IDChief shipping times getting faster?
Yeah I totally noticed the same thing with my last order from IDChief. I'd been hearing mixed reports about their turnaround times for a while, but my last pickup actually arrived in 9 days from the day I placed the order. That's a huge jump from what I was seeing maybe six months ago, so something definitely changed on their end. Either they invested in better production equipment or they switched up their shipping carrier — either way, it's a solid improvement for a vendor that already had a decent reputation.
Here's how it went down: I placed the order on a Tuesday evening around 8 PM EST, got a payment confirmation the next morning, QC photos arrived on Friday evening (about 3 days later), I approved them that same night, shipping confirmation came through the following Monday, and the package landed the next Tuesday. So exactly 9 days total from order to mailbox. That's domestic shipping for reference, but I know their international options have been hit or miss for people.
Packaging was standard stealth for them – a plain bubble mailer with a fake return address from some random business name. No suspicious markings, no tape residue that looked tampered with. Inside the mailer was the card in a folded piece of cardboard and then slipped into a non-descript plastic sleeve. No foil bag or anything fancy, but it's enough to pass the casual glance test. If you're worried about getting snagged by roommates or parents, it's fine. For customs concerns, I'd still recommend grabbing a reship or staying domestic if you can.
Communication speed was pretty standard. They responded to my one extra question about a typo (which turned out to just be a character spacing issue on my end) within about 6 hours. Not instant, but not terrible either. The QC team actually caught the spacing and fixed it before sending me photos, which was a nice surprise. Overall, I'd say their customer service is above average for the price point.
Value for Money (VFM) rating: I'd give it a solid 8.5/10. The quality is definitely there – microprint is crisp, UV holds up under a blacklight, and the overall feel is close to a real ID. I've compared it with a friend's state-issued card and aside from a slightly glossier finish, it's indistinguishable at a casual glance. For what you're paying (it's mid-range compared to other vendors), the turnaround time now makes it a no-brainer if you're in a hurry. You're not paying expedited shipping prices, you're just getting the standard delivery faster than before.
As for pros, the fast shipping now is competitive – 9 days is up there with the quickest vendors I've used. The QC process caught and fixed a minor issue before production, so you're not stuck with a flawed copy. Packaging is discreet enough for domestic orders, and the return address looks legit. Overall quality is reliable – consistent across multiple orders I've seen from other people too.
On the downside, they still don't offer a full list of states; the selection is somewhat limited if you're looking for a specific less common one. International shipping still seems to take longer – I've seen reports of 2–3 weeks for EU addresses. The glossy finish is a tiny bit more shiny than a real state-issued ID, so be careful if you're handing it to someone who really examines cards under bright light. And there's no rush option available, so you're just betting on the standard processing speed which has been variable in the past.
Overall, I'm pretty happy. If they keep up this shipping speed and the quality stays the same, IDChief is going to be my go‑to for a while. Nice to see a vendor actually improving instead of getting slower like a lot of others have recently.