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Although we take great care in shipping our fresh, live oysters to ensure they arrive at your door in peak condition, we understand that, on rare occasions, things may not go as planned.

Refund Policy

When you order fresh oysters online from Shoalwater Seafood, we make every effort to ensure they arrive at your door fresh, cold, and ready to enjoy. Because we ship live oysters direct from the farm, it's essential to inspect your delivery as soon as it arrives.

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To get the best experience with your fresh oyster delivery, here’s what to look for:

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  • Cold Packaging: Your oysters should arrive cold to the touch. Our insulated packaging and gel packs are designed to keep them at a safe temperature during transit.

  • Live Oysters: All oysters should be tightly closed or should close when lightly tapped. This means they’re still alive and safe to eat. If any oysters remain open, they should be discarded.

  • Clean, Ocean-Fresh Smell: Fresh oysters should have a clean, briny scent—like the sea. If you notice any off smells, do not eat the oysters.

  • Damaged or Missing Items: Please take a photo and reach out to us immediately if anything in your order appears damaged, missing, or not as expected.

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We recommend opening and inspecting your order right away so you can enjoy your oysters at peak freshness. Our team is always here to help if something isn’t right—we stand behind every fresh oyster shipment.

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Want more information about how to care for your fresh oyster order? Visit our Oyster Handling Guide page.

Receiving and Inspecting Your Fresh Oysters

At Shoalwater Seafood, we want every order of fresh oysters delivered to your door to meet our high standards for quality and freshness. If there’s an issue with your order, we’re here to help—but due to the perishable nature of live shellfish, we are unable to accept returns.

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If your oysters arrived in poor condition or something wasn’t right with your delivery, please follow these steps:

  1. Take Photos Immediately
    Snap clear photos of the oysters, packaging, and shipping label. This helps us assess what went wrong and provide a quick solution.

  2. Reach Out Within 3 Business Days
    Please email us within three (3) business days of receiving your order. Requests made after this window may not be eligible for a refund or replacement.

  3. We’ll Make It Right
    In most cases, our immediate solution is to send a replacement order to ensure you get to enjoy the fresh oysters you were looking forward to.

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Because we ship live, temperature-sensitive seafood, refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis, and we do not accept returns. Your satisfaction is important to us, and we stand by the quality of every box we send.

Refunds & Replacements for Fresh Oyster Orders

Do you have a question about something else related to your order?

Find answers to other FAQ's here.

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