Shipping Policy

This Shipping Policy applies to all orders placed through AquaMaris eCommerce, operating under the domain aquamaris-store.com in the Professional Aquatic Husbandry sector. We are committed to delivering your aquatic equipment, supplies, and live goods safely and efficiently. Please read this policy carefully before completing your purchase. For any shipping-related questions or issues, contact us exclusively at contact@aquamaris-store.com.

1. Processing Time

Orders are processed and prepared for shipment within the following timeframes:

• In-stock non-live items (equipment, dry goods, tools, supplements): 1–3 business days after order confirmation and payment verification.
• Live aquatic livestock (fish, corals, invertebrates): Shipped only on designated shipping days (Monday through Wednesday) to avoid weekend delays. Orders placed after Tuesday will be shipped the following Monday. Livestock orders require a 24-hour acclimation preparation period.
• Pre-order or backordered items: Processing begins when the item becomes available in our warehouse. Estimated ship dates are provided on the product page.
• Custom or made-to-order products (e.g., custom acrylic sumps, tailored filtration systems): Processing time is specified on the product page, typically 10–20 business days.

Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding public holidays observed in our fulfillment regions. You will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking information as soon as your order leaves our warehouse.

2. Shipping Methods & Carriers

We partner with reputable carriers to ensure reliable delivery of professional aquatic husbandry products. The available shipping methods depend on the destination, product weight, and item type (live vs. non-live).

2.1 Domestic Shipping (within primary shipping country)

For domestic orders, we offer the following options at checkout:

• Standard Ground (3–7 business days): Most economical option for non-live goods. Tracking included.
• Express (2–3 business days): Recommended for time-sensitive equipment or supplies.
• Overnight / Next Day Air (1 business day): Available for dry goods only. Live livestock cannot be shipped via overnight due to specialized packaging requirements.
• Priority Livestock Shipping (1–2 business days): Specialized insulated box, temperature-controlled packaging, and "Live Animal" handling. Available exclusively for live aquatic organisms.

2.2 International Shipping

We ship to select international destinations. International shipping options vary by region and are calculated at checkout. Please note:

• International delivery typically takes 7–21 business days, depending on customs clearance and local postal services.
• Express international options (3–7 business days) are available for non-live products.
• Live aquatic livestock is NOT shipped internationally due to biosecurity regulations, customs delays, and animal welfare concerns.
• Customers are responsible for all customs duties, taxes, import fees, and brokerage charges. These are not included in our shipping rates.
• We are not responsible for delays caused by customs inspections or local carrier handoffs.

2.3 Carriers We Use

Depending on your location and the nature of the products ordered, we may use any of the following carriers:

• UPS (Ground, 2nd Day Air, Next Day Air)
• FedEx (Ground, Express, International Economy)
• USPS (Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express for small dry goods)
• DHL eCommerce (for select international shipments)
• Specialized live animal couriers (e.g., Delta Cargo, UPS Temperature Controlled – for large livestock orders)

3. Shipping Rates

Shipping costs are calculated based on the total weight of your order, dimensions, destination, and selected shipping method. You will see the exact shipping cost at checkout before completing your purchase. We offer the following rate structures:

Rates and free shipping thresholds are subject to change without prior notice but will always be shown before order finalization.

4. Order Tracking

Once your order is shipped, you will receive a shipping confirmation email containing:

• Carrier name and tracking number
• Link to the carrier’s tracking portal
• Estimated delivery date range

You can also track your order by logging into your account on aquamaris-store.com and navigating to "Order History". If you did not receive tracking information within the stated processing time, please check your spam folder and then contact us at contact@aquamaris-store.com.

5. Delivery Address & Changes

Please ensure your shipping address is accurate and complete (including apartment number, suite, business name if applicable). We are not responsible for orders delivered to an incorrect address provided by the customer. If you need to change the shipping address after placing an order:

• Contact us immediately at contact@aquamaris-store.com with your order number and the corrected address.
• If the order has not yet been processed or packed, we will update the address at no charge.
• If the order has already been shipped, we cannot change the delivery address. You may need to contact the carrier directly to request a redirect (additional fees may apply).

6. Delivery Delays & Force Majeure

While we strive to meet all estimated delivery times, delays may occur due to factors beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to:

• Severe weather conditions (hurricanes, snowstorms, floods)
• Carrier strikes, service disruptions, or volume surges (e.g., holiday peak seasons)
• Customs clearance delays for international shipments
• Incorrect or incomplete address provided by the customer
• Natural disasters, pandemics, or governmental actions

In such events, we will notify you as soon as possible and work with the carrier to resolve the delay. Shipping fees are not refundable due to carrier-caused delays unless the order never arrives.

7. Live Livestock Shipping – Special Conditions

Shipping live aquatic animals requires extraordinary care. By placing an order for live livestock, you acknowledge and agree to the following additional terms:

• Live livestock is shipped exclusively Monday through Wednesday to prevent weekend storage in carrier facilities. Delivery is guaranteed by Friday of the same week.
• You must be available to receive the package upon the first delivery attempt. Live animals cannot be left unattended without a signature.
• All live shipments include insulated liners, heat or cold packs (as needed), and oxygenated bags. Upon delivery, immediately inspect the livestock and begin acclimation.
• Arrival guarantee: If any livestock arrives deceased, you must notify us within 2 hours of delivery with clear photos (as detailed in our Refund Policy). No refunds or credits are issued for livestock that dies after being placed into your aquarium system.
• We are not responsible for delivery delays caused by the carrier that result in livestock loss, provided the shipment was sent on time and with appropriate packaging. In such cases, a claim will be filed with the carrier, and you may be eligible for a partial refund at our discretion.
• Live livestock shipping fees are non-refundable, even if a refund for the animals is issued.

8. Damaged Packages & Missing Items

If your order arrives with obvious external damage to the packaging, please follow these steps:

1. Take photos of the damaged packaging before opening.
2. Open the package carefully and inspect all items. Document any internal damage or missing components with photos.
3. Contact us within 48 hours of delivery at contact@aquamaris-store.com with your order number and all supporting images.
4. For non-live items, we will arrange a replacement or refund as per our Refund Policy. For live livestock, follow the 2-hour arrival guarantee.

If items are missing from your shipment (e.g., partial fulfillment), check your shipping confirmation email first to see if the order was split into multiple packages. If items are still missing, contact us within 7 days of delivery.

9. Signature Requirement

For security and to prevent porch theft, we may require an adult signature upon delivery for:

• All orders valued at $200 or more
• All live livestock shipments (regardless of value)
• Fragile or high-value equipment (e.g., glass aquariums, precision dosing pumps)
• Shipments to certain high-risk postal codes (determined by our fraud prevention system)

If you are unable to sign for a package, please consider shipping to your workplace or a local carrier pickup point. We are not responsible for stolen packages left without a signature when our policy did not require one.

10. PO Boxes & APO/FPO Addresses

• PO Boxes (domestic): We can ship small dry goods (supplements, test kits, small tools) to PO Boxes via USPS. Larger equipment and live livestock cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
• APO / FPO military addresses: We ship non-live items to APO/FPO addresses via USPS. Delivery times may be extended (up to 4 weeks). Live livestock cannot be shipped to APO/FPO addresses.
• Please provide a valid physical address for livestock and bulky equipment.

11. Shipping Restrictions by Product Type

Certain professional aquatic husbandry products have legal or logistical shipping restrictions:

• Batteries & electronics with lithium batteries: Ground shipping only (no air transport) due to hazardous material regulations.
• Pressurized cylinders (e.g., CO2 regulators with tanks): Ground shipping only. Contact us for a quote.
• Liquid medications & controlled substances: May require special handling. Some products cannot be shipped internationally or to certain US states. Restrictions are noted on the product page.
• Live plants: May be restricted to certain regions due to invasive species laws. You are responsible for knowing your local regulations.

12. Split Shipments & Backorders

If your order contains a mix of in-stock and backordered items:

• In-stock items will ship immediately unless you request to hold the entire order.
• Backordered items will ship separately when they become available, at no additional shipping cost to you.
• You will receive separate tracking emails for each shipment.
• If you wish to cancel a backordered item, contact us before it ships.

13. Undeliverable & Refused Packages

If a package is returned to us as undeliverable due to:

• Incorrect address provided by the customer
• Recipient refused delivery or failed to pick up from carrier facility
• Missing suite or apartment number

We will contact you to arrange reshipment. You will be responsible for the actual shipping costs for the second attempt (original shipping fees are non-refundable). If you choose not to have the order reshipped, we will refund the product price minus original and return shipping charges. Live livestock that dies during a returned-to-sender transit is not eligible for any refund.

14. Contact Information for Shipping Inquiries

All shipping-related questions, including tracking updates, delivery issues, address changes, and damage claims, must be directed exclusively to the following email address. Please include your order number in the subject line for faster service.

Email: contact@aquamaris-store.com

We aim to respond to all shipping inquiries within 1 business day. For urgent live livestock delivery issues, mark your email as "URGENT - LIVESTOCK SHIPPING" so we can prioritize your request.

15. Changes to This Shipping Policy

We reserve the right to update or modify this Shipping Policy at any time without prior notice to reflect changes in our ecommerce operations, carrier rates, or legal requirements for Professional Aquatic Husbandry. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Effective date". Your continued use of the aquamaris-store.com ecommerce platform after any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy. For orders placed before a policy update, the policy in effect at the time of purchase will apply.

Shipping Policy summary for aquamaris-store.com ecommerce: Orders are processed within 1–3 business days (longer for livestock, custom products). We offer domestic standard, express, and specialized livestock shipping; international shipping is limited to dry goods. Live livestock requires signature and follows a 2-hour arrival guarantee. Tracking is provided for all orders. For any shipping questions or issues, contact contact@aquamaris-store.com.