Live animal surcharge

I'll add new info here as I find it.

Last proposal for a live animal surcharge was in 2013, and it was put on hold. I found it on a bird forum: "the USPS proposed charging an additional $9-11.95 per shipment of day old poultry for a Special Handling fee."

That's basically a 100% increase in what I'm charging now for an insulated priority box for shrimp...

Hmmm. I wonder where we'd find the regs on what it covers.

I can't find it on the USPS site...

The only live animal surchage info I can find from USPS is from 2006 and relates to specific areas:

https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2006/html/pb22174/pb10p-s_010.html

As of right now, the only info I can find on the USPS site about additional charges/special handling only seems to be called out in regards to poultry and bees, not "Other small, harmless, cold–blooded animals, 526.6 and Exhibit 526.6." They just updated to add adult bird shipping in fall of 2013 - could you local PO be confused on applicability to 526.6 type animals?

http://pe.usps.gov/text/pub52/pub52c5_007.htm#ep184096

Apparently the 2006 surcharge was updated (and reduced?) in 2010:
http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2010/pb22291/html/info_002.htm

This refers to packaging, but not surcharge: http://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c5_007.htm#ep184096

jmhk said:

As of right now, the only info I can find on the USPS site about additional charges/special handling only seems to be called out in regards to poultry and bees, not "Other small, harmless, cold–blooded animals, 526.6 and Exhibit 526.6." They just updated to add adult bird shipping in fall of 2013 - could you local PO be confused on applicability to 526.6 type animals?

http://pe.usps.gov/text/pub52/pub52c5_007.htm#ep184096

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I would love to say yes, but others have been seeming to have issues, too. (Seems you and I posted at the same time. LOL)

There is quite a bit of buzz on the free range poultry sites about a proposal the USPS withdrew in June 2013 that would have added $9-11.95 per shipment of day old poultry.

Would it be considered confrontational if you politely asked the USPS employee to show you the requirement regarding the fee (if they try to charge you), since all USPS regulations and fees are supposed to be publically available?

I they start a live animal sure charge, then I shure hope they would then give insurance on live animals that we ship

Just,don't tell them. Lol

-Chris

sbarbee54 said:

I they start a live animal sure charge, then I shure hope they would then give insurance on live animals that we ship

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They still consider themselves not accountable.

ctaylor3737 said:

Just,don't tell them. Lol

-Chris

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That may work for some, however they know the products I ship. :icon_neut

Soothing Shrimp said:

That may work for some, however they know the products I ship. :icon_neut

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True, I find most workers don't even know what to do or the regulations. I bought,a scale and post them myself. Now I just,drop them off and don't deal wjth them.

-Chris

Soothing Shrimp said:

They still consider themselves not accountable.

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This is my impression, as well. They are not responsible for anything. If they did have a surcharge, it really should include some actual special handling.

Does poultry require any special handling? Like, if you needed a pkg to be shipped so the box was always 'this way up', I could understand.

Poultry gets shipped in special boxes and they get handled different. I work for the post office so I am lucky in that I accept my own packages (never had a problem, lol).

Maybe I could ship mine to you to mail....er...wait a minute....never mind. hehehehhee

garfieldnfish said:

Poultry gets shipped in special boxes and they get handled different. I work for the post office so I am lucky in that I accept my own packages (ever had a problem, lol).

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And presumably they need special handling.

If we want to ship shrimps and do not require anything more than a reasonable standard of care, we should not be required to pay for such.
I recently had a small FRB delivered to me with a significant hole poked into the side. (cannot imagine how it happened) That's one big worry I'd have with shipping aquatics.

ctaylor3737 said:

True, I find most workers don't even know what to do or the regulations. I bought,a scale and post them myself. Now I just,drop them off and don't deal wjth them.

-Chris

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i started shipping with usps about a decade ago and this is the best way to do it. not to mention you save a little when you print your own at home and and order FREE boxes to ship in. and if you use flat rate all the time you dont even need a scale it has that option for you. all i do is go in and even if there is a line i just hold up the box with label facing the desk and ask can i just drop this off. 99% of the time i get to hand it to the worker and out i go with out standing in line. i NEVER label the box with live, fragile, water or anything other than postage label. it will slow the box down and its just asking for probs

When I was printing labels last week I noticed a box to tick at the end that asked if it contained live animals. I don't think that used to be there. I chose to ignore it in case it would bring trouble. Now I'm curious to know why it was asking. I too, wouldn't mind a surcharge if it meant better handling or quicker shipping but I bet it doesn't.