Shipping boxes of fish overnight- whos cheapest and most reliable?

[Cosm3]

Post your reviews!!

I've never done it before and leaning towards FEDEX.

[Afreakin]

airport to airport :bandit:

[Cosm3]

I tried signing up to be a registered shipper to use cargo and it was a very long process. Including Faxing forms and Identification and such. Which carrier has a more painless approach to shipping cargo?

[Lostlilkidd]

Domestic or international?

[Cosm3]

Domistic..

[Lostlilkidd]

the company I work for uses fedex and there are few issues. Not sure about the rates though.
Generally, you shouldnt have a problem with fedex or ups.

[Bev N]

Airport to airport with all airlines require you to become a known shipper. In addition to faxing forms and proof of ID it can and most likely will require an inspection of your facility. I know that Delta will be coming here and I'm sure Continental and US Air will do the same. It's a bit to go thru but from a passanger point of view I'm quite happy to know they are being extra cautious. There is a minimum charge but for larger orders that you want overnight it can be cheaper.

UPS is very expensive for overnight. If you can get an account and work a deal or be under the account of another it might be cheaper but those truck freeze in the winter and cook in the summer. Ask my son. He'll tell you.

Fed-Ex is pricey but dependable. They also require your packing methods be approved. They don't want fish water leaking all over that $400 game system in the box your fish are sitting on. That requires you to pack up two boxes I believe showing how you plan on shipping and to them, at your expense, to have them approve you for shipping fish.

I personally have been shipping USPS and have not had any problems with fish getting where they were to be. The one time a box was delayed they all arrived safe and sound. I just pack extra well so that if that happens they should be fine. Most fish I have received have been USPS as well. Only once did I have a box get held up because it leaked apparently. Fifteen days later I got the box and believe it or not there were two bags of angelfish still alive.

[joe_jaskot]

The USPS will often refuse to ship boxes labeled as live fish in the summer time. Knowing how the post office handles packages, USPS would be the last shipper I would use. I once had a 30 pound piece of holey rock that was well packed arrive as pieces of rubble. The shipping box was destroyed. I received no compensation because I did not insure a rock. Live and learn. If you are going to use USPS make sure you ship on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday so that your fish do not sit around over the weekend. If I had to ship fish, I would spend the extra money and go with either Fedex or UPS overnight.

[Anubias Design]

In my experience, the USPS is more reliable and significantly cheaper than FedEx. FedEx actually carries express mail from point to point and then the usps delivers it. I quit using FedEx a year ago when their on-time delivery percentage took a real nosedive, which also coincided with a ridiculous rate hike. The only time I use FedEx now is when my customer has an account or specifically requests FedEx. The problems continue. I'd say 20-30% of shipments do not arrive on time with FedEx, and good luck getting a refund when that happens as they always have some excuse. With the USPS, you take your receipt in to your local po, they look it up and if it was delivered late, you get a refund. It's pretty straightforward.
Mark

[Anubias Design]

[QUOTE=joe_jaskot;8413]The USPS will often refuse to ship boxes labeled as live fish in the summer time.

I've never had that come up and don't think they're allowed to do that. It's like anything else where someone thinks they have power. You get individuals that will try to tell you that you can't do something when in fact they can't refuse you. If that ever happens, talk to the branch manager.
Mark

[Cosm3]

update - the shipment from NY to Florida was a success.

I ended up sending packages via UPS and USPS.

Both carriers were told there was fish in the box.

USPS simply didnt care. UPS marked the box perishable/fragile.

USPS charged $70 for a box around 24x18x15
UPS charged $115 for a box around 18"15"15"


I'll be shipping via USPS from now on.

Both carriers guaranteed a deliver before noon since they were shipped before noon.

[ValleyAquatics]

I agree with Mark. I use USPS for all next day deliveries and they have always gotten the shipment on time wether it was guaranteed before noon or in some cases it's 3pm.

Also if you want to ship airport to airport you don't need to be a known shipper with Northwest, American or Delta...........though that will change with Delta by the summer time.

[Bev N]

I think that has already changed with Delta as I am in the process of becoming a known shipper. They are requiring it now. They are also charging for the inspection. US Airways requires it as well but I haven't been hit with any inspection charge yet. I didn't know that Northwest doesn't and that would be one I could use out of Harrisburg for domestic shipment.

I believe that all IATA regulations apply to domestic shipments also. I need to contact USFWL out of Baltimore to get a copy of that. You have to comply with that even if your importing meaning the exporter shipping to you has to be aware of those. UWFWL told me to make sure when I import that if it's not a business that has shipped here before to send them a copy.


I've had delays with the USPS twice. Once a box of very nice large wild discus that I shipped that were bumped a day but arrived alive and are doing very well. The other was a box of 18 sterbai. They were going into a gated community and the driver could not find the Dr.'s name that ordered them. So they went back to the post office. They left a note to pick them up. To make a long story short the fish were in transit for over 90 hours and he still has 18 happy healthy sterbai. He was one happy camper!

Most of the times USPS does pretty good and it's the most economical. Buyers just are not happy paying more for shipping that the cost of the fish!

[Julie]

Just a note to all who DO use UPS (which I do on ground overnights) that UPS will not pay out on insurance claims because the fish died. I've had them refuse even tho the box was damaged, which is why the fish died, because it got cold. Otherwise, I've had no problems using UPS ground, when I judiciously choose my shipping days. I also will often ship to the local UPS store, where the client will pick up their fish with no extra charge, and the fish haven't been out in the cold/hot truck all day. Obviously they can even collect the fish earlier in the day.