Shipping Policy

At Buy Leech Online, we take great care to ensure that live leeches arrive safely and in good condition. Because leeches are sensitive to temperature and handling, we follow specific shipping procedures to support their safe transit.

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Shipping Days

• Orders are shipped Monday through Thursday only.

• We do not ship on Fridays to avoid delays over weekends.

• The shipping cut-off time is  2 PM PST.
  Orders placed after this time will be processed the next business day.

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Shipping on U.S. National Holidays

• We do not ship on U.S. national holidays. Please understand that the U.S. Postal Service and other carriers are closed on these holidays, so even urgent orders cannot be shipped until the next available business day.

• If an order is placed on weekends or on  national holiday, it will be processed and shipped on the next business day following the holiday.

• This applies even for expedited or urgent orders.

• We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to ensure safe and reliable delivery of every order.

• Example:  If you place an order on Thursday after 2:00 PM PST, and a U.S. national holiday falls on the following Monday, your order will be shipped on Tuesday, the next available business day after the holiday.  This applies to all orders. 

Exception – Overnight / Saturday Delivery

The only exception is for overnight delivery orders placed Thursday evening or Friday before 2:00 PM PST, with Saturday delivery service.

To request overnight or Saturday delivery pricing, please email us at sales@buyleechonline.com before placing your order.

• Overnight delivery fees vary by carrier and package weight

• Typical overnight charges range from $45 to $80

• If order placed after 2 PM PST on Friday (even urgent/overnight), your shipping will be processed on next business day after holiday. 

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Processing Time

• Standard processing time is 1 business day.

• Processing may take up to 3 business days due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.

• In cases of extreme weather (especially heat), shipment may be delayed to ensure the safety of the leeches.

If a delay occurs, you may receive a tracking number before the package is scanned. Tracking activity will begin once the leeches are packed and released for shipment.

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Shipping Time

• Typical delivery time is 2–4 days, depending on destination and shipping method.

• Shipments are carefully timed to support leech survival during transit.​

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Packaging for Safe Transit

• Leeches are packed with sufficient moisture to maintain proper conditions during transport.

• In warm weather, minimal insulation materials such as Styrofoam, tissue paper, or newspaper may be used to help regulate temperature and prevent overheating.

 

Weather Conditions

• Weather, especially extreme heat, may require shipment delays.

• Leeches thrive in cooler environments, and shipping schedules may be adjusted accordingly to ensure their well-being.

 

Delivery Issues

If you experience any issues upon delivery, please contact us on the same day at sales@buyleechonline.com and include:

• A photo of the shipping label

• A photo of the affected leech(es) placed next to the label

All reports are reviewed in accordance with our shipping and handling policy.

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Address Accuracy Responsibility

Please ensure that your shipping address is complete and accurate before placing your order. This includes the correct street number, apartment or unit number, city, state, and ZIP code.

We are not responsible for delays, delivery failures, or returned shipments caused by incorrect or incomplete address information provided by the customer.

If live leeches are shipped and returned to us due to an incorrect address, the order will be considered non-refundable, and no refund will be issued.

Please double-check your address carefully at checkout to avoid delays or loss of your order.

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Where We Ship Live Medicinal Leeches

At buyleechonline.com, we ship live medicinal leeches (Hirudo verbana) to customers across the contiguous United States. Our clients include licensed hirudotherapy practitioners, physical therapists, plastic surgeons, medical researchers, university laboratories, and wellness professionals who trust us to deliver healthy, active leeches directly to their door.

Every order is packed using our tested live shipping protocol — insulated, humidity-controlled packaging with species-appropriate conditions — so your leeches arrive alive and ready for immediate use. We have successfully fulfilled orders to all 48 contiguous states.

 

Northeast We serve a large community of therapy practitioners and medical professionals in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Maryland. Cities including New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Newark, Jersey City, and Baltimore are among our most active delivery destinations.

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Southeast We regularly ship to Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Kentucky. Customers in Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, and New Orleans order frequently from our store.

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Midwest Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota are all well-served regions. Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and St. Louis represent some of our strongest customer bases in this region.

 

Southwest We ship regularly to Texas, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Customers in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque receive live leech orders from us consistently.

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West Coast & Pacific Northwest California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah are all active shipping destinations. We deliver to Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, the Bay Area, Sacramento, San Diego, Portland, Seattle, Denver, and Salt Lake City.

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Shipping Restrictions Due to strict agricultural and wildlife import regulations, we are currently unable to ship to Hawaii. Alaska shipments are not available due to temperature and transit time constraints that cannot guarantee live arrival. We are committed to live arrival success — if we cannot guarantee it, we do not ship it.

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Important Notes

• Shipping delays may occur due to weather or carrier-related issues beyond our control.

• By placing an order, you acknowledge the nature of shipping live organisms and agree to these terms.

 

We are committed to responsible shipping and customer support. If you have questions regarding your order or shipping process, please contact us and we will be happy to assist.