Don't worry, we got this!


So shipping frozen fish and other frozen products is hard. And it's expensive to do it right and back it up when everything goes wrong. It can and occasionally will and we will have your back on those rare times. So we do everthing possible to avoid lost and thawed shipments. We use thick insulated boxes, a ton of dry ice, a huge warehouse in Nebraska that only ships frozen food and we have tight processes and rules to make sure. That means if you order on a Friday at noon we can't have it to you on Sunday because we can never ship over the weekend. We have been doing this since 2006 and have spent a lot of money with UPS and Fedex and learned the best ways to keep costs down and the fish fillets frozen. We get our freight quotes directly from UPS and the charge is based on your zip code, the weight of the package and how fast you want it. When you add products to your cart and your state and zip we can give you a delivery date estimate that takes all the info below into account. That's easier than reading below.

Free Shipping

Yes, it's FREE - at $200 total and for economy shipping. I know $200 might be a lot, but so are the costs to get it to you. We need that minimum to cover the costs of the box, dry ice, the people and the freight. We have to pay almost the same for a small order so we make that minimum that way. Maybe ask your friends and family if they want to join your order?

Economy Shipping

Economy is the most cost effective method, but to keep the costs low you will need to cut us a little slack on the day and that it ships because it needs to fit a weekly window because we can't ship over the weekend. We ship economy packages via ground with extra dry ice and a few go via 2-3 day Air depending on location and weather. Our warehouse is in Nebraska so the middle of the country is within 2 days and the coasts are 3 days. The packaging and dry ice is meant to keep the fish frozen until it gets to your doorstep, but the dry ice will likely have melted. The day that we ship depends on what day it is and where you live (remember to save the money you have to give us some slack). If it's placed Thursday - Sunday it will ship on Monday or Tuesday. For orders that are placed Mon - Wed with Economy shipping it depends. The order will go as soon as we can as long as they will arrive via Ground by Friday or they get pushed to the next week. No matter which day it ships we are sending out a tracking number to the email you provided the evening it ships.

Overnight Shipping

This is the most convenient but also the most expensive option. We give overnight packages priority and ship Monday through Thursday so you will get the fish Tuesday through Friday and some will make it over the weekend. Overnight refers to how long it takes UPS or Fedex to deliver, but doesn't mean you will get the package overnight--it just isn't possible. They have to be open and we still have to process payment, pick, pack, and get it ready for the driver. Our cutoff time is midnight to get the order in for overnight delivery or it goes the next day if it is M - W or it will ship the next shipping day (usually it's a Monday).

Confused? I don't blame you, just know that we will get it to you as soon as it is possible to get it to you frozen. Put your order in and use the Delivery Estimator to see. We will ship early in the week in case of any unexpected delays and we don't even try for Saturday delivery because we never want your package sitting in a warehouse over the weekend. We will send you a tracking email the evening it ships and the drivers are instructed to leave the package at the door. You can also ask us via live chat or phone call during the daytime hours. We are not trying to trick you and if these were books or shoes, it would be a lot easier.

What should I do?

If you have to have it on a certain day, order overnight. But if you prefer to save a little money and can work with us on the ship date, choose economy or 2nd Day for the states that have the option. UPS/Fedex also delivers to commercial locations first so you can have it shipped to a workplace you will get the package earlier. You can get a larger order to help be sure. The more frozen fish in a box is like having a bigger block of ice - it takes longer to thaw. Use some common sense. If it is July and you live in Phoenix and you are getting the smallest order we have -- those are the problem children. 120 degree heatwaves are tough. We can still deliver, but maybe that is a good time to pay extra for overnight or 2 day.


Order Cutoff Time--Our cutoff time is midnight the night before. I know you want it faster but we start packing early in the morning and need to have a process so we can be accurate and the people who pack the boxes have lives and schedules and all that.

Holidays--if UPS is closed, we are closed. Likewise if overnight or 2 day will result in a weekend stay in a warehouse, the order will be held until the next week.

Christmas week--Please schedule delivery the week before if possible as UPS is very busy and does not guarantee any delivery times. Just be early.

Nobody home--UPS/Fedex drivers are instructed to leave the package at the door if no one is home and the area is deemed "safe".

Packaging

WalleyeDirect has worked with many different packaging options to ensure that your fish arrives perfect every time. Most of our 5-10 pound fish fillet are in a cardboard box with a label and inside a plastic bag inside. We have several other side items that might be packed separately in their own food safe packaging as well. Based on shipping time, location, items and even the weather and season we will place the appropriate amount of dry ice - up to 30 pounds. It will melt along the way and there is ususally some left or it might have just run out. Your order is placed in environmentally friendly temperature controlled containers, sealed and held in frozen storage. The container is a cardboard shell with the thick insulation of used clothing material that is compostable and in a recyclable liner. We do not use styrofoam anymore and haven't for several years. This packaging is tested to last just as long or longer and much better for the environment. There is a packing list inside the package which lists the person who ordered, but no prices are included in the case of a gift. Your receipt with prices is only sent to you via email at time of purchase.

Returns

Because fish is a highly perishable food item, we do not accept returns. Also we are subject to FDA regulations and can not take back food that has been out of our control. Much like you wouldn't want a delivery that has been to a customer's place and back, we can't accept returns on perishable food either. This is a good thing that we won't accept your fish. It's like returning underwear to clothing stores - you just don't do it.