How do you ship YOUR amphibians?

[Jenste]

Hi all,

I generally ship my African Clawed Frog (ACF) froglets overnight/two day through UPS, but due to the cost of shipping many buyers are lost.

I am hearing more and more stories of success by shipping standard 2-3 day shipping through the United States Postal Service and was wondering if any on here previously did this.

 

[suztor]

Since i live in a small town sorta tucked away it too two days to have my newts delivered even with next day express. They arrived in pretty good condition and all alive.

They were in 2 tupaware containers inside a small styro foam cooler with a cold pack and newspaper.

It was probably close to 70 or less degrees in the cooler after surviving phoenix, which i must admit is impressive.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[Greatwtehunter]

I use the 2-3 day service from the USPS and have had nothing but success. I've even had packages get delayed in transit for 6 days and all the salamanders arrived in perfect shape.

I ship all of my stuff in moss filled plastic containers that are surrounded by packing peanuts.

 

[Molch]

I think some folks use fedex overnight too - which is not on your poll.

In m town, USPS express is the most reliable option and gets here in 1-2 days from almost anywhere in the US

 

[Neotenic_Jaymes]

I sometimes use other services than USPS is if I need to ship somewhere overnight and they can't do it. Then I turn to Fedex or UPS. Other then that USPS is my routine shipper. And there are certain times of the year that I avoid using USPS. Starting from Thanks Giving through Christmas and to New Years are the worst times. During these holidays I would consider other services.

 

[michael]

I usually use usps express mail. All shipping methods can have problems.

I ship by Chrysler minivan whenever possible. My friend Bill and I once drove 10 hours to Kentucky to deliver some Ambystomids.

 

[FRANCOIS]

When u ship USPS Express Mail, the sender can look up online the location of the Post Office and the cut off drop off time in order for USPS to assure overnite delivery. If you do not ship before the cut off time, it takes 2 days.
Of course if you live in a very remote area, I am not sure overnite will work.

 

[Neotenic_Jaymes]

It seems some people deal with problems and some don't with their local post office. I know that location means a lot. I live in Detroit and many things are half operational and "ghetto". I deal with a lot of problems because of their staff. It's true that standards are different in different places. I'm currently boycotting my local post office.

 

[FRANCOIS]

Don't forget that in any case, USPS does not own a single airplane! If you ship Express Mail / Priority Mail.... it all ends up in the private carriers hands... your package will fly Fedex, UPS and a few others.... ever noticed all those Fedex / UPS trucks around your main Post Office? ET VOILA !!!!

 

[FRANCOIS]

It seems some people deal with problems and some don't with their local post office. I know that location means a lot. I live in Detroit and many things are half operational and "ghetto". I deal with a lot of problems because of their staff. It's true that standards are different in different places. I'm currently boycotting my local post office.

OH you hater! ;-)

 

[Molch]

Don't forget that in any case, USPS does not own a single airplane! If you ship Express Mail / Priority Mail.... it all ends up in the private carriers hands... your package will fly Fedex, UPS and a few others.... ever noticed all those Fedex / UPS trucks around your main Post Office? ET VOILA !!!!

haha, except when you live where I live, where fedex and UPS both don't fly at all, but instead contract with the slowest, bumbling idjit bush cargo airline available, who can't even tell you, when you call them in the morning, whether they'll have a flight come in that day ("it depends"..."oh? on what? whether you got enough fuel? whether your pilot sobers up in time? whether the muskoxen are parked on the runway again?")

So...you do 2-day fedex it can take 2 days, or, well, 2 weeks. Got a 2-day shipment of earthworms after 8 days once (still alive, mostly).

USPS , on the other hand, flies their stuff on AK Air, who come 3 times per day. Express usually gets here in 1 or 2 days from anywhere in the US.

 

[Neotenic_Jaymes]

OH you hater! ;-)

Hater!? Me!? Can't help that my Post Office sucks here. Such low quality in service. You'd be a "hater" to Franco.

 

[jamminnewt]

I had one bad experience and that occurred with an international delivery of eggs. They got stopped somewhere along the way for THREE WEEKS! When they did finally make it to their destination they had all died of asphyxiation and waste-poisoning. It was terrible. My poor little guys didn't stand a chance.

Other than that I have had no trouble with USPS. Just don't do it international.

 

[michael]

I had one bad experience and that occurred with an international delivery of eggs. T

Other than that I have had no trouble with USPS. Just don't do it international.

Do you suppose the paperwork held them up?

 

[jamminnewt]

It was most likely the paperwork. They got held up somewhere at the border. However, I went over and over it with the postal worker before I sent them! I was so frustrated and distressed. Every few hours I would log on to check the tracking status and they hadn't moved. I really wanted the Canadian caudate enthusiast to get them.

 

[michael]

I gave up on importing and exporting amphibians because of all of the paperwork and permits necessary to do it legally. All in all the post office is pretty good.