Here are answers to some of the frequently askes questions we get from our customers:
FAQ — DELIVERY POLICIES
1.Where does the NY Balloon & Basket Co. deliver?
2. What if I don’t know the delivery zip code?
3. What is the deadline for placing an order?
4. How far in advance may I place an order?
5. What delivery times are available?
6. What are the delivery charges?
7. What happens if the recipient is not home or in the office?
8. How can I confirm that a delivery has been made?
9. May I cancel an order once it has been placed online?
10. How long will balloons float?
11. Are non-latex balloons available for delivery?
12. What facilities will not permit the delivery of helium balloons?
13. How do you deliver the items on your site?
14. I just received my balloons - why are some of the latex popping?
15. I just received my balloons - the foils are deflating!! Why???
1. Where does the NY Balloon & Basket Co. deliver?
BALLOON BOUQUETS: We deliver inflated balloons in the New York City area, including Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island by hand. We provide limited hand delivery service to parts of the Bronx as well as Nassau County of Long Island. Check our list of zip codes to see precisely where we deliver and the delivery charge for that specific zip code. This chart refelcts delivery charges for individual balloon bouquet deliveries ONLY. If you do not see the zip code listed, please call our office at 1-888-714-5666 for more information.
BALLOON DECOR: We provide Balloon Decor delivery to the New York City Area, including Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx as well as Nassau and Suffolk Counties of Long Island and Central New Jersey. Set-up and Installation charges apply to Balloon Decor depending on the size of the order, design and customizations.
GIFT BASKETS, PLUSH, BALLOON SUPPLIES [except helium]: All items can ship UPS or Fed Ex. Hand Delivery is available within the New York City area for additional charges. For certain items, requesting hand delivery may increase the expected delivery time or date.
2. What if I don’t know the delivery zip code?
It is necessary for you to know the zip code in order to place your delivery on-line. Please call and place your order by phone (888-714-5666 or 718-714-6160) if the zip code is not known. Our hours of business are 9am to 6pm, Monday through Sunday, Eastern Time. Our offices are closed on Tuesdays but our delivery teams are out and about doing their events, so please do not hesitate to call.
3. What is the deadline for placing an order?
Online orders may be placed up to 6:00pm for the following day. Same-day orders must be placed by phone (888-714-5666 or 718-714-6160) and must be placed no later than 10:00 am. Same day orders are subject to surcharges. But give us a call anyway - sometimes we can get it there for you regardless of the time!
4. How far in advance may I place an order?
Online orders may be placed up to 30 days in advance. Orders for later dates may be placed by phone (888-714-5666 or 718-714-6160).
5. What delivery times are available?
We offer three time slots when ordering helium balloons on-line — 8am-3pm, 10am-5pm, and 12pm-6pm. Your delivery is guaranteed to take place within the time frame you select. It is possible to make arrangements for deliveries within tighter time frames by phoning in your order during business hours, 9am to 6pm, Monday through Sunday, Eastern Time.
6. What are the delivery charges?
Delivery charges range from $10 to $25 and are determined by the driving distance from our production area in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Special rates apply to large deliveries and décor installations. Please call our offices during business hours, 9am to 6pm, Monday through Sunday, Eastern Time to arrange delivery details.
7. What happens if the recipient is not home or in the office?
We do call each recipient to ensure that they are available to receive the order. We try our best not to "e;spoil the surprise"e;. Orders are delivered within the time frame selected. It is important that customers verify that the recipient will be on site during this time, as we will not be able to make multiple attempts to deliver. If the recipient is not available, the balloons will be left on site using the following guidelines:
· In offices, the balloons will be left in the office unless we are directed otherwise.
· In hospitals, in cases where the patient has been discharged, we will make every effort to make the delivery to the patient’s home. If this address is outside of our delivery area, you will be contacted for other arrangements.
· In apartment buildings or condominiums we will leave them with the manager.
· In private homes, we will first attempt to leave them with a neighbor. If that option is not available, we will return the arrangement to our store and contact the recipient to arrange pick-up or re-delivery. If re-delivery is chosen, there will be an additional delivery charge. Please call our office for details.
8. How can I confirm that a delivery has been made?
An e-mail is sent out when we have confirmation that your recipient (or their representative) has received the items. Please feel free to call us following your selected delivery time for a confirmation of delivery. We can tell you exactly when the order was delivered and who accepted the delivery.
9. May I cancel an order once it has been placed online?
Yes. An order can be cancelled provided the cancellation notice is received by phone up to three hours prior to the beginning of the scheduled delivery time frame. Such calls can be placed 24 hours a day. If outside of normal business hours, a recorded message can be left. There is a 15% surcharge for cancellations - this amount will be deducted from your total and the balance will be refunded to your credit card.
10. How long will balloons float?
Different types of balloons float for varying times, from 20 hours to several weeks. You will find the floating time of each arrangement included with the product information. These are the approximate times you can expect the balloons to float once they are delivered. In many cases you will be offered the option to add Hi-Float treatment to your order, which will extend the floating time by several days. Hi-Float is used for latex balloons only.
11. Are non-latex balloons available for delivery?
Yes. We offer a large line of foil balloons, all sizes, shapes and colors for different occasions or just plain. We also offer plastic balloons in a limited number of designs and colors.
12. What facilities will not permit the delivery of helium balloons?
The following facilities in the New York City area will not allow helium-filled balloons on the premises or have restrictions on the type of balloons permitted.
• All hospitals prefer arrangements of foil balloons over latex balloons; certain hospitals or departments do not allow balloons of any type.
• All public and private schools usually accept balloon deliveries
• Balloons are not permitted in prisons or detention facilities.
For décor deliveries, please check with the venue you are hosting your event with to ensure that they allow balloons, helium or air-inflated. If there are any restrictions, please inform us by calling (888-714-5666 or 718-714-6160) during business hours 9am to 6pm, Monday through Sunday, Eastern Time.
13. How do you deliver the items on your site?
Balloon Bouquets are delivered by hand within the five boroughs of New York City [Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx] and Nassau County [limited areas]. Balloon Decor is also delivered by hand; special charges apply for installation of the decor and are priced according to venue location, restrictions, time of day, delivery hours window, and complexity of decor. Gift Baskets, Gift Items, Balloon Supplies, Candy & Baked Goods are shipped UPS only. Multiple items in an order may ship separately. Special arrangements to have items that would normally ship separately to be hand delivered within the NYC area can be made. Candy Carts can only be delivered in the five boroughs but limited delivery is available during the months of April, May & June - please call for details.
14. I just received my balloons - why are some of the latex popping?
Some things to keep in mind when ordering balloons - the temperature of the room you are putting the balloons in, the texture of the ceiling or walls in that room, and the placement of the balloons within that room. A very warm room may be too hot for latex balloons, and especially the ceiling. A very warm room has a "e;superhot"e; ceiling and the heat will cause the helium gas in the balloon to expand beyond the capacity of the balloon, resulting in the balloon popping. Rough textures on the wall or ceiling also can cause balloons to pop. Drastic temperature changes, taking balloons from outside to inside or having a window with cold air blowing on the balloons and then shutting the window and keeeping the heat on in the room can also lend itself to the balloons popping. As an FYI, tie loose balloons down until the temperature in the room evens out.
15. I just received my balloons - the foils are deflating!! Why???
(Not to repeat ourselves, but....)
Some things to keep in mind when ordering balloons - the temperature of the room you are putting the balloons in, the texture of the ceiling or walls in that room, and the placement of the balloons within that room. A very warm room may be too hot for latex balloons, and especially the ceiling. A very warm room has a "e;superhot"e; ceiling and the heat will cause the helium gas in the balloon to expand beyond the capacity of the balloon, resulting in the balloon popping. Rough textures on the wall or ceiling also can cause balloons to pop. Drastic temperature changes, taking balloons from outside to inside or having a window with cold air blowing on the balloons and then shutting the window and keeeping the heat on in the room can also lend itself to the balloons popping. As an FYI, tie loose balloons down until the temperature in the room evens out.
Customer Service Guarantee
We guarantee to deliver the product you order, to the address you provide, during the time you specify. If we fail to deliver on any one of these points, a full refund will be credited to your credit card account within 24 hours of notification. If any balloons are defective in your arrangement, we will redeliver replacement balloons within 24 hours of notification or provide you with credit for the defective balloons. The choice will be yours.
Please Note: Helium is a non-combustible gas. However, when in a cylinder, helium is under extremely high pressure. NEVER ALLOW ANYONE TO BREATHE IN HELIUM. Once helium enters the lungs, it binds to red blood cells and does not allow those cells to carry the oxygen they need to get to a person's lungs. This can cause rapid suffocation. Never let anyone play with the nozzle of a helium tank. All helium tanks must be placed in a safety stand or be chained or bolted to a wall or floor.