Most orders ship the same business day when placed before 1:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday. Orders of $100 or more shipping to the contiguous United States qualify for free shipping, with exclusions for oversized items, batteries, and destinations outside the Lower 48. HeliDirect ships worldwide, with restrictions on shipments containing batteries and on countries under U.S. sanctions.

Shipping methods and transit times

Only UPS Next Day Air, UPS 2nd Day Air, and UPS 3 Day Select carry a carrier-backed delivery guarantee. All other transit times are carrier estimates. Carriers can and do miss estimates, especially during holiday peaks and severe weather.

For delivery on a specific date, choose UPS Next Day Air, 2nd Day Air, or 3 Day Select and place the order before the 1:00 PM EST cutoff.

Same-day shipping cutoff

The same-day shipping cutoff is 1:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday.

Most orders placed before the cutoff ship the same business day, but same-day shipping is not guaranteed — even on expedited methods.

Same-day shipping may be delayed by:

• Heavy shipping volume during peak season or sales
• Fraud verification review on high-value orders
• Large or oversized orders requiring special handling
• Inclement weather affecting the warehouse or carriers
• Early carrier pickup on a given day

HeliDirect does not ship on weekends or U.S. federal holidays. Orders placed Friday afternoon, Saturday, or Sunday ship the following Monday.

UPS Next Day Air specifically: when an order is placed in time to process before the cutoff, it is guaranteed to arrive the next business day. Methods other than UPS Next Day Air are not guaranteed for next-day delivery.

Free shipping

Orders of $100 or more shipping to the contiguous United States (Lower 48) qualify for free shipping.

Free shipping does not apply to:

• Shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or Guam — elevated carrier costs apply
• International orders — discounted rates are available, but not free shipping
• Oversized or heavy items such as airplane kits, large quadcopters, and similar bulk items
• Orders containing LiPo or Li-ion batteries — hazmat ground rules apply (see "Shipments containing batteries" below)

If a cart contains an excluded item or destination, standard shipping rates display at checkout.

HeliDirect selects the carrier for free shipping based on weight, size, and destination. Possible methods include UPS Ground, USPS Priority Mail, and USPS Ground Advantage. The carrier cannot be selected on free shipping.

Free shipping is not guaranteed to arrive by a specific date — expect 3 to 7 business days for delivery. For faster delivery, upgrade to a paid method at checkout.

Military addresses (APO, FPO, DPO) qualify for free shipping on orders of $100 or more, but only if the order can ship via USPS — the only carrier that delivers to APO/FPO. Bulky or heavy items that exceed USPS limits may not qualify; in those cases the HeliDirect team will reach out with options.

Where HeliDirect ships

Contiguous United States (Lower 48)

All shipping methods are available. Orders of $100 or more qualify for free ground shipping.

Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam

All shipping methods are available, but free shipping does not apply. Standard rates display at checkout.

APO, FPO, and DPO military addresses

Available via USPS only. Orders of $100 or more qualify for free economy shipping when the order is USPS-shippable. Bulky or heavy items may exceed USPS size and weight limits — in those cases the HeliDirect team will reach out with options.

International

HeliDirect ships to most countries worldwide, with the following exceptions:

• Shipments to countries under active U.S. OFAC sanctions are not accepted. This list can change; orders placed to a sanctioned destination will be canceled and refunded.
• Free shipping does not apply to international orders.
• LiPo and Li-ion batteries have carrier and country-specific restrictions. International battery orders may require additional documentation or be limited to ground freight.

Duties, taxes, customs fees, and brokerage charges are the customer's responsibility. These charges are not collected at checkout and cannot be reimbursed. Review the destination country's import rules before placing an order.

International customers shipping to a U.S. address

International customers traveling in the U.S. or using a forwarding service can ship to any U.S. address at checkout. Standard domestic rules apply.

Shipments containing batteries

LiPo and Li-ion batteries are classified as hazardous materials and can only ship via UPS Ground or USPS Ground Advantage.

For orders containing batteries:

• Air methods (UPS Next Day Air, 2nd Day Air, 3 Day Select) are not available
• The entire order ships ground when batteries are included, even if other items would normally ship via air
• International battery orders may require additional documentation, ground freight, or have country-specific restrictions
• Orders to APO/FPO containing batteries may have limited shipping options

For expedited delivery on non-battery items, place a separate order without batteries.

Damaged, lost, or wrong-address shipments

Damaged in transit

Damage must be reported within 7 days of delivery. This window aligns with UPS and USPS carrier claim periods; beyond it, HeliDirect can no longer file a claim.

If an order arrives damaged:

1. Keep the box, packing materials, and all contents
2. Take photos of the box exterior, the packing materials, and each damaged item
3. Contact HeliDirect with the order number and the photos

For high-value items, HeliDirect files a carrier claim and arranges replacement once the claim is processed. Keep the damaged goods and packaging until the claim closes — carriers often request inspection.

Package shows delivered but missing

When tracking shows "Delivered" but the package is not where expected:

1. Check with neighbors, household members, and building staff
2. Wait 24 hours — carriers sometimes scan as delivered ahead of the actual drop-off
3. Look around the property: side doors, garages, behind bushes
4. Contact HeliDirect if the package still has not shown up

A carrier trace will be opened, and the HeliDirect team will work with you on next steps.

Package not moving on tracking

Contact HeliDirect when tracking shows no movement for:

• 7 or more business days on a domestic order
• 30 or more days on an international order (customs delays are common)

A carrier trace will be opened. If the package cannot be located, a replacement or refund will be arranged.

Wrong shipping address

Once an order has shipped, the delivery address cannot be changed. This protects against a common fraud pattern in which orders are placed with valid information, then redirected after dispatch.

If an order shipped to the wrong address:

1. Contact HeliDirect immediately
2. A carrier recall will be requested — recall and return to sender typically takes 1 to 2 weeks
3. Once returned, the order will be reshipped to the correct address; additional shipping charges may apply

P.O. Box note: UPS cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes. Most orders ship via UPS Ground, so use a street address whenever possible. When a P.O. Box is the only option, contact HeliDirect before ordering so the order can be routed via USPS.

Signature requirement on high-value orders

Orders above $500 may ship with signature required at HeliDirect's discretion. This protects high-value RC equipment from porch theft. If no one will be home to sign, contact the carrier with the tracking number to schedule a hold for pickup or a signature waiver where allowed.

Local warehouse pickup — Middletown, IN

HeliDirect is warehouse-based; there is no retail showroom. Local customers can pick up orders in person.

Pickup hours

Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST. Closed Saturday, Sunday, and U.S. federal holidays.

How to pick up

1. Place the order online and select "Local Warehouse Pickup" at checkout
2. Allow 1 hour for the team to pick and pack
3. For same-day pickup, place the order before 1:00 PM EST
4. When arriving, bring:
   • The order confirmation number
   • A valid photo ID
   • The credit card used for payment (for fraud verification)

Arrivals within an hour of order placement, or during high-volume periods, may involve a short wait.

Ordering at the warehouse

Orders cannot be placed at the warehouse counter — the team is not set up for retail transactions. Place orders online or by phone before arriving.

Selected "Local Pickup" by mistake

For non-local customers who selected Local Pickup at checkout, contact HeliDirect. Two options are available:

• Get invoiced for the shipping difference and have the order shipped, or
• Cancel and refund the order

Pickup orders and fraud verification

Pickup orders go through the same fraud check as any online order. High-value or unusual orders may be held briefly for verification before release. HeliDirect will reach out if there is a delay.