Thanks. The insurance is not part of the normal UPS model, it's something you have to hunt down and do enough volume to make it work.
Should sellers be responsible for FedEx delays?
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Thanks. The insurance is not part of the normal UPS model, it's something you have to hunt down and do enough volume to make it work.
rkpetersen
walked the sand with the crustaceans
Although many hobbyists seem to feel the opposite, I agree with you and am generally less anxious when livestock has been shipped to me by UPS overnight rather than Fedex. I've gotten many shipments through both and have found Fedex' service to be more erratic and delays more common. I didn't know that about the UPS insurance; I wonder how many vendors use that? For example LiveAquaria ships UPS, and given their liberal refund policy, I would guess that they probably insure.
I know this will sound jerky, but as the buyer, WE get to decide how this business works because there is competition out there.
If you offer a coral for half price of everyone else, I’m probably going to buy. If I don’t like how the deal wound up, I’m going to do everything in my power to make it the way I wanted. If you don’t like that, raise your price to cover losses like the competition does.
The market will stabilize and a norm will develop.
If you offer a coral for half price of everyone else, I’m probably going to buy. If I don’t like how the deal wound up, I’m going to do everything in my power to make it the way I wanted. If you don’t like that, raise your price to cover losses like the competition does.
The market will stabilize and a norm will develop.
Bmezz
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if its your business you have to satisfy the customer otherwise why would that customer buy again from you? how can you say sorry its not your problem. you as the seller fight with fedex as long as you picked fedex. Your account. Cant be on the buyer.. im sure you likely made a profit on the shipping as well
Dragon52
2500 Club Member
If they offer an Arrive Alive guarantee it shouldn't matter if it's 1,2 or even 3 days late if it's DOA it's DOA. If nothing else the seller could offer to give a credit or send a replacement with the buyer paying shipment. But I also agree you should check for the guarantee on the site or LFS. My LFS offers none so I don't buy from them. I use LA most of the time because of their 14day guarantee, I've bought from Vivid Aquariums also (1hr photo) for DOA & they gave me a credit. I'm definitely going to have to checkout @BoomCorals. lot of good reviews here.
And yes I would buy from Vivid again.
And yes I would buy from Vivid again.
KJoFan
Valuable Member
Most of the discussion has centered around purchasing from businesses/vendors/sponsors. But, what are your thoughts on hobbyist to hobbyist transactions? If something goes awry there, who should be responsible?
I think in hobby sales maybe split the cost. I’ve been with FedEx for 22 years and forethought needs to come into play as well. Do not ship any live stock 2 to 3 weeks before Christmas. If there is a storm rolling up the east coast don’t ship something to the east coast. Sounds simple but I see a lot of shipments during these times that make me shake my head.
reeftopia
Community Member
Have had live stock arrived completely ripped Sribble angel. know it didn't happen in the bag.
There are online vendors who will ship their trash because your not seeing what
goes in the bag. And claim not their fault. They made a $500 sale and you have a dead fish.
Sorry I sell also. Vendor is responsible for delivery.
There are online vendors who will ship their trash because your not seeing what
goes in the bag. And claim not their fault. They made a $500 sale and you have a dead fish.
Sorry I sell also. Vendor is responsible for delivery.
Since my name was tossed around a little here, I figured I may as well chime in. I always try to avoid self promoting in threads like this, but for what its worth, I gave up fighting Fed ex years ago. The way I see it, the burden is, and always has been on me, whatever the circumstances. My (unwritten) policy essential states, that at no time ever, will the buyer be out a single penny and have nothing in their hands. That means when fed ex blows it you get another box, or replacements or something to balance out the losses, pretty much no questions asked. (unless it's very obvious to me that they were dipped to hard, in which case coral is still replaced, but we'll discuss dipping for sure before I reship).
And even in those unbelievably frustrating instances when fed ex blows it once, then blows the replacement packs, and we decide after that to call it a day. The customers got a full refunds. They know who they are lol. It's loose loose loose, but sometimes you just have to take the good with the bad. It's always a bit of a relief when customers agree to have any replacements shipped with their next order, and I am generous with the extras in these cases as well
.
And even in those unbelievably frustrating instances when fed ex blows it once, then blows the replacement packs, and we decide after that to call it a day. The customers got a full refunds. They know who they are lol. It's loose loose loose, but sometimes you just have to take the good with the bad. It's always a bit of a relief when customers agree to have any replacements shipped with their next order, and I am generous with the extras in these cases as well
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Bugsy_Barboza
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In my personal opinion Ups tracking and technology tops any other companies, every time I see people using fedex it seems to me (just my opinion) because it’s cheaper, but you get what you pay for, Ups will refund if it’s not their on time. Deff can use insurance through them. And able to track way easier..... always remember you get what you pay for. Ups has high value packages 5k+ on some things many, jewelry business use Ups for a reason.
Bugsy_Barboza
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In my personal opinion Ups tracking and technology tops any other companies, every time I see people using fedex it seems to me (just my opinion) because it’s cheaper, but you get what you pay for, Ups will refund if it’s not their on time. Deff can use insurance through them. And able to track way easier..... always remember you get what you pay for. Ups has high value packages 5k+ on some things many, jewelry business use Ups for a reason.
aquariumreefers
Active Member
Fed ex freight for livestock depending on the sellers account can be either super expensive or super cheap. Most sellers either signed up for a third party account or have an established account with good rates. In some cases some sellers have no type of discount which is why I think the policies are strict but I agree with covering the freight it's just part of the business.
No matter how much experience a seller has shipping there is always a risk shipping livestock.
On the picture DOA question theres alot of buyers out there which get away with free livestock and a refund. Some have a 4 hour window and other a 7 day guranteed just depending in the livestock .
Even some of the bigger guys online won't guranteed any rare or expensive livestock. Will other smaller online store will .
No matter how much experience a seller has shipping there is always a risk shipping livestock.
On the picture DOA question theres alot of buyers out there which get away with free livestock and a refund. Some have a 4 hour window and other a 7 day guranteed just depending in the livestock .
Even some of the bigger guys online won't guranteed any rare or expensive livestock. Will other smaller online store will .
If the seller packages the coral or fish in a way where if the package wasn’t delayed due to an act of god why should the seller have to refund the money?
If you went to the local pet store and purchased a fish and on the way home got T-boned and the fish flew onto the pavement and died is the store owner going to refund you that achillies tang? Highly doubt it, and highly doubt you’d go back for a refund bc unfortunately it is what it is.
I believe it’s more the carriers fault than anyone else. And if they don’t refund due to their policies, then isn’t that the cost and risk of buying?
That’s just my opinion. But there’s many online retailers that will refund or work with their buyers. We as consumers should not believe that that should be the norm or take it for granted. That’s these guys going above and beyond. They don’t need to, they choose to.
If you went to the local pet store and purchased a fish and on the way home got T-boned and the fish flew onto the pavement and died is the store owner going to refund you that achillies tang? Highly doubt it, and highly doubt you’d go back for a refund bc unfortunately it is what it is.
I believe it’s more the carriers fault than anyone else. And if they don’t refund due to their policies, then isn’t that the cost and risk of buying?
That’s just my opinion. But there’s many online retailers that will refund or work with their buyers. We as consumers should not believe that that should be the norm or take it for granted. That’s these guys going above and beyond. They don’t need to, they choose to.
BoomCorals
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I would wager most lose money on shipping. Not make money.
themcfreak
A Surfing Starfish
But all retailers have processes for lost merchandise. It drives up cost for everything, but it is built in to cost. Part of the cost of business, right? That is not specific to coral sellers. Take amazon, for example. If I buy a $400 dollar item, and they ship UPS and it never gets to me, should I be out $400 bucks? No. And Amazon (once confirming with UPS/Fedex/Whoever) ships a new one. Are they out $400 bucks? Yes. However, they built into final price an extra $0.5o (made up number) to every unit they sell, so after 800 units, they have covered the cost of 1 lost shipment. If it happens continuously, Amazon would make a change to the shipper that keeps losing their product.
iemsparticus
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I applaud any vendor that takes responsibility for the cost of an animal that arrived dead due to the shipping company’s screw up... these are companies that care greatly about providing world class customer service, and thrive.
That being said, as a consumer, I have never thought that shipping delays are the seller’s fault, and would never require them to replace my items... it’s on the shipping company.
That being said, as a consumer, I have never thought that shipping delays are the seller’s fault, and would never require them to replace my items... it’s on the shipping company.
themcfreak
A Surfing Starfish
Agreed, it should be on the shipping company. However, it has been established in this thread, I believe, that livestock is not covered by the big shipping companies. Hence this debate on who is responsible to pay for it if the shipping company won't reimburse anybody.
aquariumreefers
Active Member
Agree on the packing it will help alot is the package is prepare the right way. From experience I shipped an 8k fish from LAX to NYC and it got delay 1 day and a half due to a snow storm .
But once the fish arrive 42 hours later the fish was allive. What I did was use Extra water, extra oxygen , extra heat pads , about 8 bags , clean water,. Fish being purged help as well, squaring the bottom of the bag , bigger styro box and stronger cardboard helped out alot but even if it was a $30 yellow Tang the same packing procedure will help since there is always a chance of delays from weather, mechanical or a lazy worker at the airport that doesn't care about his job.
But once the fish arrive 42 hours later the fish was allive. What I did was use Extra water, extra oxygen , extra heat pads , about 8 bags , clean water,. Fish being purged help as well, squaring the bottom of the bag , bigger styro box and stronger cardboard helped out alot but even if it was a $30 yellow Tang the same packing procedure will help since there is always a chance of delays from weather, mechanical or a lazy worker at the airport that doesn't care about his job.
Dragon52
2500 Club Member
Something else to remember, quite a few sellers offer free shipping when you purchase a certain amount of product be it fish,coral or dry-goods. I always try to hit that number as long as it's not to high.
