Launch Lab Rocketry Questions and Answers | FAQ
FAQs
How long will it take to ship my order?
Everything that shows “in stock” on the site is in fact in stock and ready to ship. As such, most orders should ship within 2-3 business days, if not sooner. After large sale events or holidays, you may experience a few day order processing delay. Mystery Boxes may take up to a week to ship due to their customized nature. Most orders are shipped via USPS (First Class or Priority Mail, and occasionally Parcel Select). Our goal is to give you the cheapest shipping possible, so depending on weight and cost, orders may be sent via any carrier (USPS, UPS, Fedex) or service level of our choosing.
Once shipped, your order will usually be delivered within 4 - 7 business days domestically but can take weeks internationally. The only exception to this rule is Apparel. Apparel items are shipped separately, directly from our printing partner, and may take up to 2 weeks to fulfill and ship, and possibly another week to be delivered. Please be patient when adding these items to your order. Non-apparel items in your order will be fulfilled and shipped directly from Launch Lab.
What are your shipping rates and which countries do you ship to?
We offer weight-based USPS shipping to the United States at pretty close to our costs, with free shipping on domestic orders over $150 (you must choose the “standard shipping” option for free shipping over $150). Depending on weight and cost, orders with or without free shipping may be sent via any carrier or service level of our choosing (USPS, UPS, Fedex).
International shipping is available at $23 base + $1 per item flat rate USPS shipping to Canada, $30 base + $3 per item flat rate USPS shipping to United Kingdom, France, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands, New Zealand, and Australia. ROCKET MOTORS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE SHIPPED INTERNATIONALLY. International orders with motors in them will be cancelled.
All international packages will be marked as “merchandise” on the customs forms, and duties may be incurred upon import. Contact us if you don’t see your country listed – we may still be able to ship to you. These rates are subject to change at any time and we reserve the right to levy additional international shipping fees for larger orders.
Engine/Motor Shipping Info: We are specially authorized by the USPS to legally ship model rocket motors in the United States, via USPS Parcel Select/Retail Ground/Ground Advantage only. This service pricing is equivalent to Priority Mail pricing, but sent via surface mail only, so it is much slower. Any order from us that includes motors, regardless of shipping service requested, will ship via USPS Parcel Select/Retail Ground/Ground Advantage.
If there ever is a significant overage in what you paid versus our actual shipping costs, we will send you a partial shipping refund. We’re not looking to make money on shipping, but rather, just cover our costs.
Do you offer expedited shipping or other carriers besides USPS?
UPS Ground/Home Delivery shipping is available at a $15 base + $2 per item flat rate to the United States. Fedex Ground/Home Delivery shipping is available at a $19 base + $2 per item flat rate to the United States (our discounts are not as large as with UPS). If you choose one of these options, your order will be sent via that carrier. Contact us if you need expedited options like Overnight or 2-Day services.
Why did my order arrive in an Amazon/Staples/Walmart, etc. box?
Pretty simple - sometimes we recycle boxes we receive. No need to generate more waste and buy even more new boxes than absolutely necessary, when so many perfectly good boxes get delivered to us, our family, and neighbors daily.
What is your return policy?
Order mistakes that are a result of fulfillment errors or shipping damage may be exchanged or returned at no cost within 7 days of order receipt. Please contact us to arrange a return. Apparel may not be returned and are final sale.
Unopened merchandise in still-new condition may be returned within 14 days of order receipt for a full refund or exchange. Buyer will be responsible for any return shipping costs and any damage sustained during return shipment. Please contact us to arrange a return.
Are your original designs safe to launch?
Yes, all of the Launch Lab-designed rockets go through rigorous testing in all types of flight conditions, and if built per the instructions and used as intended, should launch wonderfully for you time after time.
My Vander-Burn plywood parts don’t fit well or arrived with scorch marks on them. Why?
Both of these scenarios are normal for plywood parts. Cardboard tubes are not always exact and fluctuate size with weather, as does plywood. You may need to sand down our plywood parts or add some extra glue for a perfect fit. And unfortunately, as plywood gets cut with a laser, sometimes it gets some scorch marks. These are purely cosmetic and do not affect the performance of the item. However, if you feel your items are vastly ill-fitting or too scorched, please contact us. The old Vander-Burn stock tends to have more scorch marks than the new Launch Lab-created parts.
What condition are your vintage kits in? Are the photos on your site the exact item photos?
Most of our vintage kits are in great, unopened condition, with no damage present. If there is damage present, or if the kit has been opened, it will be noted in the condition description on the item page. About 90% of the photos on the site are of the actual rocket kits you will receive. However, for some models, we have multiples available and so the photo you see will be whichever one we photographed. Occasionally, the rocket you receive might have a price sticker or writing on the packaging, and sometimes the rocket might be in slightly different packaging than pictured. Most of the time, if it’s really noticeable, we try to list these variances. If you are concerned about condition of an item, you can always contact us before purchasing and ask! Please note that vintage kits may have brittle shock cords that need replacing, and the balsa fins may have separated from the whole balsa sheet. These are normal issues with vintage kits and may not be reported in an item’s “condition.”
Can I get an electronic copy of assembly instructions or OpenRocket files for Launch Lab or Vander-Burn kits I’ve purchased?
Sure, we’d be happy to provide those for you. Please contact us and we’ll send them along.
Do you have spare parts available for Launch Lab or Vander-Burn kits I’ve purchased?
Yes, we have extra parts available for purchase for Launch Lab or Vander-Burn-created kits. Please contact us and let us know what you need.
I have a promo code that displays the message “This discount does not apply to any products in your cart.” Why?
Currently, most promo codes exclude items in “The Vault Reserve,” “Bullet Bobby XXL,” “Subscriptions” and “Gift Cards” categories. In addition, all offers and promos are subject to change or cancellation at any time. You can always “Make Us an Offer” on an item that is non-discountable and we will consider it!
Vander-Burn Acquisition FAQ can be found here.
Terms of Use: Launch Lab Rocketry will not be held responsible for the use or misuse of our rockets. The buyers of our kits assume all risks and liabilities, and use our rocket kits under these conditions. The designer and vendor of these kits will be held harmless in case of any damage or injury. All resemblance to trademarked or copyrighted works is purely coincidental.