Dead Upon Arrival? - Page 3

Jeepers · 02-21-13, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcr229

Can you ask that they wait a few weeks before shipping for temperatures to warm up a bit? We have a major winter storm moving through the middle of the country that's supposed to hit us in the mid-Atlantic tomorrow before clobbering the northeast over the weekend. I wouldn't ship any animal that required a warm environment to survive shipped into those conditions.

Oh I did. I'll be checking the temperature after next Thursday, since none of the days between now and then will be suitable temperature wise.

As far as route, I was able to track specifically what centers it went through in the process of getting here, so I have all the cities and can check them to determine when will be the best possible night to ship it overnight. The biggest problem is it's overnight, and temperatures drop over night, sooo... a little inconvenient in that regard.

They said they'd hold one for me until the weather was permitting, though.

Ms. Medusa · 02-21-13, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeepers

Oh I did. I'll be checking the temperature after next Thursday, since none of the days between now and then will be suitable temperature wise.

As far as route, I was able to track specifically what centers it went through in the process of getting here, so I have all the cities and can check them to determine when will be the best possible night to ship it overnight. The biggest problem is it's overnight, and temperatures drop over night, sooo... a little inconvenient in that regard.

They said they'd hold one for me until the weather was permitting, though.

Sometimes it can be hard to find the right window-- but if you can save another wee caiman from dying....its what is important...

rmfsnakes32 · 02-21-13, 03:41 PM

At least they are willing to replace it not everywhere does that

poison123 · 02-21-13, 04:05 PM

I've heard so much bad things about backwater. This just adds to it. I would stay away from them. I wouldn't be surprised if the next one came dead as well. Sorry this happened to you btw.

Jeepers · 02-21-13, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ms. Medusa

Sometimes it can be hard to find the right window-- but if you can save another wee caiman from dying....its what is important...

I hear that. Such wonderful, interesting, and rare creatures deserve better care and respect than this... Hopefully this cold front will blow over in a week or two and the weather will be safe enough.

Quote:

Originally Posted by poison123

I've heard so much bad things about backwater. This just adds to it. I would stay away from them. I wouldn't be surprised if the next one came dead as well. Sorry this happened to you btw.

Yeah... though, I looked up packages on youtube, just to get an idea on what to be expecting(which all the others I saw had PERISHABLE in big red letters on it... mine was just a plain brown box with the shipping label) and I didn't find one that was DOA.

Anyways, I'm doing the best I can to make sure the replacement won't be... I'm disappointed enough this time around because I was SO excited... Was excited to pull out a little crocodilian, introduce it to its new home, and watch it snap down some fish, swim around, and just do its thing.

Julius2314 · 02-21-13, 05:59 PM

That is messed up

how could anyone know what was in there? im sorry that happen :/

KORBIN5895 · 02-21-13, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeepers

Yeah... I mean, sure, Florida is warm, but sending it up north means that outside temps aren't room temperature. It's not freezing temperature, but it's still not ideal for reptiles, and the mailing trucks out here aren't heated.

They really need to mark it as 'LIVE REPTILE' and 'TEMP CAN NOT DROP BELOW ROOM TEMP' ... I mean, how hard is that? and maybe add an extra pack or two?

Edit: There was no writing on the box that would have notified FedEx that it has special requirements.

All live reptiles have to be marked "live harmless reptile"
according to fedex policy. Failure to do so is a breach of contract.
They could get their shipping privileges revoked and they can stop it at whatever hub they like and refuse to let it leave.

Quote:

Originally Posted by poison123

I've heard so much bad things about backwater. This just adds to it. I would stay away from them. I wouldn't be surprised if the next one came dead as well. Sorry this happened to you btw.

They have terrible reviews.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeepers

I hear that. Such wonderful, interesting, and rare creatures deserve better care and respect than this... Hopefully this cold front will blow over in a week or two and the weather will be safe enough.

Yeah... though, I looked up packages on youtube, just to get an idea on what to be expecting(which all the others I saw had PERISHABLE in big red letters on it... mine was just a plain brown box with the shipping label) and I didn't find one that was DOA.

Anyways, I'm doing the best I can to make sure the replacement won't be... I'm disappointed enough this time around because I was SO excited... Was excited to pull out a little crocodilian, introduce it to its new home, and watch it snap down some fish, swim around, and just do its thing.

First off start using the " board of inquiry" to search out possible sellers not YouTube.

Also I am pretty sure backwater drop ships so that probably wasn't even from their warehouse.

ilovemypets1988 · 02-21-13, 06:28 PM

i have an idea for you, why dont you ask them to send it out, first thing in the morning, even if this means, it gets to you alittle late, the main thing is that im guessing day temps are generally warmer than night temps and in which case, it would be better for them to send temp sensitive animals out on a daytime delivery rather than over night. its worth asking if you havnt already

Jeepers · 02-21-13, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

All live reptiles have to be marked "live harmless reptile"
according to fedex policy. Failure to do so is a breach of contract.
They could get their shipping privileges revoked and they can stop it at whatever hub they like and refuse to let it leave.

They have terrible reviews.

First off start using the " board of inquiry" to search out possible sellers not YouTube.

Also I am pretty sure backwater drop ships so that probably wasn't even from their warehouse.

Ah.. Yeah, I saw other packages marked that exact way, so I found it a little strange that mine had absolutely no indicator what-so-ever. Just the shipping label and a brown box. Their address and my address, no notes or anything.

Also, I said I looked at youtube of Backwater Reptiles unboxing videos, as in, people that ordered, and are unboxing their reptile. I was doing that to get a general idea of what I was to be expecting, if it was in a bag, a box, or what. I wasn't using it to find sellers.

Jeepers · 02-21-13, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovemypets1988

i have an idea for you, why dont you ask them to send it out, first thing in the morning, even if this means, it gets to you alittle late, the main thing is that im guessing day temps are generally warmer than night temps and in which case, it would be better for them to send temp sensitive animals out on a daytime delivery rather than over night. its worth asking if you havnt already

I already suggested it because tomorrow's temps are going to be 54F, which would be fine so long as they pack a heat pack again... but they didn't even comment on that idea in their response, so I'm guessing it's overnight only... which, once again, I think is ridiculous because the coolest/coldest part of the day is at night. It'd just be easier and safer for it to ship during the day instead of the night.

I even said that, if FedEx won't bring it to my home at that time of day, when it arrives, I'd be more than happy to pick it up at my local office.

Edit: Just asked again to get a for sure answer. I explained tomorrow's temperatures will be 57F during the day, so it should be safe with a heat pack... it took, according to tracking, 12 hours for it to arrive to our local office from where it originated, so they could ship it out at 8am and I could pick it up when it arrives. I believe our office closes at 9 or 10pm.

KORBIN5895 · 02-21-13, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeepers

I already suggested it because tomorrow's temps are going to be 54F, which would be fine so long as they pack a heat pack again... but they didn't even comment on that idea in their response, so I'm guessing it's overnight only... which, once again, I think is ridiculous because the coolest/coldest part of the day is at night. It'd just be easier and safer for it to ship during the day instead of the night.

I even said that, if FedEx won't bring it to my home at that time of day, when it arrives, I'd be more than happy to pick it up at my local office.

Edit: Just asked again to get a for sure answer. I explained tomorrow's temperatures will be 57F during the day, so it should be safe with a heat pack... it took, according to tracking, 12 hours for it to arrive to our local office from where it originated, so they could ship it out at 8am and I could pick it up when it arrives. I believe our office closes at 9 or 10pm.

Let me clarify what I meant by search out. I meant to research who you are purchasing from.

How far are you from backwater reptiles? All shipping companies move their freight overnight because they collect it during the day. Any same day courier will charge you out of the nose and would require the destination only be a couple of hours from the origin.

marvelfreak · 02-21-13, 07:21 PM

Check out this site and search the names of whoever you may want to buy from and see what other say about them.
Board of Inquiry® - FaunaClassifieds

Jeepers · 02-21-13, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Let me clarify what I meant by search out. I meant to research who you are purchasing from.

How far are you from backwater reptiles? All shipping companies move their freight overnight because they collect it during the day. Any same day courier will charge you out of the nose and would require the destination only be a couple of hours from the origin.

Ohhhh. I'm in KY, it's shipping from FL. They said no to shipping it during the day. Claims they only ship out at 5pm.

Edit: I found someone in NC with Cuvier's, so I'm asking them if they could help me, since they're closer and the shipping time, in my opinion, should be drastically less, so there's less room for error... I mean, from FL to KY is a long.. long way.

Jeepers · 02-21-13, 09:25 PM

Has anyone dealt with Carolina Reptiles?

Ms. Medusa · 02-21-13, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeepers

Has anyone dealt with Carolina Reptiles?

I've seen them at a number of shows. I have never purchased from them, however they seem to be very knowledgeable and have good looking critters... I have not heard anything bad about them. I would check the BOI on them to be sure though.

Make sure you get your money back from Backwater, they may give you a hard time.