FAQ

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Is there a pick-up option for online orders?

Yes, there is a pick-up option provided on our checkout page. Your order will be held in "Paid Will Call" so when you come into the store go the beer desk and tell the clerk you have an order to pick up. Because of limited space we ask our local customers to pick up orders within 1 week. If you live out of town or state and are not able to pick up your order within 1 week, please let us know. You can notify us by email, phone or simply type in the customer notes provided on the checkout page the specific date you plan on picking up your order.

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How long will it take to receive my online order?

We try to process orders within 24 hours. However, sometimes we might need some additional time to process orders due to high volume or temporarily out of stock items. You will be notified via email or phone if an item has changed vintage or is no longer available.

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Do you ship to my state?

The regulatory environment for shipping alcohol to consumers nationwide is an extremely complex and ever changing landscape. The rules around where we can and can't ship are changing constantly along with the shipping rates. The list of states in our drop down menu at checkout are not representative of where we can legally ship. Please submit your order and our processing team will check it for compliance. If there are any issues with your order we will contact you. To find the current shipping rate, simply add a product to your shopping cart, click on checkout, fill in the ship to state and zip code on the checkout page, press enter and our shipping calculator will show the available services and rates to that state.

Please give us a call for more details. 1(800)331-3005


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What are my shipping options?

We offer regular ground shipments, 3-day, 2-day air and overnight. Please note that orders are only shipped and delivered Monday through Friday. If you prefer your order to go out on a certain day please include the shipping date in the customer notes provided on the checkout page. For urgent orders please give us a call at 1(800)331-3005.

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How can I track my online order?

Tracking numbers are emailed automatically. If you did not receive your tracking information via email, please contact our shipping department at or call us at 1(800)331-3005 Ext. 258.

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Hi-Time Return Policy

RETURNS: Under California law, it is illegal to return wines once sold, except for defective wines, which may be returned for credit or replacement within thirty days of purchase. All returned wines must be accompanied with a receipt. OLDER WINES: We do our best to ensure proper temperature-controlled storage and provenance. However, we cannot be responsible for wines older than five years from the latest vintage. This is a wine industry standard. HEAT AND ULLAGE: Heat is the worst enemy of wine. Even on mild days the temperature inside an automobile can exceed 90 degrees F, some 35 degrees (or more) hotter than our wine cellar. This wide temperature differential can quickly "push" corks and/or create seepage and messy labels. Moreover, certain "fragile" wines can be completely ruined in a matter of hours by excessive heat. Therefore, out of fairness to our clientele, we cannot accept any returns of wines showing evidence of heat damage. We strive to make sure that you receive the wines in the condition they're in while sitting in our 55 degree F cellar. Similar measures are taken in cold weather as well. We offer free summer and winter storage for 6 months or until weather permits. If you want you wine order stored until weather permits please put a note in the order comments under the shipping section at checkout.

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Can I cancel or change an online order?

Yes, you can cancel online orders but time is of the essence. Online orders are processed within 24 hours so please contact us immediately by calling 1(800)331-3005. Please make sure to give the following information when canceling or changing your order:

  • full name

  • email address

  • phone number

  • order number

Orders which have already been processed and shipped cannot be changed without an additional shipping fee and/or restock fee (10%).

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Do you provide free storage during winter and summer months when it is too cold or too hot to ship wines?

Yes, when you purchase 12 bottle increments we provide free storage for any order which is not able to ship due to extreme weather conditions. Orders are stored in our temperature controlled storage area for up to 4 months or until weather conditions permit ground shipment. Please contact our shipping department 48 hours prior to shipping the order.

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Do you handle large orders with multiple shipping addresses?

Yes, however our online order page only provides space to type in one shipping address. If you would like to send an item(s) to different shipping addresses you can either place your online orders individually online, email us the order or fax it to (949)631-6863. Please include the following information:

  • Billing information (full name, address and phone number)

  • Shipping addresses (full names, addresses and phone numbers)

  • Item(s) to be sent

  • Shipping instructions (ground, , 3 day, 2 day air or overnight)

  • Message you want on the gift card

  • Please do not include your credit card just provide a phone number where we can reach you to arrange payment

For large orders please contact our sales staff at 1(800)331-3005 to assure accuracy and efficiency with your order.

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Do you ship kegs of beer?

No, we are not able to ship kegs but we do ship bottled and canned beer.

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Did my online order go through?

Do I get a confirmation email?

Yes, after you place an order you will receive an email confirming that you placed an online order successfully and you will also land on a receipt page with your order number. The email notice does not guarantee that your order was processed. Orders are processed within 24 hours and you will be contacted if we are unable to fill the order. Please note that online orders which are placed over the weekend take additional time to process.

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Can I customize a gift basket?

Yes, our gift basket designers will be happy to assist you in creating the perfect basket for family, friends or clients. Please call Grace or Liz at 1(800)331-3005, to discuss details and pricing.

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Is your website secure?

Yes; our website uses SSL Certificates to offer secure communications by all data to and from the website. When shopping on the web you should always check a website's certificate before entering any sensitive information, for example the URL needs to have https://www.hitimewine.net when entering personal information.

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How do you use the website?

To find the wine, spirit or beer you seek, please type the name of the item in our search function (best method) or choose one of the categories and browse through the product list. If there is something you desire but do not see on our site, please email us or give us a call 800-331-3005 to check availability. For your first purchase, you will need to give us your information which we will securely store on our server. Your email and password, once received, will need to be utilized for subsequent visits. Please follow onscreen directions and contact us if you experience difficulties. Cheers!

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How are the products packaged for shipping?

For our regular 750ml bottles we use Styrofoam molded shippers. With odd-shaped bottles it is up to our shipping department's discretion to decide which packing method provides the most safety. We also use bubble wrap and/or peanuts if needed. The products are shipped in a plain, brown cardboard box. There is no minimum order requirement.

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What if I am not home when my order is delivered?

We recommended shipping to a business address if available. Someone 21 years or older must sign for packages containing alcoholic and it is your responsibility to be home for delivery. If you are not home to sign for the package, two more delivery attempts will be made. Keep in mind you may contact your local UPS/Fed Ex/GLS office to make arrangements for pick-up. If all three-delivery attempts are unsuccessful and you do not contact your local UPS/Fed EX, your order will be returned to Hi-Time Wine Cellars. At that point you will be responsible for re-shipping the order.

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Is my order insured in case an item breaks during the transport?

Yes, your order is insured for breakage. An insurance charge of $1 per $100 value will be automatically applied to the total cost of the order. We do not charge insurance for orders under $100.

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