Return to sender :(

[Sdbuehler1]

I decided to give affordable aquaria a try and ordered 2 fish, 2 shrimps, and 2 urchins a couple weeks ago. The shipment was dropped off today at UPS despite the bad weather going on in Tulsa, OK where it's shipping from and severe weather will be hitting me later this weekend. UPS immediately sent a rescheduled delivery notice for Monday 1/26. There's zero chance Im getting the package on the rescheduled date as I will be digging out from a foot of snow and ice. It was already after hours for affordable aquaria so I made the quick decision to contact UPS and request a return to sender and I can see now that the package will be delivered back to them tomorrow before the winter storm starts. I'm hoping that I made the right decision here as I've never done this before but it seemed like the best possible survival for the livestock and that is what is most important. Has anyone had success with doing this?

I sent an email to the vendor explaining what happened, so hopefully they will work with me on this and hopefully they will be able to retrieve the livestock back in healthy condition. I've had previous bad luck with a shipment of urchins being delayed over a weekend (from a different vendor) and they were dead and super foul upon arrival so I don't want to re-live that memory.

 

[tbrown]

Often, the vendor will give you store credit or refund the purchase price but it's rare that they refund the shipping cost.

 

[Sdbuehler1]

I'm not sure how this is going to pan out. The vendor said this is a UPS glitch and that it usually updates with the original delivery date afterward and that I shouldn't have intervened. Probably something they should warn folks about if this is a common occurrence. I have another livestock shipment coming from a different vendor that is being delivered tomorrow via UPS and there was no glitch with that shipment being falsely rescheduled for Monday.

 

[NanoSteam]

It's going to be bad for livestock shipments right now. SaltwaterAquarium automatically put a hold on my CUC shipment thankfully.

Likely your vendor will work with you so I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[BubbleAlgaeFarmer]

This is why i never opt for a delivery on thursday or friday. Or in the winter when i know weather is gonna be crappy

 

[Sdbuehler1]

I usually dont either but it was the only day that worked and 2 weeks ago when I placed the order there wasn't some massive snow storm coming lol. I do wish vendors would check in with you before final shipment especially when there is bad weather in the forecast.

 

[Sdbuehler1]

Well that was an adventure, the package actually made it to my local UPS delivery station today as originally scheduled but it was practically an act of congress to get ahold of UPS and have them hold the package instead of returning it back to the sender. I was able to get to the UPS office and pick it up so all is good. Lesson learned, dont ever request return to sender with UPS. I'm also going to be more skeptical in the future when they send delivery rescheduled emails right after a package is dropped off for delivery.

 

[Reefing102]

While I can’t attest specifically to Affordable Aquaria, I will say I’ve had multiple experiences in the past with vendors printing labels in advance and then shipping on the requested shipping day (which causes some confusion on my end of when it’ll actually be shipped)

 

[Sdbuehler1]

I have to give credit to affordable aquaria, they were responsive the whole time and helped with getting in touch with UPS. Im not ordering anything else though until winter is over... and no Friday delivery either!

 

[Dr. Reef]

Hi
No need to worry if you get an email from ups saying shipment is delayed, this is a glitch on ups system.
No need to worry it will change and update after 2am or little after.

Always contact us and do not contact ups as it will definitely delay the package.
Please do not make any adjustments or requests with ups. Any changes made after ups package pickup, insurance will not cover it so please let us handle it for you. Just notify us.

We will take care of you in case the package does get delayed for any reason. Its our guarantee to our customers.

This glitch happened yesterday and day before and does happen every now and then but all packages got delivered on time.

So please check tracking tomorrow morning and you will find it on time.

Thank you
Team Dr. Reef

 

[Dr. Reef]

main thing is do not contact ups directly. Contact us. Any contact with ups to reroute or return or any change will automatically cause a days delay. Also insurance will not cover it claming you made the change that caused the delay. Thus its best to let it play out and then let us file the claim and let us reship the order at no headcahe or expense to you.
Since ups has started putting these RF chips on the boxes, they are suppoed to leave the ups store at 6pm, if for some reason the box leave at 6:01pm these delayed emails will automatically go out and some people panic. Email us if you get such email;
If you wait till late night or say early morning about 2-4am, you will see it will correct itself and be delivered like intended.

In OP's case, he also got the delayed email from ups, he wanted to make sure they dont die in transit, so he contacted ups and had them reroute it back to us.
Which is a big mistake as it takes 3 days for usp to process that tyoe of rerouting.

Anyways we left things alone and emails our ups rep to cancel the reroute, Package got to his home town as normal without our rep getting involved, as its just a glitch in ups system.
But now that it was in his home town we had to do something otherwise it will be returned. So we got our rep involved and got the package held there and had the customer pick it up himself.

Long story short, package was picked by customer and no causualties were reported.
Again Please contact us and do not call ups. Those reps on phone dont know and frankly dont care. they will put the request in causing delays and deniel on claims.

Let us handle it for you. We guarantee livestock to arrive healthy and alive, we will cover it if things go wrong.