• Posted 12/19/2024.
    =====================

    I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?

    So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.

    But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.

    Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.

    I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.

    =====================
    Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.

    And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
  • Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

How would you ship this?

G

Griz

Driving the short bus....
Resident Demon
Joined
Jun 3, 2005
Messages
1,767
Reaction score
5
Points
0
Location
Illinois
Quick question for you. I am shipping off an adult hypo to Hollywood, Florida tomorrow. The temps at both locations will be in the upper 80's. I have NEVER shipped in the heat before. The buyer has requested that I put a cool pack in with the box. Here's where I show my ignorance. Does he simply mean an ice pack? There's nothing "cool" about an ice pack, hence the confusion.

How would you ship this? Would you even worry about an ice pack with the temps not yet hitting 90's? Thanks!

Griz
 
Bob,

Which carrier are you going to use? Which is the stop on the way (check the nightime lows there). Will the box be labeled with the contents? I'm asking this because if the carrier knows there's a live animal in it, they "might" be more careful about where they let the box sitting. Also label the box as "perishable, avoid extreme temperatures" on nearly all sides. If you can deliver it to their hub at the end of the day that will minimize the risk. Remember that the cold pack will be effective for just a few hours. An ice pack in the cooler of an adult hypo should not cool the animal too much. One way or the other you have several hours between now and tomorrow. Perfrom a drill at home. Put the ice pack in the box with a thermometer inside, and close it. Put it in the coolest part of your house. Let is sit overnight and check the temperatures often. If it drops the temperatures down to the 70's you are fairly safe.

Hope this helped,

regards.
 
I will drop this box off around 5:30 pm tomorrow night at our local UPS pick up. It will travel to Ky, I believe, before it is transported to Florida.

I saw the link for the cool packs. Interesting, as I never knew they existed. With that being said, is an ice pack not going to suffice? There really is no way to secure an ice pack down to the box. The box is a professional box with custom fitted styrofoam insert. I always have all sides clearly marked "live harmless reptile" and "avoid extreme temps" etc.

The way I plan on packing this is to put the ice pack (wrapped in a zip lock bag) on the bottom of the box. Place styrofoam peanuts on top of that. Then place the snake bag on top of it. Place the styrofoam lid on top of that and seal the box. Does that sound like it would suffice?

Also, how many of you actually put airholes in your boxes? I have yet to do that as I also do not completely seal up each and every seam on the box. I know with this one I will put holes in the styrofoam insert since it's tolerances are so tight but do I need to poke holes in the exterior box too?

Griz
 
Correct me if I am wrong, but you really don't need ice paks if the temps don't exceed 90 degrees, do you?
 
You also have to consider the early and late part of the trip...even temps in the mid - high eighties can cause temp spikes when the box is sitting outside waiting to be loaded or when it is on the truck in the morning. A good insulating box will slow the effect, but sometimes a cool pack is still a good idea (because the insulation also slows the cooling...kind of like on that first 90 degree day that your house gets so hot, then it cools off ouside, but even with the windows open it takes forever for the temp to drop inside)
 
I do not pack with ice packs if the temps are under 90. If it is overnight express. Then just pack it with the insulated box. Drop it off right before it is due to be sent to the plane. The package should be delivered by 10:30 am, so temps should be fine. If the highs are in the 80s, then at 10:30 am the temps will not be at the peak of the highs for that day.
 
Bob,

I usually don't use holes in the cardboard box. The air that enters under the flaps is more than enough. If you poke holes all around you may defeat the purpose of the insulation. As for the cold packs I seldom use them. They will cool off the animal during the first several hours of the trip (usually during the night) when it's less needed. It's better to wait for the right day to ship (lower temps) than relying in cold packs.
 
You have to consider that the temperatures are sufficiently high that a cold pack will not hurt the animal. Whether it's actually required at these temperatures or not, the buyer has requested one. Since it can't hurt, then it's best to use one just to cover that base with the buyer. Should sometihng happen enroute and there was no cold pack that will be the first thing the buyer will point out and he'll hold you responsible.

I've never used the gel packs from Superior. I just use regular ice packs from WalMart. I wrap them in a layer or two of newspaper to mitigate the extreme cold of the surface of the pack, and to absorb the condensation formed as it thaws.

For holes in the box, there's the two schols of thought. Some always use them some never do. I myself never do. My reasoning is I do not seal the box tight and ventilation is not an issue, and to me putting holes in the box compromises the insulation properties of the styrofoam by directly opening the inside to outside temperatures.
 
How did everything go Bob? :)

Regards.
 
The BoidSmith said:
How did everything go Bob? :)

Regards.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'd like to know also. Being new to the shipping scene, and not really that comfortable with it very much, I'd like to hear how it went.

I just shipped 2 boas to Florida, and I did not use a heat or cold pack as the temps i was told were about what you mentioned above. They arrived just fine and healthy. But I used DHL for this order, and according to them, the package sat nowhere except the plane during transport. Personally, I wouldn't even concider UPS myself. I would drive them to Florida first. LOL But to each his own. Some have had good luck with them, I have not.

Anyway, how'd it go?
Rick
 
I have never had a problem with either UPS or FedEx. Then again I live in a town of 20,000 people. It's possible that this results in speedy deliveries and pick-ups, thus decreasing any risk associated with prolonged transit time in the truck.

Regards.
 
My biggest problem with UPS (beside watching them drop packages off at My GATE) is having worked for them in S & R. LOL I would not want my packaging being handled like I have witnessed from them. It was enough to make Me quit.
Fed-Ex I don't have a problem with, just that their sig release stuff scares the crap out of Me. LOL I can just see the reptile cooking on the porch.
Can't wait till Delta gets back with Me. I think that will be My primary shipping means once they verify Me. My parents used them years ago when breeding Aussies, and never a problem one.

BTW, must be pretty peaceful only having 20,000 people around. Can't remember when I could boast that........... Yeah I can, Phelan, Ca. Lived ther for a while, and I think it had a couple thousand people back then. LOL I loved it!

Rick
 
rjward97 said:
lol I am right outside of Phelan.. it is still a small town, but has built up a lot in past years.
Click to expand...

Still have a hitching rack at the post office? LOL Haven't been there in years. Spent a lot of teen years in the whole area herping My but off! Used to find real nice rosy boas over in Lucern Valley.

I miss that place. :(


Rick
 
In Lucerne? Really? ooo I know where I am heading on my next herping trip. I have been looking for rosies for the past few years.. but no luck. I am out in Apple Valley.. used to be a good herping place but has been built up so fast that only the outskirts have nice herping areas anymore.
 
The BoidSmith said:
How did everything go Bob? :)

Regards.
Click to expand...

Sorry for the late reply guys! The animals arrived safe and sound via UPS. The only issue was the the buyer was not present when the animal arrived. Thankfully, I always track my packages throughout the day so when UPS website said the animal had been delivered I started making phone calls. I always check and this time I am glad I did. The buyer was still at home (he had me ship to his office) so fortunately his secretary put the box in his office where it was nice and cool.

So, long story short, I shipped in an insulated box with peanuts etc but nothing else. No cool packs etc.

Griz
 
Glad to hear everything went fine!

Regards.
 
Bob, I too am glad that it made it safe!! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top