Answers to your holiday gift-giving questions (or "Everything you've always wanted to know about The Billable Hour Company's shipping policies but were afraid to ask")
We want to make your holiday shopping experience as simple as possible. With this goal in mind, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about shopping—and shipping—with The Billable Hour Company:
How soon after I place an online order is my order shipped?
All orders placed before noon (Eastern time) Monday through Friday will be shipped the same day; orders placed after noon Monday through Friday are shipped the next business day. Orders placed on weekends and holidays are shipped the next business day.
What shipping options do you offer?
UPS Ground (delivery in 1-5 business days) is the default U.S. shipping method. We also offer UPS Next Day Air Saver (delivery by the end of the next business day), Second Day Air (delivery by the end of the second business day), and 3 Day Select (delivery by the end of the third business day). As you can see from the map below, packages shipped via UPS Ground from our warehouse in Terre Haute, Indiana are delivered to most U.S. locations in three days or less.
Are item prices printed on your packing slips?
You can feel comfortable having your gifts shipped directly to the recipients; there are no prices on our packing slips.
What is the deadline for placing an order to make sure that it arrives before Christmas?
Since we're lawyers, we have a very lawyer-like answer to that question: "it depends." The absolute latest you can order a gift to ensure delivery before Christmas via UPS Second Day Air is 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern on Wednesday, December 22, and the deadline for UPS 3-Day Select is 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern on Tuesday, December 21. (Our warehouse is closed on Thursday, December 23.)
Deadlines for delivery before Christmas for packages shipped via UPS Ground (the most cost-effective shipping option) vary. Orders shipped to the Midwest and most of the East Coast should be placed by 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern on Wednesday, December 22 to ensure Christmas delivery. If your order will be shipped to the plains states, Florida or the Northeast, make sure you order by 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern on Tuesday, December 21. If your gift is going to most of the western third of the country, plan on ordering by 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern on Monday, December 20. Finally, if your gift is going to Hawaii or Puerto Rico, the deadline is 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern on Friday, December 17.
To figure out how quickly a package will arrive at your shipping address, please consult the map above.
I've missed the shipping deadlines. Do you offer gift certificates?
Of course! Billable Hour Company Gift certificates are the perfect solution when you just can't find the right gift or you're short on time.
You can purchase a Billable Hour Company Gift Certificate in any amount (minimum $10).Unlike some gift cards, gift certificates from The Billable Hour Company never expire, and there are no hidden fees that erode the value of the gift certificate.
When you purchase a gift certificate, the recipient receives an e-mail with your personal message, a unique gift certificate identification number, and instructions about how to redeem the gift certificate. You automatically receive a copy of this e-mail.
If you prefer to print the gift certificate and deliver it by hand, you can have the gift certificate e-mailed to you instead. You can even have the gift certificate mailed to the recipient.
Gift certificates are valid on all of our gift items. However, they are not valid in our card store.
Do you ship orders outside the U.S.?
We sure do! USPS Priority Mail International (delivery in 6-10 days) is the default shipping method for orders shipped outside the U.S.method. We also offer USPS Express Mail International (delivery in 3-5 days) and USPS First Class Mail International (for orders up to 4 lbs; delivery times vary). If you have entered a shipping address outside the U.S. at Step 1 of Checkout, you will be offered only the international shipping options at Step 2 of Checkout.
Talking about shipping, check out our free shipping holiday special:
Feature Article: Valuing Yourself by Kevin Houchin
What are you worth?
As lawyers, we tend to say we're worth some dollar value per hour. Are you worth $150? $200? $300? $500 per hour?
Well, that may be what your services are worth, but I can tell you one thing for sure. YOU, yourself, your soul, your person, and each moment of your life are worth far more than anyone can put a dollar value upon. You are, as the VISA adds like to say, "Priceless."
I could go down a metaphysical track and share how my office mate died within 6 months of beginning his master plan for transitioning into retirement. I could tell you that you shouldn't spend your life doing work you hate in anticipation of retiring "some day." But, I'm going to hope you just received the message. Instead, let's take a hard look at the "billable hour."
Let's say you bill out at $400/hour. A client calls you and in 15 minutes you save the client from making a $10,000 mistake. What's that worth to the client? I think it's worth more than $100. Don't you?
Our value doesn't come from trading minutes of our lives for other people's money. Our value comes from helping solve and prevent problems. The problem our industry shares with all other service industries that bill by the hour is that we're afraid to just state the value of the project or relationship.
How many people do you think pad their hours to get a project to invoice at what it's really worth? Yes, it's unethical, but does it happen? Of course it does.
I become more convinced every day that we are all worth far more than we ever charge per hour. Start looking at your client relationships. What are they worth each month? What are they worth each year? How about just billing by the relationship? It's not that hard, and it benefits everyone and there are unforeseen benefits when you figure out how to do it right.
For example, that 15-minute phone call might have been the only issue upon which the client needed your advice in a month that you charged the client $1,000/month as a flat monthly fee. That's getting closer to the real value of your service in the situation.
The holiday season is a great opportunity to examine your value, and values. If you're worried about a drop in billable hours due to all the days out of the office and distractions, then you're probably going to resent the season and the people around you. That's no fun. You're missing the point of the "season of giving." You're missing the Value.
Step out of yourself during these holidays and watch what you're valuing. Watch how you value your time (hint, the things that actually get your ATTENTION are the things that you actually value most). Adjust your life and self-value to allow alignment with elements that deserve your attention most. Those are the things that will give you the most joy and make your life worth living.
Bonus: If you're interested in some pointers on dealing with holiday stress, take a few minutes and download this free audio file from Kevin Houchin and Kendra Brodin. There are some real gems in here.
Kevin Houchin is a lawyer, graphic designer, husband, father and creative spirit. In his law practice, Houchin & Associates P.C., Kevin advises creative people on how to maximize creativity, build businesses, and protect intellectual property. He is also the founder of The Space Between Center for Creative Spirit in Business, a unique mentorship program designed to equip, inspire and position lawyers and other entrepreneurs to attract and serve their ideal clients in the information age. From vital flat-fee billing schedules to advanced internet marketing strategies, no subject is left uncovered in this groundbreaking mastermind program.
Like these cartoons? Send any of them to friends, clients or colleagues on greeting cards. To order, visit The Billable Hour Card Store.
Questions about ordering greeting cards from The Billable Hour Card Store? Check out our greeting card FAQs.
Did you know that Stu licenses his artwork for use in newsletters, presentations, print publications and on websites? He even offers special rates for student and teacher use.
You can also purchase original artwork and custom prints (framed or unframed) from Stu.
Timesheet readers get 15% off all licensing orders, original artwork and custom prints (use coupon code BILLHOUR). Click here for information on licensing or purchasing Won the Accident, other witness cartoons, or any of the hundreds of images Stu offers. For more information on original artwork and custom prints, click here.
Cartoon: Courtoons
by David Mills
Courtoons are the creation of David Mills, an Ohio appellate lawyer who works with litigants and law firms involved in civil and criminal cases in federal courts across the country. Visit David's law firm website at www.MillsFederalAppeals.com
Cartoon: J.D.
by Mark F. Bernstein
Mark F. Bernstein is a lawyer, cartoonist, writer, historian and producer. He is the author of five books on politics and sports, contributor to numerous national magazines and co-producer of the feature-length documentary film "8: Ivy League Football & America." You can find out more about Mark and his current projects at www.MarkFBernstein.com
Video of the Month: The Clash - I fought the Law
To watch more hilarious law-related videos from around the web, join us at The Video Venue!
Like this cartoon? Send it to friends, clients or colleagues on greeting cards. To order, visit The Billable Hour Card Store.
Suzan Charlton is a professional cartoonist who is rumored to practice insurance coverage law as a hobby for a major Washington D.C. law firm. Her cartoons cover a wide range of law-related topics, from law school grades to law firm romance.
Song of the Month: Billable Christmas Blues
by Lawrence Savell
I'm a first year at a big city firm
Already I make more than my parents both earn
But this salary comes at a very steep price
I live here on weekends and of course every night
So it's Christmas Eve and you know where I'm at
With a case of Diet Coke, a litter of Kit Kats.
I got the Billable Billable Christmas Blues
I know for a while I gotta pay my dues
Before I walk a mile in a partner's shoes
I got the Billable Billable Billable Christmas Blues.
I spent three years at a top law school
While my college friends spread their gene pool
In eight a.m. classes instead of sleepin' in late
I dreamed of what awaited when I'd graduate
But it's really the same as I look up from my shredder
Except that I'm dressing just a little bit better.
I got the Billable Billable Christmas Blues
I know for a while I gotta pay my dues
Before I walk a mile in a partner's shoes
I got the Billable Billable Billable Christmas Blues.
What's Christmas but another cold winter's day?
I don't believe that either but what else can I say?
I got the Billable Billable Christmas Blues
I know for a while I gotta pay my dues
Before I walk a mile in a partner's shoes
I got the Billable Billable Billable Christmas Blues.
Well the sun's comin' up and somewhere outside
It looks like someone's out takin' a ride
There's no one around but my team of red pens
And a memo that lacks a beginning and end
But in a few years this'll be someone else's chore
And I'll be at home producing only snores.
I got the Billable Billable Christmas Blues
I know for a while I gotta pay my dues
Before I walk a mile in a partner's shoes
I got the Billable Billable Billable Christmas Blues.
Just one of the hilarious songs on
Cartoon: Law and Disorder
by Paul Brennan
Like this cartoon? Send it to friends, clients or colleagues on greeting cards. To order, visit The Billable Hour Card Store.
Cartoon: Jonny Hawkins Collection
by Jonny Hawkins
Like this cartoon? Send it to friends, clients or colleagues on greeting cards. To order, visit The Billable Hour Card Store.
Questions about ordering greeting cards from The Billable Hour Card Store? Check out our greeting card FAQs.
Did you know that Jonny licenses his artwork for use in newsletters, presentations, print publications and on websites? He even offers special rates for student and teacher use.
You can also purchase original artwork and custom prints (framed or unframed) from Jonny.
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Take a close look!The dials of our watches and clocks are marked in tenths of an hour—the same way many lawyers, paralegals and law clerks bill for their time.
