Shipping Fish via USPS

abcdefghi

abcdefghi

AC Members
Jun 6, 2007
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Has anyone had issues shipping fish via USPS? I called this morning to ask about shipping and they said it was not allowed. So I checked USPS website and see this at the following link:

Goldfish
Tropical Fish

  • Fish must be held in a securely sealed primary receptacle.
  • Primary receptacle must be cushioned with sufficient absorbent material to take up all liquid in case of leakage.
  • Primary receptacle and absorbent cushioning material must be sealed within waterproof outer (shipping) packaging.
So, am I right in that they should be able to ship them? my fish are double bagged in 3mil bags, inside a 3/4 inch thick styrofoam, surround by packing peanuts, and then in a priority mail box.

Thanks.
 
they can ship them, but offer no guarantee on them being alive. I mark my boxes fragile and perishable as when you mark them live, it can cause delays. UPS took over the express shipping for USPS and issued a statement as of Jan. 2010 that express shipping can be delayed for live animals up to 3 days in order to ensure that they have a spot in the plane with sufficient oxygen/atmospheric stabilization which shouldn't be an issue for a fish shipped in water with air.
 
I have never shipped via USPS, but I have received fish that way, they were on the road 3-5 days each time, but arrived looking great. I have purchased about 20 fish on at least 3 different occasions and only had 1 DOA. So if they are small and you pack them right I would go ahead and use USPS.
 
So, my wife just called me. I am FURIOUS.

She went into USPS, they first said they would not ship them without a water proof outer container. Before my wife could do anything, the clerk picked up the box and VIOLENTLY shook it, from the way my wife described it this person was really REALLY shaking the box. This despite it having fragile marked all over it.

I had my wife open the box, 5 dead BN fry. She is incredibly upset, to say I am angry is an understatement.
 
I've received lots of fish this way, 100% of them alive so far.

What I wonder is...when they ask you "is there anything liquid, perishable, or potentially hazardous?" you are either going to have to lie and say no, or say yes - liquid...and then what? That's what has kept me from shipping fish so far, only snails (packed in minimal amount of water but lots of wet napkins/paper towels)
 
Wow, that is amazing! :mad: I would definitely have a word with the supervisor...

This is what I mean about how it seems better just to lie. They don't actually ask about the specific contents, only if it's...l, p, or ph
 
abcdefghi said:
So, my wife just called me. I am FURIOUS.

She went into USPS, they first said they would not ship them without a water proof outer container. Before my wife could do anything, the clerk picked up the box and VIOLENTLY shook it, from the way my wife described it this person was really REALLY shaking the box. This despite it having fragile marked all over it.

I had my wife open the box, 5 dead BN fry. She is incredibly upset, to say I am angry is an understatement.
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omg. I'm so sorry about that.

I've often feared that when things like live fish or fragile are put on boxes that they are not treated as such.
 
Sounds like the post office here in Luray, they told me they wouldn't ship them either until I went in with a print out of what you just posted above and demanded to see the post master. What post office did that, the one in Bentonville?
 
abcdefghi said:
So, my wife just called me. I am FURIOUS.

She went into USPS, they first said they would not ship them without a water proof outer container. Before my wife could do anything, the clerk picked up the box and VIOLENTLY shook it, from the way my wife described it this person was really REALLY shaking the box. This despite it having fragile marked all over it.

I had my wife open the box, 5 dead BN fry. She is incredibly upset, to say I am angry is an understatement.
Click to expand...

please complain. That kind of thing is not ok. They should give you free shipping for life.
 
petluvr said:
Sounds like the post office here in Luray, they told me they wouldn't ship them either until I went in with a print out of what you just posted above and demanded to see the post master. What post office did that, the one in Bentonville?
Click to expand...

The one in Front Royal.

I am so angry it is almost comical. As you know we had high winds last night, well on top of USPS killing my fish, the winds tore my roof to pieces and we now have water leaking in through one of the bedrooms.

Today is my mine and my wife's anniversary, fixing the roof and being angry at USPS are not how I had planned to spend it!!
 
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