Shipping Policy

Shipping Policy

At Reef and Tide, the health and welfare of our livestock is our priority. We take reasonable care when preparing, packing and dispatching all coral orders to help ensure they arrive safely and in good condition.

This Shipping Policy applies to orders placed through the Reef and Tide website and should be read alongside our Terms and Conditions and Dead on Arrival (DOA) Policy.

DELIVERY AREA

We currently deliver throughout England, Scotland and Wales via Royal Mail Special Delivery, ensuring your order arrives by 1pm on the agreed delivery date.

Sadly, Northern Ireland and areas outside the UK are excluded from livestock delivery due to extended transit times or courier restrictions.

If we are unable to safely deliver livestock to your address, we will contact you before dispatch.

SHIPPING COSTS

Applicable delivery charges will be displayed during checkout before you complete your purchase.

Delivery charges may vary depending on the type of order, delivery location and delivery service required.

DISPATCH AND DELIVERY

Coral orders are dispatched on selected days to minimise the amount of time livestock spends in transit.

Available delivery dates or delivery options will be displayed or communicated where applicable.

Delivery dates and times are estimates unless expressly stated otherwise. While we take reasonable steps to ensure orders are dispatched and delivered within the communicated timescales, circumstances outside our reasonable control may occasionally cause delays.

We may delay the dispatch of livestock where we reasonably believe that weather, courier disruption, public holidays or other circumstances could create an unacceptable risk to the health or welfare of the coral.

Where reasonably possible, we will contact you if we need to delay dispatch.

RECEIVING YOUR DELIVERY

You are responsible for ensuring that somebody is available to receive your livestock delivery at the delivery address provided.

Please check that your delivery address and contact information are complete and accurate before submitting your order.

Once an order has been dispatched, we may be unable to change the delivery address or delivery arrangements.

If delivery is missed, refused or delayed as a result of incorrect information, instructions or actions provided or taken by the customer, this may affect eligibility under our DOA Policy.

WEATHER AND LIVESTOCK WELFARE

We monitor expected conditions when preparing livestock for dispatch.

We reserve the right to postpone dispatch where we reasonably believe that extreme temperatures, severe weather or other conditions could place livestock at unnecessary risk during transport.

Where dispatch is postponed for livestock welfare reasons, we will aim to arrange the next suitable delivery date with you.

The welfare of the livestock will take priority over a requested dispatch or delivery date.

COURIER DELAYS

Although we carefully select appropriate delivery services for livestock, delays may occasionally occur after an order has been dispatched.

If tracking indicates that your livestock delivery has been significantly delayed, please contact us as soon as possible at reefandtide@outlook.com.

We will take reasonable steps to assist with the courier and determine the appropriate next steps.

If a coral arrives dead following a delivery delay, any DOA claim will be assessed in accordance with our DOA Policy.

INSPECTING YOUR DELIVERY

We recommend that you inspect your order as soon as possible after delivery.

If a coral is Dead on Arrival (DOA), you must follow the claim procedure and report this to us within 2 hours of delivery subject to our DOA Policy.

If your parcel or packaging appears significantly damaged upon delivery, please photograph the condition of the parcel before opening it where reasonably possible.

CHANGES TO DELIVERY

If you need to request a change to your delivery arrangements, please contact us as soon as possible.

We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate requests received before dispatch but cannot guarantee that changes can be made once an order has been prepared or handed to the courier.

Customer-requested changes that delay delivery may affect eligibility under our DOA Policy where the delay contributes to the loss or deterioration of livestock.

EVENTS OUTSIDE OUR CONTROL

We will not be responsible for delays caused by circumstances outside our reasonable control.

These may include severe weather, transport disruption, courier network disruption, industrial action, natural disasters or other events that prevent or materially delay dispatch or delivery.

Where such an event occurs, we will take reasonable steps to minimise disruption and arrange delivery as soon as reasonably practicable.

Nothing in this section affects your statutory rights as a consumer.