Before your order is handed to a courier, it goes through our internal processing — payment verification, quality inspection, packing, and labelling. Understanding this timeline helps set the right expectations.

• — Orders are processed on business days only (Monday to Saturday, excluding national public holidays). Sunday orders are picked up on Monday.
• — Orders placed before 2:00 PM IST on a business day are typically dispatched the same day. Orders placed after 2:00 PM are dispatched the following business day.
• — For prepaid orders, processing begins immediately upon payment confirmation. For COD orders, processing begins upon order confirmation — no payment is needed upfront.
• — During high-volume periods — sale events, new collection launches, and festive seasons such as Eid, Diwali, and Navratri — processing may take 2–3 additional business days. We will communicate any significant delays via email.
• — Every order undergoes a quality check before packing. If an item fails our quality standard, we will contact you with the option of a replacement or a full refund before dispatching.
• — Once your order is dispatched, you will receive a dispatch confirmation email and SMS containing your tracking number and courier partner details.

We ship to all serviceable pin codes across India. Estimated delivery timelines are counted from the date of dispatch, not the date of order placement.

• — Delivery timelines are estimates only and are not guaranteed. Actual delivery may vary due to courier operational factors, regional disruptions, or address accessibility.
• — Your delivery zone is automatically determined by our logistics system based on the pin code you provide at checkout. If you are unsure of your zone, check the estimated delivery date shown on the checkout page.
• — Certain remote pin codes within Zone C may require additional time or may not be serviceable by all partners. In such cases, we will contact you with an alternative or a full refund.

Shipping is calculated automatically at checkout based on your order value and delivery zone. No surprises — the rate you see is the rate you pay.

• — All shipping rates are inclusive of GST. No additional taxes are levied on shipping charges.
• — Shipping rates are based on order value after any discount codes are applied — so if a coupon reduces your cart below ₹1,999, the applicable shipping fee will be added.
• — For COD orders, a handling fee of ₹30–₹50 is added to the shipping charge, depending on your zone. This is shown transparently at checkout before you confirm the order.
• — Sterling reserves the right to revise shipping rates. The rate applicable to your order is always the rate displayed at the time of checkout confirmation.

Free shipping is available on all orders — to all zones across India — when your cart value reaches ₹1,999 or above after discounts.

• — Free shipping is applied automatically at checkout — no code required. You will see the shipping fee drop to ₹0 once your cart crosses the threshold.
• — The free shipping threshold applies to the cart total after discount codes are applied. If a promo code reduces your order below ₹1,999, standard shipping charges will apply.
• — Free shipping applies to standard delivery only. There is currently no express or priority shipping option available on sterlingwear.in.
• — Free shipping is available on both prepaid and COD orders above ₹1,999. However, the COD handling fee (₹30–₹50) is separate from the shipping charge and is not waived.
• — In the event of a partial return that reduces the net order value below ₹1,999, a return shipping handling fee of ₹99 may be deducted from your refund.

We work with India's most reliable logistics providers. The courier assigned to your order is selected automatically based on your pin code to ensure the fastest and most reliable delivery.

• — You cannot request a specific courier partner. The assignment is made automatically to optimise for delivery speed and success rate in your area.
• — All partners provide 3 delivery attempts before returning the package to us. After each failed attempt, you may receive an SMS or call from the courier to reschedule.
• — Most partners offer a self-pickup facility at their nearest hub if you are unable to receive the parcel at your address. Contact the courier directly using the tracking number to arrange this.

We believe you should always know exactly where your order is. Here is how to stay informed at every step:

• — A dispatch confirmation email and SMS containing your AWB (tracking) number and a direct tracking link is sent to you as soon as your order is handed to the courier — typically within 30 minutes of handover.
• — You can track your order at any time using the tracking link in your dispatch email, by visiting the courier's website directly with the AWB number, or by logging into your Sterling account under My Orders.
• — SMS delivery alerts are sent at key milestones: dispatch, out for delivery, and delivered. Make sure the mobile number on your order is correct and active.
• — If your tracking link does not show updates within 48 hours of dispatch, it is usually a scanning delay at the courier's facility — not a lost shipment. Wait an additional 24 hours before contacting us.
• — If your order shows as "Delivered" but you have not received it, contact us within 24 hours with your order number. We will raise a formal investigation with the courier immediately.

Cash on Delivery is available across most pin codes in India and is one of our most popular payment options. Here is what you need to know:

• — COD availability is checked in real time at checkout based on your pin code. If COD is not available for your area, only prepaid options will be shown.
• — Please keep the exact cash amount ready at the time of delivery. Delivery executives do not carry change, and requesting change may result in a failed delivery attempt.
• — COD orders have a maximum order value of ₹10,000. Orders above this threshold require prepaid payment.
• — A COD handling fee of ₹30–₹50 applies depending on your delivery zone. This is shown clearly at checkout before you confirm.
• — Refunds on COD orders — for returns or cancellations — are processed via bank transfer or UPI. You will be asked to share your bank account details or UPI ID at the time of the refund request.
• — Repeated COD refusals — accepting and then returning an order, or refusing delivery without valid reason — may result in COD being restricted for your account on future orders.

A shipment is considered failed if delivery cannot be completed after three attempts, or if the parcel is returned due to an incorrect address, the recipient being unavailable, or delivery being refused.

• — If all three delivery attempts fail, the courier will return the package to our facility. This typically takes 7–10 additional business days on top of the original delivery timeline.
• — Once a returned shipment arrives at our facility, we will send you an email notification with two options: re-ship the order (standard shipping charges apply) or receive a refund minus return shipping costs.
• — For prepaid orders returned due to our error or courier fault, the full order value plus original shipping charge is refunded with no deductions.
• — For prepaid orders returned because of an incorrect address provided by you or repeated non-availability, a return shipping fee of ₹99–₹149 is deducted from the refund.
• — For COD orders that are refused at delivery without a valid reason, a return shipping cost of ₹100–₹150 may be charged on the customer's next order as a deterrent against order abuse.
• — We are not responsible for non-delivery caused by an incorrect, incomplete, or inaccessible address provided at checkout. Please always double-check your pin code, landmark, and contact number before confirming your order.

While we pack every order carefully with protective materials, courier mishandling can occasionally cause damage. Here is what to do if this happens to you:

• — If your parcel arrives with visible external damage — a torn box, crushed packaging, or tampered seal — note it on the courier's delivery receipt before accepting. Take a photograph of the outer packaging before opening.
• — Contact us within 48 hours of delivery at support@sterlingwear.in or via WhatsApp with clear photographs of both the damaged outer packaging and the affected item inside.
• — Upon reviewing your photographs, we will arrange a free pickup and replacement, or issue a full refund — whichever you prefer. Courier damage claims are handled entirely by us on your behalf.
• — Claims raised after 48 hours of delivery may be difficult to process as courier partners require timely notification for damage claims. We strongly recommend inspecting your order on arrival.

We always aim to dispatch on time and deliver within the stated window. However, certain situations are outside our control:

• — Festive & sale seasons. During Diwali, Eid, Navratri, Independence Day sales, and end-of-season events, both our dispatch time and courier delivery windows may extend by 2–5 business days due to exceptionally high order volumes across the industry.
• — Natural events. Floods, cyclones, heavy snowfall, or other natural disruptions affecting road or air networks — particularly in Zone C regions — may cause delays that are beyond anyone's control.
• — Government advisories & strikes. Bandhs, regional transport strikes, curfews, or government-imposed restrictions may temporarily suspend deliveries in affected areas.
• — Remote & restricted areas. Certain mountainous, island, or security-restricted zones may have limited courier frequency — sometimes only 2–3 days per week — extending effective delivery timelines.
• — Public holidays. National and regional public holidays affect courier operations. Orders placed around long weekends or public holiday clusters may take an additional 1–2 days.

• — We will proactively email you if we anticipate a significant delay to your specific order — we will not let you wait and wonder.
• — If your order has not arrived within 15 business days of dispatch with no tracking updates, we will initiate a formal courier investigation and keep you informed of progress every 48 hours.
• — If an order is confirmed as lost in transit by the courier, we will offer you a full replacement shipment or a complete refund — no further waiting required.