Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know this is not the forum for this but I'm wondering if anyone who ships airborne has had shipments lost or had animals die. If so, was there any way to recover the money lost? I'm sure I know the answer to this question. Times like this I wish I've never kept a turtle or tortoise. I may have a very nice collection for sale cheap soon. Of course you will have to pick up the animals because I wont ship...

Airbourne screwed up a shipment of mine months ago and although I have made several phone calls and recieved many promises that my money would be returned, they have NEVER sent me any refund.
But each time I call them and get sent to several different people they PROMISE to send my refund. BUT THEY NEVER DO.
They were also very dishonest about the delayed shipment too and they tried to blame it on me, the reciever and then the fact that I was shipping animals----something they claim they NEVER do!
This is one of the primary reasons why I rarely ship my hatchling redfoots anywhere choosing instead to just wholesale them to a local dealer.

I have had good service from Airborne (shipments coming to me), both when delivered to my door and when picked up at their office. I have never received anything later than 10:30 a.m. the next day. I know others have had horrendous service. I think it really depends on your local office, and that seems to be true of other carriers as well. Supposedly the only refund you can get from Airborne is shipping fees, and you have to show that they are at fault--and even then, as Mayday said, good luck in actually getting it.

Post your message on the Shipping Forum, too. Maybe someone there can help you out, but as I said, it really seems to depend on the local office of the carrier you choose. Maybe you can find someone local who ships to give you advice?
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Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

Funny as I read this I was awaiting for Airborne to deliver my new golden Greek. They didn't show up unit almost 2:30 am. The tracking showed that she left the depot at 8:30 am. Not good spend the entire day in an unheated truck, she was cold when I unpacked here but did eat pretty good this evening.

That seems to be the big problem with shipping. What's reliable in one city isn't in another, so it's impossible to find 100% agreement on the best carrier. Glad to hear your tortoise seems to be OK.
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Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

Why are people shipping chelonians this time of year? Besides the cold, it's insanity to ship this close to the holidays - the volume of packages is just too great to risk a turtle, IMO.

Katrina

In retrospect (always easy) you're right. I shouldn't have shipped...

Ah, well, hindsight is 20/20.

Katrina

If they are shaky during the slow time of year I hate to think how lousy their service is now.

Hi Will,
Sorry to hear about your shipping problems. I've used UPS next day air and it's worked very well. I hate to ask but was it one of those little spider hatchlings?
CW

Unfortunate whatever it was but it was a pair of adult mainland Indian stars. The box made it to its' destination (state) this morning so I should find out the ultimate fate of the animals before too long. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Thanks...

np
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Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

np