Policies

All sales are final unless authorized in advance. Hydrophones are
often needed for short-term applications, and once they are used, they
are often encrusted with salt and minerals. Cables, when not cared for
properly, become twisted and tangled. Due to the nature of this use,
even slightly used hydrophones can not be sold as new and thus we
strictly adhere to this policy. If you find that you have purchased a
product that does not work well for you, we will make reasonable efforts
to make exchanges or modifications when possible. Defective items
claimed under warranty will be repaired and returned to the customer, or
replaced at our discretion.

Shipping costs are not refundable unless they result from our error, a
warranty claim, or they are credited by the delivery courier. This
applies to any return, whether return rights were granted by us or
whether the product was returned by the courier as refused, unclaimed,
or undeliverable. Only the product value of goods returned in as-new
condition will be refunded to the customer.

All orders will be paid in full in advance of shipment unless previously
authorized for credit terms by us. Payment terms are offered on a
case-by-case basis, but are generally restricted to large institutions,
and well-established customers with delivery addresses in the United
States.

Payment can be made by major credit card, PayPal, or wire
transfer. We reserve the right to limit the total value of credit card
payments or to cancel any payment we deem to be suspicious. We typically
pay more than $30.00 per transaction in bank fees for each
international wire transfer. Wire transfers can also take up to a week
to be deposited into our account and it is difficult and costly for us
to offer refunds if ever needed, so we strongly prefer other payment
types for orders of less than $1000. There is a $20 surcharge on orders
paid by wire transfer if the total product value is less than $500.

All
international shipments will be prepaid. We have made only a few
exceptions to this policy for well-established customers.

OEMs,
professional audio equipment dealers, and technical consultants: Payment
surcharges apply to all non-retail sales as follows. Wire transfers for
total invoice values of less than $1000 will incur a $25 surcharge. Any
order not paid in advance of shipment will pay a 2.5% credit card or
PayPal surcharge. A 1% late free will be assessed for each calendar
month beginning 60 days after the invoice date.

Rate Calculation: Shipments by FedEx are billed at
our cost and include shipment value protection from the courier.
Shipments by the US Postal Service are billed at our cost plus
insurance. We self-insure USPS shipments at a rate of 1% of the shipment
value for domestic shipments, and 1.5% for export shipments (see
additional notes below). It is not our intent to earn income on
shipping. Markups are only intended to compensate for shipping
liabilities. DHL rates are not presently calculated on this site, but we
will use DHL for international shipments, with approval from the
customer, when advantageous. UPS is available when billed to the
recipient. Pickup charges may be added to your rate. No other couriers
are presently used. We reserve the right to deny shipment to any
individual, based on our liability concerns

Though we calculate rates using real-time APIs from the couriers, it
is not possible to predict shipping costs accurately for every
transaction made though AquarianAudio.com. Bulky items and packaging
type may increase the dimensional weight (and cost) of a shipment. We
can often save our customers money by using a flat-rate package, or by
bulk-packaging multiple items. Shipping charges calculated by this web
site are estimates only. It is our policy for orders originating from
this web site to bill the rate calculated by our commerce software and
quoted in the checkout procedure if that rate is within +/- $10.00 of
our actual domestic charges as calculated above, and within +/-$20.00
for international charges. If your shipping rate exceeds these limits
less than the cart rate, we will automatically revise your invoice and
credit any overpayment. If your shipping rate exceeds these limits more
than the cart rate, we will, at our discretion, absorb the additional
cost, or notify the customer of the increase and hold your order until
the additional charge is paid.

Express Shipments: We strive to be the best in the
industry when it comes to getting hydrophones to our customers quickly.
However, we do not accept any liability for delays caused by temporary
closures of shop, out-of-stock standard items, or shipment delays caused
by the courier. We make every effort to satisfy our customers and may
facilitate a refund due to a shipment error--especially if that error
was a result of our actions. But these judgments are made case by case.
Our official return policy (above) is still in effect. Shipment delays
caused by the courier are settled through the courier. Shipment delays
are very rare and we have had years of experience with UPS, FedEx, DHL,
and the US Postal Service. We only ship by reliable means.

Please note: Customers (especially with
international shipments) should plan to be available to take delivery in
person Monday through Friday, authorize another recipient, or plan to
make other arrangements with the courier. Aquarian Audio will not be
liable for delays caused by missed attempts for delivery.

US Postal Service notes: Aquarian Audio Products has
found the US Postal Service and its foreign contractors to be very
reliable. During the few losses that we have encountered, the USPS has
been difficult in resolving problems and very slow to respond. We have
also never made a successful insurance claim with them. Thus, our policy
is to self-insure all of the packages sent through the USPS at a rate
of 1% (domestic) or 1.5% (export) of the shipment value. We will not
replace a lost shipment until 30 days after its last known position.
Customers requiring faster replacement must purchase the replacement
order. We would then refund the cost of that replacement order at the
end of the 30-day term, or upon return of that shipment by the customer.
We will deliver by international air mail (US first class) for
low-value, lightweight shipments. We can not track these shipments in
any way and thus do not guarantee delivery. If you are considering this
low-cost shipping option, you must accept liability for loss. In the
event of loss or damage, we will work with you to provide a replacement,
but reserve the right to make additional charges. A $3.00 handling fee
is charged on first-class international shipments. No additional
insurance fees are charged. If you are willing to accept these terms,
the USPS can be a quick and economical shipping option.

Cetacean Research Technology will always do its best to prepare export shipments with accurate
shipping waybills and all necessary customs documents. Despite our best efforts, shipments are occasionally held in the customs clearance process for unpredictable periods of time. We make no guarantee that your package will be delivered within the expected transit time. Any applicable import taxes are the responsibility of the buyer and will be collected at time of delivery by the courier. These taxes vary, depending on shipment value, shipment method, and destination country. Many international buyers pay no additional tax. Aquarian Audio Products does not attempt to keep tariff and tax rates for any country of
export; it is the sole responsibility of the buyer to investigate these
charges if needed. Due to the cost associated with export shipments, we
highly recommend that you also read the warranty limitation below.

In addition to policy noted above, We do not consider any shipment to
be lost prior to two weeks from the last known tracking event, or
unless the courier confirms loss or damage. Furthermore, customs delays
resulting from the consignee not being available to accept the import or
not paying import taxes and fees are not considered lost. If customers
require replacement because of delays, they must purchase that
replacement. We will offer any applicable refunds following the terms
noted above or when the delayed shipment is returned to us. If an order
is delivered after a replacement has been purchased, but within the
terms noted above, we will not refund shipping costs. Shipping delays
and lost shipments occur infrequently. We'll be grateful for your
patience in the unlikely event this happens to you.

Cetacean Research Technology products come with a 90 day limited warranty.