FAQ
Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions regarding our products and services. Have a question or concern that you don’t see here? Please don’t hesitate to contact us at 206.714.0179 or by email.
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We want to guarantee our chocolates arrive in the same condition as when they were shipped from our store so we handle all of our chocolates with care, using the proper insulation and packaging.
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Hot Chocolat ships every business day, Monday through Thursday with no delivery between the months of May and September. Orders received in the afternoon will be processed the next business day. Orders received Friday through Sunday will be shipped out on following Monday or Tuesday, to avoid the possibility of sitting the weekend in a shipping facility.
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Shipping charges are largely dependent on a variety of factors including size of the order, the shipping destination(s), and seasonality. All of our orders are insured against loss or damage.
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Under normal circumstances, you should receive your chocolates 3-7 business days after you place your order. Please allow extra processing time for large quantity orders, multiple ship-to orders, and seasonal holiday orders.
We cannot be held responsible for packages that are undeliverable due to wrong address or missing information, nor delays caused by weather, mechanical failure or other acts beyond our control.
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We limit our shipments to the 50 United States. Our experiences with foreign customs duties and delays have forced us to institute this policy. In addition, chocolate is susceptible to melting in transit, and this is more likely when shipping abroad.
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All of our orders are processed through Paypal merchant payment system. You do not, however, need a Paypal account to make a purchase. To pay by major credit card (e.g. MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express), click on the “checkout button” in shopping cart view. Then select “Pay with your debit or credit card as a PayPal guest.”
We generally do not accept personal checks or money orders. Please email us if this is your only means of payment.
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Hot Chocolat will add the applicable sales tax onto all orders made by or delivered to customers residing within the state of Washington. Each customer shall be solely responsible for all taxes on orders shipped to any other state.
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No, we do not operate any retail locations at the moment. We primarily market and sell our chocolates nationwide through this website.
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All of our chocolates are made from scratch using high-quality, all natural ingredients free of artificial preservatives and colors sourced as close to home as possible.
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Because our chocolates are processed in the same facility, we cannot guarantee that no traces of peanuts/nuts, diary, wheat/gluten or other common allergens will be found in any of our products. Customers with allergies to these specific products should refrain from ordering from Hot Chocolat. None of our products contain alcohol.
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Our chocolates are hand-crafted in small batches and are preservative free. They are generally best enjoyed within two weeks of receipt. However, our chocolates generally have a shelf life up to 2-3 months.
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Our chocolates should be stored in a cool, dry place. Although refrigeration to extend the shelf life of our chocolates is possible, we do not recommend this practice since it may affect the chocolate’s flavor, texture and outward appearance. If you choose refrigeration, we suggest that you keep the chocolates in a closed container (e.g. tupperware) or wrapped in plastic to keep out moisture.