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Shipping price raise...UPS!

T

tundrageckos

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Hello guys,

I hope everyone is doing well. The reason why I am writing this post is because I've been noticing that UPS has started to raise the Next Day Air prices to most zip codes in the US.

We, Tundra Geckos, usually charges a flat rate of $35 per box, which size is 15X11X7, which I believe is the size that a lot of breeders use.

Recently, when I print the label on ups.com and I enter those measurements, the price comes up to $47 on average per shipment, and if i enter the smaller boxes's prices (12X9X6) the price comes up to $40 on average.

I wanted to share this with you guys since I am about to either start charging a flat rate of $40-$45 dollars or just send an email to the customer with the exact price of the shipping, so they are aware of the exact charge...

What do you guys think?

David & Daniel Villar
 
I use the 12x9x6 and raised my shipping price to $45.00.It sucks but that is UPS.They are the only ones i can ship with here in Mn.
 
Does anyone know (for sure) whether or not USPS will take leos/beardies/geckos ect? I was looking at their site for information about it, and couldn't find anything.

I think what I may end up doing is charging Actual Shipping costs with UPS, or charge $30 flat rate for USPS (provided they take reptiles), but will only guarantee live arrival if it makes it next day (Which I can't guarantee), so if the buyer wanted to use USPS they would basically do so at their own risk.

Obviously I can pack the boxes well enough to survive a 2 day trip, and being in the middle of the country everything is overnight (so they say). I checked the overnightness from here (milwaukee, WI) to Miami, LA, Seattle, and Maine, so that should cover just about anywhere it needs to go.

I just am nervous about trusting USPS with anything live... I've heard good things and I've heard bad things.
 
usps... does not guarentee overnight delivery.. in some areas it will say that overnight is available (i know of times "overnight has taken 3 days) but they will not guarantee it. i called UPS and asked if i needed to fill out any papers, lable the box ect. and they read me verbatum the new policy which does not say anything about any paperwork or marking the boxes. The only requirements are that they are packaged saftly, provided for minimally for safe shipping.. food,water ect. and that they be shipped next day air service. thats it. i would not even offer the option of usps, personally i care too much for my animals than to have them in usps limbo for however long. if the customer does not like the shipping price they can buy elsewhere
 
On the contrary...

U.S.P.S. does guarantee overnight to most areas. You just have to be careful what the said time is. Express is either 12, 3, or 2 day. The only catch is, (and would never reccomend this) is if you put live animals on the box, they give the package to fed ex and usually do not meet their guarantee time by a few hours. I have had this happen to me on about 5 consecutive packages last Summer, all arriving in less than 48 hours, but in my experience never meet the guarantee if you disclose what's in the box on the outside of the box. It is perfectly legal to ship any lizard under 20" that is not poisinous, and does not require care during transit time. You will recieve a full refund for shipping on anything that doesn't get attempted by the guaranteed time. The only catch is live animals are a 2 day gurantee and the post office will not refund your investment in the animal unless they take longer than 2 day to deliever their express package. I will continue to offer this to my people because if I purchase an inexpensive herp I want it as cheap as possible. Packed correctly most single lizards will run you 17.85 under 2 pounds and I have never paid more than 22.00 for a pair of bearded dragons. They are the very cheapest around, but are not known for their reliability.

If you were buying a 10 dollar leo during the Summer, go with U.S.P.S.

If your buying a leucistic bearded dragon, go with U.P.S.

Jeff Janes
 
I'm still undecided. I know that it's going to be impossible to sell anything (except for local pickup) if I charge $60 to ship a $20 normal leo. At the same time, I don't want to deal with the loss of a little guy or girl. Damn UPS for putting me in this position.... Damn them!!! :p
 
You need to mark all boxs.If you do not you are breaking the lacy act.

Brian,I would not ship USPS i have raised my price to $45.00 and that is covering my shipping in the 12x9x6 box.
 
WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!
lol,
to think that I just switched to UPS from DHL because I thought they would have better rates.
Just my luck.
 
I guess if everyone goes to $45 I can still be competitive. I have decided against any USPS... just too many stories of dead animals after a 3 day wait for the "overnight" package. If someone doesn't want to pay the extra they are more than welcome to come and pick up the animals they want, and pay no shipping.

I just ordered 10 more 15 X 11 X 7 boxes... there goes a quick $40 (Damn you UPS ***Shakes fist***). I'll have to find some stuff to ebay just so I can use my new boxes. Such a hassle.

Also, who has the cheapest price on that 12 X 9 X 6 box (Or who do you use)? I only ship maybe 10-20 times a year anyway so i don't need a pack of 100 boxes or anything (most people I sell to choose to pick up the animals). I'm using LLL right now but I know there are cheaper options.
 
my understanding from my postmaster where i live is...
they offer next day service but can not guarantee it... this all came about after the 911 tragedy
 
What I find interesting is that we ship quite a bit of animals around using various carriers. If we were to group our shipping under the same account #, there could result a crazy discount.

An example, I was shipping a Leo to FL last year, and used DHL at the customers request. I did the shipping from my GF's place of business as they have a regualr DHL pickup. The driver asked if I wanted to just put the account # of the business I was shipping from to save $. I didn't as I didn't want any trouble for my GF, but I did ask what the cost difference would be. The cash rate was $36, and just writing down the account # and still paying him cash on the spot to ship got the price sub $7.

I'm sure there are many possible issues, but it would be great to be able to offer overnight for $10 on our animals, less cost, more sales...
 
RIAA? Reptile Industry Association of America? Maybe that's too close to someone else....

A Nationwide reptile organization that would get cheaper rates.... hmmmm I like the idea! Where can I sign up? :)
 
group discounts

If we were to group our shipping under the same account #, there could result a crazy discount.
Click to expand...
I actually asked my UPS account rep. about this about a month ago, and I was told that it would only get us about a 10% discount. I think it's a great idea, and maybe this should be pursued further with the other carriers as well. Any volunteers?
 
I know 5 breeders in Mi that do this and at times it saves them money.They need to ship out like 10 boxes a day to save good money.When they do not do this they pay what we are. :detonate:
 
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