Ordering Questions

• Q: What kind of sparklers do you recommend for weddings or other special events?

  A: We recommend all our sparklers but especially our #20 Wedding Sparkler , but also our #8, #10, or #14 and #36 sparklers. If you only to order sparklers and other novelties, please e-mail or phone in your order and we can ship with lower rates then fireworks.

• Q: Do you have a minimum order amount?

  A: Our minimum order is $199.   Orders above $599 receive free shipping.  

  Orders of only "mailable" item, such as sparklers, snaps, pops, etc.  Have no minimum order, however you do pay a standard UPS ground shipping rate.  All these items must be shipped by ground and can not be shipped Air Express because of the flammable nature of the product.  Please e-mail or phone in your order and we can ship with lower rates then fireworks.

• Q: What types of payments do you accept?

  A: We accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. We also accept money orders and checks on phone orders. If you use money orders or checks, we can not process your order until your payment clears.

• Q: Why don't you accept COD orders?

  A: It is too easy for us to get stuck with the transportation costs (both out and back) in the event there is no one to accept the COD delivery.

• Q: Why do Michigan residents have to pay sales tax on all orders?

  A: We are a Michigan company and are required by law to collect tax on all sales to Michigan residents that do not possess a valid Michigan wholesale permit.

• Q: I am not in Michigan. Do I have to pay sales tax?

  A: No. Sales tax only affects people that live in Michigan.

• Q: Why do I have to be 18 years old to purchase fireworks?

  A: This policy is in effect for several reasons. First, we do not believe children should have access to fireworks without adult supervision. Second, in order to be bound to our Terms and Conditions, you must be an adult. Minors cannot legally enter into contracts, and our Terms and Conditions become part of the contract between US Fireworks and you, the purchaser of fireworks.

• Q: You prefer not to take telephone orders, but you do take phone calls regarding questions about fireworks and shipping. Why don't you like to take orders over the telephone?

  A: In our experience, telephone orders can take a substantial amount of time to complete, especially when the person ordering fireworks is not really certain about what they want to buy. To save time and money, we prefer to receive orders in "hard copy" form -- either online from our website ordering system, via FAX at 269-663-6103, or by email to service@usfireworks.biz. We find that this method of ordering is less confusing, faster, and less prone to errors than taking orders directly over the phone. If you must place orders over the phone, please have your order ready so we can complete the request as accurately as possible.

Shipping Questions

• Q: Why do you charge to ship fireworks on order less the $599 to your customers?

  A: Fireworks shipping is very costly.  The hazardous nature of the goods requires us to use a freight company like FedEx Freight, Yellow Freight, Overnight Express, and other trucking companies. The fees we are charged are actually much higher and however we want to make purchasing fireworks affordable.  Therefore, we absorb the shipping costs for orders above $599, and we ask that you share the shipping cost for smaller orders.  

• Q: Why can't US Fireworks deliver my fireworks through the Post Office?

  A: The US Post Office will not accept fireworks for delivery through the mail. This forces us to use trucking companies instead. It is illegal to ship most fireworks through the US mail.

  However, we do have a section of mailable items, such as sparklers, snap pops, party pops, and snakes that can be shipped via UPS Ground.

• Q: Can you "express ship"?  Why don't you use FedEx Overnight to deliver fireworks?

  A: Fireworks are explosives, and sparklers are flammables.   So neither of these are allowed to be put onto a plane.   Therefore, we can't "express ship".

• Q: How long does it take to have something shipped to me?

  A: Delivery can take from 3 to 14 days to most places. Most orders arrive in 10 days or less.

• Q: Why do you require my zip code, phone number, and email address to be on the shipping address section of my order?

  A: The zip code is used by the trucking company to route your order to the correct truck terminal. The phone number is used by the trucking company to call you in order to arrange for delivery of your items. We use your email address to notify you of the tracking number once your order has been shipped.

• Q: I ordered something two weeks ago and it did not arrive. How can I find out what happened to my order?

  A: Please contact us by email to service@usfireworks.biz. If your order is lost in transit, we will help you track your shipment. In the event the shipment is lost, the freight company will reimburse you for your order. If you refuse your order when it arrives, no reimbursement will be made.

  All of our merchandise is packed carefully and securely before it is given to the trucking company for delivery. Once the shipment is in the hands of the carrier, our responsibility ceases. However, we will work with you to resolve any issue with the trucking companies that deliver our merchandise.

• Q: My shipment just arrived and it appears to be damaged. What should I do?

  A: If the shipment appears to be damaged upon receipt, please have the delivery agent make a notation stating that fact. Any notification delay may result in a loss to you. We cannot honor claims that a carrier is responsible for. All claims for shortages and/or damages must be made within ten (10) days of receipt of your merchandise. If you have any questions related to shipping, please call us. We are always happy to help.

General Questions

• Q: My State does not allow fireworks to be sold without a permit to store and use fireworks items. How is US Fireworks able to ship fireworks to me without breaking the law?

  A: As a seller of fireworks, we are required to comply with Federal law and the regulations for our State. As a purchaser of fireworks, the responsibility for following your State laws falls upon you, not us.

  Under Federal law, all of the consumer fireworks we sell are legal. These fireworks have been tested by laboratories, such as AFSL, and meet the requirements of US laws. Because the transaction is considered interstate commerce, US Fireworks is subject to Federal law. However, as a purchaser of fireworks, you are obliged to abide by your State and local laws. Additionally, you agree to do this each time you purchase fireworks from us and accept our Terms and Conditions.

• Q: Do you notify my State or local authorities before you ship fireworks to me?

  A: No. We are under no requirement to notify any authority regarding the shipment of fireworks. The same goes for the trucking companies we use.

• Q: You mention several times that it is possible for me to obtain a display permit that will allow me to purchase, store, and use fireworks in my State. How do I get a display permit for my State in order to be completely legal?

  A: Contact your local fire department or the office of the State Fire Marshal. Display permits are routinely issued to people in order to shoot fireworks legally. You may be asked to specify where and when you intend to shoot your fireworks as part of the permit process. Urban areas may require proof of liability insurance. Every area is different. Contact your fire marshal to get more info about display permits in your area.

• Q: What kind of checking does US Fireworks do to verify that it is legal for me to buy fireworks and have them shipped to my address?

  A: None. As part of our Terms and Conditions, you agree to follow all Federal, State, and local laws as a condition of placing an order with us. We have no way to verify whether you are legal to receive the products you order. The responsibility for being legal remains with you the buyer.

• Q: How likely is it that my order would be confiscated by State or local authorities before it is delivered to me?

  A: It is unusual for this to happen, but not unheard of. 

  We cannot ship to APO/FPO or P.O. Boxes.

  We do not ship outside the USA.

  Contact us if you need more information. You can always have your fireworks shipped to a trucking terminal that is in a fireworks friendly State or pick-up.

• Q: If the State police confiscate my fireworks, why won't you refund my money?

  A: Sorry, but you agreed at the time you ordered your fireworks from us that you were legal to possess them. While we don't like to see anyone have this happen to them, it is not our responsibility to make sure you are legal. As such, we won't refund your money if your fireworks are confiscated.

• Q: You have a "no refunds" policy on your fireworks sales. Why do you do that?

  A: Once your fireworks have been shipped, they can never be returned. Do not order fireworks if there is any chance that you may not want them once they arrive -- all sales are final. If you do instruct the shipper to return your shipment after it arrives, you will be charged ACTUAL FREIGHT CHARGES for BOTH directions, plus a $37 restocking fee. In most cases, this can exceed the cost of the order due to the high cost of transporting HAZMAT materials.

• Q: I purchased a bundle of 1280 firecrackers. When I set them off, some of them did not explode. Shouldn't I be able to get some of my money back?

  A: No. We try very hard to deal with the most reputable manufacturers in the world, however because fireworks are hand made, there is still the possibility that there may be a dud or malfunctioning component in a fireworks item. When we discover items that appear to exhibit a high failure rate, we remove them from our inventory. Although most fireworks items have a better than 99% success rate, the occasional dud is a consequence of buying and shooting fireworks.

• Q: What are the differences between "consumer fireworks" and "display fireworks"?

  A: Consumer fireworks are regulated by the Federal Government through the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), while the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATFE) regulates commercial/display fireworks. In order to be considered consumer fireworks, the items must be tested for various attributes. For example, the items may not be made with compounds containing chlorates, the total amount of composition cannot exceed 500 grams, and there are limits on the amount of flash powder that is used to make something explode (50 mg for firecrackers, 130mg for aerials). Anything that falls outside of the CPSC guidelines is automatically classified as commercial/display fireworks.

• Q: What do the numbers 1.4G and 1.3G mean?

  A: These are numbers assigned by the Department of Transportation for the shipment of fireworks. Items classified as 1.4G are consumer items, while items classified as 1.3G are commercial fireworks. All fireworks items allowed for shipment must have an EX number in order to be shipped. See the Department of Transportation (DOT) for more information on this topic.

• Q: What do I need to do to be able to buy and use commercial/display fireworks (1.3G materials)?

  A: You will need a license from the BATFE. There are several different types of licenses available. You will want to check out the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) website to learn more about this. US Fireworks does not sell commercial/display fireworks.

• Q: I am trying to find big firecrackers, like M-80's, cherry bombs, Silver Salutes, quarter sticks, and block busters. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find these anywhere. Do you sell these? If not, do you know where I can buy these items?

  A: The Federal Government issued a law banning all of these fireworks products in the 1960's. A deadline of 1972 was given to allow anyone that had an inventory of these items to be able to sell it before the ban went into effect. Since then, all of these items have been banned by Federal statute. It is also illegal to sell the components in "kit" form to build these items. An exception was granted for agricultural and marine use, so these items still exist as "pest control" items. You may want to check with your local agricultural supply store for more information on these items.

  US Fireworks offers a line of firecrackers that look like the old fireworks, but contain only 50mg of flash powder (the maximum amount of flash powder allowed under Federal law). The original M80's had more than 2 grams (2000mg) of flash powder in the 1960's. The days of powerful firecrackers are long gone.

• Q: I am looking for one of those rockets that the local fire department shoots at our city's display on the Fourth of July. Do you sell those?

  A: What you are probably referring to are shells, not rockets. Shells are launched from mortar tubes and come in a variety of sizes from 1.5" all the way up to 16" and more. Anything over 3 inches is considered commercial/display fireworks and requires a permit from the BATFE to be able to purchase and use it. Commercial/display fireworks may also need a display permit from your Fire Marshal, and liability insurance. Your local fireworks club should be able to fill you in on the details when it comes to commercial fireworks. If you really are looking for large rockets, US Fireworks sells the largest rockets allowed by law for consumer fireworks, with 8" rocket motors and 36 inch sticks. Check out the rocket section on our website!

• Q: Why do you only ship to destinations inside the United States?

  A: US Customs rules and import/export regulations are too complicated for us to deal with economically. It is easier for us to simply restrict sales to the US only.

• Q: How long do I have to wait for my order to be shipped?

  A: We try to process orders as quickly as possible, however there are a lot of steps required to get your order ready for shipment and placed on a truck. In most cases, your order is on a truck within 72 hours of your order. We recommend 14 days between the time an order is placed and the time it actually arrives at your destination.

• Q: Do you have a busy season?

  A: Yes. The month before the Fourth of July and a few weeks before New Years Eve. The closer to these dates orders come, the greater the likelihood of a delay in our ability to process orders. For orders for the Fourth of July, we recommend receiving the order no later than June 22 to ensure your order will be delivered on time. However, we cannot guarantee delivery times. We encourage you to order your fireworks as early as possible.

  Another side effect of the busy season is that people purchase large quantities of our inventory. We can run out of something at any time. To keep up with out of stock items, we update the products on our website daily. The earlier you order, the better your chances of getting everything you want in your order.

• Q: I usually purchase fireworks at roadside stands. I noticed that you sell many of the items I like to purchase for less than half of what I would pay at a fireworks stand. How are you able to do this?

  A: We are a direct importer of fireworks from the factory in China. Also, since we are an on-line business, we do not have to pay for stores, insurance on stores, and excess inventory that sits on store shelves for eleven months out of the year. Our online business model saves us money, which we pass on to our customers in the form of savings.