Shipping in Australia is honestly the most challenging and expensive part of running an online store.
Australia has a huge land area, and people live everywhere, in major cities, regional towns, and very remote areas. Shipping costs can vary a lot depending on where you live. On top of that, the products we sell range from the smallest ID tags to very large items like cat trees and litter boxes, and sometimes one order contains multiple items that simply can’t fit into one box.
We’ve shipped thousands of parcels and spent countless hours building and testing different shipping profiles, but the truth is: there is no perfect shipping solution that works for every customer, every postcode, and every type of product.
That said, please believe us when we say we always try our best to reduce the shipping hassle and cost for our valued customers.
Most shipping issues happen with:
That’s why we offer a very low free shipping threshold of $99 to help customers in major areas save on shipping. However, different shipping rules may apply for bulky items and remote locations.
If something doesn’t look right at checkout, or if your address shows as non-shippable, please don’t worry, just contact us and we’ll do our best to help find a solution.
We ship globally! We endeavor to dispatch orders within 1 day from our Sydney warehouse. Most orders will be handled on the same day and picked up on the following business day.
We offer free shipping Australia-wide and internationally. We provide free untracked Australia Post mail shipping by default. However, you can still choose standard or express Australia Post shipping at checkout if you prefer a tracked service.
We're using the new shipping profiles now based on total weight and postcode. If your order contains bulky items, the order may not be eligible for free shipping.
Australia-wide:
$10 shipping for orders under $99
Free shipping for orders over $99
If items are under 1kg, we also offer Express Shipping at $15 Australia‑wide, including NT, TAS, and remote areas.
Some products may be lightweight but still be classified as bulky because of their package dimensions. For example, a litter box may weigh very little but have a cubic weight of more than 30 kg, making it significantly more expensive to ship.
Cubic weight is calculated as:
Length (m) × Width (m) × Height (m) × 250
The chargeable weight is based on whichever is greater:
For orders with a total chargeable weight under 25 kg, we still offer free standard shipping to the eligible postcodes listed below, subject to the order meeting our normal free-shipping threshold.
0200,2600,2601,2602,2603,2604,2605,2606,2607,2608,2609,2610,2611,2612,2613,2614,2615,2616,2617,2618,2619,2620,2900,2901,2902,2903,2904,2905,2906,2911,2912,2913,2914,1435,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023,2024,2025,2026,2027,2028,2029,2030,2031,2032,2033,2034,2035,2036,2037,2038,2039,2040,2041,2042,2043,2044,2045,2046,2047,2048,2049,2050,2051,2052,2053,2054,2055,2056,2057,2058,2059,2060,2061,2062,2063,2064,2065,2066,2067,2068,2069,2070,2071,2072,2073,2074,2075,2076,2077,2078,2079,2080,2084,2085,2086,2087,2088,2089,2090,2091,2092,2093,2094,2095,2096,2097,2098,2099,2100,2101,2102,2103,2104,2105,2106,2107,2108,2109,2110,2111,2112,2113,2114,2115,2116,2117,2118,2119,2120,2121,2122,2123,2124,2125,2126,2127,2128,2129,2130,2131,2132,2133,2134,2135,2136,2137,2138,2139,2140,2141,2142,2143,2144,2145,2146,2147,2148,2149,2150,2151,2152,2153,2154,2155,2156,2158,2160,2161,2162,2163,2164,2165,2166,2167,2168,2169,2170,2171,2172,2173,2174,2175,2176,2177,2178,2179,2180,2181,2182,2183,2184,2185,2186,2187,2188,2189,2190,2191,2192,2193,2194,2195,2196,2197,2198,2199,2200,2201,2202,2203,2204,2205,2206,2207,2208,2209,2210,2211,2212,2213,2214,2215,2216,2217,2218,2219,2220,2221,2222,2223,2224,2225,2226,2227,2228,2229,2230,2231,2232,2233,2234,2265,2555,2556,2557,2558,2559,2563,2564,2565,2566,2567,2745,2746,2747,2748,2749,2750,2751,2752,2759,2760,2761,2762,2763,2764,2765,2766,2767,2768,2769,2770,2771,2772,2773,2774,2776,2777,2890,2891,3000,3001,3002,3003,3004,3005,3006,3007,3008,3009,3010,3011,3012,3013,3014,3015,3016,3017,3018,3019,3020,3021,3022,3023,3024,3025,3026,3027,3028,3029,3030,3031,3032,3033,3034,3035,3036,3037,3038,3039,3040,3041,3042,3043,3044,3045,3046,3047,3048,3049,3050,3051,3052,3053,3054,3055,3056,3057,3058,3059,3060,3061,3062,3063,3064,3065,3066,3067,3068,3069,3070,3071,3072,3073,3074,3075,3076,3077,3078,3079,3080,3081,3082,3083,3084,3085,3086,3087,3088,3094,3101,3102,3103,3104,3105,3106,3107,3108,3109,3111,3116,3121,3122,3123,3124,3125,3126,3127,3128,3129,3130,3131,3132,3133,3134,3135,3136,3137,3138,3140,3141,3142,3143,3144,3145,3146,3147,3148,3149,3150,3151,3152,3153,3155,3156,3161,3162,3163,3165,3166,3167,3168,3169,3170,3171,3172,3173,3174,3175,3177,3178,3179,3180,3181,3182,3183,3184,3185,3186,3187,3188,3189,3190,3191,3192,3193,3194,3195,3196,3197,3198,3199,3200,3201,3202,3204,3205,3206,3207,3337,3340,3429,3750,3752,3800,3802,3803,3804,3805,3806,3807,3809,3810,3975,3976,4000,4001,4002,4003,4004,4005,4006,4007,4008,4009,4010,4011,4012,4013,4014,4015,4017,4018,4019,4020,4021,4022,4029,4030,4031,4032,4034,4035,4036,4037,4051,4053,4054,4055,4059,4060,4061,4064,4065,4066,4067,4068,4069,4070,4073,4074,4075,4076,4077,4078,4101,4102,4103,4104,4105,4106,4107,4108,4109,4110,4111,4112,4113,4114,4115,4116,4117,4118,4119,4120,4121,4122,4123,4124,4125,4126,4127,4128,4129,4130,4131,4132,4133,4151,4152,4153,4154,4155,4156,4157,4158,4159,4160,4161,4162,4163,4164,4165,4166,4167,4168,4169,4170,4171,4172,4173,4174,4178,4179,4205,4300,4301,4303,4304,4500,4501,4502,4503,4504,4505,4506,4508,4509,4510,4511,2081,2754,2756,2251,2256,2257,2258,2260,2261,2262,2263,2264,2267,2278,2280,2281,2282,2283,2284,2285,2286,2287,2289,2290,2291,2292,2293,2294,2295,2296,2297,2298,2299,2300,2302,2303,2304,2305,2306,2307,2308,2315,2316,2317,2318,2319,2322,2320,2325,2450,2452,2500,2502,2505,2506,2515,2516,2517,2518,2519,2526,2527,2528,2529,2560,2640,2641,2778,2779,2780,2782,2783,2784,2785,3212,3214,3215,3216,3219,3220,3350,3355,3356,3550,3555,3556,3690,3910,3911,3913,3915,3931,3934,3938,3940,3941,3942,3943,3944,2485,2486,2487,2488,4209,4210,4212,4214,4215,4216,4217,4218,4219,4221,4222,4223,4224,4225,4226,4227,4228,4230,4207,4271,4272,4507,4551,4556,4557,4558,4564,4566,4567,4572,4573,4575,4305
Additional shipping charges may apply to:
Any additional shipping fee is calculated according to the total chargeable weight and delivery postcode of the complete order. Where an additional fee applies, it will be displayed at checkout or confirmed with you before dispatch.
There are thousands of postcodes, and they change frequently. We may occasionally miss eligible areas, or system bugs may occur when combining shipping profiles.
For example, if you order both a small item and a bulky item, you should only be charged the maximum applicable shipping fee, not stacked fees.
If you believe you were overcharged or your order shows as non‑shippable to your postcode, please contact us.
We reserve the right to cancel any order if we are unable to find a reasonable shipping solution (for example, deliveries of large items to very remote areas where shipping costs may exceed $100).
We offer a flat rate shipping fee of $15 for all orders under $149, and free shipping for orders over $149, bulk items excepted.
Shipping fees for international orders are based on the total weight of your package.
| Weight | Shipping Fee |
|---|---|
| 0kg–0.25kg | $19.00 |
| 0.25kg–0.5kg | $25.00 |
| 0.5kg–1kg | $36.00 |
| 1kg–1.5kg | $47.00 |
| 1.5kg–2kg | $59.00 |
We use a combination of Australia Post, Couriers Please, Aramex, StarTrack and TNT to ensure your order is delivered promptly and efficiently.
Shipping times may vary depending on your location and carrier used, but we do our best to ensure that your order is delivered as quickly as possible.
We reserve the right to select the most cost-effective shipping method for all orders.
There may be the case that your parcel is dropped off at the nearby collection point. If you do not arrange for redelivery or pick up your parcel from the collection point, and the courier cannot reach you, the parcel may be sent back to us. Or, if an incorrect or incomplete address is provided (for example, missing unit number or wrong street number) and the parcel is returned or redirected. Should this occur, all additional costs will be the customer’s responsibility, as shipping fees are non-refundable once delivery has been attempted.
We will contact you to organize another delivery. Please note that an additional charge of $25 or the real shipping cost which one is greater each parcel will apply for this service. This fee includes the courier's charge for returning the parcel to us and the cost of shipping it to you again.
Alternatively, you can choose to receive a refund for the value of your order minus a $25 or the real shipping cost if it's higher than $25 each parcel fee that we incur for the courier returning the package to us.
For international shipping, we generally only ship orders under 2kg. Orders exceeding certain weight limits may not be eligible for international shipping due to the expensive postage and carrier restrictions. In the event of a system error allowing ineligible items to proceed through checkout, we reserve the right to adjust shipping rates or cancel the order. If you're interested in purchasing heavy or bulky items for international delivery, please contact our team for assistance prior to placing your order.
International customers are responsible for any additional customs duties, taxes or fees that may be imposed by your country. We cannot control or predict these fees, so we advise checking with your local customs office for more information.
We value your business and want you to be fully satisfied with your shopping experience. If you have any questions or concerns about shipping, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you for choosing our website, and we look forward to serving you soon.
EXCHANGES, RETURNS & REFUND POLICY
Damages and issues
Please inspect your order upon reception and contact us immediately if the item is defective, damaged, or if you receive the wrong item, so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right.
Generally, the return window is 14 days. But we're very generous with them. As long as the item is unused and still in its original condition, we’re happy to issue an exchange or refund.
You’re entitled to an exchange or credit under the following circumstances:
The product is faulty.
Wrong items were sent to you, and the product is different from what you ordered.
Under these two circumstances, we will be responsible for both:
The shipping cost of the replacement item, and
The return shipping cost of the original item.
In all other cases — for example, if you ordered the wrong size by mistake, changed your mind, or selected the wrong product — the buyer is responsible for:
Both-way shipping costs (return and new item shipping).
Any difference in product price if exchanging for a more expensive item.
The fastest way to get the correct item is to place a separate order for the new item and return the original item for a refund.
Please note:
The original shipping cost will not be refunded.
If the original order was eligible for free shipping, a $10 standard shipping fee will be deducted from the total refund amount. If bulky items are returned, the real shipping cost will be deducted as it's much higher than $10.
We do accept change-of-mind returns. However, refunds will be issued as store credit rather than a direct refund. This is because payment providers such as Shop Pay, PayPal, Square, and Stripe still charge transaction fees even when a full refund is processed. This has become an industry-wide standard.
In addition, every order involves handling, packaging, and administrative costs, meaning that we incur expenses even when no sale is ultimately completed. If a $100 value order is returned, we basically lost $10 shipping plus around $5 transaction and handling fee. We understand that store credit may not be every customer’s preference, but this policy helps us continue offering fair prices and generous return options.
Here is what we can offer, if your original order qualified for free shipping (orders over $99, excluding bulky items), we will provide full-value store credit without deducting the $10 standard shipping fee. We’ll happily cover that cost to keep you as a valued customer. Please note that return postage remains the buyer’s responsibility for change-of-mind returns.
Certain products are non-refundable due to hygiene and safety reasons. We will assess each claim on a case-by-case basis.
We do not accept exchanges or returns for:
Damages caused by your dog.
Sale items and gift cards.
Perishable goods (such as treats) or personal care goods (such as shampoo, paw balms).
For exchanges and returns, please email sales@shortiefriends.com.au with your order number and reason for return.
We respond to all enquiries. If you have not heard back from us, please check your spam, promotions, or purchases folder, as some email providers may filter our replies aggressively. Unauthorised returns will not be accepted. Any parcels returned without prior approval may be returned to the sender.
For fragile items such as glassware, it is the buyer’s responsibility to carefully pack the item to ensure it is not damaged in transit. Unfortunately, goods damaged during return shipping cannot be refunded.
We will notify you once we’ve received and inspected your return and let you know if the refund was approved. If approved, your refund will be processed back to your original payment method.
Please note:
Refunds may take a few business days to appear on your bank or credit card statement.
We are not liable for shipping, exchange, or refund fees if the shipping address was submitted incorrectly when placing the order.
Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 1 reviews.
Review topics: [].
"Purdey is very possibly the fussiest cat in the known universe. If she likes it to-day, she will turn her little Siamese nose at it to-morrow. But we discovered these a year ago and she has naver wavered in her passion for them! THANK YOU! Also, orders are filled quickly and efficiently. Renata Ratzer"
