I recieved a DOA shipment of a male leopard gecko. We all know this can sometimes happen to the best of carriers, so this is not a UPS bashing session. However, we all need to watch what UPS does in this situation. The sender has been insuring all his live shipments through UPS for years. When UPS called me, they were pleasant, but the lady said "Well, I need to check the rules on live shipments." Keep in mind that UPS has been accepting the shipper's money to purchase insurance on all his live shipments for years...
This shipment was packed appropriately with appropriately sized air holes in the sides of the box. There was plenty of newspaper in there to secure the shipment. The box appeared undamaged when I opened it, but I discovered the animal's deli cup on its side about a half inch from the side of the box. He was already dead, but I worked on him for a half hour in the hopes of reviving him sadly to no avail. I have never before recieved a shipment where there was so much shifting. There is vomit on the sides of the cup. This also has never happened in any shipment I've recieved. In separate shipments, I have recieved Amazon Tree boas (2), another Leopard gecko (1), and three separate shipments of Panther chameleons (3). This package was prepared by the shipper for safe shipping every bit as carefully (there is no difference) as any of the other packages I've recieved.
We all know that DOA's can happen, they happen with ALL carriers. How UPS chooses to treat this viable claim should be of interest to all. I will add their decision on paying or not paying the shipper his insurance claim when I know the outcome.
