Domestic Shipping and Storage
Domestic Shipping & Storage
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Know where the beans are stored. Full bags of cocoa beans (45 - 70 kg each or 100 - 155 lbs each, depending on origin) are held at three warehouses: the majority at East Bay Logistics in Hayward, CA, with additional stock at Dependable Distribution in Pennsauken, NJ, and a smaller rotating selection at Meridian's Portland, OR headquarters.
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Understand how full bags are shipped. Bags are stacked on a wooden pallet, wrapped with stretch wrap, and strapped down for transit. A pallet holds up to 8 full bags, and ordering or shipping in full-pallet increments gets the lowest price per kilo for shipping and handling.
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Choose how your order gets to you. You have three options:
- Let Meridian arrange shipping: we have competitive freight carrier rates that we pass on to customers and can help organize the shipment.
- Arrange your own shipping: Meridian will provide the necessary pickup and shipment details to pass along to your own trucking company.
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Pick up the order yourself: available at either warehouse with 48 hours' lead time, or one week's lead time for Portland, OR pickups (to ensure the beans are in stock). Note that bags weigh around 150 pounds, so a large vehicle and at least two people are recommended for moving them.
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Know the typical lead time. Once an order is finalized, it usually takes about 2 days for a trucking company to pick up the shipment, plus an additional 2–6 days of transit depending on the distance between your facility and the warehouse.
- Know what to do if cargo arrives damaged. Damage is rare since pallets are tightly strapped and wrapped, but if beans arrive damaged or missing, it's important to document the damage with the delivery driver before signing off on the delivery. After notifying the driver, also notify Meridian so they can follow up.
To contact us with any questions or requests, please email info@meridiancacao.com.