Shipping & Return Policies

This may sound complicated but at the end of the day, we do our best to make our customers happy.

Terms and Conditions for worldofreefs.com

  1. Definitions
  • “Store”: Refers to our coral aquaculture wholesale and retail business.
  • “Customer”: Includes retailers, researchers, and hobbyists purchasing from our store.
  1. Arrive Alive Guarantee 
  • We guarantee that all wild & aquacultured corals purchased from our store will arrive alive and in good condition notwithstanding the normal stresses of shipping and are all backed by a 24 hour survival guarantee  subject to the following conditions:
  • a) we will provide the customer with a printout enclosed with the shipment of water quality parameters from the water immediately prior to packing including temperature, pH and salinity.
  • b) we recommend that the customer perform a water quality assessment of the shipment water of each bag to assess changes that have occurred during shipping in order to properly acclimate stock to the customer’s tank.
  • c) a printout of the water quality parameters listed above of the tank into which the livestock is 
  • Aquacultured corals are covered by a 7 day guarantee with the same conditions as  above, providing a printout of the customer’s water quality parameters at the time of mortality should it occur.
  • If you miss your scheduled delivery, our guarantee is voided; However, get in touch with us immediately and we will do our best to get in touch with the shipping company and see if we can expedite redelivery.
  • The terms of this guarantee regarding returns, credit or refund are listed in Section 4 below.

Text Stephen @ CapitalCorals (502)320-9761 to report DOA’s or report shipping issues.

 

  • Shipping and Handling

 

  1. Shipping
    • We ship corals via reputable carriers, but primarily use UPS overnight service.
    • Let us know if you prefer a different shipping carrier or service, subject to changes in cost. Services or carriers that result in significantly longer transport times or conditions (i.e. through delays at transfer facilities that may be seasonally hot or cold) will not be covered by our guarantee. Livestock shipments are never sent over weekends or if the date runs into a holiday to avoid delays or interruptions of delivery
    • Customers are responsible for providing accurate shipping information to ensure delivery to the proper address or suite/office along with any receiving personnel’s names if applicable.
    • Shipping costs are calculated after all items have been completely boxed and weighed for delivery.
    • We will ship orders promptly with the least lag time possible between leaving our facility and the carrier pickup or departure, but delays may occur due to weather or other factors. 
  2. Handling
    • We pack corals carefully to ensure their safety during transit (expound on this)
    • Heat & cold packs are added at no additional charge to ensure safe arrival.
  • Returns and Refunds

If any livestock does not survive during the guarantee period listed in Section 2 above, we will provide a replacement or issue a credit to your account. We do not do refunds. Credits or Replacements are subject to the following conditions:

 

  1. Any mortality that occurs on arrival must be reported within 2 hours of delivery and customer must provide a photo of the dead livestock subject to claim. We are not responsible in the event that livestock is delivered and is not immediately unpacked and undergoes proper acclimation and mitigation of water conditions that have changed significantly due to the shipping process.

 

  1. Proof of water quality parameters described in section 2 above must be provided for credit or refund.
  2. Customers must notify us within 2 hours of delivery if there are any other issues of concern regarding the shipment(s) other than mortality. This includes any issues with shipping so that we may be better able to address such issues in the future to improve packing based on shipping to your location.

 

  1. Shipping costs are non-refundable.

 

  1. We do not do refunds. In the event that we can not provide a credit or a replacement in a given time frame, then a refund can be considered. 

 

  1. Refunds will be issued immediately after we receive the required documentations, refund time frame dependent on card processing time.

Customer Responsibilities

    Acclimation and Care

      • Customers are encouraged to follow our acclimation and care instructions. Any significant deviation or omission of key acclimative actions may void the guarantee.

     Reporting Issues

      • Beyond issues required due to mortality, please feel free to contact us regarding any livestock that appears to not be acclimating well. We would be happy to offer suggestions based on our knowledge of the particular species or the conditions under which it was held. This may be particularly true regarding light, feeding, other species in co-culture, and water flow conditions. We are here to help.

     Privacy

      • We respect customer privacy and handle personal information in accordance with our privacy policy.

    Limitations and Disclaimers

    1. Force Majeure
      • We are not liable for delays or failures due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g., natural disasters, strikes, etc.).
    2. Livestock Variability
      • Coral appearance may vary due to normal variability in environmental parameters and genetics.
      • We do not guarantee specific colors or shapes, unless labeled as WYSIWYG with a designated number tag and the subjectivity of the observer as well as changes in appearance that result from various lighting intensities and spectra.
      • We strive to make customers happy & typically provide stock that is oversized from that ordered when possible.
    3. Health and Compatibility
      • Customers are responsible for sufficient understanding regarding  compatibility with their existing tank inhabitants and the required range of tolerable physico-chemical water quality parameters for the individual species.
      • If you have questions or concerns regarding these factors, please contact us as we cannot guarantee that any livestock will adapt and thrive in other systems over which we have no control.

    Modifications and Updates

    1. Changes to Terms
      • We reserve the right to modify these terms and conditions.
      • Updated terms will be posted on our website.
    2. Customer Acknowledgment
      • By making a purchase, customers acknowledge and agree to these terms.