Auction Terms and Conditions

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Coastal Corals and Aquatics LLC

Last Updated: August 29, 2026

Welcome to the online auction and e-commerce platform of Coastal Corals and Aquatics LLC (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). By participating in our live coral, marine fish, and invertebrate auctions or purchasing livestock from our website, you (“User,” “Buyer,” “Bidder”) agree to be legally bound by the following Terms and Conditions. Please read them carefully before creating an account or placing a bid.

1. BIDDING & ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT

• 1.1 Commitment to Bid: By placing a bid on any coral, fish, or invertebrate lot, you enter into a legally binding contract. You agree that you fully intend to purchase the item at the bid amount if you are the winning bidder. Bids cannot be retracted, canceled, or modified under any circumstances.

• 1.2 Account Standing & Disqualification: Failure to pay for an auction item you have won will result in an immediate breach of contract. The Company reserves the right to take the following actions at its sole discretion:

  • Permanent disqualification and termination of your account from participating in all future live coral and livestock auctions.

  • Forfeiture of the winning lot, which may be offered to the next highest bidder or relisted.

• 1.3 Account Navigation: To view, track, and pay for your winning auction lots, log into your registered website account, click on My Account, and select Profile at the very top of the page.

2. PAYMENT POLICY

• 2.1 24-Hour Checkout Deadline: Winning bidders are granted a strict grace period of 24 hours from the exact closing time of the auction lot to complete the checkout process and submit full payment.

• 2.2 Consequences of Non-Payment: If full payment is not received within the 24-hour window, the transaction will be deemed abandoned. The items will be forfeited back to Coastal Corals and Aquatics LLC, and the account penalties outlined in Section 1.2 will apply automatically.

3. SNIPER PROTECTION (POPCORN BIDDING)

• 3.1 Anti-Sniping Protocol: To ensure a fair, transparent, and competitive experience for all hobbyists, this platform utilizes an automated Popcorn Bidding feature. If a bid is successfully placed within the final 1 minute of an auction lot’s countdown timer, the countdown clock will automatically extend for an additional 2 minutes from the moment that bid was logged.

• 3.2 Continuous Extension: This extension process will repeat continuously as long as active bidding persists in the final minute, giving outbid users a fair chance to counter-bid.

• 3.3 Browser Synchronization: Auction timers are driven by server data. Users are strongly advised to refresh their web browser page after the timer hits zero to ensure the lot has officially closed and that the countdown has not been reset or extended by a last-second bid. The Company is not responsible for localized browser lag or synchronization errors.

4. SHIPPING & LOCAL PICKUP

• 4.1 Dispatch Schedule: To ensure the safety and health of your livestock, all winning auction items are packaged and shipped exclusively on Mondays or Tuesdays following the close of the auction event.

• 4.2 Flat-Rate Shipping Modules: Standard free shipping promotions, coupons, or standard store shipping parameters do not apply to auction items. Specialized flat-rate livestock shipping charges apply to all auction transactions. Flat-rate shipping will be calculated at the end of the week to accommodate multiple auction winning bids into a consolidated shipment.

• 4.3 Combined Shipping Rules: To minimize transit stress on livestock and reduce costs for buyers, only one (1) shipping module purchase is required for an unlimited number of coral or livestock lots won during the same scheduled auction event. After paying for the initial shipping module on your first winning checkout, select In-Store Pickup or Local Pickup at checkout for any subsequent auction items won during that same event to combine them into one package.

• 4.4 Local Pickup Parameters: Local pickup options are available to customers near our operating locations, including local clients within Nueces County and surrounding Texas regions. Local pickups are strictly by appointment only and must be coordinated directly with store administration prior to arrival.

• 4.5 Local Pickup Timeframe: Winning bidders selecting local pickup must collect their items within seven (7) calendar days of the auction close. Items not picked up within this 7-day window will be considered abandoned, forfeiting both the livestock and purchase amount without refund.

5. ARRIVE-ALIVE (DOA) POLICY & BIOLOGICAL LIABILITY

• 5.1 Reporting Window: Coastal Corals and Aquatics LLC guarantees that all live corals, marine fish, and invertebrates will arrive alive under standard carrier transit. In the unfortunate event of a specimen arriving deceased, the Buyer must submit clear, high-resolution photographs of the deceased livestock inside its original, unopened clear packaging within two (2) hours of the carrier’s official delivery time-stamp.

• 5.2 Conditional Voiding of Guarantee: The Arrive-Alive guarantee is immediately voided if:

  • The specimen container, bag, or seal has been opened, punctured, or tampered with before photos are taken.

  • The carrier’s first delivery attempt is missed, delayed, or rejected due to inaccurate address provisioning by the Buyer.

  • Photos are submitted past the strict 2-hour post-delivery window.

• 5.3 Compensation & Risk Transfer: Approved DOA claims will be compensated via store credit, refund, or item replacement at the Company’s sole discretion; shipping costs are non-refundable. Once the original packaging seal is broken by the Buyer, all biological risk, tank compatibility risk, and post-acclimation health factors transfer entirely to the Buyer. The Company is not liable for the health or survival of livestock once introduced to the Buyer’s home aquarium systems.

6. GOVERNING LAW & JURISDICTION

These Terms and Conditions and any operational disputes arising from your use of this auction platform shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas. Any formal legal actions, claims, or proceedings must be initiated and handled exclusively within the courts located in Nueces County, Texas.