Why are people scared to ship??

[Steve_C]

I was looking for a certain fish the past few days (Endi bichir) and I found one online and ordered today so I'm no longer looking, but because I was looking the past few days I spent some time looking at all the ads in the marketplace here on MFK. One thing I noticed is it seems like 90% of the for sale posts of fish are no shipping.

The funny thing is right now I honestly think there's at least six or more fish for sale here on MFK that I would buy in a heartbeat if the seller was not pick up only. So that begs the question, why are people so afraid to ship? I've bought & sold/shipped fish before and guys in my local club I am friends with ship fish of all sizes all the time overnight with out any issue.

Like I said I found my fish so I'm all set, but I just have to ask because I can't be the only one wondering, why does it seem like people are afraid to ship fish? I honestly think once they did it they would see it is not a big deal at all and they would do it a lot more.

 

[MrsE88]

I don’t post my fish for sale here because I’m one of those afraid to ship. Lol

I’ve never shipped a fish before or had a fish shipped to me. So the fear is mostly just from not having a full understanding on how to do it and not having anyone to walk me through it.
Not knowing the cost is another reason. I wouldn’t know how much to charge for shipping since I don’t even know what all I’d need to do it.

 

[krichardson]

I used to ship fish that I've sold quite a bit until the one time UPS lost a wolf fish that I sold to another member a few years ago.....after that I pretty much stopped.I find the running around to the shipper to be a bit of a pita too as it is not close to where I live.

 

[Steve_C]

Krich did they ever find the wolf??

 

[Rob909]

I’ve had marmorkrebs shipped to me before. The first batch came cooked because it was too hot. Second batch came leaking.
There is too much to have to worry about in my opinion.
First, temperature at the destination AND along the route.
Second, shipping companies and their care of packages. I used to work at UPS. Let me tell you, I’ve seen a lot in there and I’m surprised packages make it to my house in one piece. I’d be too worried about a live animal in that warehouse.
Third, shipping costs
Fourth, packing fish to be shipped. Not everyone has oxygen to put in the bags or heat/cool packs for the journey. It’s much easier to have someone come over, put your fish in their bucket, collect their money, and send them on their way!
Fifth, and my biggest worry, is someone not paying or not sending the fish after receiving payment.
Sixth, omg this is going on forever..... sixth is that the fish is pretty much sight unseen. You can send pictures of the fish all day but never know what the health is.

I know there are plenty of successes (likely more than failures) and I know online fish companies ship fish all the time and don’t even allow local pickup. But, for your every day hobbyist like myself, I’m not set up to ship and would worry too much to offer shipping on a fish someone across the country really wanted! Call me scared lol but I’m too careful.

 

[Jexnell]

There is too much to have to worry about in my opinion.
First, temperature at the destination AND along the route.
Second, shipping companies and their care of packages. I used to work at UPS. Let me tell you, I’ve seen a lot in there and I’m surprised packages make it to my house in one piece. I’d be too worried about a live animal in that warehouse.
Third, shipping costs
Fourth, packing fish to be shipped. Not everyone has oxygen to put in the bags or heat/cool packs for the journey. It’s much easier to have someone come over, put your fish in their bucket, collect their money, and send them on their way!
Fifth, and my biggest worry, is someone not paying or not sending the fish after receiving payment.
Sixth, omg this is going on forever..... sixth is that the fish is pretty much sight unseen. You can send pictures of the fish all day but never know what the health is.

I know there are plenty of successes (likely more than failures) and I know online fish companies ship fish all the time and don’t even allow local pickup. But, for your every day hobbyist like myself, I’m not set up to ship and would worry too much to offer shipping on a fish someone across the country really wanted! Call me scared lol but I’m too careful.

Everything he said here is why I dont ship. But I also have an easier route, The Wet Spot normally will ship for me.

 

[Warborg]

Never done it never will. Everyone has already explained why.

 

[krichardson]

Krich did they ever find the wolf??

They did not and after a bit of back ad forth they wound up reimbursing his money that he paid for the fish.

 

[Warborg]

They did not and after a bit of back ad forth they wound up reimbursing his money that he paid for the fish.

Could end up being a scfi movie. A giant wolf fish attacks postal workers in the back of the building.

 

[Steve_C]

I used to work at UPS. Let me tell you, I’ve seen a lot in there and I’m surprised packages make it to my house in one piece. I’d be too worried about a live animal in that warehouse.

I bet you and I did the same thing for awhile. Were you a loader for UPS? Back from 1990 to 1995 I worked for UPS as well as a loader and then pick off.