Hi Becky,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> In a message dated 12/19/2000 1:09:02 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>
> << Well shoot! I just opened up a letter from Airborne about their policy
> changes for '01. For most of us using them, this means the end. They are
> now charging based on distance, and $3 per "unscheduled" pickup, per
> package! Yikes. I'm going to get real friendly with my postmaster after
> Chrismas!
> >>
> Julie,
> If you're talking about shipping the live animals, I would think the
> customer wouldn't mind paying the fees as long as the product will arrive
> alive.
Now the fees are over $35 per shipment, they will be in the $45 range on the
average (my cost, box, shipping), that's for my smallest box at 7 dimensional
pounds. I'm sure sometimes the Airborne service will be appropriate. The
industry standard is $35 for small reptile shipments. This crazy "charge by
distance" deal Airborne has cooked up is more than most will be willing to pay.
> Sometimes the postal service can be slow and a dead animal won't do
> us any good.
Yes, and with some research, I'll be able to determine what is a good bet for
that service and what isn't. I also am going to meet with a USPS rep. and have a
long conversation on the subject. I have a good relationship already with my
local post office shipping mostly dry goods and occasionally gex. People are
going to have a hard time understanding the price increase on the Airborne
service, they already complain about it already at $35 - a good part of the time
I lose money on charging that rate.
> As far as shipping products, I would think the postal service
> would be fine.
>
> Becky
I appreciate your input, however, I know the shipping system pretty well - have
been shipping live geckos with very low casualty rates since '93, using USPS,
Airborne and Delta Airlines. Sometimes folks have trouble waiting for the right
weather or for me to research the right shipping option, but that is tough. I
tell them they don't want to open that box of dead gex- let me make the call on
shipping!
Julie Bergman
http://www.geckoranch.com
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