FedEx and Live Fish

[trucdan]

I was under the impression that FedEx ships Live fish. I received some discus shippment before and I've heard people talking tabout shipping live fish using FedEx all the time.

However, I called FedEx today and they swear that they never allow shipping Live Animal, At all. The FedEx manager told me that they only ship live animal to Research lab, schools and zoos. When I mentioned to her that I did received some live fish sent to me by FedEx, she told me that whoever sent those live fish to me, they violated the term and condition made by FedEx.

It's really strange to me and I think I made that FedEx Manager went mad today. She told me that she has been working with FedEx for 15 years and she's never seen FedEx ships live fish to individuals.

So How would you do it? May be Californians are not allowed to ship fish, LOL ??? ??? ???.

TRucdan

[Ryan Smith]

Many people here were told that you had to be a known shipper with FedEx to do this. You have to send FedEx a test package, then you probably have to fill out paperwork and such in order to become a known shipper. This was the case when Al/brewmaster sent discus to me for the first time via FedEx. I have heard similar stories from other people as well.

A few years ago, a woman told me the same thing on the phone. She said that after September 11th, you could no longer ship ornamental fish or live animals through FedEx. However, people do it everyday. Maybe it depends on who you talk to.

Here is a little blurb about it from their website:

http://www.fedex.com/us/services/express/termsandconditions/us/marinelife.html

Ryan

[Ryan Smith]

I think the woman you spoke with was referring to other types of live animals. There is another bit of info about live animals on their site that basically says the same thing the lady told you:

http://www.fedex.com/us/services/express/termsandconditions/us/liveanimals.html?link=4

It says that zoo animals are accepted, but only when it is cleared by their Live Animal Desk, and they can be shipped to and from zoos only. However, there's no mention of Live Fish in there, it has its own section (see the link in my previous message).

There is also a Live Animal Desk phone number on this link, so you could probably call them directly and get a more specific answer.

Ryan

[trucdan]

Ryan,
That was the section at FedEx which I told the FedEx Manager. I told her exactly what I intend to ship. Off course she doesn't know what the heck is discus but I told her that they are aquarium fish, just like Gold fish, guppies,etc. But Her answer is always "sorry sir, we don't ship live fish, etc."

Airborne Express is a bit easier. The first customer service rep. told me that they don't ship live fish but after I explained to her that I received all kind of live things such as Blackworms, discus, etc. She transfered me to another guy and this guy told me Airborne Express does ship live fish. But I can't dropp off because there is no "Staff-office" near by. I have to call for a pickup.

I didn't know that domestic shipping is a bit harder than International carriers. Seems to be shipping fish to another country is a bit easier ;D.

Trucdan

[Liz_Streithorst]

Call their 800 number and talk to a representitive. I haven't been shipping long. When I wanted to start shipping I went to my local FedEX office. The girl looked in a book for the regulations but refered me to the 800 number just in case she was missing something. As it turned out, you don't have to be a known shipper or anything...You just show up at the office with your box of fish.

In your case, since your local person has lost her mind about this, it is especially important that the home office set her straight. Good luck. When you show up with your first box of fish to ship, take a bar of imported chocolate for the woman at the desk. You don't want to make an eneny of this person which you might do by going over her head.

Liz

[April]

I told them they were plants. most dont actually say theres fish in the box..just fragile keep warm and upright.
plants may go over better. they dont take responisbility for live fish.
i picked up live fish twice..and when i got them they said we dont deliver live fish.... and i say well i guess you do..as i just got some. Ive seen some people get a waiver form . i read one off a box someone else shipped. it basically states that you willnot hold them responsible for dead fish. and they had an account number.

[Discusgeo]

I have used FedEx quite a bit and never had a problem and my boxes are mark Live Tropical Fish. The person you spoke to doesn't have a clue. The first time I did ship live fish no questions asked, took my boxed and I paid cash.

[brewmaster15]

Hi Trucdan,
I have found that many that work for fedex don't even know that they do ship fish....I had to educate the branch I use for shipping. This link may help you out as I went thru the entire Fedex by the book policy setup to be approved as a shipper with them.

http://forum.simplydiscus.com//index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=552;star t=msg6751#msg6751


-al

[David N]

I don't get these companies at times. Last July I received fish from Wattley Discus via Fedex. The box said live fish on it and had a Wattley logo on it. Fedex man had me sign the pentablet and all was good. It seems that many times these large companies don't know what one region is doing vs another.
David

[M0oN]

Perhaps you should ask to speak with the ladies supervisor or for a number to the corporate office next time to get some solid information.

[trucdan]

She Is a Manager Moon. I made the first Rep went mad and she called her Manager.

Thanks For the Info Brewmaster. I will try to call again on Monday. But if it is a requirement to send a test package, I am not going to use FedEx. Too much :(.

I think the best is to drop by a local FedEx branch and Make some friends there, LOL.

TD

[wildthing]

The key word with all those carriers is " knowingly" they won;t knowingly ship perishables...You CAN ship your fish with them BUT...if there is any kind of problem it is your problem not theirs.........you cannot insure the fish or, if you so it will be invalid. If your leaking box damages someone elses' they could techncally take action against you for the damage , your liability comes from breaking their rules, no matter what it says on the outside of the box about the contents.
The second part is that all of these carriers are quite harsh on packages..take a tour of your local sorting depot & watch the machines at work.....
Personally I think anyone shipping fish like that is a little nuts & so did my local UPS, Fed-Ex & Airborne guys when I talked to them about it...not the phone people but the actual delivery guys that I know......
At the same time I understand it is often the only reasonable option when you live a long way from an airport. For small/young fish it is tolerable but for adults...if you like gambling better to go to Vegas IMO
:)
David

[brewmaster15]

I don't know David, but I have come to the conclusion that whether its airport to airport , fedex or airborn.. they all share a common flaw with the heaters in our tank...

...sooner or latter they all fail to preform adequately! ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

-al

[mench]

If you have an Airborne Express near you I would go with then as my first choice,let me back up a bit...Airport to airport fists,second,Airborne Express then Fedex....I have gotten fish from all three and Fedex is last,I have had the largest amt. of broken boxes,lost shipments etc from Fedex..so far no problems at all from Airborne Express....And all my boxes have said Live Fish on them

Mench

[wildthing]

...sooner or latter they all fail to perform adequately! ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

-al



sad but true
:(

[oodi]

Trucdan,

We have received fish via FedEx a few times. In fact, the last time, the gal making the delivery asked what kind of fish we were getting. She was amazed that live fish were being shipped (as the box was clearly marked live fish). Sooooooo... I promptly invited her into our home and gave her the grand tour. Therefore, I would have to agree with the others... you just spoke with someone that didn't know what they were talking about.

And I couldn't swear to it, but I think that delivery driver may have gotten an aquarium shortly after! ;D

Judi
:)

[trucdan]

Thank You all for sharing your shipping experience with me.
Somehow I feel that we're living in one of the Top country but our service is getting worse and worse every day. I once ordered some Piano Books from Yamaha in Japan, the package showed up at my doors within 48 hours. I used the overnight service from FedEx sometimes and one time it didn't arrive until 2 days later.

It is my silly question but for the mark "Live Fish" on the box, do you actually write it yourself or there is a label "Live fish" provided by the Carrier like FedEx or Airbone Express?

Trucdan

[Milleruszk]

If you think shipping fish is crazy, you should try shipping birds! Fed Ex will not accept live birds. The cheapest way is through the Postal service, however, it is against Postal regs to ship just about any type of bird except for chicks from chickens. Therefore, most people, if they want to avoid any hassle, will just mark the box "live chicks". Most postal employees do not know the regulations so you can usually ship any type of bird you want provided it is in the proper carton. Just be nice, smile and act dumb which isn't too hard in my case! LOL.

Tom

[trucdan]

What kind of "live Chicks" do you ship Tom? Can you ship me a beautiful "live chick". I pay the shipping ;D ;D ;D.

Trucdan

[brewmaster15]

Hi Trucdan,
I have used boxes marked with stickers and made my own on copy paper ...

I even went so far one time when shipping to an area I heard might be a problem with the local Fedex folks to mark on that box and bill of lading that I was a registered and certified shipper of Live Fish with Fedex.... don't know if it helped... but it certainly didn't hurt ;D

-al

[trucdan]

May be we should open a company to deal with shipping live animals. Live delivery guarantee. Ship any thing which breaths and moves: Fish, birds, dogs, cat, snakes, and ....Monkeys :P.
TD

[goldengatediscus]

I'm in the Bay Area, and I've known different people being honest, and telling Fedex, (in person and over the phone), that they want to ship live fish. If you ship infrequently, and not a known shipper, Fedex always says "no, sorry....". You can lie, and hope that they don't shake the box and hear the water swirling around, or you can spend hours arguing with them.

If you cannot ship Fedex, and it's getting to be too much of a headache, I can ship them for you airport to airport on American Airlines, but you gotta have the box ready for me. Personally, I've always preferred airport to airport, but that only works if you're close by to a major airport. IM me if you want.
Brigitte

[trucdan]

Thanks Brigitte. You will get...mail ;D ;D ;D. I got to run now. Will send you an email when I get home. Thanks.
Trucdan

[Milleruszk]

What kind of "live Chicks" do you ship Tom? Can you ship me a beautiful "live chick". I pay the shipping ;D ;D ;D.

Trucdan
[/quote

Trucdan,

:oHA HA!! Not the kind you are thinking of!!!

Tom

[fishfarm]

I ship over 500 boxes a year. Most go by Fed-ex. They will take you package willingly, but if it is delayed or damaged it's your loss. The "no live animals" is just to cover their *** so they will not be liable. I lose about one out of a hundred. so say 5 boxes a year. Sux for those 5 cutomers, but the other 495 get the fish on time and in good shape. Larger fish don't ship as well as smaller fish, they tend to poke holes in the bags. I'm 90 miles from the Atlanta Airport so I only do airfreight for large shipments. Fed-ex is right down the street. Just drop off the box and don't act like anything is out of the ordinary. All the counter staff at my local office know me and know I am sending fish. The boxes I use are regular styro fish boxes labeled "Live Fish" or smaller styro boxes I recycle from the University and I write "Keep Warm" and "Fragile" on them. No one has ever asked me to fill out any special forms. Ken

[DiscusinDaytona]

My Fed Ex delivery man refer to me as "The fish lady" when he comes in the office, because he has delivered so many live fish to me! LOL He also takes very good care of the boxes, they get belted in up front with him 8)

Tina