Terms of Service

⭐ Gem State Corals — Terms of Service

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Welcome to Gem State Corals. By accessing or using our website (gemstatecorals.net), purchasing products, or interacting with our services, you agree to the following Terms of Service. Please read them carefully.

1. Use of Our Website

By using our site, you confirm that:

  • You are at least 18 years old, or using the site with parental consent.

  • You agree to provide accurate, complete, and current information.

  • You will not use our site for any illegal or unauthorized purpose.

  • You will not attempt to interfere with, hack, or exploit our website or operations.

We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone at any time for any reason.

2. Livestock Purchases

Corals are live animals, and by purchasing from Gem State Corals you acknowledge:

  • Corals require proper tank conditions, lighting, flow, and acclimation.

  • Coral health may vary based on aquarium environment and individual care.

  • You are responsible for research, compatibility, and safe placement.

Once corals are delivered or picked up, the customer is responsible for proper care, unless covered by our Live Arrival or 15-Day Health Guarantee.

3. Shipping & Delivery

By placing an order, you agree to our Shipping Policy.

You acknowledge that:

  • Shipping days are Tuesday and Wednesday for coral safety.

  • You must provide an accurate, safe, and secure delivery location.

  • We are not responsible for loss or damage resulting from:

    • Missed delivery attempts

    • Theft after delivery (“porch pirates”)

    • Carrier delays or mishandling

    • Incorrect addresses provided by the customer

We may delay shipments due to unsafe weather conditions to protect livestock.

4. Live Arrival Guarantee & Health Guarantee

Our guarantees apply only when the customer follows all required steps, including submission of photos/video within the specified timeframe.

You acknowledge that:

  • DOA claims must be submitted within 2 hours of delivery with required documentation.

  • Live Arrival and 15-Day Health policies provide store credit only, not refunds.

  • Shipping costs are non-refundable under any circumstance.

  • Failure to follow documentation requirements voids eligibility for any claim.

Full details can be found in our Store Policies page.

5. Payments, Billing & Chargebacks

By placing an order, you authorize:

  • Your payment method to be charged for the full order amount.

  • Gem State Corals to contact you regarding your order if needed.

Chargebacks filed fraudulently (e.g., for corals delivered alive or failing to follow DOA procedures) will be disputed with full documentation, which may include:

  • Delivery scans

  • Tracking timestamps

  • DOA compliance evidence

  • Customer communication history

  • Photo/video verification logs

We reserve the right to refuse future service to any customer who files a fraudulent chargeback.

6. Order Changes & Cancellations

  • Orders canceled before shipment may incur a 10% restocking/processing fee.

  • Orders cannot be canceled once packed or shipped.

  • Changes or add-ons may be possible prior to shipping day if inventory allows.

7. Returns & Refunds

Due to the nature of live animals:

  • No returns are accepted for corals or livestock.

  • Approved DOA or health claims receive store credit only.

  • Dry goods may be returned only if unopened within 14 days (customer pays return shipping).

  • Refunds are issued after inspection of returned items.

8. Product Descriptions & Photography

We strive for accuracy in product descriptions and WYSIWYG photos.

You acknowledge that:

  • Coral colors may vary slightly due to lighting, camera settings, and individual aquarium environments.

  • Each WYSIWYG coral is the exact coral you will receive.

  • Non-WYSIWYG items may differ slightly in size, color, or growth pattern.

If an error is discovered, we reserve the right to cancel or correct orders as needed.

9. Intellectual Property

All content on gemstatecorals.net — including logos, branding, images, product photography, and written content — is the property of Gem State Corals and may not be copied, redistributed, or used without written permission.

10. Limitation of Liability

Gem State Corals is not liable for:

  • Coral loss due to improper acclimation

  • Tank crashes, pests, aggression, or parameter swings

  • Injuries or damages resulting from handling corals

  • Indirect or consequential damages

  • Loss caused by carrier delays or weather events

Our maximum liability is limited to the purchase price of the coral in the form of store credit.

11. Prohibited Uses

You may not use our site or products for:

  • Illegal activities

  • Harmful or abusive conduct

  • Attempting to identify system vulnerabilities

  • Spamming, scraping, or automated data extraction

  • Harassment or threatening behavior

12. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms of Service at any time.
Continued use of the website constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

13. Governing Law

All terms and transactions are governed by the laws of the State of Idaho, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.