fishykidd916
In Memoriam
What is the cheapest way to ship zoos with success. What method of shipping do you prefer? UPS overnight, next day OR USPS, fedex etc..??
thanks
thanks
question about shipping zoos?
- Thread starter fishykidd916
- Start date
safest bet is a priority overnight shipping mechanism, of course.
however - people have great success putting them in a $3 thermos from walmart and shipping them cross country via USPS. takes ~3 days to get there (no guarantee of course), and the success rate is reportedly high!
it probably goes w/out saying, but a well healed (vs. freshly cut) zoa is a must either way.
on occasion we hear of a story where a zoa was in transit for 7 or 10 or sometimes even more days and still pulls through! but i really wouldn't bank on that
however - people have great success putting them in a $3 thermos from walmart and shipping them cross country via USPS. takes ~3 days to get there (no guarantee of course), and the success rate is reportedly high!
it probably goes w/out saying, but a well healed (vs. freshly cut) zoa is a must either way.
on occasion we hear of a story where a zoa was in transit for 7 or 10 or sometimes even more days and still pulls through! but i really wouldn't bank on that
vthondaboi
Premium Member
next day from the post office is a crapshoot
IME they don't make it nextday but will refund you the shipping money
IME they don't make it nextday but will refund you the shipping money
Express mail in 1 day also depends on your post office pick up and drop off times. I did a trade last week. Both of us mailed on the same day. The package I mailed took 1 day the package she mailed took 2 days.
Larger post offices have their mail picked up at least twice a day. Smaller post offices only go out in the PM. Usually when you request express the post office can let you know if your package will in 1 day or 2 days.
Oh, and one other note
for those that live on Military instillations, you are kinda out of luck for recieving express mail!!!! USPS considers the package "delivered" once your instilation post office recieves the package, even though you will not get the package delievered to your quarters until the following day.
Larger post offices have their mail picked up at least twice a day. Smaller post offices only go out in the PM. Usually when you request express the post office can let you know if your package will in 1 day or 2 days.
Oh, and one other note
for those that live on Military instillations, you are kinda out of luck for recieving express mail!!!! USPS considers the package "delivered" once your instilation post office recieves the package, even though you will not get the package delievered to your quarters until the following day.
cowcio
New member
I live in Ohio, so I am not sure abotu Cali to Florida. All I know is that I have shipped with USPS express 3 times from California and sent stuff there once and it has always made it on time.
I guess that there are areas that are not overnight. Especially rural areas. And possibly areas that are at opposite ends of the country. I guess it's nice living in "the heart of it all" (Ohio), that way most everywhere is in a good range for overnight shipping.
The most I've ever had to pay for USPS is 30 dollars and that is because the person made me pay for the packing material and applied a packaging charge to me. When I got the USPS box it said 18.38... so I paid 11.62 for a 3 dollar thermos and a 1 dollar box
However, it was still cheaper than FedEx.
With that being said. The quickest way and most guaranteed way for me is FedEx. Usually you have to pay 45 dollars. I get it shipped to a FedEx location and I can pick it up as soon as the store location opens. So, I can pick up my corals at 8 am!
1 time somebody shipped a large order with FedEx from California here to Ohio. They shipped the box at 8PM Cali time and it was at the store by 6:43 am Ohio time. I was able to get the package in less than 12 hours after it was shipped.
gflat65
New member
I've used USPS priority with success (as long as it is packaged right). I usually deliver to the PO in the afternoon (3-4) and it usually arrives within two days. I have had one package that was in transit for about two weeks before they actually delivered it and one frag made it (the freebie, but the original was repalced by the sender). A major issue I had (with someone who no longer frequents these boards because she incorrectly shipped to about six people and we all lost money and frags, as she would not work with us, despite sending PM's saying she would...) was when a person shipped in a thermos priority, but did not put the thermos in a box. The only labeling to show that it was priority was wrapped around the thermos and not easily seen. It took 6 days to arrive and nothing made it...
surfnvb7
Premium Member
this is a very good read. as someone who hasn't had the time to dive into the shipping realm, i find this quite informative!
i saw this on another forum, but was wondering if anyone would like to put up pictures of what it looks like to "correctly" pack zoas up in a thermos/box etc. or if anyone is doing a trade currently, document the process with pics and post them up. i would like to see the process from start to finish (on both sides if possible)
i think i would qualify as living in a "rural" area. if USPS takes 2 days to ship, instead of 1 day/overnight. is the price at least cheaper? i guess what i'm trying to say, is the price for priority, the same at every post office regardless of location? and where its being shipped to? sorry, this may be a dumb question, bu i really dont have any idea.
i have shipped some rather large items (like a bike), and I have to drive 45miles to the nearest airport where there is a UPS or FedEx distribution center, b/c they do not have offices local to where I live. And whenever I order something from say, premiumaquatics, the UPS guy doesn't arrive at my door until about 8pm, b/c of that long drive from the airports distribution center to my town...
i did receive an overnight shipment a year ago in the winter from drs. foster/smith, i think it came via UPS, and arrived in the morning. also ordered some live aquatic plants from across country, i think they came via USPS and arrived before noon also.
so based on this, should I worry about any of the overnight shipping to or from me? i'm afraid if I ever used FedEx or UPS, they'd say i had to drive to the airport to give them an overnight package. ugh!
i saw this on another forum, but was wondering if anyone would like to put up pictures of what it looks like to "correctly" pack zoas up in a thermos/box etc. or if anyone is doing a trade currently, document the process with pics and post them up. i would like to see the process from start to finish (on both sides if possible)
i think i would qualify as living in a "rural" area. if USPS takes 2 days to ship, instead of 1 day/overnight. is the price at least cheaper? i guess what i'm trying to say, is the price for priority, the same at every post office regardless of location? and where its being shipped to? sorry, this may be a dumb question, bu i really dont have any idea.
i have shipped some rather large items (like a bike), and I have to drive 45miles to the nearest airport where there is a UPS or FedEx distribution center, b/c they do not have offices local to where I live. And whenever I order something from say, premiumaquatics, the UPS guy doesn't arrive at my door until about 8pm, b/c of that long drive from the airports distribution center to my town...
i did receive an overnight shipment a year ago in the winter from drs. foster/smith, i think it came via UPS, and arrived in the morning. also ordered some live aquatic plants from across country, i think they came via USPS and arrived before noon also.
so based on this, should I worry about any of the overnight shipping to or from me? i'm afraid if I ever used FedEx or UPS, they'd say i had to drive to the airport to give them an overnight package. ugh!
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