Summary
Southern Biological has a next day delivery cut off of 5pm EST. This means that for your order to be dispatched the following day your order will need to be in before 5pm EST that day.
Perishable Orders
Orders are classified as perishable if they contain one or more perishable items. The items that we classify as perishable are as follows: living cultures (excluding bacterial cultures), frozen items and refrigerated items. If you are unsure as to whether an item is perishable, feel free to contact us and we can discuss delivery options.
We dispatch orders that contain perishable items on Monday to Wednesday of a typical week, but do not dispatch on Thursday or Friday to ensure that the items are not in transit over the weekend. Please select a date of dispatch located on perishable items when adding to your order.
Perishable orders will typically be dispatched in courier bags which take one day to be delivered to many locations in Australia.
If your order also contains non-perishable goods that are either too large for a courier bag or not allowed to travel by air (e.g. flammable substances), then they will dispatched on the same day via road freight. For many areas of Australia, this will mean that the perishable and non-perishable components of the order will be delivered on separate days.
Goods sent in courier bags cannot be left without a recipient, so please ensure that the address you provide is staffed to receive deliveries. For orders that contain perishable items, ensure that the parcel is immediately unpacked and the items are stored appropriately.
Postal Service
Depending on the items involved, it may be possible for us to send non-perishable orders via Registered Post. This method is necessary when sending to a PO box, and it is our preferred option when sending to residential addresses and other locations that are not staffed during business hours. The cost of this service depends on the size and weight of the item, and it is available on any business day.
Living Cultures
Orders that contain living cultures are treated as perishable orders, with the exception of bacterial cultures which we classify as non-perishable. The following few extra considerations also apply to living, non-bacterial cultures. After your culture arrives, loosen the lid to ensure that the organisms have access to fresh air. Photosynthetic organisms should be placed in indirect sunlight and non-photosynthetic organisms in a dark area, such as a cupboard.
Living cultures will have a limited lifespan after being removed from their natural environment, so if possible, we recommend having them delivered on the day before they are to be used. Care instructions for each of our living cultures are available on our website.
Frozen Items
Frozen items can be sent via a courier bag, but only for overnight delivery areas. While overnight delivery is possible for most of our customers, frozen specimens may not be an option if you live in a remote area. If you are unsure, please give us a ring to discuss delivery times, and we can also discuss preserved alternatives in cases where we cannot send frozen items.
Frozen items sent via overnight shipment will usually arrive thawed; this is normal. You may use them immediately or refreeze them for future use. Refreezing will not damage the quality of the specimens.
International Orders
Orders can be shipped internationally either directly or via a freight forwarder in Australia. If you are interested, please contact us for a freight quote, and we will determine the most economical shipping method available. Please note that certain items are subject to quarantine and customs restrictions in some countries. Check with the authorities in your location to ensure that the goods may be imported, and if so, whether any special permits are required.