Can someone help me on how to ship live coral?
- Thread starter Joeganja
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4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
Good luck, residential rates are unbelievably expensive. I was quoted $220 UPS indiana to texas one box three fish, $189 fedex, $114 USPS.
USPS was also 3 days late and as a result of their incompetence killed 2/3 fish. Shipping residential is ridiculously expensive. Residential business highly subsidizes commercial business. the $40-60 shipping does not happen. I even tried to ship using my company account, it saved an average of 5%. Not worth it. Unless you have a business account that ships several boxes each day, it's too expensive.
Packing depends on the corals but the tricky part is rubber banding the bags. I worked at an lfs for over a year so I already knew that part!
USPS was also 3 days late and as a result of their incompetence killed 2/3 fish. Shipping residential is ridiculously expensive. Residential business highly subsidizes commercial business. the $40-60 shipping does not happen. I even tried to ship using my company account, it saved an average of 5%. Not worth it. Unless you have a business account that ships several boxes each day, it's too expensive.
Packing depends on the corals but the tricky part is rubber banding the bags. I worked at an lfs for over a year so I already knew that part!
OP
OP
Joeganja
2500 Club Member
Alright thanks. Won't be shipping anytime soon.
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
Sorry for the bad news I was blown away. I assumed something closer to the rates quoted by fish/coral vendors online. Nope
pecan2phat
Valuable Member
I've shipped 8 anemones separately in the last 2 months to Cali, FL & NY via USPS and they all arrived the next day. If your not shipping fish and just corals, I would say your cost drops substantially based on less weight from less water packed. Each of my boxes averaged 7 to 10 lbs for shipping weight and the most expensive was the farthest point which ran about $65. Styro shipping boxes were from Amazon and you would need cooling gel packs if your shipping around this time of the year.
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
How the heck did you pull that off? My 3 fish weighed 14lbs!
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
But the weight wasn't a whole lot different. Did you ship something other than overnight?
Stephanie11
Fragaholic
Coral is a different beast. I've shipped 20-30 times. Get a heat sealer and some poly bags. Good styro boxes cost me 7.50+ shipping fedex cost 45-90. 40hr heat packs for the winter are $2 each. Never go to a store. Make an account. Schedule a pickup or drop at the nearest location. Also if you make wrong guesstimates as far as weight and size these companies have weight and sizing stations along their routes.
I shipped out 14 frags on Monday. Cost me $7.50 box. $75 shipping. Baggies and such couple bucks. So for a $180 frag pack I netted half. I'm ok with that. I'm not a vendor and I sell to help fund my hobby.
If your work has a business rate then you can save/make more
I shipped out 14 frags on Monday. Cost me $7.50 box. $75 shipping. Baggies and such couple bucks. So for a $180 frag pack I netted half. I'm ok with that. I'm not a vendor and I sell to help fund my hobby.
If your work has a business rate then you can save/make more
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
My business rate was 5% off. I am dumbfounded. Did you ship overnight or a different service?
Cleo642
2500 Club Member
Do you have a peppermint angelfish?
pecan2phat
Valuable Member
No peppermint here Cleo!
3Ford, I think the difference might be that I am printing & paying for my postage online vs at the counter which is a sizeable savings and yes it is overnight next day by 12 noon or 3pm.
3Ford, I think the difference might be that I am printing & paying for my postage online vs at the counter which is a sizeable savings and yes it is overnight next day by 12 noon or 3pm.
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