📦 SHIPPING & LIVESTOCK RISK (DOA) POLICY
Effective October 4, 2026
SHIPPING & LIVESTOCK RISK POLICY
DSS Aquatics takes extensive precautions when preparing live fish, shrimp, snails, plants, and other aquatic livestock for shipment. Livestock is shipped in prime condition using appropriate bags, oxygen, insulation, cushioning, and seasonal temperature-control materials based on the species, shipment size, destination, and expected weather.
Once a shipment has been accepted by the shipping carrier, transportation and handling are outside the control of DSS Aquatics. Shipping live aquatic livestock involves inherent risk, including delay, temperature exposure, package damage, mishandling, and mortality in transit.
NO DSS AQUATICS DOA REFUND, CREDIT OR REPLACEMENT
DSS Aquatics does not provide refunds, credits, replacements, or other reimbursement for livestock that is dead on arrival (DOA) or is lost during carrier transit. All livestock sales are final once the shipment has been accepted by the carrier.
Customers who want financial protection for the value of the livestock must select the eligible UPS overnight shipping and insurance option described below.
SHIPPING OPTIONS
UPS 2-Day Air — Lower-Cost, Buyer-Assumes-Risk Option
Customers may choose UPS 2-Day Air when available in order to reduce shipping cost. By selecting 2-Day Air, the buyer accepts the full risk of livestock loss, delay, temperature exposure, carrier mishandling, or DOA during transit. No DSS Aquatics refund, credit, or replacement will be issued for a DOA shipment sent by 2-Day Air.
Under the livestock-shipping coverage available for DSS Aquatics shipments, live-animal insurance is not available with the 2-Day Air option.
UPS Overnight Air + Livestock Insurance — Protected Shipping Option
Customers who want shipment protection for the purchase value of the livestock must select UPS overnight air service and add eligible insurance/coverage for the value of the livestock.
For DSS Aquatics livestock shipments, UPS insurance for live aquatic livestock is available only when the qualifying overnight service and applicable insurance/coverage are selected and paid for before shipment.
Insurance coverage, claim approval, exclusions, limits, and reimbursement are governed by UPS and any applicable insurance provider. Purchasing insurance does not mean DSS Aquatics guarantees that a carrier claim will be approved.
HIGH-VALUE, RARE, LARGE OR PREMIUM LIVESTOCK
DSS Aquatics may require UPS overnight air service and insurance for premium, rare, large, or high-value livestock. Shipping charges may be calculated individually based on destination, package dimensions, packed weight, livestock size, water volume, temperature-control materials, declared value, and any required signature service.
DSS Aquatics will not ship an order that requires overnight service or insurance until the required shipping arrangements have been accepted and paid.
CURRENT CARRIER CONDITIONS
DSS Aquatics has been advised of staffing shortages and related carrier delays that can increase transit time. Packages may spend extended periods in trucks, trailers, hubs, or other environments that are not temperature controlled. These conditions are outside the control of DSS Aquatics and are a major reason for the shipping-risk options described in this policy.
SHIPPING SCHEDULE & WEATHER HOLDS
Livestock is normally shipped Monday through Wednesday to reduce the risk of weekend delays. DSS Aquatics may delay shipment because of weather, holidays, carrier conditions, or any other circumstance that may place livestock at unnecessary risk.
Customers are responsible for providing a complete and accurate delivery address and for monitoring tracking information after shipment.
IF A DOA OR SHIPPING LOSS OCCURS
If insured livestock arrives DOA, is lost, or the package is visibly damaged, notify DSS Aquatics within 1 hour of delivery (based on the carrier’s delivery timestamp) and preserve all packaging and evidence that may be required by UPS or the insurance provider. Issues reported more than 1 hour after delivery are not eligible for a carrier or insurance claim.
A responsible person must be present to receive the package and bring livestock indoors immediately upon delivery. A package left unattended outdoors in hot or cold conditions can kill livestock within an hour. Losses resulting from unattended delivery are the buyer’s responsibility and are not eligible for a claim.
Customers should document the condition of the shipment, including the shipping label and tracking number, the exterior of the box, insulation and packing materials, livestock bags, visible damage, and the affected livestock. Additional documentation may be required under the carrier’s current claims process.
DSS Aquatics will provide the buyer with reasonably available shipment information and documentation needed to support a carrier or insurance claim, including tracking information, shipment details, invoice information, and other records in our possession.
The carrier or insurance provider—not DSS Aquatics—determines whether a claim is approved and the amount, if any, that will be paid.
PACKAGE DAMAGE, DELAYS & TEMPERATURE EXPOSURE
Customers should photograph or record any package that arrives crushed, punctured, wet, leaking, unusually hot, unusually cold, delayed, or otherwise appears to have been mishandled. Do not discard the shipping box, bags, insulation, temperature packs, or other packing materials until any applicable carrier claim is complete.
RETURNS
Live fish, shrimp, snails, plants, and other aquatic livestock cannot be returned. All livestock sales are final after carrier acceptance.
FREE HAND DELIVERY AT POSTED EVENTS
Customers may purchase livestock in advance for pickup at aquarium swaps, auctions, shows, club events, or other events that DSS Aquatics has publicly posted that we will be attending. When the order is designated for pickup at one of these posted events, DSS Aquatics will hand-deliver the purchased livestock to the customer at the event at no additional shipping charge.
Event pickup avoids carrier transit and the associated shipping risks. Customers are responsible for meeting DSS Aquatics at the posted event during the available pickup period and for the care and transportation of the livestock after handoff.
AGREEMENT
By purchasing aquatic livestock from DSS Aquatics, the buyer acknowledges the risks associated with shipping live animals and accepts this policy. Choosing 2-Day Air means the buyer assumes the transit risk. Choosing eligible UPS overnight air with insurance gives the buyer the option to pursue a carrier/insurance claim subject to UPS and insurer terms.