FYI about shipping

I hear a lot of people these days complain about the high price that online vendors charge for shipping livestock and I just wanted to explain to some people how good they actually have it. I have a part-time, well holiday job, at a Goin' Postal store and I know more than I ever wanted to know about shipping, like how USPS won't take boxes w/ duct tape but that's another story. Anyway, being a Prefered Shipper with companies like UPS we have discounted rates on shipping, sometimes as much as 20% off customer price. Even at that rate I would be hard pressed to find any carrier that would ship a box overnight to my neighbor for less than $40 for a 3-5lb box, the avg weight of my coral shipments thus far, let alone to CA. Then on top of that you add in the cost of the box, which cardboard boxes are not cheap, the insulated container, the specimen bags, and the heaters. So bottom line, you're looking at around $50-$60+ for an overnight package if not more. These online vendors eat a lot of cost when it comes to shipping that I don't think a lot of people are aware of. If you're curious then go ups.com and get a quote for an overnight 3lb box. I just did and from MO to NY it's $56.04, CA to NY was $60+. Just think about that next time you order online and have companies like Reef Empire and Austin Aqua Farms just to name the ones I've ordered from that only charge you $35 for shipping.

 

good info anpgp! Thanks for sharing

 

Good to know, thanks for the info!

 

i never thought it was expencive since it was shipping a live thing. i just find ways around it like combining an order with a friend and splitting it. theres always ways to save money that dont screw the vendor and raise prices lol