Shipping policy

Shipping Policy
Last updated: August 28, 2025

At North Country Market, we take great care to ensure your order arrives fresh, frozen, and in top condition. Please read this Shipping Policy before placing an order.

1) Where we ship

We currently ship within the province of Alberta, Canada. We do not ship to other provinces, territories, or outside of Canada. We do not ship to PO Boxes or APO/FPO addresses.

2) Order processing time

Processing begins after you approve and pay your shipping quote. We then process orders as soon as possible (typically 1–3 business days). Orders placed after our weekly cut-off (Wednesday at 12 PM MT) ship the following week.

3) Shipping method & cold chain

We ship with trusted courier partners. All orders are packed in insulated packaging with ice packs or dry ice to maintain safe temperatures in transit. We may contact you to coordinate a delivery window for larger orders.

4) Delivery timeframes

Most orders are delivered within 5–7 business days after the shipping invoice is paid. Delivery times vary by location; rural addresses may take longer. We can’t guarantee delivery dates and aren’t responsible for courier delays.
 Half Beef and other large/butchered orders: please allow additional lead time for cutting and packing; we’ll provide an ETA during quoting.

5) Shipping costs (quoted & invoiced separately — current process)

Shipping is not calculated at checkout. You’ll see “Shipping to be quoted (we’ll invoice separately)” at checkout. After you place your order:

  • We email a shipping quote based on your address, order size/weight, and service level.

  • You must approve and pay the shipping invoice before we dispatch your order.

  • If we don’t hear back within 48 hours, we’ll hold your order and may cancel/refund at our discretion.

From time to time we may offer flat-rate or free-shipping promotions. When automated shipping goes live, rates will appear at checkout and this policy will be updated.

6) In-store pickup

You may select Free In-Store Pickup at checkout. Pickup orders are available at:
 North Country Market
 3815 Caxton St, Whitecourt, AB T7S 0A2
 Pickup hours: 12–5 PM
 We’ll email you when your order is ready.

7) Cold chain & delivery responsibility

Please ensure someone is available to receive your order. Once delivered to the address provided, North Country Market is no longer responsible for maintaining product temperature. Refrigerate or freeze products immediately upon receipt.

8) Damaged or spoiled products

If your order arrives damaged or spoiled, contact us within 24 hours of delivery via our contact form with your order number, photos, and a description of the issue. We’ll review and determine eligibility for a refund or replacement.

9) Weather delays & holds

To protect product quality, we may hold shipments during extreme weather that could impact transit times. We’ll notify you if your order is delayed for this reason.

 

 

How shipping quotes work (quick guide)

  1. Place your order with “Shipping to be quoted” at checkout.

  2. We email your quote (service options + price).

  3. You approve & pay the invoice.

  4. We ship and send tracking.