Shipping policy

The Secret Scribes Shipping Policy: North Pole Mailbag Schedule

Every personalized letter from Santa is written with care, stamped, and prepared for delivery under the watchful eye of our Chief Elf. Her mission is to make sure every envelope leaving the workshop is flawless, because she knows that creating joy for a child is Santa’s top priority.

Chief Elf’s Workshop Schedule (Processing Time)

Each letter is carefully personalized using the details you provide about the child. Once Santa hand-signs the letter, Chief Elf inspects it thoroughly to ensure everything is perfect before sealing it for delivery.

  • Processing Time: Please allow 3–5 business days for the workshop to complete writing, printing, signing, inspection, and sealing. Letters are then included in the next scheduled North Pole batch mailing.

Shipping Fee and Packaging

To ensure the letter arrives safely and unbent, each order is mailed in a rigid, protective envelope addressed to you, the secret keeper. Inside, you’ll find Santa’s beautifully postmarked letter, ready to delight any child.

  • Flat Rate Shipping - USPS: $5.00 flat rate per order, which covers the protective mailer and tracked USPS First-Class Package shipping.
  • Priority Mail - USPS and Priority Express - USPS: one of these options can be chosen if you prefer faster shipping times. Additional fees will apply.
  • Consolidation Policy: Orders for up to six children in the same household are combined and mailed together in 1-2 protective envelopes for a flat rate of $5.00 per package.

Guaranteed to Arrive Before Christmas

To cherish your child’s heartfelt belief, we ship each letter with care and intention. Below are our 2025 mailing and delivery guidelines:

Orders received by midnight on Wednesdays are usually mailed later that week (depending on volume) or early the following week. We’ll send you a quick note as soon as your order is on its way.

Guaranteed Mailing Cutoff Date

To ensure delivery before Christmas, please place your order by midnight on Saturday, December 13. Our final guaranteed mailing will be dispatched on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Please note, however, that USPS Priority may experience delays during periods of high holiday volume.

Important Notice

Regardless of shipping dates, USPS delays may occur due to holiday volume and staffing constraints. Most importantly, orders placed after December 13 are not included in the guaranteed pre-Christmas batch. Our suggestion is to then choose USPS Priority or Express mail.

Late Letters, Lasting Memories

Santa may craft a few additional letters and special requests for orders placed between December 14-23. While Chief Elf cannot promise Christmas delivery, each late letter will be hand-signed and uniquely personalized as if it was an early order.

Late letters still bring joy and can be shared for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s, or Three Kings Day (January 6), creating memories that last long after the season ends.

Tracking and Delivery

All orders are shipped as tracked USPS packages in rigid mailers for protection.

  • Tracking: You will receive a tracking number via email on the scheduled batch mailing date.
  • Delivery Time: USPS First-Class delivery typically takes 5–10 business days after mailing, so please consider Priority mail so the child receives his/her letter on time.
  • Postal Delays: While Chief Elf coordinates with postal carriers, delays during peak holiday season are beyond our control.