We subsidise shipping on most orders over £200, up to the value of £7.50 per £100 of order for customers.
Lines featured in our Special Offer section do not count as part of your subsidised shipping.
If you require this as an urgent order (or want to nominate a courier or your choice) – you pay the difference over the standard service. Final cost (if any) will be confirmed before the goods leave our warehouse.
Most material is sent by Post Office, Courier & Pallet Service. We insist that all orders are sent Recorded/Signed for, so that we can track the shipment and make sure it arrives. There is some material we will only send by pallet, due to weight, bulkiness and/or fragility.
Please let us know of any delivery peculiarities (pedestrian access only, opening times etc.). We will use your email address to advise you of shipping updates as information become available.
Some heavy or bulky items, e.g. book ends, large bowls, agadir ammonites, may incur a heavy item surcharge. We will only ask for a contribution on those orders that contain heavy, low value items, and will confirm details before we ship. These items are clearly marked with a 
icon on our product listings.
Special Offer items purchased from us are heavily discounted and as such we cannot subsidise delivery on items purchased. These lines therefore won’t be counted as part of your £200 allowance.
We ship a lot of delicate material all over the world and pride ourselves in our ability get material to you in good condition. If there is a problem it is important for us to be able to find out what the problem is, and correct our procedures accordingly. We like the material we sell, and are disappointed when damage occurs that can be avoided. If something turns up broken or damaged, you must tell us as soon as possible, within 10 days and in writing/email. We will replace, credit or refund as appropriate unless the customer waived these right prior to dispatch.
We stand behind everything we sell. If you are unhappy with part of your order, talk to us about it & tell us why. We need to know clearly what the problem is, and to be able to look out for it on return. As we are generally paying outward carriage, we do ask that you cover the costs of returning the goods in question.
And, please ensure that all returned items are packed well!
Insurance requirements must be specified by you before we ship. In many cases fossils are classified as “antiques” and are not insurable. Basic shipping insurance is always inadequate. On the few occasions we have tried to claim, compensation has been low and hard to get. Even with payment to ensure higher coverage, claims can be slow, and it is essential for you to take photographic evidence as soon as it becomes clear there is damage.
Carriage within Europe is charged at cost. Road, air and pallet services are all available. Small shipments by international road service (e.g. 1 parcel, up to 30kg to France, GB £20) are good value. Pallet sized shipments are surprisingly good value (1 metre cube pallet up to 500kg to Germany GB £145).
Customers as a result of BREXIT will be liable for any customs duty now payable as a result of importing goods into the EU.
Customers therefore MUST have a valid EORI number before we consider sending goods out to Europe for export.
As a result of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, we are unable to source any couriers that are willing to deliver parcels to areas in proximity to the war zone.
Reliable sea and air services are available, although most air services are very expensive compared to sea freight. Air freight is usually only good value for small, light or high value items.
Sea freight is usually organised to Port only. You organise customs clearance and final delivery. We have agents who can arrange this, but we usually find that you have a preferred broker and can get better delivery quotes locally than we can at a distance. If we arrange shipping, it may be billed separately,. Terms are FOB (free on board).
Customers who qualify for FOB shipments from the UK or from Morocco will be responsible for all further shipping and customs charges. Payment for goods is usually up-front and must be received before the goods are delivered to port. We are happy to assist with shipping and use reliable operators with a proven track record. Please let us know when you order if you want us to organise the shipping, and by which method, or if you prefer to arrange shipping yourself. Either way, we will need full details of your shipping company, delivery address, customs broker and name of the person who will be dealing with the shipment at your end.