Shopping at the Unemployed Philosophers Guild: US shipping, international orders and returns
The Unemployed Philosophers Guild sells gifts with a bookish sense of humour: mints, mugs, candles, T-shirts, puzzles and more. The shop is based in Brooklyn and ships worldwide, but the rules differ a lot between a US address and everywhere else. This guide separates the two, so you know the cost, the wait and the return rules before you fill the basket.
Free shipping and delivery within the US
The banner on every page reads "Free Shipping ANYWHERE in the Continental US for Orders over $50", and the shop adds that it applies to retail orders only. Orders usually ship from the Indiana warehouse within 48 hours, though it sometimes takes longer. Every order, domestic or international, comes with tracking. The shipping page describes these methods:
- USPS First Class for orders under 13 oz, typically 3 to 8 business days.
- USPS Priority Mail, typically 3 to 8 business days.
- UPS Ground for all domestic shipments, with transit times on a map.
- Standard Economy, the cheapest option, including UPS Mail Innovations and UPS SurePost. It takes 5 to 12 business days.
- UPS 3 Day Select, 2nd Day Air and Next Day Air for quicker delivery. These cannot go to a P.O. Box and can take a business day to leave the warehouse.
The shop notes that days mean business days and that UPS does not deliver on weekends. To speed things up, qualifying orders may be fulfilled by Amazon, and then the shop cannot predict the courier. If you need a specific delivery date, call 800-255-8371 or email [email protected].
International shipping and Canada
The shop says its site lets you order from most places on the planet. International orders, Canada included, usually arrive within 3 to 6 weeks, and customs clearance can change that. The shipping cost you pay does not include taxes, duties or other charges at the destination, and the shop cannot quote your local costs in advance. Check your local customs rules and the checkout total before you pay.
Businesses outside the US that want to stock the products are pointed to a list of international distributors on the contact page, which includes Australia, Bulgaria, Canada and Chile.
Returns and exchanges
Items can be returned for a refund of the purchase price, minus the shipping cost, or exchanged within 30 days. After that, neither is possible. Write to [email protected] or call 718-243-9492 for return instructions.
- Items must be in the original condition, with paperwork, packaging and accessories.
- Unworn T-shirts and slippers can only be exchanged for a different size.
- Gift cards and items marked "Fond Farewells" or "Clearance" cannot be refunded or exchanged.
- If you got an item as a gift, you can exchange it or take UPG store credit, but there is no refund.
Report damage or defects right away. When a refund is requested for an eligible item, it is processed on the day customer service receives the item.
Payment and contact
The FAQ lists Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, PayPal and Amazon Pay, "and in some cases, barter". The team works from 9:30 AM to about 5:00 PM Monday to Friday, and weekend messages are answered on Monday. The Brooklyn address is a business address, not a store.
| At a glance | Unemployed Philosophers Guild |
|---|---|
| Free shipping | Continental US, shipping free over $50 |
| US delivery | 3 to 12 business days by method |
| International | Usually 3 to 6 weeks, duties extra |
| Returns | 30 days, refund minus shipping |
Using cashback
Open the Unemployed Philosophers Guild page at daily cashback, where you find the current rate (up to 7.5%) and the offers we check every day. Press the shop button, then order and pay as usual. In your free account the cashback shows as open and becomes confirmed once the shop has reported the order. A returned item reduces the cashback by its share.
Tips
- If your US basket is just under $50, compare an extra small item with the shipping you would pay otherwise.
- Ordering from abroad, plan for weeks, not days, and keep the customs charge in mind.
- Finish the order in one visit and pause your ad blocker, because either can lose the cashback click.
As of October 2026.