Free over $99. Returns without an argument.
Two policies, no fine-print maze. Standard shipping is free on orders of $99 or more anywhere in the contiguous US, and every return is free of fees — you cover the postage back unless the gear is defective, in which case we do. (Equipment only here — we don't sell livestock.)
How orders ship
Everything ships from our warehouse in the US. Orders placed before 2 PM ET on a business day leave the same day — that's the 24-hour ship promise, kept.
| Method | Transit | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard CONTIGUOUS US · 48 STATES |
3–5 business days | Free at $99+ · $12 under | The default. Most orders arrive in 3 days east of the Mississippi. |
| Expedited 2-DAY AIR |
2 business days | Quoted per order at checkout | Priced by weight and destination — a dosing pump costs far less to fly than a big return pump or skimmer. |
| Overnight NEXT BUSINESS DAY |
Next business day | Quoted per order at checkout | Order by 2 PM ET. For the “my return pump just died and the tank needs flow” situations. |
| Alaska, Hawaii & territories AK · HI · PR · GU · VI |
5–10 business days | Quoted per order | The $99 free-shipping threshold doesn't apply outside the contiguous 48 — we charge what the carrier charges us, nothing on top. |
Tracking is emailed the moment the label prints. Orders over $1,500 ship signature-required at no charge — a big light or pump shouldn't sit on a porch. We don't currently ship internationally.
The return policy, in four lines
We'd rather you return gear than keep gear that's wrong for your tank. No restocking fee, no store-credit games — refunds go back to the original payment method.
How a return works
Use the contact form or email hello@marenmarine.com with your order number and what's coming back.
Within one business day you'll have an RMA (return authorization) number and the return address — or a prepaid label, if the item is defective.
Original packaging and all accessories: mounts, controllers, tubing, fittings. Write the RMA on the outside of the box.
We check it over, then refund within 3 business days of arrival. Your bank may take 2–5 more to post it.
Questions we actually get
What counts as “defective”? +
Dead on arrival, a hardware fault within the return window, shipping damage, or us shipping you the wrong item. In all of those cases the return postage is ours — we send a prepaid label. “My light isn't bright enough for SPS” is a sizing question, not a defect, but it's still returnable under the standard policy. Better yet, ask us first: system sizing is free.
Can I return gear I've opened and run? +
Yes. Trying gear out is expected — you can't know whether a pump moves enough water for your tank without running it. Rinse it in fresh water and let it dry before shipping (saltwater residue corrodes), include everything from the box, and the standard policy applies.
Can I exchange instead of returning? +
Fastest path: order the right item now, return the wrong one under the normal policy. You're never waiting on a cross-ship queue, and the refund usually lands before the card statement closes. If you're not sure what the right item is, that's what the system sizer is for.
Do you sell fish or coral? +
No — Maren Marine is equipment only. That keeps this policy simple: there's no livestock acclimation window, no live-arrival guarantee, none of that. Equipment, a clean 30-day return window, and the manufacturer's warranty behind it.
How do warranty claims work after 30 days? +
Everything we sell carries the manufacturer's warranty, and we handle the claim for you — one email to us, not a ticket queue overseas. Defective-in-warranty hardware gets a prepaid label and a replacement as soon as the fault is confirmed.
Half of all returns are sizing problems.
Tell us about your tank before you ship anything back — sometimes the fix is repositioning a powerhead or adjusting a setting, not replacing the gear. System sizing is free and answered by people who keep reef tanks.