How often does shipping go bad?

[ClarkT]

Just wondering how often DOA happens with shipping snakes.

How many of you have had a DOA, whether buying or selling?

What do you think was the reason?

How common is it?

[llovelace]

If the animal is in good health to begin, and packed properly for weather, and shipping goes as planned, there should be no doa. with that said, delays in shipping, improper pacakaging, or a sick animal to begin with, you can easily wind up with a doa.
I am fortunate that this has never happened to me.

[JLC]

I think the biggest variable in that question is WHO is shipping the animal.

If you buy from a strong, reputable dealer who knows what he is doing, DOAs are very rare.

The risk of DOA rises steadily if you're dealing with an unscrupulous person...a person who doesn't take proper care of their animals...and/or a person who is simply ignorant or careless about proper packing techniques and proper shipping methods.

[Annarose15]

I have shipped or had shipped to/from Texas, Maryland, Colorado, south Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, and California with no problems. All Fedex overnight, some with SYR.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

It can happen but it is rare, I never had any issues shipping or receiving.

[RyanT]

I've shipped and received hundreds of times since I discovered the whole internet reptile community thing in 2001. Never once had anything die in transit...Not that that does anything to prevent the anxiety every single time I pack something up to ship out. Haha.

[Wh00h0069]

I have personally never had any major issues with shipments I have made, or that have been sent to me.

[Klyde1979]

2 of the last 4 packages I have had moved with fedex got lost overnight and spent an extra day out. 1 I shipped and 1 I had shipped to me. All animals involved lived and are perfectly healthy. But things happen. Shipping sucks and makes me really nervous these days.

[llovelace]

Hey Deborah, I found one of your missing membbers

[spitzu]

One DOA due to the animal partially regurging in transit. That was very sad because the rat looked fresh, as if he had just been fed within the last day or two. Very experienced seller, but mistakes happen I guess.

Almost had another DOA due to FedEx somehow ripping the shipping label off the box and losing the package for most of a day. She was a little cold but turned out fine.