Transhippers

[lisie]

How exactly does it work? Say I wanted a fish from Thailand on Aquabid... I know it says that you must contact the transhipper. Do you first win the auction and then e-mail the transhipper in the US? Does it just cost the $5 or whatever to ship the the US and then shipping from the transhipper to you? Are their other fees too, or does it depend on the transhipper? Who's the best one? Sorry for my ignorance but I'd appreciate any replies. I'd like to breed PKs and DTPKs eventually, which are hard to come by in the US, and all the overseas fishies are beauteous. I just have no idea how it works!

 

[sukie]

Well when you win the auction - you paypal the buyer the price of the auction + $5 - then they ship the betta to the transhipper.

The transhipper then emails you when the receive the betta in the u.s. with the cost of shipping from them to you. . . .
Import fees
Handling
Shipping box
And then Express Mail

I usually estimate $15.00-$20.00 on top of what you're paying at the end of the auction.

 

[bettas4me]

I was actually wondering the same thing. I emailed Linda Olson to ask about it and this what she said:

" Welcome to intenational betta buying. .. Please feel free to ask any
questions you want . .. I know it can be confusing at first. The $5 per fish
he charges for "shipping" covers his export fees + shipping the fish from
Bangkok to Denver. When they get here I have costs to cover as well.
Standard rates for imorting, handling & shipping bettas are: : Import
fees .60 per fish / handling $2 per fish / shipping box $5 (no matter how
many fish) / Express Mail delivery ( a 2 day delivery to [your location]) $28
for 1 fish / total $35.60 for 1 fish . .. and $3.60 for each additional
fish. .. so it pays to get more than just 1, or to go in with a friend to
share costs . .. ..
You can save $15 on that by having it sent by Priority Mail, but that has
no guaranteed delivery date, and ships at the customer's risk. .. I hope
this helps. .. Thanks for your inquiry. .. Linda"

Hope this helps!

 

[lisie]

Hey, thanks for the replies! It's all starting to make sense now... It doesn't so bad at all.

 

[sukie]

Yeh but I notice that Lisie is in NY so she might not be getting Linda as a transhipper. . . . so expect that too

 

[Booboo puppy]

Thank you for posting this info--I have been curious too

 

[Synirr]

When getting fish from pretty much any country but Thailand you can pick your transshipper, I don't think you can with the Thai breeders. The breeders from each country get together and make one bulk shipment to the US every two weeks or so, as I understand it. I usually deal with Linda when possible just because I've dealt with her in the past and the fish have always arrived alive and well, but honestly, $28 for Express shipping for one fish? Her boxes are no bigger than 12" cubed, that's what I ship in, and certainly no heavier than mine, and mine ship for about $18. I usually charge $20 for Express shipping, personally, to cover the box and packing materials and all, but Linda uses really nice boxes instead of cutting her own styrofoam insulation like me

 

[ILM]

There are at least 2-3 other transshippers (other than Linda) that I know of in the US and each has his/her own fee systems. Some will charge you for everything single thing, including a heat pack even if you don't want a heat pack, etc. And depending on the weather in your area, sometimes USPS is NOT a good idea--I've had fish in the mail (being shipped Express Overnight mind you) for over a week and the postal system didn't have a clue where the box was at all. No heat pack lasts for 7 days and if it's still cold along the USPS route, the fish(es) may die enroute (sitting on some loading dock, in some airport hanger, etc.). I've even gotten boxes that were crushed--with wheel marks and everything on them. When you win an auction for overseas fish, do get the transshipper's name, phone and email, it's very important, so you can contact them if the box doesn't arrive when expected (they'll have tracking numbers, hopefully)--one transshipper said she shipped out the box, 5 days later still no box had arrived, I called her to find out she hadn't gotten around to shipping yet (and hadn't thought to tell me). I also had a transshipper who assumed I would be at the state betta convention so instead of shipping (which she had been paid already for), she hauled my fish to the convention--called me from the convention city to get directions to the convention (like I'd know?) and I told her I worked and couldn't go to the convention. I then had to wait for her to drive back home (another 4 days--she stayed at the convention for 2 days, then 2 days to drive back home) so she could finally ship my fish to me. So, get a phone number and don't be shy about calling if you can't get an email response or other from the transshiper.

 

[lisie]

Eek... horror stories.

 

[Synirr]

I've had fish in the mail (being shipped Express Overnight mind you) for over a week and the postal system didn't have a clue where the box was at all.

You can get your money back for the shipping when this happens, as Express mail is guaranteed to arrive within 2 days . Not sure about their policies on insuring live items.