Shipping
EarthStones Australia ships exclusively with Australia Post. Parcel Post is our default service; if you'd prefer faster delivery, Express Post is offered as a choice at checkout.
The price shown at checkout is an estimate
Every specimen is one of one, so parcel weights vary piece to piece. The shipping cost shown during checkout is a starting estimate, based on a typical specimen's weight plus packaging. Before your order is dispatched, I weigh the actual parcel (your specimen's listed weight, plus roughly 200 g for padding, backing board and labels — more for multiple items in one parcel) and confirm the real Australia Post rate for that weight.
- If the real rate is lower than the estimate, I refund the difference.
- If it's higher — for a heavier or multi-item order — I'll contact you before dispatch with the adjusted amount, rather than charging it automatically.
- There is no handling fee at this time. You pay postage only, at Australia Post's published rate.
Indicative rates
For reference, these are real Australia Post Parcel Post and Express Post rates, checked directly against their postage calculator (own packaging, Mount Evelyn VIC 3796 to a representative destination). We also checked a remote Northern Territory postcode at the same weight and found no price difference under Australia Post's standard rates — delivery simply takes longer (around 12–15 business days to the most remote areas, versus 3–5 days to a capital city). Rates are correct as at 9 October 2026 and are reconfirmed at the time of dispatch, since Australia Post can change them at any time.
| Approx. parcel weight | Parcel Post | Express Post |
|---|---|---|
| ~50 g | $10.20 | $13.20 |
| ~600 g (a typical specimen) | $16.00 | $20.00 |
| ~2 kg | $24.45 | $32.95 |
| ~6 kg | $33.70 | $70.70 |
Signature on Delivery adds a flat $2.95 at every weight checked. Extra Cover (insurance above the $100 included compensation) is priced by Australia Post against the parcel's declared value and is confirmed at the time of shipment.
International shipping
We're very happy to ship specimens overseas, and we expect a good share of our collectors to be outside Australia. International parcels go with Australia Post too, using a tracked service — we don't use Australia Post's Economy Air option, as its tracking isn't reliable enough for a specimen in transit.
International postage costs considerably more than domestic, and varies by destination, so the checkout estimate (set up for a typical domestic parcel) will understate the real cost for an overseas order. As with every order, we confirm the real Australia Post rate for your destination and the actual parcel weight before dispatch, and will contact you with the confirmed amount before anything is sent.
| Destination (~600 g parcel) | Standard | Express | Courier |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $43.60 | $60.60 | $128.60 |
| United Kingdom | $49.90 | $66.90 | $134.90 |
Indicative only, checked against Australia Post's international calculator on 9 October 2026 (excluding Economy Air). Other destinations are priced individually and confirmed the same way.
A customs declaration is required for every international parcel.
United States: as at 9 October 2026, EarthStones Australia covers the US tariff on orders shipped there. This is current government policy and may change if Australian or US rules are altered — we'll update this page if it does.
Outside of that US tariff arrangement, all domestic charges, duties and local taxes in the destination country are the buyer's responsibility and are not included in our postage quote.
European Union: VAT and customs duty rules for goods entering the EU are currently in a state of flux, with changes already under way and more expected. We always comply with current legislation, and we'll support our EU clients wherever we viably can — but because the rules are genuinely moving, please contact us before you buy so we can confirm the current situation for your order.
Packaging
Specimens are carefully packed to survive transit — padding, a rigid outer box or satchel where appropriate, and the specimen's label travelling with it. This is the packaging weight included in the estimate above.