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Same Day Courier Service

scosta56

scosta56

Smash4Reason
Joined
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Messages
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Location
Sicklerville NJ
Hey everyone ! I'm thinking about starting a same day shipping courier service and was just testing the waters to see if anyone would be interested. I feel that this service would be great for trades done over this site. I do work a full time job so shipping would have to be done over weekends and on Mondays. So here is where I'm at with it. I have read quit a few boi concerning people getting screwed on trades. So I would like to test the waters and offer a same day shipping service. I would be willing to travel up to 2 hours away from my home which is located at Sicklerville, N.J. I'd be more then willing to go to Delaware, Eastern Pa, Central and northern NJ. Depending on miles it would prolly run around 40-60 bucks for same day service. Meaning you will have your package the same exact day you sent out your trade package. It can include frogs, snakes, suppies, feeders. I would like to offer verified proof of the shipment. Meaning I would like a list of what your supposed to get so I can confirm it with you before I leave the pick up and or drop off. I am willing to provide pictures as well of the animals in trade to confirm this is in fact what you are trading for. The whole purpose of this service would be to guarantee you will no longer receive empty boxes for agreed upon trades. You receive your animals same day as well as the trader. I can also offer same day shipping within two hours of my home. With same day shipping I would wait at the residence in the driveway etc and get video confirmation that your animal you shipped arrived alive and immediately send it as soon as the box is opened to the seller. So no more DOA claims ( unless it's 100% legit) both buyer and seller must agree to these terms of me sending in video of the animals to confirm live arrival. I am getting married in October and can definitely use the extra funds doing this on my days off and I no longer wish to read about trades gone bad. I want to make this as safe and reliable as possible. So if anyone is interested please don't hesitate to Pm me and we can definitely sign contracts and make arrangements for any shipping needs, or trades. I have a few references who have dealt with me on here not for shipping services , but people I have done pleasant deals with and they would be more then willing to talk to you regarding me. Thanks so much for reading hope I can help anyway while I get my foot in the door. Samantha.
 
Considering the two parties would have to be within about 5 hours of eachother, why would they not just meet halfway to begin with? "Same day" couriers are already available via delta dash were packages can exchange hands in a matter of one or two hours if planned correctly. Or am I missing something...
 
Have you considered your own liability?
What if there are delays due to traffic or vehicle issues? You get into an accident (or anything else happens); and either can't deliver, or the animal is killed/injured?
 
I haven't necessarily thought of any of that in great detail, but god forbid if anything like that should arise I do have another vehicle a ridge line pick up I can use. That's why I really didn't wanna go to much further than 2 hours out. I also have family members who do live with me should any issues arise that can bring me another vehicle while I get whatever fixed on my current. I have two very reliable cars with both having less than 50,000 miles. If issues should arise like flats or etc I guess I'd have to handle them as they arise. Regardless if something happened packages will still make current destinations. They absolutely have to. As for traffic unfortunately that's something that I can't control, but being in the mass transit industry for over 6 years now with me working for Septa and now NJ Transit I do know a lot of back ways that keep me off main roads.
 
If you can get people to do it fine but I just think the demand for the service would be extremely limited for the bother it would entail. That and all the other issues people have pointed out. I think you are opening yourself up for a world or headaches with something like this and for not very much money.

I like the way you are thinking I just don't think it is a very good idea. Its too limiting in scope. How many people are going to be trading reptiles with each other withing 2 hours of your house? and how many of them are going to want your service, especially if you only do weekends and Mondays. I know if I am trading and its a 2 hour drive I'll save the 50-60 bucks and go myself after work. Yeah, I know some people can't but I think most could make it work.
 
Yes very true. I think this would more so apply to people who do trades more regularly then the average hobbiest. As for the headaches yes I can only imagine, but at the cost of people getting ripped off with empty boxes maybe it's a start for something more to come. It was just an idea that people could take or.leave as a way to help out the herp community , so we can stop these crazy scams. All businesses started with someone having an idea. Not saying that I'd start a business outta this, but hey who knows. As for the drive with people working such crazy work hours these days weekend services are nice to have being that all reptile shipping is done Mondays-Wednesdays to have someone willing to deliver on weekends I think is definitely a plus. This can be especially useful in the winter with many people not able to ship because of low temps. To have someone deliver door to door service and the animals not sit in a freezing delivery truck but a nice toasty car enables people to still.make.purchases and sellers to still ship. As for liability I would guess it would be a lot less than what FedEx deals with. Have to imagine the packages exchanging multiple hands enroute some nicer then others. The liability in this I would say comes from the buyers and sellers. Which is why I would think a list of animals and a contract that is signed upon departure would help with this. Photos of said animals involved videos to confirm this is in fact your trade would definitely help. As well as signed contracts upon completion. Its just an idea. If people would like to use it great ! If not no harm no foul. Its just a way i would like to help and contribute into making this hobby a much more safer and reliable one. It's nice having an extra pair of eyes who can pick up shipments and confirm all your animals are there. Rather then stick them in a box and hope and pray your box isn't gonna be empty. Its just a way that I can kill some spare time on the weekends as well as potientally meet new breeders for myself. If it takes off great. I'd be more then glad to help. If it doesn't no harm as I work a full time job. Its just a way for me to give back, and help out anyway I can and meet some awesome people along the way.
 
I think it is great what you want to do and your reasons are very sound. Every reason you have given as to why people might use your service is a legitimate one. I just don't think it will work out. I think your limitations, especially as to the distance you are willing to cover is too small for many people to take advantage of it. If you are happy with offering this service and having MAYBE 2 or 3 people per year take you up on it then by all means have at it. I doubt you would get any more than that and I doubt you would be able to make any money at it. You asked our opinions, we gave them so if you decide to pursue the endeavor I wish you the best of luck.
 
Thank you so much for the advice and opinions ! I really really appreciated all of it. I'm definitely gonna have to make some tweaks maybe even consider driving a little further. Based on some minor calculations my driving range would consist of the entire state of NJ, almost all of Delaware , and as far as pa I'd go is to Hamburg. So its a pretty decent size range I'd be working with. I think that was my biggest fear with putting a driving limit on. Didn't wanna cover such a huge area that it would be unrealistic for me to do. As for the customer base and how many I would get I don't mind. This is completely something on the side and for me to have something to do and meet awesome people. Especially when I get to see some amazing collections ! I do appreciate all the advice and kind words very very much. Thanks so much everyone :)
 
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