Tangled up in cichlids

[Ogertron3000]

It seems like UPS are becoming the curse of Kevin@TUIC s life! It looks like he will need to hire a logistics manager just to fix all the stuff ups UPS are causing.

At the same time this thread is turning into the best advertising he could ask for his relaunched business, truly satisfied word of mouth from customers is the best endorsement money can't buy.

 

[neutrino]

I got Jeff's TUIC shipments via FedEx. First time around nothing had arrived by perilously close to the end of their day at 5PM and I had to call their dispatcher for them to contact the driver and tell them No, it was NOT okay to deliver it the next day-- a sub driver who claimed she couldn't find our place. After that I'd have Jeff ship to the nearest FedEx shipping center for me to pick up. Over an hour away, but it was worth it, I'm more reliable than their drivers. Depends where you are it seems, for us UPS delivery is more reliable.

I do something similar with USPS deliveries of fish here, call them and tell them to hold the package for me to pickup, which I can do with these smaller post offices here and it saves hours of sitting in their truck.

(I realize this is a different issue from the shipper losing track of the boxes for a few days.)

 

[Rid_Ether]

Thank you Paul for the response.

I have refunded you a number of hours ago. I will be reimbursed on the shipping that is correct. The fish however are not insurable unfortunately. I put an insured value in the case they feel generous but Jeff Rapps himself has never gotten reimbursed the value of the fish in 25 years of business. They simply aren't covered. If they get covered, someone got lucky.
UPS got over on us for this one. Unfortunately.
Happy New Year to you.

When Jeff Rapps retired from hobby fish sales in 2019, I thought that was the end to the Umbees supply. Now looking at TUIC, Kevin deserves much credit to the fish keeping community and keeping the Umbee hobby strong. Keep fighting the good fight with the delivery man!

 

[duanes]

I got Jeff's TUIC shipments via FedEx. First time around nothing had arrived by perilously close to the end of their day at 5PM and I had to call their dispatcher for them to contact the driver and tell them No, it was NOT okay to deliver it the next day-- a sub driver who claimed she couldn't find our place. After that I'd have Jeff ship to the nearest FedEx shipping center for me to pick up. Over an hour away, but it was worth it, I'm more reliable than their drivers. Depends where you are it seems, for us UPS delivery is more reliable.

I do something similar with USPS deliveries of fish here, call them and tell them to hold the package for me to pickup, which I can do with these smaller post offices here and it saves hours of sitting in their truck.

(I realize this is a different issue from the shipper losing track of the boxes for a few days.)

I do the same.
Rather than have fish rattle around all day in a hot or cold truck, I call and arrange to pick them up at the local office, I hate the stress of waiting.
I have also had them shipped to my work place, if I couldn't be home that day.
One other thing I've found, is that with the USPS if a time has been specified, and they are "late", the shipper can get reimbursed to shipping cost, so if you paid, you get it back. None of the other shipping companies have offered that service, at least before I left the U.S..

 

[C. Breeze]

The whole premise of this thread is why I don’t ship or order fish in December or the first half of January- it’s just asking for trouble. And then come online and gripe. Even with a happy outcome burried on page 4.
So since this is back at the top a year later…

Kevin at TUIC is the most meticulous packer in the game. No, you can’t just click “add to cart” - yes it takes some back and forth actual written communication with a human. his selection is outstanding, updates weekly, and he always posts notices in the front page of his site if there are going to be communications or shipping delays. He’s doing a great job

 

[mrrobxc]

Kevin is a good dude. I had one umbee somehow puncture the bag and leak out. It didn’t make it. The rest were all good to go. Kevin took care of it immediately no problem. I’ve done two orders with Kevin since he took over after countless orders with Rapps. Also order from roughly a dozen other online vendors. All are good and Kevin is doing a great job of keeping Jeffs legacy alive.

 

[Dutchaj]

I don’t post, just lurk, but I’ve also had outstanding experience with Kevin.

 

[Kevin@TUIC]

Awe you guys are the best customers. fwiw this IS my favorite topic on all of MFK. Also, Paul the original poster Wildcat157 has been a great regular customer since this first post. This was the worst possible scenario and post for a vendor let alone a brand new vendor but yet it has had the most positive impact.

I appreciate everyone's support and business more than you probably think I do. I really do have the best job.
Since I am done shipping for 2021 it is safe to say that I had ZERO lost packages in all of 2021. A few were late but eventually delivered and it was less than half a dozen. I did have 5 boxes out of the 2,759 I shipped this year that somehow had a random DOA. I do not recall any order being a total DOA loss(but I'm sure if I had one the customer will read this and remind me lol). Just random single losses in multi fish box orders. Anyone that's ever opened a box from me knows I do not mess around when I pack them. If you haven't yet received a box from me... read this entire topic
I hope you all have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Kevin

 

[Wildcat157]

Hey Kevin,

I have been a pretty good customer since the original post. Lol. Ordering from you on several occasions and emailing and phone calls in between. Appreciate you having my back.
In my original post I was concerned only because I knew you were a new owner that I had not done business with. That coupled with the Lost shipment was an unusual and unfortunate situation that I have learned a great deal from.
The other orders I have ordered from you were perfect and obviously everyone on this site knows you are a reputable and go to business owner for Central and South American Cichlids that we all love!
In fact those 1" F1 Umbies and F2 Amphilophus Citrinellus I ordered from you a few weeks ago have already almost doubled in size. Thanks again Kevin!
Merry Christmas and happy new year everyone.

 

[Rid_Ether]

Kevin is a good dude. I had one umbee somehow puncture the bag and leak out. It didn’t make it. The rest were all good to go. Kevin took care of it immediately no problem. I’ve done two orders with Kevin since he took over after countless orders with Rapps. Also order from roughly a dozen other online vendors. All are good and Kevin is doing a great job of keeping Jeffs legacy alive.

Kevin also brought TUIC to the 21st century with the updated website, photography, Instagram, etc.