UPS Lost Bees!

MustbeeNuts · June 15, 2008, 11:17:18 AM

Well this is a warning for anyone that ships through UPS in Louisville KY. area, IT started with a couple packages being shipped to me. When the bees arrived one package was totally drowned by sugar water. Seems that the first thing that UPS did was bag them, then hung them upside down, as the sugar syrup leaked out of the cans pooled into the bottom of the bag drowning most of the bottom packcage of of bees. However one package arrive usable but just barely. Now I might also point out that another three packages were being sent to another fellow as well. These also arrived the same way, only with two dead packages!

My contact was very good about this and sent a second package of bees to replace the dead package. This brings us to this shipment after two days of sitting on the warehouse floor, I called ups and they assured me the packages where on there way, however no one really checked, it was the usual line of XX from someone in god knows where telling me this. The shipper started a search, and they held him up for a day. There customer rep sent a letter saying that both packages had been disposed of because no shipping details or tracking number was on the BAGS Remeber this is two seperate packages going to two different individuals. Both of them apparently had the same issue.
That seems very strange to me!!! And I might also add that if the packages had no labels then how were they scanned into the system when they arrived.
My personal opinion is that someone either didn't want to handle them? or someone had a serious desire to obtain some bees. I have not heard yet how they where disposed off.

Talk about a cluster, anyway I'm just venting, oh and an update on the package that did make it thru,, ,,the queen died before she had a chance to lay. so now I got a queenless hive and a small cluster of bees, wishing for a queen. Man what a mess UPS made for me.

Anyway I just wanted to vent and get it off my chest.

papabear · June 15, 2008, 11:22:07 AM

Sorry for your pain. Wouldn't UPS be responsiable for the package?

MustbeeNuts · June 15, 2008, 11:24:05 AM

I suspect they will have to pay back, then again you know how they can turn things around to be someones elses fault. Just to get off the hook. They take and make money, don't think they like to give it back. JMHO

papabear · June 15, 2008, 11:27:44 AM

they expect you to just give up and not pursue it. don't give up

poka-bee · June 15, 2008, 12:20:37 PM

Most stuff is automatically insured up to $100 UPS so they should reimburse some to either you or the shipper. I would think it's 3 or next day??? Don't give up!! We have gone round & round with them many many many times for our business. Maybe contact the shipper to see how many are lost, it's costing them in shipping & labor costs to do replacements. Usually your regular delivery guy is great but the subs..oh my :shock:. If they don't feel like going down a hill or it is close to lunch or whatever they will say they couldn't find your place, or no one was home...a gazillion excuses. :-x You have to be persistant and as this was something alive it's unexcusable!! The shipper might have to do differently too, maybe put in a box w/holes & CLEARLY mark THIS SIDE UP!! I would think the bags don't breathe & get too hot. BTW we changed to FedX...Jody

johnnybigfish · June 15, 2008, 07:39:54 PM

My bees came by mail and i went and picked them up. I wonder why your bee place didnt just mail them?
Sorry about the lousy luck Mustbeenuts.
your friend,
john

SgtMaj · June 15, 2008, 07:57:27 PM

Quote from: MustbeeNuts on June 15, 2008, 11:24:05 AM
I suspect they will have to pay back, then again you know how they can turn things around to be someones elses fault. Just to get off the hook. They take and make money, don't think they like to give it back. JMHO

Every company does that... until you MAKE them give it back... that's why we have such an extensive court system...

If I were you, I would start by filing a BBB complaint... 30 days later if you haven't received satisfaction... file suit in small claims for the price of the bees*10 + court costs + ask for an injunction again them bagging the bees. They'll settle and MIGHT get the idea to not bag the bees anymore.

PS - the "insurance" they sell, is worthless because legally they are responsible for damaging your goods reguardless of whether or not the shipper bought extra insurance.

Moonshae · June 15, 2008, 09:43:11 PM

I've always heard of bees being shipped via US Mail, not UPS. But any packages I've gotten were through a local beek who'd drive down to GA and truck up his orders right from the supplier, so I knew they were safe.

I've heard a lot of problems with bees via UPS. I ordered some queens last year and didn't have an issue...I'm expecting more queens this year, so hopefully, it'll work out again.

Wes Sapp · June 15, 2008, 11:33:43 PM

Man, these company's are making it hard for us to spend our money. Seems like the only people not having problems are the ones who can drive to the supplier and pick up their orders.

BeeHopper · June 16, 2008, 10:14:59 AM

Quote from: Wes Sapp on June 15, 2008, 11:33:43 PM
Man, these company's are making it hard for us to spend our money. Seems like the only people not having problems are the ones who can drive to the supplier and pick up their orders.

I'd rather spend the money on gas, drive 4 plus hours one-way for my packages. Of the 14 3 lb. packages that I have bought in the last 3 years, one was shipped via the postal service. I was not happy with the way the postal workers at my PO handled the package, these idiots had never seen a package of bees come through their office before and they were freaking out. They stuck the package outside in the sun on the asphalt parking lot. :roll:
It was a good thing I arrived early, never again. :-x

MustbeeNuts · June 16, 2008, 10:22:02 PM

And you know they have been shipping bees thru the mail since the 1800'a its kinda funny somehow you know, that is if it wasn't wrecking yur plans on a new hives.

Quote from: BeeHopper on June 16, 2008, 10:14:59 AM
Quote from: Wes Sapp on June 15, 2008, 11:33:43 PM
Man, these company's are making it hard for us to spend our money. Seems like the only people not having problems are the ones who can drive to the supplier and pick up their orders.

I'd rather spend the money on gas, drive 4 plus hours one-way for my packages. Of the 14 3 lb. packages that I have bought in the last 3 years, one was shipped via the postal service. I was not happy with the way the postal workers at my PO handled the package, these idiots had never seen a package of bees come through their office before and they were freaking out. They stuck the package outside in the sun on the asphalt parking lot. :roll:
It was a good thing I arrived early, never again. :-x

qa33010 · June 17, 2008, 02:11:47 AM

The USPS folks here are pretty good about handling bees.

Brian D. Bray · June 17, 2008, 06:02:46 PM

Quote from: MustbeeNuts on June 16, 2008, 10:22:02 PM
And you know they have been shipping bees thru the mail since the 1800'a its kinda funny somehow you know, that is if it wasn't wrecking yur plans on a new hives.

The USPS has express instructions and procedures since the 1880's on how they are to handle bees, baby poultry, and even adult fowl through the mail, so if they mishandle it (ie putting in plastic bag to protect the mailperson) they are liable because those procedures weren't followed. None of the other shippers like UPS, FedEx, etc, have such definitive policies so it is a shipper beware situation.

When shipping bees or poultry, USPS in really the only reliable way to go, you have recourses for loss recovery you don't have with private shippers.