COVID-19 Shipping Update
-UPDATE: JULY 25, 2020-
Greetings all,
Thank you for being patient over the last four months!
We are excited to announce that we have re-opened our doors for international delivery to the US.
However, there are still a few restrictions in place due to the ongoing pandemic:
- Delivery to Hawaii is restricted for now.
Due to ongoing resource & logistics constraints at USPS, delivery to Hawaii is being restricted. All orders from Hawaii will be refunded. We'll send out another email once this restriction has lifted.
- Expect 1-2 week delay for East Coast & Surrounding States:
Customers living in the following East Coast & Surrounding States may experience 1-2 week delay in receiving their parcels:
Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Atlanta, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C
Normal delivery time is 7-10 business days.
The prices of Gochujar products - for US customers - have increased due to a significant price hike by USPS.
The Trump Administration has mandated (coerced) the United States Postal Service (USPS) to raise its prices for delivery - including a significant price hike for all international parcels.
The cost of sending an international parcel to the US from any foreign country has nearly doubled, as of June 2020 (more info here).
Due to this significant price hike, we have had to cut our profit margin, while increasing the price of Gochujar products for US customers.
You will see an average increase of $5-$10, depending on the weight of the product.
For other countries, international delivery costs have remained the same - so the prices will remain the same.
To account for the price difference, we have made a separate site within Gochujar for non-US customers.
If you are a non-US customer, please shop from our global store (https://global.gochujar.com).
If you are a US-based customer, use our original site (https://www.gochujar.com)
Both shops offer the same products - just different pricing.
When will you resume delivery to UK, Germany, Canada & Others?
Starting August 10th, we will resume delivery to the following countries:
- UK, Germany, Canada, Russia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Phillipines, Vietnam
If you reside in one of these countries, again please shop from (https://global.gochujar.com).
My country is not listed - when will you resume delivery?
We do not know yet - we have to wait until we receive official notice.
Due to the ongoing pandemic - there is not enough cargo flights to cover all countries as before. We'll have to wait until conditions improve and air flight schedules return to normalcy.
-Daniel Oh (Founder of Gochujar)
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-UPDATE: MAY 22, 2020-
Greetings all,
We've been receiving quite a few number of emails about when we will re-open - so here's an update:
Our international shipping partner - Korean Postal Service - is still unable to ship our parcels abroad due to COVID.
The amount of outbound flights from Korea to most international countries has drastically reduced since late March ... and still remains low.
With a lack of flights, there is limited space for any outbound parcels.
To cope, the Postal Service is only delivering their most premium class of international mail which is Express International Mail (EMS) - for the time being.
The cost of delivering via EMS package is very high - a 2 kg (4.4 lb) package will cost you $40 - just for shipping. In addition, the actual delivery time for even this express EMS service is 4 weeks!
The whole global delivery network has received a major shock and there is simply a lack of flights at the moment.
Thus, we will remain closed until things get better.
Our contacts at the Korean Postal Service think indicate that things may get better within 2-3 months. But of course, this depends on how the world responds to COVID.
In the meanwhile, we are 100% dedicated to Gochujar's mission and will continue to source new products onto Gochujar.
But again, please do not order at this time. Instead, consider purchasing our 110% Gift Card. You can also "heart" the products you see into a wishlist - and order when restrictions are lifted.
As always thank you for the support!
-Daniel (Founder of Gochujar)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can't you ship via Fedex or DHL?
The current rates at private shipping companies like Fedex or DHL is even higher than the EMS option! They also have many restrictions on delivering food items abroad - so it's not a good fit.I see a pop-up that shows recent orders by customers ... is your shop open?
No, these are customers who missed our message on Gochujar being closed. Their orders have been refunded.I want to support - how can I help?
If you've ordered from us before - consider taking the time now to leave a few product reviews. They help guide our sourcing decision and other customers make the right selection. You'll be awarded with $1 in store credit for every review.If you're new to the store and want to order with us in the future - consider purchasing a 110% Gift Card. Purchase Now, Use Later.
How are things in Korea?
It's become considerably better! Stay At Home mandates were lifted in early May and life is gradually turning back to normal.People are wearing masks while on-the-go - but schools, restaurants, gyms, beauty shops and other consumer facilities are fully operating.
If you have any further questions or messages, free free to contact me at daniel@gochujar.com.
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-Update March 30, 2020-
Greetings all,
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, international cargo flight schedules (and routes) have been drastically reduced.
Furthermore, we also received notice this morning that the US - along with many other countries (listed below) - have decided to restrict international parcels.
- USA
- CANADA
- AUSTRALIA
- JAPAN
- BELGIUM
- FRANCE
- ISRAEL
- + much more
As a result, we have - with a heavy heart - decided to temporarily close our operations.
We'll keep an eye on the situation and re-open for select countries when possible. (Hopefully its sooner than later.)
During this downtime, we are offering a limited 110% Store Credit offer. If you plan to shop with us in the future, consider buying a gift card! It help us pay off our fixed expenses.
Nonetheless, our team at Gochujar wish you and your family the best during these unprecedented times. Keep your hands clean - and be safe. Let's also keep our spirits up ... we shall ride through these rocky waters together!
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Q: I've ordered recently - but my parcel hasn't arrived yet.
It seems many countries including US, Canada are backed up by a few weeks. Other countries have a backlog of parcels of up to 4 weeks.
Please check your tracking number to get the most up-to-date information.
+++
If you have any further questions or messages, free free to contact me at daniel@gochujar.com.
Best,
Daniel (Founder)