Anyone else having a problem with shipping eggs this year???

[Fourgirlsoneboy]

I've only had one set of eggs shipped to me this year- but they were shipped in a usps shirt box. All detached air cells but a few and of course none hatched. I've never received eggs shipped like that before -and hope never to again!-

 

[highline]

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I knew you could insure them but I think insurance only helps if the package is severely damaged. Even then I'd bet collecting would be like pulling hens teeth, pun intended.

You are right, simply writing "special handling" on the box can be done by anyone and it's doesn't help any more than writing "fragile, Handle with Care", so why pay extra for it. But that's the point! If it did work, wouldn't it be worth paying a little extra for?

YES!!! It would be worth it....that's why I gave it a try. It costs $7.20 extra and I only charge a flat $8.00 for shipping no matter where they go. I am able to secure all my packing supplies at work and pass the savings on to the buyer. I use small but extra heavy duty styrofoam shippers that have a 2-3 inch thick wall and everyone says that they make have a few dents, but have NEVER been crushed like boxes are.

Interestingly, I had someone report 2 broken eggs last week....a first.

She said the shipper was completely fine but 2 eggs were cracked. I'm wondering if I packed them too tightly and cracked them myself??

At any rate...I may go to a different PO and give it a try again. Surely there MUST be something that the PO does to let the handler know.

Another thing I've been looking at is using cardboard "pet shippers". Kind of like the bird shippers but smaller. They have a handle so they can't have anything stacked on top of them. Of course, I guess they could still sling them around by the handle.

Sounds like you do a great job packing. I don't know if the PO does anything to let the handler know. Surely they expect them to notice a fragile label and at least put a little less arch on it when they toss it.

But other than that, it's pretty much "move it, move it, move it!"

Your two broken eggs may have been caused by shock from that sudden stop.
Going to another PO, I wouldn't expect too much. I think most of the damage is at the sorting facilities. They run to a schedule so there's not much pampering going on there if any. I think they think if it's packaged correctly it will stand their "normal" handling.

I had a similar issue with UPS a few years back. We had a business where we shipped product packaged in glass containers. We had special packaging made, took every precaution. The boxes were printed on all sides with "Glass Handle With Care". Everything was fine for a few months, but then all of the sudden, we started having excessive breakage issues. The boxes looked fine except for the leakage from the broken bottles. Of course we began filing claims and before we knew it our UPS rep came to visit. He was sent to check on our packaging procedures. We took him through every phase. He even commented that it looked like we were doing everything right. But about a month later he came back by to let me know that they would no longer honor our claims except in cases where the box is crushed or broken open. And then would require photos.... Sorry to get off topic, I tend to do that sometimes.

It will be interesting to see if the "pet shippers" were to make a noticeable difference. I guess it depends on the mood of handler at any given time.

 

[asher]

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my thoughts exactly.

 

[msteresaann]

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They do, at lest they do at our processing plant. If they do here, I am sure they do at all their processing plants.

 

[asher]

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They do, at lest they do at our processing plant. If they do here, I am sure they do at all their processing plants.

They do at the main ones and I think most, if not all post offices have an upper floor with one way windows that they can do surveillance through at any time they choose. If people are intentionally damaging things, I would think it would have to be 1)enroute without eyes or 2)in front of whomever/whatever without caring what happens to them.

I think it's more than likely innocent things happening to them enroute in most cases, whether that's a jam in the machines, things setting on top of each other and something getting smooshed due to that, etc.

I know people won't believe this, but the majority of the time, we just do not have time to be fooling around with as many packages as people claim that we intentionally ruin/destroy/shake/kick/fill in something mean here. Most of us are just doing what we need to do as quickly, safely and efficiently as we can. Obviously, there are mean and disgruntled people in almost any job, but I do not think the majority of harmed/smooshed/damaged packages are due to that.

JMO

 

[cluckcluckcharlie]

Hey everyone... good news.... lol.

They finally came today and only 4 days late. Anyway, also recieved a letter from the place I purchased them. Apologized and also included that MINE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONES HELD BACK BY THE POST OFFICE. They've had serveral complaints. ( No known cause at this time.) They also reminded me that they dont guarentee hatch rate, but in this case, if I don't have a 40% hatch rate they would replace my order. Well, if I get 8 out of 24 (33%) I'd be happy. It wasn't their fault. The label on the package was clearly dated the 2nd just like the email stated the day they sent them. Now I'm gonna start the process of trying to find out WHERE they got held up at and why. Anyways, anyone getting ready to incubate tomarrow let me know, I don't want to go through this alone~!

Oh one more thing for you seasoned hatchers out there. 12 hours would be tomarrow before I leave for work. Would 24 hours to let them set hurt them? I'd kinda like to keep a close eye on the incubator for a few hours after I put them in. Wouldn't be able to do that since I'll be at work. What do ya'll think? ( They are about 7 or 8 days old already.)

Cluck Cluck

P.S. Wonderfully packed. None broken, haven't checked air pockets yet.

 

[joe17]

I got 24 shipped silkie eggs from bobbi porto and lockdown is tomorrow!!!!! I have about 8 that are developing so I will have about 8 go into lockdown probably. I hope I atleast get 5 chicks! Is this pretty good from 2 dozen eggs?

 

[ParadisePoultry]

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Not really, but for this year, maybe so...

 

[Vanessabuffsnsilkies]

7 out of 20 bbs orpingtons hatched. 12 made it to lockdown.

 

[emvickrey]

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I received 54 eggs, 18 where broken, about a dozen made it to lock down and 1 hatched and died 3 days later of some internal problem. It bled to death internally. Then on another shipment I received 24 eggs and 14 hatched and 1 has a malformation. Then a dozen received 3 made it to lock down and 1 hatched. Then on one shipment of 6 eggs, it took 2 weeks for it to get to me and I immedietely put them in the bator and 3 showed veins then stopped. I've had others that never made it to lock down.
Those I sold where fertile but never grew. The ones that I put in the bator of my own flock are all fertile and hatch.
When I shipped mine I put live empryos, very fragile, handle with care and do not Xray. Apparently they put them thru the Xray a few times extra.
The post office is about as trust worthworthy as a theif at your supper table.