Shipping Policy

HSD Backdrops Shipping Policy

Shipping Information

Everything you need to know about production, carrier transit times, oversized tubes, shipping upgrades, tracking, damage, and missing packages.

Last updated: September 17, 2026

These updated Shipping Policies apply to orders placed on or after September 17, 2026. Orders placed before this date remain subject to the shipping policies and terms in effect when the order was placed. This update does not retroactively change the policies governing earlier orders.

September 17, 2026 update: We added and clarified information concerning made-to-order production times, estimated shipping and delivery dates, expedited shipping, carrier delays, customer session deadlines, and limitations regarding reimbursement for canceled or rescheduled sessions and related business losses.

Production Time + Shipping Time = Total Order Time

Our backdrops are made to order. The shipping time shown at checkout applies only after production is complete and the carrier has received your package. Choosing expedited shipping does not shorten production time or guarantee delivery by a particular date.

Made to Order

Every backdrop is produced in the exact design, size, and material selected.

Carrier Estimates Are Not Guarantees

Weather, seasonal volume, routing changes, and other carrier delays may affect delivery.

Order Early

Please do not schedule a session based solely on an estimated delivery date.

Tracking Is Sent by Email

You will receive a shipping confirmation with tracking once your order leaves our facility.

Important: Poly Paper and Vinyl Shipping

Poly Paper and Vinyl backdrops ship in oversized tubes and often experience longer transit times. Ground delivery to the East Coast and Midwest may average 2–4 weeks, and tracking may pause for several days. Tubes cannot be shipped through UPS. For faster or more predictable shipping, consider a fabric or fleece material or select USPS Priority Mail when available.

Detailed Shipping Policies

Select a section below to review the information that applies to your order.

Processing Time vs. Shipping Time

Our photography backdrops are made to order based on the design, size, material, crop, orientation, and quantity selected. Production time begins before an order is transferred to the carrier.

Processing times vary by material and current order volume. High seasonal demand and large sales may increase production time. Please review our current Processing Times before ordering. Customers are responsible for ordering early enough to allow for both production and carrier transit time.

The shipping or transit estimate shown at checkout does not include production time. For example, a three-business-day carrier estimate means approximately three business days after the completed order has shipped. It does not mean the order will arrive three business days after it is placed.

Rush processing is not offered during our busy holiday season. When rush processing is available, it must be confirmed before placing an order and shortens production time only. It does not shorten carrier transit time.

Processing and carrier transit timeframes are estimates. Unless expressly stated otherwise, an exact completion, shipment, or delivery date is not guaranteed.
Shipping Methods & Estimated Transit Times

Available shipping methods depend on the material, package dimensions, destination, and services available from the carrier.

Standard or Ground Shipping

Standard or ground packages are typically delivered within approximately 2–7 business days after shipment. Oversized tubes may take considerably longer.

USPS Priority Mail

  • Fabric and fleece packages typically arrive in approximately 3–4 business days after shipment.
  • Poly Paper and Vinyl tubes typically arrive in approximately 5–7 business days after shipment.

These are average transit times, not guaranteed delivery dates. Delivery time varies by destination, carrier volume, weather, and other conditions outside our control.

A faster shipping service changes only the carrier’s transit time after production. It does not move an order ahead in our production line.
Poly Paper & Vinyl Tube Shipping

Poly Paper and Vinyl backdrops must be shipped in oversized tubes. Because of their length and shape, tubes travel through a different carrier network than standard packages and are more likely to experience extended transit times or gaps in tracking updates.

  • Ground delivery to the East Coast and Midwest may average 2–4 weeks.
  • Tracking may remain unchanged for several days while the tube is moving between facilities.
  • Oversized tubes cannot be shipped through UPS.
  • USPS Priority Mail may reduce transit time but still does not provide a guaranteed delivery date.

If you have a firm session deadline, we recommend ordering early or selecting a fabric or fleece material that can ship in standard packaging.

Expedited Shipping & Shipping Upgrades

UPS 2nd Day Air

UPS 2nd Day Air refers to the transit time after UPS receives the completed order. Saturday is not normally considered a business day for UPS 2nd Day Air or Next Day Air Saver.

We do not offer guaranteed Saturday delivery, Early A.M. delivery, or UPS Next Day Air at this time.

Upgrading After an Order Is Placed

If you would like to upgrade your shipping method after ordering, please contact us as soon as possible. We will do our best to provide a quote and complete the change, but an upgrade cannot be guaranteed once an order has entered final shipment processing.

If an upgrade invoice is paid but the order is fulfilled before the change can be applied, the unused upgrade charge will be refunded. If the upgraded service is successfully applied but the carrier delivers later than its estimate, the upgrade charge is not refundable unless that carrier service includes an applicable delivery guarantee.

Expedited shipping does not shorten production time or guarantee that an order will arrive by a particular session date.
Shipping Rates, Substitutions & Bulk Orders

Shipping Rates

Checkout shipping rates are calculated using the package and destination information available at the time of purchase. Final carrier costs are confirmed when the completed order is packaged, weighed, and processed.

If the final cost is lower than the amount collected, we will refund the applicable difference. If the final cost is higher, we may send an invoice for the remaining balance before the order ships.

Comparable Shipping Substitutions

If the amount paid does not cover the selected service, we may use a comparable carrier or service level to prevent unnecessary delays. If no comparable option is available, we will contact you regarding the difference.

If you do not want a comparable carrier or service substitution, please contact us immediately after ordering. Any shipping shortage will need to be paid before shipment.

Bulk and Large-Quantity Orders

Large orders may require multiple packages because of carrier size and weight restrictions. The online shipping calculator may initially calculate the order as one combined shipment and may not account for every additional box.

When additional shipping is required, we will contact you and send an invoice for the difference. Depending on the circumstances, production or shipment may be held until the shipping balance is paid.

Addresses, Refused Packages & UPS Access Points

Shipping Address

Customers are responsible for providing a complete and accurate shipping address. Please include all applicable apartment, suite, unit, business, studio, or shopping-center information.

UPS cannot deliver to a P.O. Box. A complete physical address must be provided when selecting a UPS service.

UPS Access Points

Please use caution when shipping to a UPS Access Point. We cannot guarantee that an Access Point will accept a package of your order’s size or shape. This is especially important for oversized backdrop tubes.

Refused or Returned Packages

If a package is refused or returned because of an incomplete address, incorrect address, inaccessible delivery location, unaccepted Access Point, or customer refusal, the original shipping charge is non-refundable. The customer is also responsible for any return fees and the cost of reshipping the order.

International, Alaska, Hawaii & Puerto Rico

International Orders

Customs fees, import duties, brokerage charges, and taxes are not included in the order or shipping total unless specifically stated at checkout. These charges are determined by the destination country and are the customer’s responsibility.

If an international package is refused or returned because customs charges, duties, or taxes were not paid, the customer is responsible for all resulting carrier fees and return shipping charges. Original shipping charges are non-refundable.

Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Other Locations

Some destinations may require additional shipping because of package size, carrier limitations, or remote-area fees. If additional payment is required, we will contact you before shipment.

Tracking, Carrier Delays & Delivery Dates

A shipping confirmation email containing tracking information will be sent after the order leaves our facility. Please allow time for the carrier to accept the package and display its first tracking scan.

Tracking dates are estimates generated by the carrier and may change while the package is in transit. Weather, seasonal volume, staffing, routing, service interruptions, and other carrier conditions may cause delays.

Please do not schedule a photography session based solely on an estimated delivery date. We recommend waiting until the order has been received and inspected before confirming sessions that depend on the backdrop.

Unless HSD Backdrops expressly confirms a guaranteed delivery date in writing, production, shipment, tracking, and delivery dates are estimates only. To the fullest extent permitted by law, HSD Backdrops is not responsible for and does not reimburse canceled or rescheduled sessions, client refunds, lost income or profits, substitute product costs, studio or venue expenses, model or staffing costs, travel expenses, or other business losses related to an unconfirmed delivery date, production delay, or carrier delay.

Carrier delays do not make a correctly produced, made-to-order backdrop eligible for a return, exchange, or refund. Shipping charges are not refundable solely because a carrier delivers later than its estimate, except where an applicable carrier guarantee or law requires otherwise.

Please allow sufficient time for production, transit, delivery, inspection, and any necessary setup or photography testing before your scheduled session.

Once tracking confirms delivery, customers are responsible for retrieving and securing the package promptly. Please select a safe delivery address where oversized packages can be accepted.

Damaged Packages & Missing Package Claims

If Your Backdrop Arrives Damaged

You must contact us within 48 hours of delivery if your order arrives damaged. Please keep the backdrop, tube or box, shipping label, and all packaging while the claim is reviewed.

Please provide clear photographs showing:

  • The complete exterior of the shipping tube or box
  • The shipping label and tracking number
  • Any crushed, torn, punctured, wet, or otherwise damaged areas
  • The full backdrop
  • Close-up photographs of the damage to the backdrop

This documentation is required to review the issue and file a carrier claim. Once received, we will provide instructions regarding the next steps.

If Your Package Appears to Be Missing

For U.S. orders, please contact us if the package has not arrived within 15 days of the shipment date. Packages are often delayed rather than lost, but a missing-package review may begin after the required waiting period.

For international orders, a missing-package inquiry may generally begin after at least 25 days have passed from the shipment date. Carrier filing periods may vary by country and service.

Replacement backdrops are not sent until the required missing-package process has been completed and the claim has been approved. Because oversized tubes frequently experience transit delays, a Poly Paper or Vinyl replacement will not be issued until at least 25 days have passed from the shipment date.

Missing-package concerns must be reported to us within 45 days of shipment. Carrier claims have filing deadlines. If we are contacted after the applicable filing period has expired, we may be unable to file a claim, provide a replacement, or issue a refund.

Claim eligibility and filing dates may depend on the carrier, destination, shipping service, and insurance coverage used for the package.

Have a Deadline or Shipping Question?

Please contact us before ordering if you need help choosing a material or shipping method for an upcoming session. We are happy to explain the available options, but we cannot guarantee delivery by a particular date.

Contact HSD Backdrops