INFO: UPS-will they honor their agreement?

Originally Posted by YJHB

The outside temps are surprisingly high; they must have kept the packages shielded from the worst of it.

Exactly. I honestly believe that since that temperature chart recorder was attached to the outside of the box, the carriers gave the package extra attention and did keep it from seeing any extreme external cold. Too bad, because it would have made a much better experiment if we could have seen the differential from inside the box.

Originally Posted by Bill & Amy

I also wonder if the placement of the heat packs would change the outcome (like under the newspaper)?

Actually, the entire box was stuffed full of shredded newspaper right before sealing it up.

Interesting. One inch of insulation is not usual for most shipping boxes and it does surprise me how little even that much insulation moderated the interior temperature. I would have expected more lag time between a change in the exterior temps and what was detected inside. Insulation (except in the case of a pure vacuum) generally does not stop a temperature change, it only delays it.

That temperature spike at 4 hours is pretty noteworthy. Had the outside temps been around 80 degrees or more, it could have been a serious condition inside for the animal. Particularly if the box had been placed in a heated truck after pickup. I would expect a smaller box to amplify that temperature spike.

As I said, interesting data........ Thanks.

Originally Posted by Golden Gate Geckos

Exactly. I honestly believe that since that temperature chart recorder was attached to the outside of the box, the carriers gave the package extra attention and did keep it from seeing any extreme external cold. Too bad, because it would have made a much better experiment if we could have seen the differential from inside the box.
Actually, the entire box was stuffed full of shredded newspaper right before sealing it up.

*Timidly raises hand*
Now you're going to see that I have a bit of larceny in me... I want to make a fake 'transit temperature' box that looks just like that one for use on the outsides of the boxes on an ordinary shipments...

I'm weak, I can't help myself here after what happened...

Originally Posted by YJHB

*Timidly raises hand*
Now you're going to see that I have a bit of larceny in me... I want to make a fake 'transit temperature' box that looks just like that one for use on the outsides of the boxes on an ordinary shipments...

I'm weak, I can't help myself here after what happened...

Exactly, if thats what it takes to insure the company actually cares for the package correctly. How much do one of temperature recorders cost anyway?

There's a wide range of prices. At home I have the water resistant Hobo data loggers. They go for approximately $120. You can find cheaper non-submersible ones for around $50.

Regards

Originally Posted by The BoidSmith

There's a wide range of prices. At home I have the water resistant Hobo data loggers. They go for approximately $120. You can find cheaper non-submersible ones for around $50.

Regards

! They're reusable and everything??
Muahahahaha..... I'm getting such great vibes.

I wonder if they make jolt recorders too...

Originally Posted by YJHB

Now you're going to see that I have a bit of larceny in me... I want to make a fake 'transit temperature' box that looks just like that one for use on the outsides of the boxes on an ordinary shipments...

Believe me, Rob and I actually thought about how we could make a 'dummy' recorder to attach to every shipment! It is painfully apparent that the unit caught the eye of every single person that came in contact with the box. The lowest recorded external temperature never dropped below 47 degrees, and it was in the 30's for most of the trip!

There's a wide range of prices. At home I have the water resistant Hobo data loggers. They go for approximately $120. You can find cheaper non-submersible ones for around $50.

Actually, we got the second one for free from TeleTemp if we promised to post their name in any publication regarding this experiment. They cost about $35, and are not resusable. They would normally cost a lot more, because the unit is supposed to be shipped back to them for the data extrapolation and a report generated. We did it ourselves instead.

If recording devices really make employees more careful, perhaps it would be worthwhile to explore the idea of attaching a min. - max thermometer in some kind of protective plastic cover on the outside of the box (right next to the colorful sticker that says "Avoid Extreme Heat" or "Avoid Freezing"). That would serve the purpose of proving the hottest and coldest temps the box was exposed to, and they can be bought at reasonable prices, although still too expensive to send with a $35 cornsnake.

Originally Posted by Golden Gate Geckos

Believe me, Rob and I actually thought about how we could make a 'dummy' recorder to attach to every shipment! It is painfully apparent that the unit caught the eye of every single person that came in contact with the box. The lowest recorded external temperature never dropped below 47 degrees, and it was in the 30's for most of the trip!

Maybe I missed some of the posts. Other than seeing the difference between the inside and outside of the package (which was not as significant as I would have thought), I don't really see the significance of this "test". There are horror stories from every carrier, and there are also "I've never had a problem" stories from every carrier. Some have a better overall track record. Lots of packages make it in the winter with lows in the 40's, 30's and even less, and conversley in summer with temps in the 90's.
The package may have gotten "special treatment", but more of these tests need to be done. It's quite possible that the box simply got shipped "right" as does actually happen sometimes, even with UPS. Even if they saw that recorder, I'm not so sure they hand delivered it every step of the way, or took it into a heated office or something if there was a delay, etc. As many packages as they are moving, especially with temporary workers who could care less, I don't think it would be much different than a package marked "fragile", "glass" "live animals", etc. and we already know they still treat those like footballs. Every package shipped that day (from beginning, to hub, to destination)may have stayed at 45 degrees.

Originally Posted by KathyLove

If recording devices really make employees more careful, perhaps it would be worthwhile to explore the idea of attaching a min. - max thermometer in some kind of protective plastic cover on the outside of the box (right next to the colorful sticker that says "Avoid Extreme Heat" or "Avoid Freezing"). That would serve the purpose of proving the hottest and coldest temps the box was exposed to, and they can be bought at reasonable prices, although still too expensive to send with a $35 cornsnake!

As I noted above I'm not sure it would help, maybe initially, but then I think they would get "use" to them, like boxes marked "fragile". That said, If it was proved it helped, we could charge the customer a returnable deposit. Explain that these temp devices are needed, so when the customer receives the package, they simply send it back (we could include a priority box) then we refund the deposit in full.
I think the only time that these devices would help would be in the instances where, a package is lost or delayed, and is then left on the tarmac in the sun (summer) or in 15 degree weather (in winter), and some employee notices that it is a temp controlled package and takes it to somewhere safe. Does this happen enough, that that would be feasable?

Another issue....UPS only guarantees that you receive the package, not that it will be alive....so maybe they could care less what the temps are, even if there is a temp recorder on the box. Who knows.