Shipping policy

Last updated: September 01, 2026

We currently ship within the United States only. Here's what to expect based on what you order and how you'd like it delivered.

Processing Time

Orders are processed in the order they're received:

Orders placed Sunday evening through Monday are processed on Tuesday.
All other orders are processed within 1-2 days of purchase.

Processing time is separate from shipping transit time below - please allow for both when estimating delivery.

Shipping Options

All used books qualify for the following shipping methods:

USPS Media Mail

Cost: Free on orders $50+ subtotal; otherwise weight-based rate at checkout
Estimated transit time: 2–8 business days

USPS Priority Mail

Cost: Flat $25
Estimated transit time: 2–3 business days

Media Mail is a USPS rate reserved for books and media - it's slower but more affordable, and it's why we're able to offer free shipping on qualifying orders.

Print-on-Demand Items

Some items are printed fresh, on demand, through our print partner, Lulu, and ship directly from their facility rather than from us. These items:

Have their own separate shipping fee, calculated at checkout based on the number of items ordered
Will arrive separately from any used books in the same order, on a different timeline
Follow Lulu's own production and shipping timelines, which are generally longer than in-stock items since printing happens first

If your order includes both used books and a print-on-demand item, expect at least two shipments.

Packaging

We reserve the right to use sustainable practices, including reused or repurposed clean packaging materials, when available. Your item will always arrive safely packaged - the box or mailer just might be a happy second-life material rather than brand new. =)

Local Pickup

Choose in-store pickup at checkout to skip shipping entirely. Pickup is available at:

Purple Sloth Media is located inside Crafted, 112 E. 22nd St, San Pedro, CA 90731. We're Shop 116 in the northwest corner.

Pickup hours: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 11am–6pm

We'll email you when your order is ready for pickup - please wait for that confirmation before stopping by, especially outside of open shop hours. Orders can only be picked up during the hours listed above.

Tracking

You'll receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking information once your order ships (for Media Mail, Priority Mail, and Lulu print-on-demand items alike).

Lost, Delayed, or Damaged Packages

Please double-check your shipping address at checkout - we're not responsible for non-delivery due to an incorrect or incomplete address. If your package is lost, significantly delayed, or arrives damaged, contact us at tamiza@purpleslothmedia.com and refer to our Refund and Returns Policy for next steps.