The safety of the Kidizen community is our top priority. We’ve outlined how we're protecting our marketplace and what you can expect during this time.

For the most up-to-date information on how to keep yourself and your family safe, please consult the Center for Disease Control’s website or the World Health Organization’s website.

Staying safe during COVID-19

Shipping and receiving packages

Coronaviruses are gener­ally thought to be spread most often by respiratory droplets and person-to-person contact. The CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html), the World Health Organization (https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses), and the Surgeon General have indicated that there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is being spread through the mail. We are closely monitoring and will inform our community promptly should any cases emerge.

The CDC has also stated that there is likely a very low risk that COVID-19 can spread from packages shipped over a period of days due to the low survivability of coronaviruses on surfaces. The packages also endure relatively harsh conditions in transit, killing the virus before it arrives on your doorstep. 

According to laboratory tests run by a team of federal and academic scientists in the US., the coronavirus appears able to linger on plastic for up to two to three days and on cardboard for up to 24 hours.

If you're still concerned about contracting COVID-19 via your packages, you can take extra precautions to minimize your risk even more; 

• disinfect the parcel with an alcohol-based wipe before handling it, 
• minimize your contact with the packaging
• wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water or hand sanitizer after opening and discarding the packaging

Safety of exchanging secondhand items

Secondhand items are unlikely to spread the novel coronavirus, especially if they’re washed or disinfected between uses. Currently, COVID-19 has not demonstrated an ability to be transmitted from soft surfaces like fabric to humans because of its absorbency, but washing fabric with detergent and water will destroy viruses. Harder surfaces such as books and toys should be wiped down with disinfectants as a precaution. 

Shipping times and USPS

We ask that you have extra patience at this time, since many sellers in our community are facing disruptions in their usual routines that may cause some unpredictability when it comes to fulfilling orders.

The USPS is undertaking all measures to minimize the impact on their customers and is following strategies and measures recommended by the CDC and public health departments. The Postal Service is experiencing significant delays in the United States depending on location as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Dropping off packages or scheduling pickups vs. going into your post office will limit your exposure to others. Here are USPS guidelines for how to schedule a pickup: https://faq.usps.com/s/article/What-is-Package-Pickup#generalinfo

In general, please follow your local post office's protocol. You can stay up to date with any USPS changes here: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/

Setting expectations in your shops

It’s important to put your family’s health and safety first. We recognize this means that you might need to take a short break from selling. Be realistic with the time and resources you have to manage your shop before making commitments to your buyers. 

If you anticipate that you won’t be able to fulfill orders within typical processing times for any reason, let your buyers know. You can let your buyers know about delays and when you plan to ship their orders by messaging them in the Kidizen app. You can also account for any processing delays you may have by adding this information to your Kidizen profile so your buyers know what to expect.

For those who don’t have the time to sell right now, you can put your shop in Vacation Mode to remove items from public view and prevent buyers from placing new orders. 

If you have open orders that have been placed that you’re unable to fulfill, please process a refund to your buyer and let them know.

Working with a Style Scout

We want to find ways to support our sellers’ ability to earn an income. Many sellers simply no longer have the time. If you’re unable to sell right now because of new challenges, we have Style Scouts who may be able to sell on your behalf. Please follow this link and fill out the form and we’ll do our best to connect you with a Style Scout: https://kidizen.com/style-scouts/. 

If you have any additional questions, please contact support at hello@kidizen.com.