Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone know a reliable place where I can get a cheap ($35 or less) blizzard? I have recently had bad luck with having geckos shipped. What was supposed to come overnight, took two days and my gecko arrived dead. Fortunatley, the seller refunded all of the money. Also, why do people charge $35 for shipping when it only really costs about $17 overnight?
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AIM sn: z10silver

Search the classifieds and i think crestedgecko.com sells some and also k&n reptiles sells them

Shipping is expensive because they use better forms of shipping than USPS. If everyone used USPS (the $17 shipping) then a lot of people's animals would arrive dead.

Many breeders refuse to use this form of shipping because the risk is quite high. UPS, and other forms of shipping guarantee next day arrival and are often time (but not always) more careful w/ the packages.

On top of that, even though the cost is minimal, you need to take into considereation the packing supplies like box, styrafoam, deli cup, heat/cool packs ect...

~Andrea
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~Andrea

2.8.1 Leopard geckos
0.0.1 Bearded dragon
0.0.2 Viper geckos
0.1.0 Rescued anole
2 dogs
hamsters

Check out my new website: DreamGecko.com

The Post Office charges as little as $17.95 to ship a package overnight to most areas but they do NOT guarantee it will arrive overnight, nor will they guarantee live arrival. Also, the vast majoprity of Post Offices today will not allow shipping live reptiles at all.

UPS charges around $34-$38 to ship a live reptile Overnight Air to most cities... if you have an account with them. They do guarantee service, and insurance and delivery conformatin charges are extra. Good insulated boxes can cost the shipper $5.00 each, so many times those cahrges are included in the costs of shipping.

I you like, go to UPS's rate calculation page and figure the costs of shipping Overnight Air from your zip code. You can use the example of a box size that is 10x10x12 inches and weighs about 2 lbs. Here's the link:

wwwapps.ups.com/QCCWebApp/request?iso_language=en&iso_country=US

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Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com

US Postal Service charges as little as $21.95 to ship a live reptile Overnight Express, but they do not guarantee it will arrive overnight! The also cannot guarantee live arrival, and may post offices will not allow shipping reptiles at all.

UPS charges anywhere from $35-$38 (if you have an account with them) to ship Overnight Air, and will guarantee arrival. If you do not have an account, you can use the UPS Store or other Mail Boxes Etc. type places, but you will pay an extra charge for using them. Also, Insurance and delivery confirmation costs extra. Not to mention, shipping boxes can cost the shipper as much as $5.00 each, which may be included in the shipping costs.

If you are curious, go the the UPS Rate Calculator site and figure out the shipping costs from your own zip code. You can use the example of a box that is about 10x10x14 inches and weighs around 2 pounds. Lere's the link:
wwwapps.ups.com/QCCWebApp/request?iso_language=en&iso_country=US
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Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com

Hmm...seems the last guy tried to rip me off. He sent the gecko USPS next day for $17 and charged $35!
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AIM sn: z10silver

I hardly think you can call that a rip off. I just read it is $22 for USPS next day, then $5.00 for the insulated box, and $2-3 for deli cup/cold or heat pack etc., so that's already $29 or $30, and a $5 handling charge seems negligible for the time to pack, bring to p.o., wait in line etc...

I figure I lose anywhere from $5.00 to $10.00 every time I ship a gecko when you take all that into consideration. I hardly think that charging $35 to ship is in any way a rip-off.
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Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com

its costs me almost 35.00 to ship UPS overnight and that doesnt include box, packing materials or the time of packing and getting the box to yhe drop off as late as possible just before departure or extra insurance. I think its very fair.
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My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.6 Tokays
1.4.3 Leos(6 albino)
0.0.2 AFT's

Right, it would be fair if it was shipped UPS and arrived the next day! However, the USPS receipt said $17
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AIM sn: z10silver

I think $35 is pretty fair. All of the UPS branches in my area are run by a bunch of jackasses and I just paid $45 to ship using airborne express. Sounds like you need to buy your geckos at shows.