🌍 The Secret Life of a Traveling Tarot Deck: A Journey from Our Studio to You
Ever wonder what your deck is doing while you’re checking the tracking for the tenth time today? Shipping an artisanal deck from our studio in Northern Ireland is a bit like sending a friend on a grand tour. Here is a look at their itinerary!
📍 Stage 1: The Send-Off
Once your deck is packed and ready, it receives its first scan. When you see "Collected," give a little cheer! That means the cards have officially left our hands and are on the move to the next big processing hub—usually Belfast, though occasionally they take a scenic detour through Dublin.
📍 Stage 2: The "Quiet Time" (Belfast & Customs)
This is where the mystery begins. Royal Mail doesn’t provide "live" GPS updates (they aren’t wearing a fitness tracker, after all!). Your deck is currently sitting in a queue for customs checks. It might stay here for a few days, resting up for the long flight. If the tracking hasn't moved, don't worry—it’s just waiting for its turn at the scanner.
📍 Stage 3: The Leap Across the Water
Your deck then heads to Heathrow or Langley for international processing. This leg of the journey usually takes 5–10 days just to reach the mainland processing centers. It’s a busy place, and your deck is making lots of new friends in the sorting bins!
📍 Stage 4: Crossing the Border
Once it lands in your country, it enters your local Customs. This is the ultimate "patience test." Customs can take two days or two weeks—they work at their own mystical pace, and no amount of wishing can speed them up!
📍 Stage 5: The Final Mile
Finally, your local post office takes over. Tracking updates here depend entirely on how your local carrier handles their scans. Some are fast, some are... relaxed.
💡 A Note for the Eager Seeker:
We know it’s frustrating when the tracking stays quiet for a few days. Please be patient! If the status hasn't updated, it simply means your deck is safely tucked away in a delivery office or processing center, waiting for the next scan.
International travel takes time, but we promise these cards—co-authored by James Battersby and Christine Aguiar—are well worth the wait.
Thank You For Your Patience
🌟 Be Kind to the Journey (and Us!) 🌟
We know the wait can feel like a lifetime when you’re excited to meet your new deck! It’s a bit like waiting for a dear friend to arrive from a long voyage—you keep looking out the window, hoping to see them turn the corner.
The Customs "Waiting Room" 🛂
Sometimes, our decks get pulled aside by Customs for a little "extra chat." While we wish we had a magic wand to wave them through the border, Customs is a world of its own. They march to the beat of their own drum, and we have no control over how long they choose to keep your package for tea and biscuits.
Because this is a process run by international governments and not our little studio, we humbly ask that you don't leave a negative review due to Customs delays. It breaks our hearts to see a "sad star" on our shop for something that happened far beyond our reach, especially when we’ve worked so hard to get your cards into the mail quickly!
Tracking Together 🕵️♀️
If you’re feeling anxious, we are always happy to chat! Just keep in mind:
The information we see on our screen is the exact same information you see when you plug your tracking number into the Royal Mail or your local carrier’s site.
We don’t have a "secret" GPS tracker (though wouldn't that be cool?), but we are happy to hold your hand and interpret the updates with you.
Thank you for being such a patient, supportive part of the James Battersby and Christine Aguiar community. Your kindness keeps our creative spirits soaring while your deck braves the world to get to you!
You can check the status update on your package with the tracker below, by copying and pasting your tracking number into the box.