Shipping, Freight & Delivery Terms
AirStructure Co. · Shipping, Freight & Delivery Terms
Shipping, Freight & Delivery Terms
These Shipping, Freight & Delivery Terms apply to custom inflatable products shipped by AirStructure Co., including inflatable event domes, branded booths, product replicas, advertising arches, inflatable games, sports structures, event tents, display walls, sponsor billboards, inflatable furniture, and other custom commercial inflatable products.
Because custom inflatables vary widely in size, weight, material, packaging volume, production location, destination, event deadline, and freight requirements, shipping timelines and delivery methods may differ from project to project. Customers should plan ahead and allow enough time for production, packaging, transit, customs, inspection, and event setup.
Shipping Methods for Custom Inflatable Products
AirStructure Co. may recommend different shipping methods based on product size, weight, urgency, budget, delivery location, and event timeline. Smaller products may be shipped by air for speed, while large commercial inflatable structures may require ocean freight or freight truck delivery.
Faster Delivery for Smaller Products
Air shipping may be used for smaller or lighter custom inflatable products, urgent orders, event deadline shipments, accessories, replacement parts, or compact promotional structures.
- Often faster than ocean freight
- May cost more for bulky products
- Best for smaller packed dimensions
- Subject to carrier and customs timing
Used for Large Commercial Projects
Ocean freight may be required or recommended for large inflatable event domes, booths, tents, product replicas, games, sports structures, or multi-unit orders with oversized packaging.
- Often more economical for large cargo
- Requires longer lead time
- May involve port, customs, and trucking steps
- Best planned well before event deadlines
Final-Mile and Domestic Delivery
Ground delivery, courier service, parcel carrier, or freight truck delivery may be used depending on final destination, package size, commercial address access, and delivery requirements.
- Residential or commercial delivery may differ
- Large crates may require loading access
- Delivery appointments may be required
- Liftgate service may require extra cost
Shipping Method Reference
The table below provides a general reference for how shipping methods may be selected for different custom inflatable products. Final shipping recommendations depend on the specific product, packed size, weight, destination, and schedule.
| Product Type | Common Shipping Method | Important Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Small inflatable product replicas, compact advertising props, small arches, or accessories | Air shipping, parcel carrier, courier, or ground delivery | May be suitable for faster delivery if packed size and weight are manageable. |
| Medium inflatable booths, event structures, sponsor displays, or branded tents | Air shipping, freight service, or ocean freight depending on urgency | Packed volume, event date, and budget often determine the best shipping option. |
| Large event domes, large product replicas, inflatable pavilions, interactive games, or sports structures | Ocean freight, freight truck, or special logistics | Large packed dimensions may make air shipping expensive or impractical. |
| Multi-unit campaigns, sponsor activations, festival installations, or large brand rollouts | Ocean freight, palletized freight, or scheduled freight delivery | Production and freight should be planned well before the campaign or event deadline. |
| Replacement accessories, repair kits, blower parts, small printed items, or small components | Parcel carrier, courier, air shipping, or ground delivery | Availability, destination, and urgency determine the best option. |
Delivery Estimates and Event Deadlines
Custom inflatable products are often ordered for a specific event, trade show, product launch, sports tournament, festival, retail activation, or brand campaign. Customers should understand that production time and shipping time are separate parts of the project schedule.
Manufacturing Must Be Completed First
Production time may depend on artwork approval, product complexity, material availability, size, quantity, print coverage, production capacity, and customer response time.
- Artwork approval can affect production start date
- Large or complex products may need more time
- Rush production may not always be available
- Late revisions can delay shipment
Shipping Begins After Packing
Transit time begins after the product is packed, released, picked up, or handed to the carrier. Transit time does not include production, artwork approval, customs holds, delivery appointment scheduling, or event-site setup.
- Air shipping may still require customs clearance
- Ocean freight requires longer transit planning
- Ground delivery may require appointments
- Carrier delays can occur unexpectedly
Customs, Import Duties, Taxes and Clearance
Custom inflatable products may be shipped across borders depending on the production location, customer location, and final destination. International shipments may be subject to customs clearance, import duties, taxes, brokerage fees, tariffs, inspections, documentation requests, and local delivery requirements.
Processing Time May Vary
Customs clearance may take additional time and may be affected by destination country rules, documentation review, customs workload, product description, declared value, or inspection requirements.
Customer May Be Responsible
Unless otherwise stated in writing, customers may be responsible for import duties, taxes, brokerage fees, tariffs, customs charges, storage fees, or other destination-related costs.
Information Must Be Accurate
Customers may need to provide accurate business name, delivery address, contact person, tax ID, customs broker information, phone number, or import documentation when required.
Delivery Address, Contact Information and Receiving Access
Customers are responsible for providing complete and accurate delivery information before shipment. Incorrect addresses, limited receiving hours, unavailable contacts, venue restrictions, or missing delivery details may cause delays, extra fees, storage charges, or failed delivery attempts.
| Delivery Requirement | Customer Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Complete delivery address | Customer must provide the full street address, suite or unit number, venue name, company name, city, state or province, postal code, and country. |
| Receiving contact | Customer must provide a reachable contact name, phone number, email address, and backup contact when needed. |
| Commercial receiving access | Customer should confirm loading dock access, forklift availability, freight entrance, receiving hours, and delivery appointment requirements for large shipments. |
| Residential or limited-access delivery | Residential addresses, schools, stadiums, campuses, malls, convention centers, hotels, festivals, and event venues may require special delivery arrangements. |
| Venue delivery restrictions | Customer must confirm whether the venue allows advance deliveries, freight trucks, loading zones, storage, union handling, decorator services, or scheduled move-in times. |
Oversized Cargo, Freight Handling and Special Delivery
Large custom inflatable products may ship in heavy cartons, crates, pallets, oversized bags, or multiple packages. Customers should prepare for receiving, unloading, storage, and movement of the shipment before the product arrives.
Large Shipments May Need Equipment
Oversized cargo may require a loading dock, pallet jack, forklift, liftgate truck, additional labor, receiving appointment, or freight-accessible delivery location.
- Confirm package size and weight when available
- Prepare space for unloading and storage
- Arrange staff for large product handling
- Check whether the venue accepts freight
- Plan how the product will move to the setup area
Event Locations May Have Rules
Hotels, convention centers, stadiums, schools, campuses, malls, festivals, parks, and event venues may require specific move-in schedules, service entrances, certificates, decorators, or union handling.
- Confirm move-in windows
- Check venue receiving rules
- Confirm freight access
- Plan storage before setup
- Coordinate with event managers or decorators
Receiving Inspection After Delivery
Customers should inspect shipments promptly after delivery. This includes checking the outer packaging, confirming package count, verifying accessories, inspecting the inflatable body, and testing the product before the event date.
Confirm All Items Arrived
Customers should confirm that all cartons, bags, pallets, blowers, repair kits, accessories, ropes, stakes, and hardware are received according to the shipment information when available.
Document Carrier Damage
If packaging appears damaged, crushed, torn, wet, opened, or missing, customers should photograph the condition before unpacking and notify AirStructure Co. promptly.
Do Not Wait Until Event Day
Customers should test inflate the product before the event to check blower compatibility, air performance, zippers, tie-downs, seams, print appearance, and accessory count.
Lost, Delayed, Damaged or Misdelivered Shipments
Once a shipment is handed to a carrier, freight company, courier, customs broker, port, warehouse, or delivery provider, transit events may occur outside AirStructure Co.’s direct control. AirStructure Co. may assist with claims or carrier communication when appropriate, but carrier responsibility and claim timelines may apply.
Transit Times May Change
Carrier delays may be caused by weather, congestion, customs inspection, missed scans, limited flights, port delays, trucking shortages, local delivery backlog, incorrect addresses, or missed delivery appointments.
- Tracking updates may not always be immediate
- Estimated delivery dates may change
- Customs clearance may extend timelines
- Event deadlines should include buffer time
Documentation May Be Required
Customers should keep packaging, take photos or videos, document package condition, inspect contents, and report shipment issues as soon as possible to support carrier or freight claims.
- Photos of outer packaging
- Photos of product condition
- Package labels and tracking number
- Delivery receipt notes when applicable
- Clear explanation of the issue
Shipping Costs, Additional Fees and Changes
Shipping costs may be estimated during quotation but can vary depending on actual packed dimensions, product weight, carrier rates, freight class, destination, service level, customs requirements, and final delivery conditions.
Based on Available Information
Shipping quotes may be based on estimated packed size, product type, destination, urgency, and carrier rates available at the time of quoting.
Extra Fees May Apply
Additional fees may apply for oversized cargo, liftgate, inside delivery, storage, re-delivery, address correction, customs brokerage, duties, taxes, special handling, or missed appointments.
Changes May Affect Cost
Changes to shipping address, delivery speed, event date, product size, quantity, destination country, or freight service level may affect cost and timeline.
Related AirStructure Co. Policies
Shipping and delivery planning is closely connected to production timing, artwork approval, product inspection, event-use requirements, and custom order cancellation rules. Customers should review all related policies that apply to their project.
Business Product Sales Terms & Conditions
Review the general business terms that apply to custom inflatable product orders, project-based sales, approvals, delivery, and customer responsibilities.
View Terms →Custom Inflatable Manufacturing Terms
Review made-to-order production terms, project-based pricing, production approval, custom product tolerances, and timeline expectations.
View Terms →Branded Advertising Inflatables Terms
Review terms for branded inflatables, sponsor logos, trademark permission, promotional use, event graphics, and advertising claims.
View Terms →Artwork, Mockup & Design Approval Terms
Review customer responsibilities for artwork files, mockup approval, logo placement, spelling, print tolerance, and design confirmation.
View Terms →Warranty, Inspection & Product Tolerance Policy
Review inspection responsibilities, product tolerance expectations, manufacturing defect review, repair options, and warranty limitations.
View Policy →Event Use, Installation & Safety Responsibility Terms
Review venue rules, anchoring, blower power, weather conditions, supervision, safe setup, and event-site operation requirements.
View Terms →Refund, Cancellation & Custom Order Policy
Review cancellation stages, deposit limitations, custom order restrictions, return eligibility, and refund review requirements.
View Policy →Need Delivery Planning Support?
Questions About Shipping a Custom Inflatable Product?
Contact AirStructure Co. before approving production if you need help reviewing delivery timelines, air shipping, ocean freight, customs, oversized cargo, receiving access, or event deadline planning.
Contact AirStructure Co.