Never ship koi via UPS during Christmas time!

[Shigure&HiUtsuri]

I bought 4 Japanese koi to be shipped from Hawaii overnight to arrive in SC on the morning of Thursday the 20th. The koi place I got them from packs them extremely well with 48 hours worth of oxygen in case they are delayed at most one full day. They are now not 1 but 2 full days late and will arrive Saturday morning the 22nd having been in their bags for 72 hours. UPS made the excuse of why they did not leave hawaii until the next day by saying there were weather delays, which I highly doubt. (It's freaking Hawaii) Then they were delayed in Kentucky which is known for its harsh climate with more "weather delays" code word for we screwed up but won't admit it. Furthermore 2 more customers in Florida have had the same thing happen to them and one of them got their koi today which does not match with the weather delay excuse. It takes forever to actually talk to even some type of supervisor at UPS and when you do its not their fault can't do anything because its always attributed to another sector of UPS who inevitably attribute the problem to another sector. Furthermore, UPS will refund shipping but they only refund the koi farm a max of $100 which isn't even close to the value of the koi. The koi farm in hawaii on the other hand does a great job, eats their loss on the transaction and gives you full store credit towards purchasing any replacement koi you choose. Bottom line, UPS does not Track their packages well enough look at their website, and secondly just do not ship through them at Christmas.

[mstrseed]

I think over the past few years many people have stated not to ship via UPS or FedEx under any circumstances. I remember one post asked how many times you package is handled buy FedEx? I believe the answer was 16 or so. But they also use many belts with drops chutes and auto sorting levers. Like a pin ball machine flipper with the same result!!!
I have had the privilege while on an jet that happened to be in Memphis and we taxied past the "sorting facility" of a well know overnight shipper................. With the doors open and was able to watch the highly skilled personal handle (well not really more like toss............uh KO throw) its precious packages.
Now is that how you really want your precious Koi handled???
Air freight is the only way to go......................airport to airport NOT door to door.
Yes I know some of you have got lucky with some recent shipments, but why save a few bucks and subject your pets to such abuse???
JMO............................................... .................................................. ..........

[KoiCop]

Spot on, Bill.

Ship airport to airport -- and avoid delivery services like the plague.

S&HU: Best wishes on that shipment coming through safely.
_____
Don

Member, ZNA & AKCA clubs
CKHPA

[RookieKoiGuy]

The koi dealers would be out of business if they couldn't ship with
confidence in overnight shipping


Tom

[Brutuscz]

I have been shipping with fedex for 3 years. Truthfully...the problems have been minimal. The fish arrive alive and well almost always. Only real problem I've had is when no one is there to sign for it!!!

[Mtn ponder]

The biggest concern that I have this time of year is the koi being left outside on the ramp for long period of times. I have seen how long full baggage carts sit out in the cold. I do believe that airport to airport is best.

[jnorth]

Airport to airport is the way to go. Direct flight being preferred. The less people that handle the box the better. Sorry for your troubles

[Russell Peters]

We don't like to ship UPS either but to be fair I do have an airline horror story. One winter we shipped Koi via the airlines to Fargo North Dakota. Yup.........Fargo. There are no direct flights, as we prefer, and we still took the chance. If you do not have a direct flight the airlines can, and do, bump you frieght if the connecting flight is full. The Koi got bumped somewhere and ended up sitting in the cold. When the owner finally received his Koi there was two inches of ice in the box and it looked like the koi were frozen. Turns out they were still breathing, barely, and all but one did survive. They are still living happily in Fargo. We replaced the Koi that was lost.

[Shigure&HiUtsuri]

Thanks for the info. So next time when they display shipping options I just choose "air freight" is that right? I had no idea. Thanks

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by Shigure&HiUtsuri Thanks for the info. So next time when they display shipping options I just choose "air freight" is that right? I had no idea. Thanks

Yes, that would be best.