Is my Post Office Full of @#!& (hatcheries ship "illegally"?)

[6Happiness]

Quote:
Yes these were the day-old chicks, not older ones....

You think the delivery guy could have affixed the express mail label himself just to "make" 30-some dollars? It just seems so strange to me- its not even a significant amount of money really to (I assume) break the law for.

The 1-800 number... McMurrays? Or the USPS? (.. maybe both...)?

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Yes these were the day-old chicks, not older ones....

You think the delivery guy could have affixed the express mail label himself just to "make" 30-some dollars? It just seems so strange to me- its not even a significant amount of money really to (I assume) break the law for.

The 1-800 number... McMurrays? Or the USPS? (.. maybe both...)?

The USPS, this is a postal matter, McMurray would not have affixed an express label to a box of day-old chicks.

ETA: But speak with the postmaster at your post office first, and I really hope you got a receipt!
ETA again: did he have you sign for it? Any time I've gotten live bird shipments via express mail (or anything for that matter) I had to sign for them. This is express mail only, you don't have to sign for priority mail shipments. So if it was truly express he should have had that little electronic do-dad that you had to sign.

 

[6Happiness]

Quote:
Oh good point, I should call the hatchery first before the post office.... I have a hard time trying to figure out how/why things would happen, so I have a hard time figuring out how to approach dealing with the problem!
Thanks

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Oh good point, I should call the hatchery first before the post office.... I have a hard time trying to figure out how/why things would happen, so I have a hard time figuring out how to approach dealing with the problem!
Thanks

McMurray would not have done that, because it's not necessary. Day-old poultry of any kind can be shipped via priority mail.

 

[6Happiness]

Quote:
Yes, the shipment was signed for, and the delivery guy "signatured" the express label on the box, writing that the postal cost was paid on delivery- so I suppose that works as a receipt. (?)

 

[classicsredone]

For some reason each post office likes to make up their own rules on what to do with live chicks. Priority mail is fine. Here are the actual USPS rules on shipping live animals:

http://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c5_007.htm#ep184002

526.31 General

The following live, day–old animals are acceptable for mailing when properly packaged: chickens, ducks, emus, geese, guinea fowl, partridges, pheasants (only during April through August), quail, and turkeys. All other types of live, day–old poultry are nonmailable. Day–old poultry vaccinated with Newcastle disease (live virus) also is nonmailable.
526.32 Mailability Requirements

The specific types of day–old poultry named in 526.31 and DMM 601.9.3.2 are mailable subject to the following requirements:

1. Poultry that is not more than 24 hours old and is presented for mailing in the original, unopened hatchery box from the hatchery of origin.
2. Date and hour of hatching is noted on the box.
3. Box is properly ventilated, of proper construction and strength to bear safe transport in the mail, and is not stacked more than 10 units high.
4. Day–old poultry is mailed early enough in the week to avoid receipt at the office of address (in case of missed connections) on a Sunday, a national holiday, or the afternoon before a Sunday or national holiday.
5. Day–old poultry can be delivered to the addressee within 72 hours of the time of hatching.
6. If day–old poultry is sent at a Parcel Post rate, special handling postage must also be paid.
7. If day–old poultry is sent via air transportation (i.e., Express Mail, Priority Mail, or First–Class Mail), all provisions of the airlines must be met. Delivery of the mailpiece is dependent on the availability of air carriers having available equipment to safely deliver the day–old poultry within the specified time limit.
8. Day–old poultry that is first shipped via a commercial air express or air cargo service and then presented for mailing to a final destination must be in good condition and properly packaged as specified in 526.32a-e.
9. Boxes of day–old poultry of about identical size, securely fastened together to prevent separation in transit, may be accepted for mailing as a single parcel, provided the total length and girth combined does not exceed Postal Service limits.

 

[6Happiness]

Ok, I HAVE to go to bed,
But I appreciate everyone's feedback and will check this thread tomorrow before I start pursuing it....
Thanks!

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
No, that's not right. They have to be mailed at the First Class rate or with Special Handling (Express Mail or Priority Mail), but whatever service chosen has to be able to get the chicks to the delivery address within 72 hours.

You'd have to check a shipping table to see if Priority Mail was insufficient to get them to you within 72 hours (I doubt it as that is generally 2-3 day delivery). Express Mail is next day delivery, and not required by the postal regulations.

http://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c5_007.htm

 

[BrattishTaz]

Quote:
Oh good point, I should call the hatchery first before the post office.... I have a hard time trying to figure out how/why things would happen, so I have a hard time figuring out how to approach dealing with the problem!
Thanks

McMurray would not have done that, because it's not necessary. Day-old poultry of any kind can be shipped via priority mail.

I'm sure McMurray didn't do it. I just want to OP to have the ability to say she already verified shipping info with MM if someone at the PO tries to pass the buck.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
No, that's not right. They have to be mailed at the First Class rate or with Special Handling (Express Mail or Priority Mail), but whatever service chosen has to be able to get the chicks to the delivery address within 72 hours.

You'd have to check a shipping table to see if Priority Mail was insufficient to get them to you within 72 hours (I doubt it as that is generally 2-3 day delivery). Express Mail is next day delivery, and not required by the postal regulations.

http://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c5_007.htm

Express mail is no longer next-day, it's usually 2-day. They'll even tell you that at the post office.