

  • Your payment method (prepaid or Cash on Delivery)

• For now, we follow a simple two–zone structure:

  • Zone 1 – South India & nearby metros

    Includes: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry, Maharashtra and Goa.

  • Zone 2 – Rest of India

    Includes all other Indian states and union territories, including island territories such as Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.

• Shipping charges (and any COD fees) are shown clearly at checkout before you complete your order.

Shipping charges within India for Prepaid orders (online payment)

• For orders paid online through our payment gateway (prepaid orders), shipping within India is:

Zone 1 – South India & nearby metros (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry, Maharashtra and Goa)

• • Order value up to ₹3,499: shipping is ₹100 per order

  • Order value ₹3,500 and above: free shipping
    

Zone 2 – Rest of India (All other Indian states and union territories, including islands)

• • Order value up to ₹3,499: shipping is ₹150 per order

  • Order value ₹3,500 and above: free shipping
    

• From time to time, we may run special free-shipping or discount offers; any such offers will be clearly displayed on the website or at checkout.

Shipping charges within India for Cash on Delivery(COD) orders

• COD is available only within India, for eligible pincodes and orders up to ₹8,000.
• There is no free shipping on COD orders.
• Shipping for COD orders is based on delivery zone and order value as below. These amounts are only the shipping charges and do not include the COD handling fee.
  

• Zone 1 – South India & nearby metros (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry, Maharashtra and Goa)

  • Order value up to ₹3,499: ₹100 shipping

  • Order value ₹3,500 – ₹4,999: ₹200 shipping

  • Order value ₹5,000 – ₹6,499: ₹250 shipping

  • Order value ₹6,500 – ₹8,000: ₹300 shipping
    

• Zone 2 – Rest of India (All other Indian states and union territories, including islands)

  • Order value up to ₹3,499: ₹150 shipping

  • Order value ₹3,500 – ₹4,999: ₹250 shipping

  • Order value ₹5,000 – ₹6,499: ₹300 shipping

  • Order value ₹6,500 – ₹8,000: ₹350 shipping
    

• In addition to the above shipping charges, every COD order carries a ₹100 COD handling fee to cover cash collection and processing by the courier. This fee is shown separately at checkout and is non-refundable once the order is dispatched.

• COD is not available for:

  • Orders above ₹8,000

  • International orders

  • Certain custom / bulk / special orders, where full advance payment is required (details will be shared at the time of order).

Converting COD orders to prepaid

• If you have placed a COD order and would like to pay online instead and save the COD handling fee, you can request a change to prepaid before your order is packed and the shipment is booked with the courier.

• To do this, please contact us on WhatsApp with your Order ID. Our team will share a secure payment link. Once your payment is successfully completed:

  • Your order will be treated as a prepaid order

  • The ₹100 COD handling fee will be removed

  • Prepaid shipping rules (including any applicable free-shipping benefits) will apply to your order

• After the shipment has been booked for pickup or dispatched, we will not be able to convert COD orders to prepaid for that particular order.

Delivery Timelines

• We work with a network of trusted courier partners, including DTDC, The Professional Couriers, India Post / Speed Post, ST Couriers, Franch Express, Delhivery and other reputed national and regional courier services such as Blue Dart, depending on your location. The courier for your order is chosen based on your pincode serviceability, shipment weight, delivery speed and reliability.

  
  

  • Prepaid orders may be shipped through any of the partners above, depending on what is best for your location.
  • COD orders are currently shipped only via Delhivery to ensure proper cash handling and tracking.
    

   

• If you have a specific preference for a courier partner (for example, DTDC or India Post), you can mention this in the “Special Note / Comment” box at checkout. We will try our best to honour your preference where service is available and feasible for that pincode, but we cannot guarantee a particular courier in all cases.
• The timelines below are estimated delivery times after dispatch (that is, after your parcel has been handed over to the courier).

Within Tamil Nadu

• • Most prepaid orders within Tamil Nadu are delivered in 1–3 working days after dispatch.

  • COD orders sent via Delhivery may sometimes take a little longer due to cash-on-delivery handling, routing and repeated delivery attempts.

Rest of India (outside Tamil Nadu)

• • Major cities and metros: usually 3–6 working days after dispatch

  • Other towns and remote locations: usually 5–10 working days after dispatch

  • COD parcels shipped via Delhivery may take slightly longer than prepaid shipments on some routes.

International shipments

• • International orders are generally delivered within 10–21 working days after dispatch, depending on the destination country, courier partner and customs clearance in that country.
    

• These timelines are indicative and not guaranteed. Actual delivery time can be affected by factors outside our control, such as:

  • Courier delays, routing changes or operational issues

  • Weather conditions and natural disruptions

  • Festivals, strikes, local restrictions or lockdowns

  • Customs checks and clearance for international parcels.
    

• We always aim to dispatch within the timelines mentioned in the Order processing & dispatch time section.

Tracking Information

• Once your order is dispatched, we will share your courier name, tracking number and tracking link with you via WhatsApp on your registered mobile number.
• When you place an order, a customer account is automatically created using your details. You can log in and view your orders anytime from your dashboard on our website. There you can see the order status (such as order received, processing and dispatched), along with the tracking details once they are available.
• For live movement updates such as in transit, out for delivery or delivered, please refer to the courier’s own tracking page using the link provided. These live updates are controlled by the courier partner’s system.
• If you are unable to access your tracking link or if the status has not updated within 48 hours of dispatch, you can contact us on WhatsApp with your order ID, and our team will help you check the latest status with the courier.

Address Accuracy

• Please ensure that your shipping address and contact number are entered correctly at the time of placing the order.

  • The customer is responsible for providing a complete and accurate address, including house/flat number, building or block name, floor (where applicable), street name, area, city, pincode, state and any important landmark.
  • The mobile number you provide should be active, reachable and preferably available on WhatsApp, as courier partners or our team may contact you for delivery or clarifications.

• Padikkai is not responsible for delays caused by incorrect or incomplete address details.

Changing address or contact number after placing an order

• If you notice a mistake in your address or contact details immediately after placing the order, please reach out to us as soon as possible with your Order ID and correct details.

  • We can update the address or contact number only if the order has not yet been dispatched.
  • Once the parcel is shipped and handed over to the courier, we usually cannot change the delivery address or phone number, and any change request is subject to the courier’s own policies and limitations.

Failed delivery due to incorrect address or unreachable customer

• • An order can be delayed, returned to us (RTO – Return to Origin) or cancelled by the courier in cases such as:

    • Incorrect, incomplete or confusing address
    • Wrong pincode or state selection
    • Phone number switched off / not reachable / not answering repeated calls
    • Repeated refusals or non-availability at the delivery address

  • In such cases:

    • Prepaid orders

      • If the parcel is returned to us due to address or contact issues, we can re-ship it to a corrected address after confirming details with you.
      • Additional shipping charges for re-shipping will apply and must be paid before we dispatch again.
      • Original shipping charges (if any) and any COD handling fee (where applicable) are non-refundable once the first shipment has been attempted.

    • COD orders

      • If a COD parcel is not delivered because of wrong address, unreachable customer or refusal at the doorstep, we reserve the right to cancel the order and may disable COD for future orders to that customer/address.
      • For every COD parcel, we still pay the courier for shipping and cash-handling, even if the customer does not accept the parcel. Because of this cost, we request customers to place COD orders only when they are sure they can receive and pay for the parcel.

Open-box delivery (opening the parcel)

• Our courier partners do not support open-box delivery / open-package inspection. This means the courier is not authorised to allow you to open the parcel and check the contents before accepting the delivery or making payment (for COD orders).

• When your parcel is delivered:

  • Please first check the outer packaging for any major visible damage or tampering (for example: box fully torn, completely wet, seal cut or missing, or clearly re-taped).

  • If the parcel looks opened or heavily tampered, please do not accept it.

    • A parcel is considered opened / badly tampered when the main tape or seal is fully cut or missing, the box is open or re-taped in a suspicious way, or there are large tears/holes/soaking that clearly affect the contents inside.

    • In such cases, do not accept / do not sign / do not pay (for COD).

    • Ask the delivery person to mark it as “Refused due to damage / tampering” and immediately take clear photos of all sides of the parcel and the shipping label, then share them with us via WhatsApp along with your Order ID, name and phone number.

• For minor outer dents, corner crushes or small scuffs where the box is still properly sealed, you may accept the parcel, but:

  • Please record a full unboxing video from the moment you start opening the sealed package until all items are removed and shown clearly.

  • This unboxing video, along with photos, is essential for us to review any later claim related to damage, missing items or wrong product, as per our Return & Refund Policy.

International shipping, customs duties and local taxes

• We do ship to select international locations, subject to courier serviceability and feasibility.

  • International shipping charges are based on actual courier rates, depending on weight, volume and destination country.

  • Our team will share available shipping options and charges with you (usually via WhatsApp or email) and will proceed only after you confirm and pay the applicable shipping amount.

• Please note:

  • Any import duties, customs charges, VAT, GST or local taxes applicable in the destination country are not included in our product prices or shipping charges.

  • These charges are set by your country’s customs and tax authorities and are payable by the customer directly to the courier or customs, as per local regulations.

  • If you refuse to pay customs duties or local taxes and the parcel is returned to us or abandoned, any resolution will be handled on a case-by-case basis as per our Return & Refund Policy, after deducting all non-recoverable costs such as shipping, return charges, customs penalties or handling fees (if any).

• For international orders, please check your country’s customs rules before ordering and keep some buffer time for customs clearance.

Damaged, tampered, missing or wrong items

• We take a lot of care in packing every Padikkai order. In the rare event that something goes wrong, we follow this process.
• If the parcel looks open or badly damaged at delivery
• If the courier brings a parcel that looks opened or heavily tampered, please do not accept it.

  • Do not accept / do not sign / do not pay (for COD).

  • Ask the delivery person to mark it as “Refused due to damage / tampering”.

  • Immediately take clear photos of the parcel from all sides and the shipping label, and send them to us with your order ID, name and phone number via WhatsApp, so we can trace the order and raise the issue with the courier.

• For minor outer dents or scuffs where the box is still sealed, you may accept the parcel but must follow the unboxing steps below.

If you find damage, missing items or wrong product after opening

• • Because our courier partners and insurers require clear proof, we follow a strict evidence and time-based process:

    • Record a full unboxing video from the moment you start opening the outer package, showing the condition of the box, inner packing and all items taken out one by one.

    • Take clear close-up photos of the issue (damage, wrong size, wrong design, missing pieces, etc.).

    • Contact us within 48 hours of the delivery scan (as per courier tracking) with:

      • Your Order ID

      • The unboxing video

      • Photos and a short description of the issue

• We will review your request along with the evidence and courier scan details. If your case is approved as per our Return & Refund Policy, we may offer a replacement, repair or store credit, depending on product type and availability. Any other resolution, if applicable, will also be handled strictly as per our Return & Refund Policy.

• Requests raised after 48 hours from the delivery scan or without a proper unboxing video are generally not eligible for support on damage, missing items or wrong product, because we are then unable to verify the condition at the time of opening or raise a valid claim with the courier. In rare and genuine cases, we may review such requests at our sole discretion, but we are not obliged to provide a resolution outside this process.

Lost, stolen or “delivered but not received” parcels

• Sometimes courier tracking may show a shipment as “Delivered” even when you personally have not received the parcel (for example, when delivery is made to security staff, neighbour, or another family member).

• If your tracking shows Delivered, but you have not received the parcel:

  • First, please check with:

    • Family members or housemates

    • Security / watchman / reception

    • Neighbours or nearby flats / houses

  • If you still cannot locate the parcel, contact us as soon as possible, ideally within 24–48 hours of the “Delivered” scan, with:

    • Your Order ID

    • Tracking number and courier name

• We will raise a delivery dispute / investigation with the courier partner. During this time:

  • The courier may check GPS delivery logs, delivery person records, call logs or proof of delivery (POD).

  • This process can take several working days, depending on the courier’s internal procedures.

• Based on the outcome of the courier’s investigation:

  • If the courier confirms a mis-delivery or loss clearly attributable to the courier, we will work with you to arrange a replacement, store credit or refund, depending on product availability and the specific case.

  • If the courier confirms delivery to the correct address or an authorised recipient (for example, building security or a household member), and we do not find evidence of courier fault, we may not be able to offer a replacement, store credit or any other compensation, as the parcel is considered delivered to the address provided.

• We understand these situations can be stressful and will always try to support you, but final decisions must take into account the courier’s official investigation and our internal policies.

Changes to this policy

• We may update this Shipping & Delivery Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our processes, courier partners or legal requirements. Any updates will be published on this page. The version of the policy displayed on the website at the time you place your order will apply to that order.

For delivery issues, please contact us at team@padikkai.com or WhatsApp +91-7845263555. We usually respond within 1 to 2 working days.