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Inquiry Deborah Broadus-Muskauski

Deb,
If you don't already have the correct heat packs, send me a PM with your address and I will send a few of the uni-heat packs out tomorrow for you to use until you can order your own supply. This way you won't have to risk shipping with those handwarmers.
 
Gecko_Den said:
Actually, when you prepare the shipment online if the shipper takes the time to hit the "get rate and transit time" button it will show you what time they "guarantee" the arrival time.

Also, the waiver that you sign with FedEx to ship reptiles specifically states that they must be shipped "priority overnight". In addition the contract also states that even if they don't deliver on time the "money back guarantee" is waived.
Click to expand...

You are right, it usually does tell you the arrival time, and yes, Fedex DOES require the reptiles to be shipped by "Priority Overnight", regardless of the estimated arrival time.

I live in one of those areas as well....it doesn't matter what method you use to ship the package thru Fedex, it will ALWAYS get here at about 12:30...sometimes a bit later. There is no refund for the package not being here by 10:30, that's just the way it is when you live in a very rural or out-of-the-way setting. A well-packed animal will be no worse for the extra couple of hours in transit (and yeah, my regular driver is awesome too, and keeps the "live" shipments where it is warmest and most protected).

UPS is a different story, however....if you ship something to me UPS guaranteed by 10:30, it will probably get here around 2-3 in the afternoon. Shipped "regular" next day, it's usually much later, I've had them drop stuff off here as late as 7 pm.

And yes.....Superior lists all the temp specs for each heat pack on their site, and if you order from them. I pretty much always use the 40-hour packs, unless it is mid-winter, very cold, and I know it's going to a rural location (actually, I try to avoid shipping at all in those circumstances, I'd rather hold the animal for awhile instead)...but have used 60 hour packs in that instance.
 
Cat_72 said:
A well-packed animal will be no worse for the extra couple of hours in transit
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I had one go two extra days, and came out on top. :thumbsup: DHL sent it on a tour of the U.S. on a next day noon delivery. And even wanted me to pay for it. :rolleyes:

If they are packed well, they'll usually make it there OK from delays.
 
Cat_72 said:
And yes.....Superior lists all the temp specs for each heat pack on their site, and if you order from them.
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Um, I changed gears in mid-sentence here, sorry....should read, "and if you order from them, you CAN get the packs shipped to you by next-day service."

Rick, I've never had one stuck in transit for two extra days....a couple for an extra day, and those packed well made it fine. Fedex kept telling me that one was in Memphis, TN and ended up finding out that it was in Rochester, MN the whole time and they had no clue....sheesh. Of course, those weren't in the winter either....sounds like you were dang lucky with yours having an extra two-day tour!! :thumbsup:
 
deborahbroadus said:
Cause Harald knows that I am of the mind that if a little is ok..a lot will work better...is 72 hour heat packs too much?
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The 72-hour heat packs will not even reach their peak temp until the trip (if it ends up being a standard, 24-hour time in transit) is long over.

For everyone's future reference, here's some info on the heat packs meant to be used for retpiles:

1. THERE ARE 20, 30, 40, 60 AND 72 HOURS HEAT PACKS.

2. BESIDES FROM THE DIFFERENT LENGTH OF TIME THAT EACH TYPE OF HEAT PACKS LAST, THEY ALSO HAVE DIFFERENT PEAK TIME AND TEMPERATURE AS WELL AS ACTIVATION TIME.

3. 20 HOURS HEAT PACK ACTIVATE QUICKLY (5-10 MIN.), GET HOTTER THAN THE OTHERS, AND REACH PEAK TEMPERATURE IN APPROXIMATELY 7 HOURS. IT IS GOOD FOR TROPICAL FISH BECAUSE IT TAKES MORE TO HEAT UP WATER THAN AIR. IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO USE IT ALONG WITH THE OTHER HEAT PACKS FOR REPTILE SHIPMENT ORIGINATING FROM A VERY COLD CLIMATE TO ACHEIVED A MORE EVEN TEMPERATURE THROUGHOUT THE TRIP.

4. 30 HOURS HEAT PACK ACTIVATE IN APPROX. 20-30 MINUTES. THE ACTUAL SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF THE HEAT PACK MAY REACH 115 DEGREES AT ITS PEAK WHICH IS NOT AS HOT AS 20 HOURS BUT NOT AS MILD AS 40 HOURS. IT PEAKS BETWEEN 12 TO 14 HOURS.

5. 40 HOURS HEAT PACK ACTIVATE IN APPROX. 40-50 MINUTES. IT IS THE MOST POPULAR TYPE FOR REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS, AND INSECT SHIPPING. THE SURFACE TEMPERATURE IS APPROX. 110 DEGREES AT ITS PEAK. IT RELEASES STEADY TEMPERATURE AND PEAK OUT BETWEEN 17 TO 19 HOURS.

6. 60 HOURS HEAT PACK IS SIMILAR TO THE 40 HOURS EXCEPT IT LAST MUCH LONGER AND REACH ITS PEAK TEMPERATURE AT APPROX. 25 TO 28 HOURS. IT IS GREAT FOR EXPORT SHIPMENT OR SHIPPING VIA USPS PRIORITY MAIL.
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http://superiorenterprise.com/produ...ks(1-pack--10-units)&cPath=29&products_id=229

And I did just a quick 2-minute search on those handwarmers, and this was the first I came up with, just to use as an example:

Simply open the package and expose to air. Within minutes you have a portable heat source that operates at an average temperature of 135° F for ten plus hours.
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http://www.handwarmers.com/g_hand.htm
 
Crap, I need coffee....

I MEANT to add, that if you note that the AVERAGE temp of the handwarmer is 135 degrees, it is probably safe to assume that at peak temp, it does get much hotter. I wish I could remember where I found the peak temp info for those, I think it was actually on some hunting supply site my ol man went to....but I know it said that some of them peak out at a good 150 degrees.
 
so basically for someone that has never shipped like myself and wouldnt really have a clue, which heat pack would be best used for a 24 hour shippment if it was around 40 to 45 degrees? from what i hear you dotn want to ship any reptile but mainly a snake in temps lower then 40 degrees.
 
Depends on a number of factors...and again - this part of the discussion belongs in the shipping forum
 
Like I said, I pretty much always use the 40-hour heat packs. Their temps are the most "steady", and heats to a reasonable temp.

I prefer not to ship in temps below 40, but have done so successfully. Many folks do it all the time, with no issues.....I'm just chicken.:D
 
hhmoore said:
Depends on a number of factors...and again - this part of the discussion belongs in the shipping forum
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Sorry Harald, hadn't seen a previous note to that effect....and was posting to get Deb the info as much as anything. :eek:
 
SPJ said:
Deb,
If you don't already have the correct heat packs, send me a PM with your address and I will send a few of the uni-heat packs out tomorrow for you to use until you can order your own supply. This way you won't have to risk shipping with those handwarmers.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the offer.

I did order from LLLReptiles right after I learned of the heat failure..they haven't arrived yet. So, today I also ordered from Superior (one of them has to be here soon).

I have irrate customers (that had to take off work) because I have had to delay shipments (that were to go out today) because of the fear of the hand-warmersfailing...it's cold here in MD right now..if I shipped and they failed again...then perhaps they would arrive in CAL with an R.I.
 
deborahbroadus said:
:thumbsup:Thanks for that information. It's been difficult trying to determine how much heat and lenght is enough or too much. I have also taken into consideration that they might be in a heated truck.
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No. As much as everyone would like to think, they don't. A truck comes to the store that you dropped the package off and then takes it to a sorting hub. After sorted, it goes into a loading truck (semis) where you will find both packages that say "KEEP FROZEN" and "KEEP WARM". From there, that truck will take the package(s) to the nearest sorting hub destination. Then they will send out their delivery trucks where it will make it's final destination.
 
Okay, so I didn't read all the replies, but enough to know I started something I didn't intend. I didn't exaggerate or lie, I had no reason to. I was just explaining my situation and seeing if others had similar experiences.
Deb, I got the little 08 male pastel. And he's doing great now. I did assume he's only eaten 5 times cuz of the card that came with him, but I should have known he's eaten more cuz he is a plump little guy. He ate a live fuzzy rat a couple days ago for me and I'm pretty sure he's had no ill affects from shipping.
 
Oroborous said:
Okay, so I didn't read all the replies, but enough to know I started something I didn't intend. I didn't exaggerate or lie, I had no reason to. I was just explaining my situation and seeing if others had similar experiences.
Deb, I got the little 08 male pastel. And he's doing great now. I did assume he's only eaten 5 times cuz of the card that came with him, but I should have known he's eaten more cuz he is a plump little guy. He ate a live fuzzy rat a couple days ago for me and I'm pretty sure he's had no ill affects from shipping.
Click to expand...


Alexis, thanks for letting us know.

I am SO glad that he's ok, and not because I would have to replace him or refund you..but because I would have been dismayed if my mistake had cause him to have issues.

I am glad he ate...he was more than likely just so stressed from the trip. He will return to his normally placid self soon, he's never struck at me.

Thanks again!
 
One more thing, if you read this, can you go over to the BP forum and post a pic of your set up? Also, listen to his breathing, if you hear no wheezing in the next week, I will mark this one as having arrived safely with no ill effects.

Knowing what kind of set up you have can go a long way to determining if he's going to have issues later.
 
Okay, I will post some picks of him and his enclosure. I've listened to his breathing and it sounds good. Hopefully it'll stay that way.
 
If there were going to be a problem related to the choice of heat pack, it would have become evident by now, IMO. I'm happy to hear that things worked out well....and I think that noise I just heard was Deb breathing a sigh of relief that he is ok :D
Enjoy him
 
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