Free shipping sounds simple from the outside. Click, order, wait for tracking.
Behind the scenes, it is one of the biggest promises a small store makes. Shipping is never free in the literal sense. Someone pays for it. The question is whether the cost is shown as a separate line at checkout, hidden inside the product price, or absorbed by the store as part of earning a first order.
At Raised Like Family, we keep the promise plain: free US shipping on every order. No minimum. No code. No surprise shipping charge appearing at the last second.
Why US-only for now
We currently ship within the United States only. That includes the 50 states, Washington DC, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and APO/FPO addresses.
That choice is not because international pet parents do not matter. It is because a new small shop should not make promises it cannot keep cleanly. International shipping brings customs delays, duties, extra paperwork, unpredictable delivery times, and customer support problems that are hard to solve from day one.
US-only lets us keep the checkout simpler and the expectations more honest.
What happens after you order
Orders are processed within 1-3 business days. After your order ships, delivery typically takes 5-12 business days depending on where you are in the US and how the carrier route moves.
You receive tracking by email when the order is on its way. If tracking looks strange, stalls, or says delivered when you did not receive it, email support@raisedlikefamily.com and we will look at it with you.
That sounds basic. It should be. Shipping anxiety is one of the fastest ways an online shopper loses trust.
Why we do not hide shipping behind a minimum
Lots of stores say free shipping and then quietly require a threshold. Free over $50. Free over $75. Free after a code. That is not wrong, but it makes the shopper do math.
Our first job right now is not maximizing average order value. It is proving the store can deliver a clean first experience. A customer who buys one Dog Paw Cleaner Cup, receives it, and feels treated fairly is more valuable than a shopper forced into a bundle they did not want.
What free shipping does not mean
Free shipping does not mean overnight delivery. It does not mean Amazon-speed logistics. It does not mean every product ships from the same building. And it does not mean we can fix every carrier delay before the carrier updates tracking.
What it means is simpler: you should not reach checkout and discover the real price was hiding behind a shipping line.
How to know an email is really from us
Shipping questions can attract weird messages online, so here is the rule: we only email from support@raisedlikefamily.com. We will ask for your order number if we need to find an order. We will never ask for your password, full card number, gift-card payment, bank transfer, or account login details.
If something claiming to be us feels off, do not reply to it. Forward it to support@raisedlikefamily.com and we will tell you whether it came from us.
Where to check the official policy
The short version lives here: free US shipping, 1-3 business days to process, 5-12 business days typical delivery after shipment, tracking by email.
The longer official version is on our Shipping & Returns page and our shipping policy.
The practical promise
We are not trying to make shipping sound more glamorous than it is. We are trying to make it predictable enough that you do not have to wonder what happens after checkout.
If you are ordering for a specific date, trip, or gift, email before buying. We would rather tell you the timing is risky than take the order and hope.
Questions about shipping? Email support@raisedlikefamily.com. Ready to browse? Start with Muddy Paw Cleanup or the full Start Here shelf.