What to tell USPS when shipping Coral

123and456 · #1 05/02/2007, 09:57 PM

What do you say if anything when shipping coral through USPS either express or priority?

JB NY · #2 05/03/2007, 10:55 AM

Live Fish

MIREEFER · #3 05/03/2007, 11:47 AM

don't use USPS i tried it and everything was DOA do to them not taking good care of it. if i were you i would go with FedEx or ups

hamburglar · #4 05/03/2007, 02:01 PM

Tell them your going over to FedEx or UPS

alexinfla · #5 05/03/2007, 02:43 PM

Hehe, I tell mine it's coral, they love it :-)

Ship everyday with USPS Overnight, never an issue.

redvipe2010 · #6 05/03/2007, 03:39 PM

I must have the most anal post office in the country. They won't ship coral.

jessp · #7 05/03/2007, 03:59 PM

i just don't tell em what it is at all

123and456 · #8 05/04/2007, 07:07 AM

I like how if you talked to 10 people at least 9 would say don't ever use USPS and then the one that does use them uses them all the time and never has an issue. I have lost a couple shipments using USPS but that was sent priority not overnight my overnight have all been good to this point. I just dont tell them whats in the box they have all the info that they need and thats where its going.

RevHtree · #9 05/05/2007, 08:38 PM

I am with you alexinfla. I use them 95% of the time. I tell the truth that it is live coral. Then I get a bunch of oohs and aws about what it is. I have had awesome results using express mail.

bigScott · #10 05/06/2007, 03:51 PM

i usps also no problems here..

scott

highquality · #11 05/06/2007, 05:56 PM

Look, the person at the desk doesnt need to know what it is at fedex or ups or usps. There not going to cover it so dont bother making a situation . Just mark it fragile or right side up if you want and pack it well enough to be dropped out of a plane or kicked down the stairs really. If they ask say its a cake or a craft thing. Ive never been asked. I can only see negative things happening by telling the desk worker. What good could come of that.

adnup · #12 05/07/2007, 08:14 PM

I use USPS with no problems. I use the prepaid drop box, so no human interaction...

bngowe · #13 05/08/2007, 04:50 AM

don't tell them what it is....why are they being nosy?

just say reef stuff. haha

saltwater4life1 · #14 05/08/2007, 10:55 AM

tell them there is a baby in there

that should make them take care of it haha but yeah ive never boughten or sent corals so idk

MeeHuh · #15 05/08/2007, 11:46 AM

I tell them Live Fish, because when I say live coral they say "huh?"...

A.T.T.R · #16 05/08/2007, 01:41 PM

i think your requiered to tell them if it contains any liquid....

Stoney Mahony · #17 05/08/2007, 02:59 PM

Tell them its pee and your sending it to an independent analizer, they wont want to bust it open

jessp · #18 05/09/2007, 03:32 PM

thats an awesome idea lol.

salty3 · #19 05/09/2007, 03:37 PM

I have used USPS about 5 times for shipping 3 of the times they have busted the bags plastic containers and a skimmer, so now I prefer to use someone else. And two of the tmes it was marked fragile please dont throw. From what I gather they just dont care much about they jobs.

firebirdbandit · #20 05/09/2007, 05:03 PM

I just use online labels and use the drop box at the post office so there is no human interaction.

Mac's zoas · #21 05/09/2007, 06:25 PM

Some people say aquarium adidtives.

RCS · #22 05/09/2007, 11:42 PM

Perfume.

Fragile, liquid, AND covered if they "break" it in transit.

chinaman4u · #23 05/09/2007, 11:51 PM

If the shipping container leaks they will hold it. USPS told me to mark the package contains water only, that way if it leaks they don't worry and will still deliver the package. I dont say it contains live fish or coral, otherwise they wont take it.

Nanonut · #24 05/10/2007, 10:39 AM

I have never had a problem with USPS and I've shipped about 100 packages with. I have however had many problems with UPS and Fedex but more so with UPS. I've probably shipped three packages with UPS and stopped when they lost my third one and gave me the run around when I asked for a refund. I also use Fedex about 10% of the time and they have been pretty good but they are expensive. We also use UPS where I work and I can't tell you how many packages they lose. I don't know why more businesses, not just people in this hobby don't use USPS for the overnight needs. I suppose it is because they can't deliver everywhere the next day.

USPS uses Fedex planes, so technically they can get everywhere fedex can the next day, it just doesn't always make it to your door the next day, but you can bet it will be at your local post office for you to pickup by 10:30 am. So use the PostOffice for Express overnight Mail. Hope this helps. I am nanonut on Ebay also you can see my feedback I haven't had a problem with DOA's.

RedSonja · #25 05/10/2007, 04:25 PM

The times I've taken a package with coral to the counter at USPS (all of two times) I've told them there was saltwater inside with live coral. They didn't blink, just stamped "Fragile" all over the boxes and took my money.

That said, both times I shipped USPS express, the package didn't get there until the 2nd day and there were DOA's because of it. Xenia doesn't like being in a bag for 36 hours. So I'm only going UPS or FedEx for Xeniids in future.

-Sonja