This fee covers the labor and logistics involved when an espresso machine shipment is returned to sender—whether due to a refused delivery, an incorrect address, or an unclaimed package at the carrier facility. When a multi-hundred-pound espresso machine makes a round trip, it requires careful reprocessing by trained technicians to ensure it remains in sellable condition.What This Fee Covers Complete machine inspection by Clive's Portland-based espresso technicians—former baristas who know these machines inside and out Functional testing to verify no shipping damage occurred during the return journey Repackaging and restocking with fresh protective materials and documentation Carrier coordination for return logistics and documentation Inventory system updates to return the machine to available stock Why This MattersEspresso machines aren't books or t-shirts. A refused or unclaimed delivery means a 50–150 pound piece of precision equipment has traveled across the country twice, been handled by multiple carrier facilities, and sat in warehouse conditions outside our control. Every machine that returns to our Portland headquarters goes through the same rigorous inspection process we use for customer trade-ins—because we only sell equipment we'd confidently ship to our own family.This reprocessing work is performed by the same team who answers the phone when you call Clive. They're not warehouse staff reading a script—they're coffee professionals who have pulled thousands of shots on the exact machines in our catalog. They know what to look for, they know what matters, and they ensure every machine leaves our facility in perfect working order.Avoiding Return-to-Sender SituationsThe best way to avoid this fee is to ensure accurate delivery information at checkout and to monitor tracking closely once your machine ships. Espresso machines require an adult signature at delivery—if you won't be available, consider shipping to a workplace address or arranging a hold-for-pickup at your local carrier facility. Our team is happy to help coordinate delivery logistics before your machine ships.
