Best Shipping Procedures - Page 3

cutegecko3 · 05/04/2008, 03:54 PM

My preferred method is to use the glad 1 quart sandwich bags.Ive shipped dozens of orders of live amphiopods and ive never had a leak or a DOA.I actually tested the commercials by filling a bag full of water then threw it on the ground twice,Ive never seen a shipping bag that tough or leak proof.

rcypert · 05/11/2008, 10:05 PM

So what kind of cool packs do you guys use? I am shipping from florida to texas tomorrow and am not sure if I should just but a frozen water bottle in there taped to the lid or what? Temps should be in the 80-90 range.

ben&bobbi · 05/12/2008, 04:32 AM

a water bottle will not be a good choice. you atleast need to spend $1 at wal-mart and get a gel pack and freeze it. wrap it in newspaper and to not allow it to contact the bags!

rcypert · 05/12/2008, 06:26 AM

How do you guys keep the shipping cheap? I am calculating on fedex and its saying it will be 135 to ship to texas overnight with a 19x17x15 box at 12 pounds. I always believed overnight shipping to be more in the 50 dollar range.

H@rry · 05/12/2008, 07:04 AM

Why are you using such a large box? How many frags are you shipping? That size box would probably hold at least 150 frags.

FedEx uses what it calls "dimensional weight" where they use the formula of ((L * W * H) / 194). If you shipped that size box they would charge you for the greater of its actual weight or 25 pounds. So even if you shipped an empty box of that size they would charge you for 25 pounds. It's not just the weight but also how much space it takes up on the aircraft.

Also for a "cool pack" I have just used a bag of ice wrapped in newspaper. Be careful with it though and don't use it unless you expect the temps to be above 90. If its going to be that hot have the package held for pickup at the local FedEx facility.

rcypert · 05/12/2008, 07:38 AM

Thanks Harry. I cut the box down and and it came out to about 73 dollars. Still more then I thought but much closer. I am shipping 13 frags. I am shipping from central Florida to Houston. The high tomorrow in Texas looks like it will be close to 87. So I guess I'll go without the cool pack. I was thinking it would cool it down too much but isn't too cool better then too hot with sps frags?

Travis · 05/12/2008, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rcypert
I cut the box down and and it came out to about 73 dollars. Still more then I thought but much closer.

You wouldn't believe the number of people I've had that said my flat rate of $55 for frags is way too high. I wish more people would try shipping frags at least once just to realize that sellers are not making money on shipping. I usually lose money on shipping.

kass03 · 05/20/2008, 12:27 AM

I use the ziploc screw on containers but I do also bag the frags first.
I've always just shipped softies like zoas or shrooms with them though.
Depending on frag and weather, I bag the frag put it in ziploc twist and lock. use newspaper in the box, sometimes styro lined.
I like the tall ziplock containers. They are bigger than a thermos and I can fit 2 frags in them usually.
I usually only ship when the weather is good also.

I have also used several times those fold up coolers to ship corals. The soft cooler kind with a zipper.
I got a deal on them one time at Menards for a fall closeout sale and they worked really well.

I bagged the corals put em in the cooler (put newspaper around them if there was room left) and put the cooler in a box with newspaper if it didnt fit tight.

I like containers in case the bags would leak. That way your box doesnt get all wet if it would leak and fall apart. Yes it costs a little more but I try to ship well.

kass

H@rry · 05/22/2008, 02:26 PM

Who has experience in shipping a big coral - say 15 - 20 inches across? I know it would punch holes in plastic bags even if they were triple bagged. I was thinking about using a cooler/ice chest and taping the lid down tight. Has anyone tried that?

flyyyguy · 05/22/2008, 02:28 PM

what kind of coral???

How much does it weigh??

are there any oddball branches coming off of it that will make it harder than it could be??

need to know answers to those questions before i could make any suggestions

H@rry · 05/22/2008, 02:47 PM

There are some Acros and some Hydnaphoras that are at least 12 - 13 inches across. Another M. palawanensis is 13 inches in diameter. Weight is not an issue. Packing for shipping is the issue.

BradsOcean · 05/24/2008, 06:08 PM

Just wondering, how do you guys all pack up the corals to ship? Do you just put it in a plastic bag like the LFS...then put it in a box or what?

joker577 · 05/24/2008, 11:17 PM

I just plan on using styrofoam boxes, lined in newspaper, possibly heat packs also...when my mom drove 9 hours to get home from Florida with my frag pack the guy didn't use heat packs and the water was still warm

Tahoe Reefer · 06/03/2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by em805
Just out of curiosity what is everyones opinion on the Kordon Breathing bags for shipping coral?

http://www.novalek.com/kordon/breathing_bags/index.htm

These bags look sweet, i ordered a 25 pack to test them out. I'll try to remeber to post my results here after a few days of testing.
thnx for the link.

AD87 · 06/06/2008, 12:40 PM

What temp do you need to add heat packs or cold packs? do you go off of high temps?

niccas9 · 06/08/2008, 11:30 PM

Shipping is a little more expensive, but I go to the dollar tree and buy the small disposable styro ice chests and then place those inside a box for shipment. After bagging frags and adding ice pack/heat pack, I hot glue the lid shut and tape it, then I package the box real nice. I usually lose a few bucks every time on shipping, but nearly everything makes it alive (not counting those people who want to do Priority mail from Ca to FL though!)

THoughts on shipping a torch...never have and I am going to this week.

tygger · 07/07/2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by speeddemonlsr
What temp do you need to add heat packs or cold packs? do you go off of high temps?

I'd like to know the general rule of thumb on this also...

tygger · 07/07/2008, 05:56 PM

How much water should be included with a frag shipment?

flyyyguy · 07/30/2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tygger
I'd like to know the general rule of thumb on this also...

all temps high and low both where it is coming from and where it is going to play a part as there are countless little tweaks and tricks you can do to each box from how you wrap the ice or cold pack, whether it is a 12 hour or a 24 hour heat pack, how big of a icepack.....inside or outside the box...etc.

the most important things IMO are using a thick walled 1" + real cooler if the temps are outside of 65-90 so you actually have real control of whats going on isnside the box and a am delivery. neither of these things are mandatory in many circumstances, but it is the only way I will do it and while I cant say I NEVER lose anything....dang close to never.

smoothlarryhughes · 07/31/2008, 08:24 PM

anyone know how lps ship?

crazydante · 07/31/2008, 09:14 PM

I recently shipped an expensive order in a ziplock container. I placed the frags in baggies just to keep them separated. I placed the bag in the lil container and filled it with water. Remember these containers say leak proof but they are not. Before screwing on the lid, I wrapped the top of the container with some teflon tape. Now its leakproof. Then I placed the container in a bag and tied it for insurance. I then wrapped the container in some bubble wrap and tossed it in a lil box filled with crumbled newspaper with a heat pack on the top. 8 frags and less then 2 lbs. It made it home without a leak.

rcypert · 08/01/2008, 11:37 AM

Thats interesting. What is everyones opinion of USPS overnight shipping? It is like half the cost of ups and fedex. I have used it once and it seems to be the same deal.

flyyyguy · 08/01/2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rcypert
Thats interesting. What is everyones opinion of USPS overnight shipping? It is like half the cost of ups and fedex. I have used it once and it seems to be the same deal.

I will never use anything but fed ex

I will compromise if someone has a ups account they want to ship under. But if they insist on usps to save a few bucks, no deal.

you will see many sellers say that they will only guraantee it if it is shipped fed ex priority, and they will ship cheaper options but not guarantee it. If I cant guarantee it...I wont sell it.

thats how I feel about USPS

Travis · 08/01/2008, 11:46 AM

Same here. If someone insists on USPS, then I will do that for them but I can offer no guarantees on anything arriving alive. USPS is cheap for a reason... you get what you pay for.

H@rry · 08/01/2008, 11:57 AM

I agree with the others using FedEx. They are the most expensive but they get the job done, it's worth it with perishable merchandise like coral frags. I've shipped over 80 boxes of coral and they missed only two. One was a snowstorm in Kentucky and the other was a "maintenance delay". That's pretty good odds. I don't have any idea UPS could do that well. Don't even talk about USPS!

05/12/2008, 07:04 AM	#55
H@rry Moved On Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Huntsville. AL Posts: 1,559	Why are you using such a large box? How many frags are you shipping? That size box would probably hold at least 150 frags. FedEx uses what it calls "dimensional weight" where they use the formula of ((L * W * H) / 194). If you shipped that size box they would charge you for the greater of its actual weight or 25 pounds. So even if you shipped an empty box of that size they would charge you for 25 pounds. It's not just the weight but also how much space it takes up on the aircraft. Also for a "cool pack" I have just used a bag of ice wrapped in newspaper. Be careful with it though and don't use it unless you expect the temps to be above 90. If its going to be that hot have the package held for pickup at the local FedEx facility. Last edited by H@rry; 05/12/2008 at 07:12 AM.

05/22/2008, 02:28 PM	#60
flyyyguy King of the white corals Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,239	what kind of coral??? How much does it weigh?? are there any oddball branches coming off of it that will make it harder than it could be?? need to know answers to those questions before i could make any suggestions __________________ I like holding hands, snuggling, and long walks on the beach

05/24/2008, 06:08 PM	#62
BradsOcean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Island Posts: 1,173	How do you pack the corals when you ship? Just wondering, how do you guys all pack up the corals to ship? Do you just put it in a plastic bag like the LFS...then put it in a box or what? __________________ the low cost of 3 Ramen meals a day is feeding my zoa addiction Current Tank Info: had a few small reefs in the past, researching for my future 125 :)

06/06/2008, 12:40 PM	#65
AD87 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 1,819	What temp do you need to add heat packs or cold packs? do you go off of high temps? __________________ Antonio H Magnificia or bust.

07/07/2008, 05:56 PM	#68
tygger Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,631	How much water should be included with a frag shipment? __________________ 15g Nano 72g reef + 29g sump/fuge

05/04/2008, 03:54 PM	#51
cutegecko3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Springdale, AR Posts: 974	My preferred method is to use the glad 1 quart sandwich bags.Ive shipped dozens of orders of live amphiopods and ive never had a leak or a DOA.I actually tested the commercials by filling a bag full of water then threw it on the ground twice,Ive never seen a shipping bag that tough or leak proof.

05/11/2008, 10:05 PM	#52
rcypert Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Miami Posts: 435	So what kind of cool packs do you guys use? I am shipping from florida to texas tomorrow and am not sure if I should just but a frozen water bottle in there taped to the lid or what? Temps should be in the 80-90 range.

05/12/2008, 04:32 AM	#53
ben&bobbi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: mims, fl Posts: 1,063	a water bottle will not be a good choice. you atleast need to spend $1 at wal-mart and get a gel pack and freeze it. wrap it in newspaper and to not allow it to contact the bags!

05/12/2008, 06:26 AM	#54
rcypert Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Miami Posts: 435	How do you guys keep the shipping cheap? I am calculating on fedex and its saying it will be 135 to ship to texas overnight with a 19x17x15 box at 12 pounds. I always believed overnight shipping to be more in the 50 dollar range.

05/12/2008, 07:38 AM	#56
rcypert Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Miami Posts: 435	Thanks Harry. I cut the box down and and it came out to about 73 dollars. Still more then I thought but much closer. I am shipping 13 frags. I am shipping from central Florida to Houston. The high tomorrow in Texas looks like it will be close to 87. So I guess I'll go without the cool pack. I was thinking it would cool it down too much but isn't too cool better then too hot with sps frags?

05/20/2008, 12:27 AM	#58
kass03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kaukauna, Wi Posts: 2,937	I use the ziploc screw on containers but I do also bag the frags first. I've always just shipped softies like zoas or shrooms with them though. Depending on frag and weather, I bag the frag put it in ziploc twist and lock. use newspaper in the box, sometimes styro lined. I like the tall ziplock containers. They are bigger than a thermos and I can fit 2 frags in them usually. I usually only ship when the weather is good also. I have also used several times those fold up coolers to ship corals. The soft cooler kind with a zipper. I got a deal on them one time at Menards for a fall closeout sale and they worked really well. I bagged the corals put em in the cooler (put newspaper around them if there was room left) and put the cooler in a box with newspaper if it didnt fit tight. I like containers in case the bags would leak. That way your box doesnt get all wet if it would leak and fall apart. Yes it costs a little more but I try to ship well. kass

05/22/2008, 02:26 PM	#59
H@rry Moved On Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Huntsville. AL Posts: 1,559	Who has experience in shipping a big coral - say 15 - 20 inches across? I know it would punch holes in plastic bags even if they were triple bagged. I was thinking about using a cooler/ice chest and taping the lid down tight. Has anyone tried that?

05/22/2008, 02:47 PM	#61
H@rry Moved On Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Huntsville. AL Posts: 1,559	There are some Acros and some Hydnaphoras that are at least 12 - 13 inches across. Another M. palawanensis is 13 inches in diameter. Weight is not an issue. Packing for shipping is the issue.

05/24/2008, 11:17 PM	#63
joker577 Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 140	I just plan on using styrofoam boxes, lined in newspaper, possibly heat packs also...when my mom drove 9 hours to get home from Florida with my frag pack the guy didn't use heat packs and the water was still warm

06/08/2008, 11:30 PM	#66
niccas9 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: modesto Posts: 58	Shipping is a little more expensive, but I go to the dollar tree and buy the small disposable styro ice chests and then place those inside a box for shipment. After bagging frags and adding ice pack/heat pack, I hot glue the lid shut and tape it, then I package the box real nice. I usually lose a few bucks every time on shipping, but nearly everything makes it alive (not counting those people who want to do Priority mail from Ca to FL though!) THoughts on shipping a torch...never have and I am going to this week.

07/31/2008, 08:24 PM	#70
smoothlarryhughes Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Perkiomenville, PA Posts: 134	anyone know how lps ship?

07/31/2008, 09:14 PM	#71
crazydante Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Rialto, California Posts: 704	I recently shipped an expensive order in a ziplock container. I placed the frags in baggies just to keep them separated. I placed the bag in the lil container and filled it with water. Remember these containers say leak proof but they are not. Before screwing on the lid, I wrapped the top of the container with some teflon tape. Now its leakproof. Then I placed the container in a bag and tied it for insurance. I then wrapped the container in some bubble wrap and tossed it in a lil box filled with crumbled newspaper with a heat pack on the top. 8 frags and less then 2 lbs. It made it home without a leak.

08/01/2008, 11:37 AM	#72
rcypert Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Miami Posts: 435	Thats interesting. What is everyones opinion of USPS overnight shipping? It is like half the cost of ups and fedex. I have used it once and it seems to be the same deal.

08/01/2008, 11:46 AM	#74
Travis 10 and over club Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 5,525	Same here. If someone insists on USPS, then I will do that for them but I can offer no guarantees on anything arriving alive. USPS is cheap for a reason... you get what you pay for. __________________ TOTM August 08 An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Current Tank Info: 280 sps w/ 75 LPS, 75 refugium, 120 sump

08/01/2008, 11:57 AM	#75
H@rry Moved On Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Huntsville. AL Posts: 1,559	I agree with the others using FedEx. They are the most expensive but they get the job done, it's worth it with perishable merchandise like coral frags. I've shipped over 80 boxes of coral and they missed only two. One was a snowstorm in Kentucky and the other was a "maintenance delay". That's pretty good odds. I don't have any idea UPS could do that well. Don't even talk about USPS!