Delivered with Care

Shipping & Returns

How we process, package, and ship your order — plus free Shipment Protection on every order, and our policy on replacements for lost, damaged, or stolen packages.

Last updated: June 21, 2026

Quality You Can Trust

Every order is carefully prepared, inspected, and shipped with the utmost care. We stand behind the quality and purity of every product we deliver.

Shipping Options

At checkout you may choose one of the following methods. Rates and transit times below match what you see in your cart.

FedEx 2 Day Shipping - $14 (Free on orders $200+)

Expected delivery within 48 hours after dispatch within the contiguous United States. Carrier scans and rural routes may add a day in isolated cases.

A flat $14 rate applies below $200; complimentary once your cart total (after any discount code) is $200 or more.

UPS 2nd Day Air - $14 (Free on orders $200+)

Expected delivery within 48 hours after dispatch within the contiguous United States. A UPS alternative to FedEx 2 Day with the same rate and transit time.

A flat $14 rate applies below $200; complimentary once your cart total (after any discount code) is $200 or more.

FedEx Overnight Shipping - $45

Expedited FedEx service for time-sensitive lab schedules. Expected delivery on the next calendar day when ordered before 1:00 PM EST.

Overnight is optional; the final delivery date is estimated by FedEx once labeled. Orders placed after the 1:00 PM EST cutoff ship the next business day.

UPS Next Day Air - $45

Expedited UPS service for time-sensitive lab schedules. Expected delivery on the next calendar day when ordered before 1:00 PM EST.

Next Day is optional; the final delivery date is estimated by UPS once labeled. Orders placed after the 1:00 PM EST cutoff ship the next business day.

USPS Express Shipping - $13 (for PO boxes and rural areas)

Ideal for PO boxes and rural addresses that carriers can't otherwise reach. Expected delivery within 2-3 days after dispatch.

A flat $13 rate always applies to USPS Express, including on orders over $200.

Orders placed before 3:00 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, typically ship the same day.
We also ship on Saturdays, with an earlier cutoff of 1:00 PM Eastern Time.
Orders placed after the cutoff, on Sundays, or on U.S. federal holidays are processed on the next shipping day.
You will receive an email confirmation when your order is received and another when it ships with tracking details.

Refunds & Returns

Due to the sensitive nature of our products and applicable regulatory requirements, all sales are final.

Ascend Science does not accept returns, issue refunds, or allow order cancellations once an order has been placed, regardless of delivery status.

What we do stand behind is delivery. Every order carries free Shipment Protection, and if your package doesn't reach you intact, we send another one.

Free Shipment Protection

Every Ascend Science order includes Shipment Protection at no cost. There is nothing to add at checkout and nothing to pay for it — it is included on every order, to every address, every time.

If your package is lost in transit, arrives damaged, or is stolen after delivery, we will reship the affected items at our expense once your claim is verified.

Protection covers reshipment of the products only. It does not convert an order into a refund, and it does not reimburse shipping paid on the original order. Each claim category below has its own proof requirement and reporting deadline.

Damaged in Transit

Report damage within seven (7) calendar days of the carrier's delivery date.

Proof of damage is required. Claims must include a full unboxing video plus clear photos of the outer packaging, the damaged contents, and the packing slip, as listed under Required Documentation below. A claim without visual proof of the damage cannot be verified and will be denied.

Keep all original packaging until your claim is resolved. The carrier may require an inspection, and discarding the box can void the claim.

Lost in Transit

A package is treated as lost when the carrier confirms it as lost, or when tracking shows no movement for seven (7) consecutive days and the carrier is unable to locate it.

Contact us and we will open a trace with the carrier on your behalf. A reshipment is issued once the carrier confirms the package cannot be delivered or located — carrier confirmation is required before we can send a replacement.

Report a missing shipment within fifteen (15) days of the ship date. Carriers close trace requests after a set period, and once they do, the package can no longer be confirmed lost.

Stolen After Delivery

Theft from a porch, mailroom, front desk, locker, or other delivery location is covered, within the conditions below. Report it within seven (7) calendar days of the carrier's delivery date.

Because the carrier's records show the package as delivered, a stolen-package claim requires either a police report filed with your local department, or a signed written statement from you confirming the package was not received. Before filing, please check with neighbors, building staff, and other entrances — carriers occasionally scan a delivery early or leave packages out of sight.

Stolen-package reshipments are limited to one per customer. Subsequent orders to an address where a theft has been reported may require a signature on delivery.

Incorrect or Missing Items

If your order arrives with the wrong items, or an item listed on the packing slip is absent from the box, notify us within seven (7) calendar days of the carrier's delivery date. Verified fulfillment errors are corrected by reshipping the affected items.

All reporting windows on this page are firm. Requests submitted outside of them will be denied without exception.

How to File a Shipment Protection Claim

Damaged, lost, stolen, or missing — here's what to do.

Gather Your Proof

Damaged or missing items: a full unboxing video plus photos. Stolen: a police report or signed statement. Lost: just your order number.

Email Us In Time

Send it to support@ascend.science with your order number within 7 days of delivery — or 15 days of the ship date if the package never arrived.

We Reship It

Once your claim is verified, we send the affected items again at no cost to you.

Required Documentation

Claims for damage, incorrect items, or missing items must include complete and verifiable documentation:

A full unboxing video recorded from the moment the package is first opened
Photos of the external packaging
Photos of the package contents
Photos of the packing slip enclosed with the order

Claims for a stolen package require a police report or signed statement of non-receipt. Claims for a lost package require confirmation from the carrier, which we obtain on your behalf.

Claims submitted without the documentation required for their category cannot be verified and will be denied.

Resolution

A verified Shipment Protection claim is resolved by reshipping the affected items at our expense. This is the remedy in every case.

Cash refunds, store credits, partial credits, and other compensation are not provided in place of a reshipment, and shipping charges paid on the original order are not reimbursed.

Chargebacks

If something has gone wrong with your delivery, file a Shipment Protection claim — it is free, and it is faster than a bank dispute.

Chargebacks filed instead of a claim, or filed on refused packages and claims falling outside these terms, will be disputed using carrier confirmation, delivery records, and the customer's agreement to these Terms.

Our Commitment

We are committed to accurate fulfillment and timely shipment of every order. To maintain fairness, prevent abuse, and protect all parties involved, the policies above are strictly enforced. By placing an order with Ascend Science, you acknowledge and agree to these terms.