Live Blue Crab Policy

Live blue crabs are sold live and must be handled and cooked according to the instructions below. This policy protects your safety and explains what we can and cannot guarantee once a live crab leaves our care.

When our responsibility ends

Crabs are alive and healthy at the time they are transferred to you at pickup or delivery. Once crabs leave the store, Buddy’s Seafood Market cannot control how they are transported, stored, or handled, and we cannot guarantee they will remain alive for any specific length of time after that point.

No survival guarantee after pickup

Live crabs are a natural product, not a manufactured one. Even with proper handling, some crabs may not survive the trip home or the wait before cooking. This is a normal and expected part of buying anything live, and it is not a defect in the product.

Cook the same day

Live crabs should be cooked the same day you purchase them. Do not hold live crabs overnight or plan to cook them the next day.

Safe transportation and storage

• Keep crabs in a breathable container (never a sealed bag or airtight cooler) — they need air.
• Keep them cool and out of direct sun; a damp cloth or newspaper on top helps.
• Do not put live crabs directly on ice or in fresh water — both will kill them.
• Go straight home or to your next stop. Do not leave crabs in a hot car.
• Cook as soon as you’re able to after arriving home.

Sizing and counts

Crab sizes are described by point-to-point shell measurement (tip to tip across the back shell) and are approximate ranges, not exact guarantees for every individual crab:

Bushel counts are approximate and vary by size and season — a bushel typically runs between 5–7 dozen depending on grade. Because crabs are a wild, natural product, some size variation within a grade is normal and expected; not every crab in a bushel will measure identically.

Your acknowledgment

Fresh & Perishable Seafood Returns

Fresh and perishable seafood cannot be physically returned to the store once it has left our care, for food-safety reasons. That said, we stand behind the quality of what we sell and want to know if something isn’t right.

How to report a problem

• Contact us within 24 hours of pickup or delivery.
• Have your receipt or order number ready.
• Send photos of the product and its label if possible.
• Keep the remaining product refrigerated in case we ask to see it.

What’s covered

We review legitimate quality issues and order errors individually — for example, product that was spoiled at the time of sale, the wrong item, or an incorrect quantity.

What’s not covered

• Personal taste or preference
• Product that was improperly stored, transported, or handled after purchase
• Live crabs after they’ve left the store (see the Live Blue Crab Policy above)

Preorders & Cancellations

Preorders help us plan around fresh, wild-caught seafood that arrives on its own schedule.

• Preorders should be placed with as much notice as possible, especially around holidays.
• Cancellations are accepted up until we begin sourcing or preparing your order; after that point, product may already be committed on your behalf.
• Same-day cancellations for live product (such as crabs) may not be possible once sourced.
• We’ll always try to work with you — contact the store as early as you can if your plans change.

Pickup Deadlines & Abandoned Orders

• Orders should be picked up on the date and within the window selected at checkout.
• Perishable and live items are prepared or sourced specifically for your pickup time — please let us know as soon as possible if you’re running late.
• Orders not picked up within 24 hours of the scheduled time may be considered abandoned and are not eligible for a refund, since the product cannot be resold.

Special Orders

Special-order items (large volume, uncommon species, or catering-sized quantities) are sourced specifically for you and may require a deposit. Deposits on special orders are generally non-refundable once sourcing has begun, since we cannot return live or fresh product to our suppliers.

Product Availability & Substitutions

We source from working NC fishermen, so availability can shift day to day with weather, season, and the catch. If an item you ordered isn’t available, we’ll contact you about a comparable substitution or a refund for that item — we won’t substitute without reaching out first when we’re able to.

Pricing, Weights & Quantities

• Seafood is priced by weight or count as listed; market prices can change without notice due to supply.
• Weights for items like whole fish, crab, and shrimp are approximate — natural product varies piece to piece.
• Final price at pickup reflects the actual weight or count provided, which may differ slightly from an online estimate.

Food Safety & Allergen Notice

Our seafood is handled in a facility that also processes other shellfish and finfish products. While we take care to prevent cross-contact, we cannot guarantee any product is completely free of allergens common to seafood, including fish and shellfish. Please let our staff know of any allergy concerns before ordering.

All perishable seafood should be refrigerated or cooked promptly and handled using safe food practices (proper temperature, clean surfaces, and separation from ready-to-eat foods).

Promotions & Discounts

• Our Wednesday senior and veteran discount (5%) applies to regular in-store purchases and excludes bulk orders.
• Only one coupon, discount, or promotion may be applied per order — offers cannot be combined with each other or with Toast loyalty rewards.
• Promotional pricing is valid for the dates stated and while supplies last.

Website Orders & Privacy

Orders placed through bsmlkn.com are processed through Toast. Information you provide (name, phone, email, and order details) is used to fulfill your order and contact you about it, and is not sold to third parties. Standard web terms apply to use of this site; contact us with any questions about how your information is used.