Free Worldwide Shipping on Orders Over $300
Orders over US$300 ship free, anywhere we deliver. Below that, shipping is a flat fee set by destination, from $9.99 within Australia to $44.99 for the rest of the world.
- Every winch we sell clears the threshold. The cheapest machine in the range, the DW 06 at $1,106.75, is more than three times it. Order a windlass or a drum winch and shipping is free without you doing anything.
- Duties and import taxes are already paid. International orders go out DDP wherever our carriers support it, so nothing is collected from you when the box arrives.
- Nine to nineteen business days, door to door. Two to four to dispatch from Melbourne, seven to fifteen in transit, with a tracking number either way.
The threshold only ever bites on an accessories-only order.
What free shipping actually covers
There is no code to enter and no minimum quantity. When your subtotal reaches US$300, the shipping line at checkout goes to zero on its own. The figure is measured on the order subtotal, before any tax, so what you see in the cart is the number that counts.
It applies worldwide rather than to a shortlist of countries. We ship to most destinations, and the handful we cannot reach are better sorted out before you order than after, so ask us first if you are unsure about yours.
What shipping costs below $300
Under the threshold, the fee is flat and set by where the order is going. It does not scale with weight, so a heavy accessory order costs the same to ship as a light one.
| Destination | Order under $100 | Order $100 to $300 | Order over $300 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | $9.99 | $14.99 | Free |
| USA and Canada | $29.99 | $44.99 | Free |
| Rest of world | $29.99 | $44.99 | Free |
All figures in US dollars, measured against the order subtotal before tax. A few oversize items need a freight quote rather than a flat rate, and we contact you before dispatch if yours is one of them.
Worth noticing that the middle column is where the threshold earns its keep. An order of $260 to the United States carries $44.99 of freight, while an order of $310 carries none. If you are close, adding the part you were going to buy next month is cheaper than paying to ship the ones you have.
Duties and import taxes are already in the price
This is the part that catches people out with overseas marine gear, and it is the part we handle differently. International orders ship DDP, or Delivered Duty Paid, wherever our carriers support it. Customs duties and import taxes are paid by us through the carrier before the parcel reaches you.
The practical effect is that no courier turns up asking for money before handing over your windlass. Any tax that does apply is shown at checkout, so the landed cost is the number you agreed to. On drum winches in particular that is what puts our pricing under comparable US-sold machines once everything is counted.
How long it takes
Two stages, and it helps to think about them separately, because only the first is in our hands.
| Stage | Time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Dispatch | 2 to 4 business days | Order confirmed and paid, stock picked, packed and handed to the carrier. You get an email when it ships. |
| Transit | 7 to 15 business days | In the carrier’s hands. Tracking details arrive with the dispatch email. |
| Total, typical | 9 to 19 business days | Order to door. |
Dispatch is subject to stock. Some destinations run longer than the transit figure when customs clearance is slow, which is outside anyone’s control.
If you have a haul-out date to hit, say so before you order. We can arrange express shipping to many destinations for an additional cost, but it has to be set up in advance rather than after the parcel is already moving.
When the $300 threshold actually matters
Almost never on a machine. The whole windlass and drum winch range starts well above $300, so those orders ship free by default and the threshold is academic.
It matters on accessories bought on their own, where individual items sit below it. A snubber kit is $67.00. Rode kits start at $123.00 for drums. Anchors start at $207.00. Any one of those alone is under the line, while an anchor and a rode together clear it comfortably.
- Windlasses and drum winches, all of which ship free.
- Anchors, from $207.00.
- Accessories, where bundling is usually what gets you over the line.
If you are fitting a windlass from scratch, this rarely needs managing. The rode, the anchor and the deck gear are going on the same order as the machine anyway, and that order is free to ship no matter how it is put together. Our cost guide prices those parts as a complete system.
Frequently asked questions
Will I have to pay customs or import duty when it arrives?
No, wherever our carriers support DDP. Duties and import taxes are paid by Windlass Central through the carrier before your parcel reaches you, and any applicable tax is shown at checkout. Nothing is collected at the door.
Is the $300 threshold before or after tax?
Before. It is measured on the order subtotal, so tax and any customs component do not count toward reaching it.
How long will my order take?
Typically 9 to 19 business days in total: 2 to 4 to dispatch from Melbourne, then 7 to 15 in transit. Customs clearance can add time on some routes.
Do you ship to my country?
Most likely. We ship to most destinations worldwide. If you are not sure about yours, contact us before ordering rather than after, and we will confirm it.
Can I get an order faster than that?
Express shipping is available to many destinations for an extra cost. It has to be arranged before you place the order, so get in touch first.
Does free shipping cover oversize items?
Most items, yes. A few bulky products need a freight quote instead of the standard service. If something on your order falls into that category, we contact you with the cost before anything is dispatched.
Will a windlass ever cost extra to ship?
Not on the standard service. Every machine in the range is priced above $300, so the free threshold is already met by the winch alone.
Can I track my order?
Yes. Every shipped order gets a tracking number, emailed to you as soon as the parcel is on its way.
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