Shipping Terms of Service

1. Withdrawal & Delivery Services

Sterling Sire Storage ("SSS," "we," "our") offers three methods for customers to receive withdrawn specimens:

• Rented Container — SSS ships a nitrogen-filled container to your address. A refundable deposit is required.
• Customer-Provided Container — SSS ships using a container you have pre-registered with us. No deposit required.
• In-Person Pickup — You collect your withdrawal directly from our facility. No shipping or handling fees apply.

2. Fees & Charges

Fees vary by delivery method:

• Container Deposit — Charged for rented containers only. Amount varies by container size and is displayed during checkout. Refundable upon container return.
• Container Rental Fee — A flat-rate fee charged for renting an SSS container. Only applies to rented container deliveries. Non-refundable upon container return. Current rate displayed during checkout.
• Shipping — Carrier rate calculated in real time based on container dimensions, weight, destination, and service level. Not charged for in-person pickup.
• Irregular Parcel Fee — An industry-standard carrier surcharge applied due to the irregular (non-standard) containers used for shipping. Not charged for in-person pickup. Current rate displayed during checkout.
• Caning Fee — Cane preparation fee. Charged for all delivery methods. Current rate displayed during checkout.
• Processing Fee — A payment processing fee is included in the total to cover secure credit card processing through Stripe.

All fees are charged to your payment method on file at the time of withdrawal submission. Fee amounts are subject to change; current rates are always displayed during checkout.

3. Container Deposit & Return (Rented Containers)

• A refundable container deposit is charged at the time of withdrawal. The deposit amount varies by container type and is displayed during checkout.
• Rented containers must be returned within 14 days of the shipment date.
• When SSS receives and inspects the returned container, your deposit is automatically refunded to the original payment method.
• Shipping fees, container rental fees, handling fees, and caning fees are non-refundable once the service has been provided.

4. Late Container Returns

• Containers not returned within the 14-day return window are subject to a late fee of $25.00 per day, up to a maximum of $1,000.00.
• SSS will notify you if your container return is overdue.
• Containers not returned within 60 days of the shipment date may be treated as lost, and the full replacement cost of the container (less any deposit already held) may be charged to your payment method.
• Damaged containers returned in a condition that renders them unusable may be subject to repair or replacement charges.

5. Cancellation & Refunds

• Pending withdrawals (not yet processed) may be cancelled. If payment was collected, a full refund of all charges (including deposit, shipping, and fees) is issued.
• Processed or shipped withdrawals cannot be cancelled. The deposit is refunded only upon container return (for rented containers).
• Inventory quantities are restored immediately upon cancellation.
• Refunds are processed through Stripe and typically appear within 5–10 business days depending on your financial institution.

6. Shipping & Carrier

• SSS uses third-party shipping carriers (e.g., UPS, FedEx) for deliveries. Carrier selection and service level are configured by SSS for reliability and specimen safety.
• SSS is not liable for delays, damage, or loss caused by the shipping carrier once the package has been tendered to the carrier. Tracking information is provided when available.
• If a shipment is lost or damaged in transit, SSS will assist you in filing a claim with the carrier but does not guarantee the outcome.
• SSS is not responsible for specimen viability after the withdrawal leaves our facility — temperature maintenance during transit depends on the container and transit duration.

7. Address Validation

• Shipping addresses are validated through USPS prior to shipment. If a correction is suggested, you will be given the option to accept the corrected address or proceed with your original entry.
• You are responsible for providing an accurate and complete shipping address. SSS is not liable for delays, non-delivery, or additional charges resulting from an incorrect address.
• SSS currently ships within the United States only.

8. In-Person Pickup

• When your withdrawal is prepared and ready, you will be notified via email.
• You (or your authorized representative) must collect the withdrawal from SSS's facility.
• Only the caning fee applies to in-person pickups.

9. Specimen Risk After Withdrawal

• Risk of loss transfers to the Customer once the withdrawal is picked up or tendered to the shipping carrier.
• SSS does not warrant specimen viability, fertility, or genetic integrity after withdrawal from storage.
• You assume all responsibility for proper handling, re-storage, and use of specimens after receipt.

10. Limitation of Liability

• SSS's total liability for any claim arising from shipping or withdrawal services shall not exceed the total fees charged for the specific withdrawal in question (excluding the refundable container deposit).
• SSS is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, including but not limited to lost breeding opportunities, genetic value, or business interruption.

11. Force Majeure

SSS is not liable for delays or failure to perform due to causes beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to: carrier disruptions, severe weather, natural disasters, government regulations, or supply chain interruptions affecting shipping materials or nitrogen supply.

12. Dispute Resolution

• Shipping or withdrawal disputes must be raised within 30 days of the withdrawal date by contacting support@sterlingsire.com.
• The parties agree to attempt resolution through good-faith negotiation before pursuing other remedies.

13. Contact

For questions about these terms, please contact us at support@sterlingsire.com.