Shipping Schedule and Weather:

***Note that the week beginning Nov 25 is a holiday week. Fedex does not deliver on Thurs. And so, we are only shipping on Monday the 25th this coming week and *ONLY* by OVERNIGHT shipping. All orders placed with 2 day shipping will ship the following Mon, Tues or Wed (Dec 2nd, 3rd or 4th, per weather). Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!

We ship on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday on the basis of weather, when you place the order, and our workflow. You will see a tracking number via the email address you place your order with (sometimes your PayPal address) when we ship. We do not typically ship Wednesday orders same-day unless they are morning orders and you reply back about being okay with a same day shipment. And so, orders placed Wednesday through Sunday ship the following week.

We include ice packs for every shipment through September and at no extra cost. We utilize packs of different sizes to get your order shipped safely to you all season long.

If you have special requests, please ask. US Holidays may affect shipping days.

We do not have a minimum order, unlike many sites, and so we want to mention that you might consider protecting your cost of shipping investment by ordering more than one thing. But that's your choice to make.

Weather: You are welcome to place an order regardless of your weather. We provide free cold packs in hot months and heat packs in cold months. If we feel it is too risky to ship we will contact you and work together to watch for a safe and convenient shipping window. You may contact us to have your package held at a nearby FedEx pick-up location which is always best in any weather. Write us if you have questions or want us to send you a list of your closest 5 pick up locations, including many Walgreen's and Dollar Generals with "FedEx Onsite."

 

FedEx Overnight Live Shipments $45 to $55 based on state (except Arizona)

Overnight is a reference to time in transit, not "when" your order ships or delivers.

This is the recommended option for our live guarantee, as follows. If there are any deaths or health issues within an hour of arrival and photographic proof is emailed, we will refund you for the specimens in question (and not shipping fees). Review DOA's section below for more info.

We recommend that you request (in notes field at checkout) that we label your shipment "Hold for FedEx Pick Up" if your weather is outside of an overnight low of 33 degrees or above 83 degrees for the daytime high. Write us if you have questions or want us to send you a list of your closest 5 pick up locations, including many Walgreen's and Dollar Generals with "FedEx Onsite."

 

Overnight Arizona $25

If you live in Arizona, this is the only shipping option during May-Sept. Same state customers as us enjoy discounted overnight shipping but in warmer months MUST pick their shipment up at a Fedex location if temps are over 83 degrees. Put your requested Fedex pick up location in the order notes during checkout. Otherwise, we'll simply email you about this and ask if you want a list of nearby ones.

 

2 Day Live Guarantee $22 (Excluding Aquatic Insects)

***HOLIDAY schedule due to Thanksgiving and all 2 day orders place 11/20 to Dec 1st will ship week of Dec 2nd

Two day is a reference to time in transit, not "when" your order ships or delivers. Our shipping days are noted above.

This option is riskier than overnight because if the carrier is a day late with your delivery, that further extends the time in transit and increases risk.

If your weather is mild, we will still ship aquatic insects with your selection of 2 day shipping but we DO NOT guarantee live arrival on aquatic insects with any method of shipping but overnight shipping.

Note: If your weather is over 83 degrees, or below freezing at night (33 degrees) we recommend that you do not choose this service. If you do, we will have to write you and request that you upgrade to overnight shipping. We do not refund card processing fees (PayPal, etc. about 3%) for cancelled orders including if you fail to write back to us after 2 attempts to contact you at the email address you provided (and that the tracking number for your living shipment would otherwise have gone to, unseen).

*This 2 day option is not available to Arizona, Texas or Florida customers in June through September due to heat, sorry.

 

2 Day No Live Guarantee $15 

***HOLIDAY schedule due to Thanksgiving and all 2 day orders place 11/20 to Dec 1st will ship week of Dec 2nd

Only choose this service for non-living products or if you want to entirely forego the live guarantee offered under our two other shipping options above. Many people will elect to save the seven bucks, in milder weather. But there are no refunds for DOA's (dead on arrival) under this option.

Substrate/Books Shipping $0 (free shipping)

Choose this $0 shipping option ONLY if you have substrates or books in your shopping cart.

 

Tracking Numbers

These are sent via email when we create your shipping label, and again a second time automatically after we ship. Check your spam/junk folder. The auto-generated email you get from Fedex will have the most information and so look for that one especially! It will contain a note from us, the shipping day and the expected arrival day and delivery-by time in most cases. You want to know these things and they are provided to you so that you can pull the package in from the porch immediately!

You know our shipping days. We will not be held responsible for you not receiving your tracking number and missing your delivery. Check your spam/junk folder. You know if you ordered LIVING material. If you don’t see your tracking number when you think you should and based on our shipping schedule, write us immediately! Don't depend on the delivery company to call you even if you requested that they do. You are given as much information as you need to responsibly watch the progress and delivery of your living shipment and we expect you to with respect to the living material we ship.