1. Production Lead Times

Every item at Trace & Tribute is made to order with "duty-grade" precision.

• Standard Orders: Please allow 5–7 business days for production before your item ships.

• Ready to Engrave Items: These streamlined designs typically move to production within 24–48 hours.

• Bulk Orders (20+ Items): Due to the high level of detail and quality checks required, please allow 3–4 weeks for production.

2. $40 "Front Line" Rush Service

If you have a tight deadline, we offer a $40 Rush Fee.

• This fee moves your order to the top of our production queue (1–2 business days).

• It also includes an upgrade to expedited shipping carriers.

• Please note: This fee is non-refundable once production has begun.

3. Shipping Rates & Carriers

We ship nationwide from our studio in Virginia using USPS, UPS, and FedEx.

• Calculated Shipping: Shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on the weight of your order and your location.

• Local Pickup: We offer local pickup for our neighbors in Charlottesville and the surrounding areas. Choose "Local Pickup" at checkout to skip shipping fees.

4. Shipping & Production Delays

As a small business owned by an active first responder, we value transparency above all else.

• Carrier Delays: While we guarantee our ship-by dates, we cannot be held responsible for carrier delays caused by weather, peak holiday seasons, or routing errors once the package has left our shop.

• Production Delays: If we anticipate any delay beyond our standard window (due to high volume or equipment maintenance), we will personally email you within 48 hours with an updated timeline.

5. Tracking and delivery

Once your order is etched, packed, and labeled, you will receive an automated email with your tracking number. Please allow 24 hours for the carrier to update the status.

• Address Accuracy: Please double-check your shipping address. Trace & Tribute is not responsible for items delivered to an incorrectly entered address.

• Lost/Damaged Items: If your tribute arrives damaged, please contact us within 48 hours with photos of the packaging and the product so we can assist with a replacement or claim.

6. Holiday Shipping Deadlines

To ensure your custom tributes arrive in time for the celebration, we establish seasonal cutoff dates. Because each item is individually laser-etched and inspected, we recommend ordering at least 3 weeks before a major holiday.

• Graduation Season (May/June): Order by May 1st.

• Mother’s & Father’s Day: Order by April 20th / June 1st.

• Christmas & Winter Holidays: Order by December 5th.

7. Miscellaneous

Trace & Tribute is not responsible for package arrival after they are marked delivered by the carrier. We are not responsible for stolen packages

Rush Service Return & Cancellation Policy

• Non-Refundable Service Fee: The $40 Rush Production fee is a specialized service charge for expedited labor and priority queue placement. Once your digital proof has been sent or production has commenced, this fee is non-refundable, regardless of whether the order is later cancelled or returned.

• Order Cancellations: If you wish to cancel an order with Rush Service, you must do so within 1 hour of purchase. If the design work or engraving has already started, the $40 fee will be retained to cover the dedicated labor costs.

• Product Returns: Please note that our standard Return Policy applies to the physical product. As all our items are custom laser-etched, they are non-returnable unless there is a manufacturer defect or an error in the engraving made by Trace & Tribute.

• Carrier Delays: The Rush Service fee covers production time only. Trace & Tribute is not responsible for shipping delays caused by the carrier (USPS, UPS, etc.). We highly recommend selecting an expedited shipping method at checkout to ensure your prioritized order arrives on time.