The Middle Tennessee Thread

[pickledchicken]

Subject: Murray McMurray Hachery - Help Us Say No to Proposed Poultry Handling Fee

Special Action Requested
Would you please help us say "NO" to the United States Post Office's plan to raise shipping rates on the poultry you order?​

Dear Valued Murray McMurray Hatchery Customer,
It has come to our attention the Post Office is requesting a change to the shipment of poultry through the mail. The following link is a copy of the proposal in PDF form or You can read the proposal on-line at the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/04/24/2013-09603/new-mailing-standards-for-live-animals-and-special-handling
They are asking that a Special Handle Fee be charged on every Live Animal Shipment. This proposal would increase the postage amount by $9.00 to $11.95 per box.
The proposal outlines the new fees to be charged but it does not include any new rules to insure us that service would also improve. Nor does it offer how additional funds would address their concerns about; Protection of Postal Service employees, mail and the environment, or animals against death.
Please read the proposed changes and send your comments to the US Post Office. We have included a link to a sample letter (in MS Word) for your use. (Sample Letter Link)
Make your voice heard, do it today. The comment period ends next week May 24. Thank you for your continued support.

​

Letters and e-mails must be submitted on or before May 24, 2013, by sending to the below address or Emailed to [email protected], with a subject line of "Live Animals".
The Manager, Product Classification
U.S. Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446
Washington, DC 20260-5015
RE: 39 CFR Part 111 New Mailing Standards for Live Animals and Special Handling

​

The Postal Service consistently accepts, transports, and delivers live animals with additional care in handling, regardless of the mail class or the extra
service being purchased. This additional care ensures safe and effective processing for mail containing live animals through the mailstream to its
destination. Consequently, the Postal Service incurs additional expense to isolate and protect live shipments even when sent by air transportation, such as with Express Mail® or Priority Mail®

I could see where the shipment of live animals would require additional care and expense it has to slow things down a bit. I have had very good luck thus far shipping with the USPS. The packing tape is free the boxes are free and I enjoy the ease of printing labels at home and that saves money too. Anytime additional care and attention is required it's gonna cost a little extra. Even with the additional charges I still couldn't get in the car and do it for less. All we can do is moan over additional charges and make disclaimers in our adds and put all the weight and liability on the postal service. What if they just stop accepting live shipments all together ? It is a service they provide I am not entitled to this service they don't have to do this for us. I have seen birds sell for hundreds of dollars an extra 10 bucks to ensure the safe arrival of a live animal shouldn't be a problem. I'm sure if the chickens had a say in it they would fork out the extra dough for a safe comfortable trip.

 

[emmalynn]

Totally agree with you pickledchicken

 

[Texokie1]

Ahhhhh...but if we are going to pay USPS the extra money, I'd hope they'd actually take the additional care. When I ordered my chicks, I paid QUITE a bit (I had a small order that had to be shipped over-night...the cost of shipping was actually more than the cost of the chicks...about $40...). Instead of following the sender's instructions (keep the chicks at the main office and notify us), the mail person dropped my chicks at the front door, in FEBRUARY, while the hubby and I were at work...and then called a couple hours later to let us know. My husband actually found them on the porch before we got the message. We were SO lucky...we have dogs/cats in the neighborhood (managed to not get eaten), and it was unseasonably warm that day (so they didn't get chilled). I think of the USPS as a business (like FedEx) - if they offer the service, they should deliver this service as stated. I don't know that I'd mind paying extra, as long as we were getting value-added for the price increase...it just seems that we are seeing increased costs with the USPS and a decreased level of service (late deliveries on priority packages, etc.)

 

[T-N Chickens]

I'm in Sparta and am lookin for some bantam trios or a roo and 3 or 4 hens. Interested in japs, anything mottled, self blues, or bb reds. Please pm if you have anything. Thanks!!

 

[DMRippy]

The Postal Service consistently accepts, transports, and delivers live animals with additional care in handling, regardless of the mail class or the extra
service being purchased. This additional care ensures safe and effective processing for mail containing live animals through the mailstream to its
destination. Consequently, the Postal Service incurs additional expense to isolate and protect live shipments even when sent by air transportation, such as with Express Mail® or Priority Mail®

I could see where the shipment of live animals would require additional care and expense it has to slow things down a bit. I have had very good luck thus far shipping with the USPS. The packing tape is free the boxes are free and I enjoy the ease of printing labels at home and that saves money too. Anytime additional care and attention is required it's gonna cost a little extra. Even with the additional charges I still couldn't get in the car and do it for less. All we can do is moan over additional charges and make disclaimers in our adds and put all the weight and liability on the postal service. What if they just stop accepting live shipments all together ? It is a service they provide I am not entitled to this service they don't have to do this for us. I have seen birds sell for hundreds of dollars an extra 10 bucks to ensure the safe arrival of a live animal shouldn't be a problem. I'm sure if the chickens had a say in it they would fork out the extra dough for a safe comfortable trip.

You get FREE boxes to ship live birds? I don't. You have to buy special boxes to ship chicks and bigger birds. The chick boxes cost about $2 each and shipping them is as expensive as the boxes. Then the boxes for shipping bigger birds are about $10-15 a box and you can double that with shipping too.

So someone wants to buy a bird that is say $25, box is say $17 with the shipping of the box then you are looking at express mail charges of about $40 now with the discount for printing online postage. NOW tack on the new sir charge of $10.... The price of one bird is $92..... getting a bird shipped is already expensive... more expensive than the bird. WHO IS GOING TO DO THAT?

NOW if like TEXOKIE1 said there was really some extra care given it might be worth it, but nothing will change. The bird will take 3 days to get to when it should have been here over night, it will be near death and you will then have to spend money nursing it back to health from the neglect of the Post Office. If it dies in shipping you are just out of luck....... not their problem.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Where are the free boxes? As Donna said, the chick boxes and the adult boxes cost money. Boxes for eggs are free, but that's it.
I too would be okay with the increase IF they would guarantee delivery. They won't though, so even if you are paying $50 in just shipping costs the bird may or may not get to where it is going. The general attitude seems to be "too bad/ not our fault".
I understand charging more, but the service should be assured in return.

 

[pickledchicken]

I know the chick boxes aren't free but all the other stuff is. I am just trying to look at the up-side of things. There are many things that can go wrong if you think about the big picture and the number of hands involved with shipping anything it's amazing any of it gets anywhere. Lots of things can go wrong and sometimes they do but overall I have had a good experience with the USPS. I used to ship own root roses in gallon trade pots all over the place and never really had a problem. I took chicks to the PO at 4:30 the other day and by 2:00 the next day they were in Florida at that PO waiting for pick-up. I agree the increase in shipping should also reflect an increase in service but we'll just have to see what happens.

 

[Mark1975]

Maybe someone could start up a special delivery service for chickens.

 

[DMRippy]

Maybe someone could start up a special delivery service for chickens.

There are LOST of Chicken trains on BYC. People take trips and plan stop on the way and back. Kinda fun to watch them unfold. Most people I know on here have had little luck with chicks being shipped or birds for that matter. One lady LOST her box. The PO had NO IDEA WHERE IT WAS. It was stuck in Memphis for 2 days and the MOST EXPENSIVE duck, goslings and chicks were missing. They left the reg priced birds and only too the really expensive ones. Criminal charges are pending. Same time and place a lady lost over half her chicks because they were cold and dehydrated. I will say that the majority of the time they get lucky and get it right. But when it goes wrong.... it is bad and no one at the PO helps. Not their job, IDK who to tell you to talk to.... they are just no help. You can't even find phone number for the places you need to call to find the chicks when they are lost. Just a poor system.

They need to get their act together and tighten up poor shipping practices... that would help the bottom line. I had eggs shipped from WV to TN and they got here via PA 6 days later and out of 19 eggs 3 developed. That gets expensive for me and the PO.

If I had another option I would use it that is for sure.

 

[debid]

That's just it -- no competition. Why do you think UPS and FedEx want no part of shipping live animals? I'm guessing it's because the postal department charges a rate that is disproportionate to the hassle so they really can't compete.