As the holiday season approaches, it's crucial to stay informed about important deadlines, potential surcharges, and shipping cutoffs to ensure smooth operations during this peak period. This guide provides everything you need to know about receiving deadlines, carrier-specific delays, and fulfillment surcharges.
Review these guidelines carefully to avoid unexpected costs and ensure timely deliveries.
Atomix Holiday Calendar and Schedule
Q4 of each year is the busiest shipping time of the year. Atomix scales its workforce and reallocates existing labor to ensure complete focus on order fulfillment.
Receiving Deadlines
All Q4 receiving shipments must arrive at Atomix in full no later than November 18, 2026.
Late Shipments: Shipments that arrive past November 18, 2026, will be set aside and will not be received until after the New Year. These shipments will be charged for monthly storage costs.
Expedited Receiving: Shipments requested to be received after November 18 will incur an additional fee of $500 and could take up to 12 business days (excluding Mondays).
Contact Deadline: If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your account manager no later than November 2, 2026.
Failure to follow receiving guidelines will result in additional delays and fees.
Atomix Daily Order Cutoffs
During peak season, which can extend from the beginning of November to late January, expect delivery delays of up to 10 days across all carriers.
Order Type | Cutoff Time (CST) | Condition |
Express | 10:00 AM | Must be received by this time to qualify for same-day shipment. |
Non-Express | 1:00 PM | Must be received by this time to qualify for same-day shipment. |
Carrier-Specific Surcharges
Each year, carriers adjust rates and surcharges ahead of peak season to account for higher parcel volume, rising labor
and transportation costs, and network capacity limits. Every carrier we work with has announced peak changes for this
season, and as your 3PL those increases will be reflected on your account.
As in past peak seasons, the Atomix Peak Fee also applies during this window. It helps cover the additional labor,
staffing, and operating costs required to keep fulfillment running smoothly through our busiest time of year.
CHARGE 1
Carrier Peak Surcharge
A flat per-order amount by service level that passes through carrier peak and demand increases. Steps up during the heaviest weeks of the season.
October 26 to January 17 | CHARGE 2
Atomix Peak Fee
Our seasonal peak fee, applied each peak season: a flat $1.00 per order across all service levels to support the added labor and staffing peak requires.
October 26 to January 17 |
Per-Order Charges by Ship Week
Windows follow ship date. Service level is the Atomix ship method on each order as it appears on your invoice.
Package-specific charges
Carrier charges tied to an individual package, such as
Additional Handling or Oversize, continue to bill as they
occur, per your rate card.
On your invoice
Both charges appear on your weekly invoice for orders
shipped in each window. No action is needed on your end.
Atomix-Specific Surcharges (Volume Projections)
To plan our workforce, we require brands to provide an estimation of their volume increase. Accuracy in these projections is mandatory. Provide your projections by October 1.
Discrepancy Policy: If order volume falls below 5% or exceeds 5% of the projection provided, a 20% increase in the cost of fulfillment will apply.
SLA Note: This policy supersedes the 10% order volume surge listed in the Atomix Client SLA.
Example: If you project 1,000 orders but receive only 900 (below the range) or 1,100 (exceeding the range), the 20% surcharge will apply to cover the discrepancy.
Special Projects
Special projects submitted between November 16, 2026, and January 4, 2027, will be subject to holiday processing rates and timelines:
Minimum Fee: $375 (covers the first 3 hours of labor).
Hourly Rate: $125 per man-hour for any time exceeding 3 hours.
Processing Timeline: Increased to 12 business days, excluding Mondays and Holidays.
Packaging Analysis
Atomix recommends increasing your packaging inventory volume by 40% to ensure you remain stocked and prepared for the high order volume during the peak season.
Important Reminder
Atomix's recommended cutoff dates are determined based on carrier information and internal schedules. While orders placed after these dates may still arrive before December 25th, these cutoffs are set with a conservative approach due to common holiday delivery delays. Atomix is committed to ensuring your packages arrive on time and providing the best possible experience.