Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it so expensive?
There are many factors that go into pricing and shipping live lobster. First, the actual cost of the lobster which can vary by season. Although, compared to other proteins like steak and chicken, it is not as inflated as it could be. The second cost is the packaging and overnight shipping itself. Our packaging is around $14-$18 per box and because we have to ship live and fresh seafood overnight, we have limited shipping options. The shipping ranges between $45-$110 depending on the size of the box. This price is even after our 70% shipping discount we pass on to customers. The third is the overhead cost of maintaining a live lobster holding system to store them while awaiting shipment. Another factor is that lobsters will eat other lobsters in the holding tanks creating an expensive loss that needs to be recouped from the rest.
How do I store them until I am ready to cook?
Actually, the best way to keep them is in the box they arrived in until ready to cook. We never recommend that you put lobster in water or ice to store them. We recommend cooking your live lobster the day it is received. If you need to store it an extra day, you may need to store the box in your fridge overnight. As long as the lobsters are alive when received, they are ok to store longer. If a lobster is weak or has died you are still able to cook it for 12-24 hours after death.
When do I need to order by?
We recommend a few days lead time, but since we ship all our orders via overnight air you are able to put your order in as late as 2:00pm EST the day before you would like to receive it. In some cases, we may be able to ship an order after our 2:00 pm EST cutoff, so please call us to determine if it is possible that day.
Can I choose my delivery date?
Yes, during the checkout process, you will be able to select the delivery date. Keep in mind that our date picker may allow you to select days we are unable to deliver on such as major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. We will contact you if we receive your order with a delivery date that is unavailable.
Are lobsters frozen, cooked or live?
All of our fresh caught Maine lobsters are shipped alive and kicking. Our whole lobsters will not be shipped frozen or cooked. They will be packed in a Styrofoam cooler box with individual lobster partitions. We then set wet newspaper and frozen gel packs on top to keep the box refrigerated for up to 2 days.
Do you deliver to my city and state?
We deliver to all 50 states, including parts of Hawaii and Alaska. We can also deliver directly to any town that is served by Fedex and UPS.
Do you deliver every day?
We can deliver on most days except Sunday. Saturday has some restrictions based upon the Fedex service in your local area. In some cases, we are able to ship to a Walgreens or Dollar General Store that may be available if your home falls outside of a delivery zone. Those orders would need to be picked up at those stores during their hours of operation. We also only deliver live lobsters Tue-Sat. and fresh or frozen items Mon-Sat.
Are your lobsters from Maine?
Yes, for 10 of 12 months a year all of our lobsters are caught right here in Maine. During December and January, we sometimes source Canadian lobsters to offset the supply issues while some of our local fisherman pull their boats. A Canadian lobster and a Maine Lobster are the same species. Throughout the year, they migrate north and south and where they are caught determines their origin.