Shipping problems

[Tony]

How many of you ship, and doyou ever ship on Thursday?

Typically I do not, though I was set to recieve today from UPS..
Problem A, they dont know where the box is, cannot iniate a trace till the delivery date has past, and then only at the Shippers request.

Nuts to shpping on a thursday, NO LEE WAY. Facilities are closed ALL weekend.
Good luck 9" blondi !!!

Another interesting note: packages are not indivually scanned at various points. Apparently only INTO the system and OUT of the truck....IE I was told 'well the package was "scanned" out of Dallas and into Palatine but that is a computer generated scan, not a package scan...'

The difference,oh stupid backward reader? The computer scans a CARGO container and the package "should be in there" and so it goes, at all the various points in the system....It was scanned as 'out for delivery, 6:14 am', but now tonight it is MIA...Neat system eh, I assumed that all those neat little scan timestamps on the site indicated where my little package was, not a block of 5,000 packages.. Really ridiculous if you ask me, especially someone paying that $3 extra for 10:30am delivery

So the point is, Dont ship after Wednesday cause there is alot that can happen...

Tony (so far, DHL has always worked for me,shipping out)

 

[MindUtopia]

Anything but USPS overnight makes me nervous. But fortunately, the good ole postal service has never given me any problems and is always here by 11am the next day. It's worth the $20 or so.

 

[arachnoguy]

Another reason why i don't use UPS. try to get your stuff sent fed ex usps or dhl (although dhl is a bit iffy on the handling of packages). each of those companies scans packages individually therefore you don't run into this problem of critters going mia. also don't send or have stuff sent unless you know 100% for sure that it will get to where its going friday. good luck to you hope all turns out positively for you.

 

[Captante]

I've had good luck with UPS for ground service and shipping mon through weds seems to go well with the USPS, but their service quality varies widely depending on where you are...while any shipper can screw up, in 10 years of shipping packages I find Fedex is like 99% on time for overnight delivery ....don't even think of using Fedex ground for anything though!

 

[fscorpion]

I have received many tarantulas by ordinary post and never lost one...they all travelled from 5 - 8 days...the important thing is the temperature...must not be high neither too low...don't worry, the are very hardy and its not a problem for them to survive in a well packed box

 

[Joel&Tyler R]

I use DhL for my reptiles & they have gone down hill,,,, BIG TIME!!!! I nearly lost $1,600.00 a few weeks back. They were 2 days late & almost had to sit another 2 days, if I hadn't happen across a very nice manager at one point!

Just a quick tip.... all the shipping companies have scripted lines to give you, just to get you off the phone. (that is not a joke) Always ask to speak to a supervisor if there is a problem & remember to ask their name & write it down. Keep track of your conversations.

Good Luck.

 

[Beccas_824]

All fo my T's have been shipped via DLH or fedex and I never had aproblem with any packages being late or lost.
UPS on the other hand, has given my losts of problems while shipping other things (not T's) both on the reciving and sending end. So I refuse to use UPS for any of my shipping needs anymore.

 

[David Richards]

Good luck

Hope your T. Blondi makes it to you safe and sound. Should be ok with the weather being so nice lately. As long as ACE VENTURA isn't the driver dave

 

[lta3398]

I haven't ordered any new Ts off the net in a long time. The last time I did, DHL was still ok. Since my last purchase, I have been hearing horror stories! As for UPS, that's a laugh. Even normal packages for work never get there on time more often than not. I wouldn't recommend using them. The post office usually does just fine, and delivers well. As long as you can ship Ts using them, I say use them!

 

[Ratfinger]

Never had a problem with UPS, but i refuse to use DHL. Used them a few weeks ago to ship out my ackie.. package arrived a day late. Got a full refund on the shipping costs though 3 weeks later thank god. A week or so later i was to receive a package from DHL with a juvenile klaasi. Well the package didnt show up until 6 pm (3 hours past the due time) and it didnt show up to my house, the idiot driver took it to the apartment building next to mine, and since the apt #5 that matched mine next door wasnt home, he signed for it himself and then left the package just sitting outside! I couldnt beleive it...
And the klaasi was dead as well....

 

[Ewok]

I would go with Fedex or USPS, Ive had fish and corals sent to me through those two carriers and they arrived alive and healthy. I think fedex treats boxes bettert han ups, too because I've had boxes from ups dented in more often.

 

[Beth-Tex]

Know how you feel. Currently I have been trying to find out where a package is that I shipped Priority which is supposed to take 2 - 3 days. Normally the package always got to its destination the next day because the distance is less than 3 hours away!
Well - it was shipped Tuesday & today is Saturday & no one knows where it is.....geeez.......it is only down the road practically but because of gas prices & stuff, it was cheaper to mail the roaches & now they are not to be found. Have been on the phone & written & gone to the Post Office, all to no avail. Services are getting worse while the prices go up.

Beth

 

[Niloticus]

How many of you ship, and doyou ever ship on Thursday?

Typically I do not, though I was set to recieve today from UPS..
Problem A, they dont know where the box is, cannot iniate a trace till the delivery date has past, and then only at the Shippers request.

Nuts to shpping on a thursday, NO LEE WAY. Facilities are closed ALL weekend.
Good luck 9" blondi !!!

Another interesting note: packages are not indivually scanned at various points. Apparently only INTO the system and OUT of the truck....IE I was told 'well the package was "scanned" out of Dallas and into Palatine but that is a computer generated scan, not a package scan...'

The difference,oh stupid backward reader? The computer scans a CARGO container and the package "should be in there" and so it goes, at all the various points in the system....It was scanned as 'out for delivery, 6:14 am', but now tonight it is MIA...Neat system eh, I assumed that all those neat little scan timestamps on the site indicated where my little package was, not a block of 5,000 packages.. Really ridiculous if you ask me, especially someone paying that $3 extra for 10:30am delivery

So the point is, Dont ship after Wednesday cause there is alot that can happen...

Tony (so far, DHL has always worked for me,shipping out)

Hmm, that's odd. :? I've had tarantulas shipped from Florida to Utah with UPS and had no problems. Two seperate occasions in fact. I absolutely avoid DHL whenever possible. They will deliver the package without knocking on the door and they ALWAYS chuck the box from the bottom of my porch to the top. Makes me totally livid. Hundreds of dollars in a single box and they throw it like a newspaper boy does with the daily paper. I have never had problems with USPS or FedEx. However, I have had a few Express shipments with USPS that are supposed to be overnight, but end up taking two days to arrive. Not a huge problem. FedEx is always on time and I have never had any DOA's. I would say FedEx is my favorite, but the shipping costs are quite high, especially right now with fuel increases. As to the days I ship, I usually prefer to get them out before a Wednesday, especially if I use USPS Priority.

Niloticus

 

[lta3398]

I didn't know you could ship live animals with FedEx......I never have a problem with them for regular package shipment, and they also take care of my payroll at work, and they arrive at the same time every Friday, without fail, except in extreme weather conditions. I would recommend them by far now that I know they will ship inverts and such!

 

[syndicate]

ive only got a t mailorder once.it was dhl and it wasnt a good experience at all.thank god all my t's got here safely tho

 

[Brian F.]

I've yet to have a problem with DHL, but have very recently heard a few horror stories. Avoid UPS at all costs; I actually worked there for a summer back in college and the way packages are treated there is a joke. Also, USPS 2-3 day priority recently took 8 days to get a package to me.

I'm told USPS next-day is reliable. The only problem is that when I tried to use it, I was asked what I was shipping. Like an idiot, I actually told the truth and said it was a live tarantula for a breeding loan. To make a long story short, they refused to ship it. Someone on this site recently posted that you can print shipping labels at home and then just drop the package off and not have to deal with a person. I'll have to look into this.

I've never personally used Fed-Ex. It seems a little more expensive, but a lot of reptile breeders use Fed-Ex, so maybe that speaks to their reliability (?).

Good luck though with your blondi. Please keep us posted.

Later!
Brian

 

[Schlyne]

One of the reasons that a lot of reptile breeders use Fed Ex is becuase if you are shipping snakes, (other than delta dash) they are the only company that will accept them. You have to jump through some hoops and become a certified shipper with Fed Ex first, but that's the way it goes.

 

[Captante]

What I'd really like to see is the USPS/Express mail service improve their tracking system
and be more consistant with their commitment to providing overnight shipping, a perfect example is that when stuff is shipped to my home I get it overnight every time, but my PO box in the next town which is 3 miles from my home gets second-day for the exact same delivery..makes no sense at all.


DHL used to be great, but awhile back they merged with Airborne & their service has really taken a hit...for overnight my choice is (1) Fedex (2) USPS Express mail... the last time I was shipping T's they asked me what was in the package & I told them it was glassware, but you can print your own labels at home if you'd rather not face a real person. I think the same thing goes with T's & Fedex as with reptiles and you can ship them if you get certified & pay extra.

 

[Tony]

DOA
Our weather hasnt been so nice, mid 40's at night...Dont know if the trucks are kept inside, outside, undelivered freight left in truck or what...The result is what I feared. She has a tiny little leg twitch, like residual reflex or something. No actual life movements or anything...
T

Always ship Mon or tuesday..Wednesday at the latest..

 

[Dasgre0g]

Bastards. They will Pay