10/08/2026
IMPORTANT — PLEASE READ 🧡
Today, I have made the decision to turn shipping off on our website earlier than planned. No new orders will be able to be placed until we return from our two-week break.
I had originally planned to remain available to customers and hermie owners while we were away. However, after this past week, I have decided that for my own mental health, I need to completely step away from the crab world for those two weeks.
What does this mean?
From Saturday 15th August, there will be:
• No admin work
• No order cancellations or refund processing
• No email replies
• No message replies
• No phone calls
• No business-related work of any kind
I spend 365 days a year revolving around hermit crabs, owners, customers and The Happy Hermie. I absolutely love what I do, but I need this small break for myself — and, more importantly, I need to be present in the moment with my family.
Unfortunately, despite giving ample notice of both our shipping cutoff and upcoming holiday, I have spent a ridiculous amount of time today processing order cancellations and refunds because customers have realised their orders will not be shipped before we leave — despite this information being provided before their orders were placed.
What makes this particularly difficult is that every cancellation, refund and additional email takes time away from the work I am already trying to complete — meal preparation, order packing, 3D printing, stock preparation and getting everything ready before we leave.
And honestly, I am disappointed that I even need to say this, but I am disappointed by the way we have been treated over the past week.
I have been pressured and threatened with refund requests in an attempt to have orders processed sooner, spoken down to, and called names over circumstances that were clearly communicated prior to orders being placed.
I am one person running this business, and I am doing everything I can to get orders out as quickly as possible.
A reminder about our holiday & shipping cutoff:
We will be out of Victoria from 15th–28th August.
Our shipping cutoff was, and remains:
24th July at midday.
If your order was placed before this cutoff and has not yet shipped, please rest assured that it is already on our workbench and is being processed this week.
I have had our 3D printers running 24/7 in an effort to get through pre-ordered 3D prints so that everything is ready to go when we return.
However, after the number of cancellation requests received today, I am now hesitant to continue running the printers for the remainder of the week.
A very important reminder regarding 3D printed items:
Our 3D printed products are printed on demand specifically for your order. They are printed in the colour, size and design selected by you. Some colours sell extremely quickly, while others may only be ordered once or twice.
Once your item has been specifically printed for your order, it is yours and cannot simply be returned to our general stock without leaving us out of pocket.
If you choose to continue with your order, your 3D printed items will be shipped when your order is ready.
If you choose to cancel your order after your 3D printed item has already been printed, the cost of that completed 3D printed item will not be refunded.
This is clearly outlined in our Store Policy and is exactly why we print these products on demand rather than carrying large amounts of pre-printed stock.
I cannot absorb the cost of custom-printed items that have been produced specifically for an order and then cancelled.
While we're away:
I will be completely logging offline from Saturday 15th August.
Please keep this in mind when contacting us. I will not be checking emails, messages or processing requests during this time.
If you need help with your hermies while we are away, we have a fantastic and supportive Facebook community with knowledgeable admins, moderators and group experts who are always happy to help where they can.
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Jj9oSiJNQ/
Our website blogs also contain answers to the majority of the common questions we receive about hermit crab care, nutrition and husbandry.
I genuinely hope you can understand why I have made this decision.
I need two weeks where I am not thinking about orders, emails, refunds, printing, packing, shipping or hermit crabs.
I need to switch off.
I need to breathe.
And I need to spend some uninterrupted time with my family.
The Happy Hermie will be back, refreshed and ready to go when we return. 🧡
Thank you to everyone who has been patient, understanding and supportive. It genuinely means more than you know.
