Made-to-order has a quiet period in the middle that worries people, largely because nothing visible happens for a few days. Here is what is actually going on and when.
Day by day
| When | What happens | Waiting on |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 | Order placed, confirmation email with a tracking code | — |
| Day 0 | We ask for photographs and details on WhatsApp | You |
| Day 0–2 | You send material | You |
| Day 1–4 | Files checked, anything too small flagged | Us |
| Day 2–5 | Sequencing, layout, captions written | Us |
| Day 4–6 | Digital proof sent to you | Us |
| Day 4–8 | You review, request changes, approve | You |
| Next Monday | Prints and dispatches | Us |
| +3 to 5 days | Courier delivers | Courier |
5 to 14 days from order to doorstep, 5 to 12 to Delhi NCR.
Why the range is so wide
Three reasons, and none of them is padding.
Two stages wait on you. Sending photographs and approving the proof are both yours. An order where material arrives the same evening and the proof is approved next morning finishes at the fast end. One where photographs take four days to gather does not.
Dispatch is weekly. We send on Mondays. An order finished on a Tuesday waits for the following Monday, which is where a week appears or disappears. Ordering early in the week is worth more than paying for anything.
Courier transit varies by pin code. Delhi NCR is quicker than the rest of the country, which is the 5 to 12 against 5 to 14.
The quiet bit in the middle
Between sending your photographs and receiving the proof there are usually two to four days where nothing arrives. That is the design stage and it is a person doing the work.
If it has been longer than that with no proof, message us — it usually means a file did not come through.
What you will hear from us
A confirmation email at the start with a tracking code. A message asking for material. The proof. A dispatch note with courier details. Then delivery.
You can check the status yourself at any point with the tracking code and the last four digits of your phone number.
Making it faster
Only three things genuinely move the needle, and all three are yours.
Gather the photographs before ordering. Order early in the week rather than at a weekend. Send all your proof changes in one message rather than three.
Frequently asked
How long after ordering will it arrive? 5 to 14 days from order to doorstep, 5 to 12 to Delhi NCR, depending on how quickly material and proof approval come back.
Why has nothing happened for three days? That is usually the design stage, which takes two to four days. If no proof has arrived after that, a file may not have reached us.
Do you dispatch every day? No, once a week on Mondays. It is why ordering early in the week can save a full seven days.
Will I know when it ships? Yes, you get a dispatch note with courier details, and you can check status any time with your tracking code.
Can I speed it up? Send photographs before you order, order early in the week, and send proof changes in one message. Those three are worth more than anything else.
Part of our guide to ordering a personalised gift. See also: the design proof and tracking your order.
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