Policies - Shipping & Payments

To our cherished customers,

We have decided to ship international orders primarily with Ghana Post.

Our former courier, DHL, has raised its prices dramatically over the years. In this part of Ghana, reliable courier options are extremely limited, and in practical terms the choice comes down to Ghana Post or DHL.

The Baba Tree’s shipping prices have not increased for at least five years. Absorbing DHL’s steadily rising costs has severely impacted our modest profit margins and, at times, has caused us to lose money outright.

Using Ghana Post allows us to keep shipping charges far more manageable for our customers while helping us operate more sustainably as a business. For countries not served by Ghana Post, we will continue to use DHL.

Payment Methods

Payments can be made through:

  • Visa
  • MasterCard
  • Apple Pay
  • PayPal
  • Shop Pay

All payments are processed through our Canadian banking institution.

Canadian customers: please see our Canadian Retail Customers page.

Please note: our products are not available for sale in Ghana.

Shipping Fees

Zone 1

USA, Europe, Africa
$17.50 USD per basket
Free shipping on orders over $450.00 USD

Zone 2

Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Far East, South America, Central America (including Mexico), and the Caribbean
$20.00 USD per basket
Free shipping on orders over $500.00 USD

Additional taxes and duties may apply upon delivery.

Order Processing

Once you have placed your order, we will send you an email confirming that we have received it.

When your order is shipped, you will receive:

  • an email confirmation of shipping
  • an email receipt
  • a tracking number

If your order has been sent via Ghana Post, you will receive a Ghana Post tracking number a few days after your order has been shipped.

Delivery Times

Ghana Post

Please allow 2–3 weeks for delivery.

DHL

For destinations not served by Ghana Post, delivery via DHL typically takes about one week.

Shipping Process

Your basket(s) will be placed inside a poly woven sack, then wrapped in cardboard, and wrapped again with a great deal of packing tape.

There is nothing fancy about our packaging. It is practical, secure, and designed to protect your order during international transit.

Because international shipping costs are extremely high, we often pack our baskets in a compressed state in order to keep shipping charges as low as possible. This does not hurt the basket, as they are very resilient, and a document will be included in the package showing you how to reshape the basket (SHAZAM!) in a matter of minutes.

    basket

      Returns

      Because international return shipping is extremely expensive, please review our Returns Policy before placing your order.

      Documentation / Customs / Quarantine / Sales Tax / Duties

      For customs purposes, all shipments will be accompanied by either a Statement of Origin, a Certificate of Origin, or an EUR1 Certificate, showing that the products are 100% made in Ghana.

      The Baba Tree cannot and will not take responsibility for any charges relating to brokerage fees, duties, VAT, GST, handling charges, or any other import-related costs incurred when your shipment enters your country.

      For most countries, having to pay VAT or GST on goods entering the country from overseas is simply a fact of life.

      Country Notes

      USA: Baba Tree products are duty-free entering the USA.

      U.K. and Europe: customers will most likely pay VAT and/or customs duties when Baba Tree products enter the country.

      Australia / New Zealand: you may be charged duty and GST.

      Japan and other countries in the Far East: please consult your local customs office regarding taxes and duties.

      If you contact your local customs office to find out whether your basket will be assessed duty, please quote “Chapter 4602” Commodity.

      The Baba Tree will not take responsibility for any costs incurred if your shipment is subjected to quarantine inspections that result in treatment with insecticide. With the exception of Australia, New Zealand, and Chile, no other country we have shipped to so far has subjected our products to quarantine insecticide treatments.

      Additionally, we will not assume responsibility, financially or otherwise, if your shipment is not allowed into the country in which you reside and is therefore returned to Ghana.

      If you are unsure about your country’s customs or quarantine laws, we suggest that you contact your local customs office before ordering.

      Why We Ship This Way

      The Baba Tree is a fair trade business that is fully government compliant, with all that entails. Our artisans and core crew are paid a living wage, earn commissions, receive free health care, and are assisted with education, among many other things. We are also deeply committed to lessening our carbon footprint on the earth that so generously sustains us.

      All of this means that using Ghana Post is a challenging but necessary tradeoff. It is slower than DHL, but it allows us to keep shipping costs far lower than they would otherwise be.

      Thank you for your understanding and for supporting The Baba Tree.