A lot of people feel like the fish they received doesn’t look like the photos, or that it lost its flavor the moment they opened the box. The problem isn’t always the store or the app — it’s often in how the order itself was placed. In this article, we’ll walk through the most common mistakes people make without realizing it, and how to avoid them so every order arrives in top quality.

Mistake #1: Ordering at Any Time of Day

Many people assume the timing of an order doesn’t matter, but the truth is that when you order directly affects freshness.

If you order late in the afternoon, the stock that arrived in the morning may already be gone, and you could end up with a relatively older batch. It’s best to order early, especially on days with daily supply from the port or the farm.

The fix: Set a fixed day and time for your weekly order, and try to make it in the morning or early in the day.

Mistake #2: Ignoring the Packaging Details Upon Arrival

Most people open the box right away without even looking at the packaging itself. But packaging tells you a lot before you even see the fish:

If the box feels warm or the ice has completely melted, there was likely an issue during delivery or transport.
If there’s water leaking from the box, the fish probably went through a temperature change along the way.
Proper packaging should keep things cold without soaking the rest of the contents.

The fix: Inspect the box before opening it, and if there’s any issue, report it to customer service immediately with a photo.

Mistake #3: Not Specifying the Exact Cut You Want

There’s a big difference between ordering “fish” in general and specifying exactly whether you want fillet, slices, or a whole cleaned fish. Many customers leave this choice open, then are surprised the cut isn’t what they imagined or doesn’t suit the recipe they had in mind.

The fix: Take a moment while ordering to specify the exact cutting and cleaning method you want — most apps give you this option explicitly.

Mistake #4: Storing the Fish Incorrectly After Receiving It

A big part of the “the fish wasn’t fresh” issue isn’t actually caused by delivery — it’s caused by how it was stored afterward. If you leave it in the bag on the doorstep for half an hour before bringing it inside, or put it in the fridge without wrapping it properly, it will lose quality even if it was genuinely fresh at the time of delivery.

The fix:

Store it immediately in the fridge or freezer depending on when you’ll use it.
Use tightly sealed bags to keep air out.
Don’t leave it at room temperature for more than 20 minutes.

Mistake #5: Relying on Price Alone When Comparing

There’s a common misconception that the cheapest price means the best deal. But with seafood, an unusually low price can mean:

A lower-quality source, or frozen fish being sold as fresh.
Lower spending on packaging and cooling, which affects freshness on arrival.
No clear replacement or return guarantees.

The fix: Compare not just on price, but also on store reviews, replacement policy, and the stated source.

Mistake #6: Ignoring Other Customers’ Reviews

Many people order without checking the store’s or app’s reviews beforehand. Reviews aren’t just numbers — they reveal recurring issues like delivery delays or packaging problems that no one will tell you about except customers who’ve actually experienced them.

The fix: Read recent comments, not just the overall rating, and pay attention to any recurring complaint about freshness or delivery.

Mistake #7: Not Contacting Customer Service When There’s an Issue

Many customers, when they receive an order with a problem, just let it go and decide they “won’t order again” without reporting it to anyone. Serious stores take reports very seriously, which helps them improve their service — and they might also compensate you right away.

The fix: Report any issue to customer service as soon as it happens, with a photo of the product, so they can act quickly.

Quick Takeaway

Getting fresh fish isn’t just the store’s or the app’s responsibility — it also comes down to small decisions you make while ordering and receiving. If you pay attention to timing, the type of cut, storage method, and report any issue right away, you’ll notice a big difference in the quality of every order.

With the Fish Markets App, you can control all these details from ordering to pickup in a few simple steps.

#Fish Storage Tips

7 Common Mistakes That Make Your Fish Arrive Less Than Fresh… And How to Avoid Them