Shipping Policy | Mom's Salty Fish

1. Overview

This Shipping Policy applies to all orders placed on momssaltyfish.com, operated by Mom's Salty Fish (Proprietor: Dhanalakshmi), Vanagiri, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu. We deliver pan-India using India Post.

🕐 Important — Made-to-Order: We do not maintain pre-packed ready stock. Every order is freshly prepared, quality-checked, vacuum-sealed, and packed specifically for you after your order is placed. This ensures maximum freshness but means total delivery time can take up to 12 business days from order confirmation under normal conditions.

We currently ship only within India. International shipping is not available at this time.

2. Delivery Charges

Delivery Zone	Shipping Charge	Estimated Delivery Time
Tamil Nadu — all districts	Calculated at checkout FREE if an applicable offer is active	3–5 days preparation + 2–4 days transit Total: up to 9 business days
All other Indian states	Calculated at checkout (Based on weight & delivery location)	3–5 days preparation + 5–7 days transit Total: up to 12 business days

Shipping charges are calculated at checkout based on order weight and delivery location. Free delivery within Tamil Nadu is available when an applicable offer or coupon is active.

3. Payment Method

We accept UPI payments only (GPay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM, and all UPI apps) via our secure Razorpay payment gateway. Cash on Delivery (COD) is not available.

Orders are processed only after successful UPI payment confirmation.

4. Order Processing & Preparation Time

We are a made-to-order business — we do not keep pre-packed ready stock. Every batch of karuvadu is freshly prepared after your order is placed. This ensures you always receive the freshest product.

Processing works on working days (Monday to Saturday, excluding national and Tamil Nadu state public holidays):

After your UPI payment is confirmed, we begin preparing your stock — sourcing, cleaning, salting, and drying (if needed for fresh batches).
Each order then goes through quality check, weighing, vacuum sealing, labelling, and outer packaging.
This entire preparation and packing process takes 3–5 business days depending on the quantity and variety ordered.
Your order is handed over to India Post only after complete preparation and quality approval.

⚠️ During peak seasons (Pongal, Diwali, Tamil New Year, Ramadan, etc.) preparation may take an extra 1–2 days due to high demand. We will notify you by email or WhatsApp if your order is delayed.

5. Courier Partner — India Post

All orders are shipped via India Post (Speed Post / Parcel), the Government of India's postal service. India Post reaches every pin code in India, including rural and remote areas.

After dispatch, you will receive a tracking number (article number) via email and on your My Orders page.
Track your shipment at indiapost.gov.in
India Post helpline: 1800-11-2011 (toll-free)

6. Packaging Standards

We follow strict packaging standards to ensure your karuvadu reaches you fresh:

All products are vacuum-sealed to lock in freshness and prevent moisture or odour transfer.
Vacuum packs are enclosed in a thick outer packaging suitable for postal transit.
Each parcel carries our FSSAI license number as mandated by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Weight of each pack is as labelled (we comply with the Legal Metrology Act, 2009).

7. Tracking Your Order

After your order is dispatched:

You will receive an email notification with your India Post article/tracking number.
The tracking number and courier details will also appear on your My Orders page.
Use the article number to track real-time delivery status at indiapost.gov.in.

8. Delivery Delays

The standard maximum delivery time is up to 12 business days from order confirmation. However, the following may cause delays beyond this:

🌀 Cyclones & Natural Disasters: We are based in coastal Tamil Nadu (Vanagiri, Mayiladuthurai), a region that experiences cyclones, heavy rains, and floods — especially from October to December. During such events, both our preparation and India Post transit can be significantly delayed. We will always notify you via WhatsApp or email if your order is impacted.

Other factors that may cause delays:

India Post operational delays, sorting centre backlogs, or postal strikes
Floods, extreme rainfall, or road blockages in transit zones
Remote, rural, or difficult-to-access pin codes
National or state public holidays
Incomplete or incorrect address provided by the customer
High order volume during festival seasons

Mom's Salty Fish is not liable for delays caused by natural disasters or India Post once the parcel is dispatched. However, we will actively assist in tracking and follow-up on your behalf.

9. Failed Delivery & Return to Origin

If India Post returns a parcel to us due to:

Wrong or incomplete address provided by the customer
Customer unavailability after delivery attempts
Refusal to accept the parcel

We will contact you to arrange re-delivery. Re-delivery shipping charges (actual cost) are payable by the customer. As karuvadu is a perishable product, we may not be able to guarantee quality on returned parcels.

10. Bulk Orders

For orders above 5 kg, please contact us via WhatsApp before placing the order. We offer special pricing and can arrange dedicated shipping for bulk orders.