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Shipping Policy

Shipping & Delivery Information

  • ​At UKReef Hampshire, we take the utmost care in packaging and dispatching your corals so they arrive healthy and vibrant. Because we are shipping livestock, we follow strict shipping protocols.

  • ​Dispatch Days & Couriers

  • ​We ship livestock orders from Monday to Thursday. We do not ship on Fridays, weekends, or bank holidays to prevent delays that could harm the animals.

  • ​All livestock is shipped via Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm.

  • ​Orders placed after 00:00 AM on Thursday will be dispatched the following Monday.

  • ​Shipping Rates

  • ​Livestock Shipping: £15.00 flat rate.
    Friday shipping, arrival Saturday if available is £20 flat rate.

  • ​Free Shipping: We offer free livestock shipping on orders over £150.

  • ​Dry Goods Shipping: Calculated at checkout. (Note: If dry goods and livestock are purchased together, they will be shipped together under the livestock shipping rate).

  • ​Packaging

  • Your corals are packed in heavy-duty specimen bags or rigid containers, surrounded by insulated poly boxes. We use professional heat packs or cooling packs depending on the current UK weather to ensure a stable temperature during transit.

  • ​Delivery Day Requirements

  • Someone must be present at the delivery address to receive and sign for the package on the first delivery attempt. Failure to receive the package on the first attempt will void our Dead on Arrival (DOA) guarantee.

  • ​2. Refund Policy & Arrive Alive Guarantee Draft

  • ​Returns & Refunds

  • ​Dry Goods

  • For non-living items (dry goods, food, equipment), you have the right to return unopened and unused items within 14 days of receiving them for a full refund, excluding the original shipping costs. The buyer is responsible for the return shipping costs. Please contact us at James@ukreefhampshire.co.uk to initiate a return.

  • ​Livestock: Arrive Alive / DOA (Dead on Arrival) Guarantee

  • We pride ourselves on providing healthy, vibrant corals. However, shipping live animals always carries a small risk. We offer a strict Dead on Arrival (DOA) Guarantee to ensure you can buy with total confidence.

  • ​If your coral arrives dead, we will issue a store credit or a replacement for the lost livestock. Shipping costs are non-refundable.

  • ​To claim under our DOA Guarantee, you must strictly follow these rules:

  • ​First Attempt: You must sign for the package on the very first delivery attempt.

  • ​Time Limit: You must email us at James@ukreefhampshire.co.uk within 90 minutes of the courier's tracked delivery time.

  • ​Photographic Proof: You must provide clear, well-lit photographs of the dead coral while it is still in its original, unopened bag or container. Do not take the coral out of the bag or container or put it in your tank before taking the photo.

  • ​Once the coral has been placed into your aquarium, the DOA guarantee is voided, as we cannot be held responsible for your tank's water parameters, lighting, or existing inhabitants.

  • ​Exceptions

  • ​Corals often retract their polyps or lose a bit of color during transit due to stress. This is completely normal. Please allow up to a few days for the coral to acclimate to your tank's lighting and flow before assuming it is unwell.

  • ​We reserve the right to decline a DOA claim if the photographic evidence is inconclusive or if the terms above are not met.

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