Re: USPS Express Mail DOA

[Wright Huntley <jwwiii at pacbell_net>]

carrie lestyk wrote:

> ...I prefer to use Fed ex but it would be me that would
> get caught "sneaking".

You can probably become an "approved shipper" at FedEx if you follow 
their guidelines, exactly. They are carefully posted at their web site. 
Some of what they want, to protect the other packages, may be riskier 
for the fish. Very thick bags are one example.

You might be able to use "breather bags" if you used their thick bag as 
a liner for the styro, or even outside it, between styro and cardboard. 
I haven't read the rules lately.

UPS routinely handles commercial fish shipments from FL. It might be 
worth checking and seeing if they would handle fish *when properly packed*.

Two things I know they hate: 1) claims for dead fish that probably could 
not have made it, and 2) leaks that damage other expensive shipments 
that they have to make good on. When someone walks in with a naked 
styro, without even an outer cardboard box, you can bet they will 
usually refuse to take it. The cost of replacing an expensive computer 
part is just too much risk, especially if they hear it slosh!

If things get worse, I suspect we are nearing the date when the AKA 
needs to apply some unified pressure to get us the kind of consideration 
that other shippers of small live critters get. If we assure UPS or 
FedEx that we can teach our folks the proper way to pack, and even make 
approved materials available, they might like the business of a hobby 
with 1000 or more folks routinely shipping fish and eggs.

Wright

--
Wright Huntley -- 760 872-3995 -- Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514


Physics is the study of frictionless elephants whose masses may be ignored.



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