I was looking at some fish on AquaBid They were in Thailand. I was wondering what it would cost to ship a fish internationally so I asked. He got back to me and said International shipping cost from Thailand to US transhiper is $5/fish. It takes 1 days to USA and take 1-2 days to your address. I don't understand how it could cost so little to ship a fish internationally. Or do you have to pay more to US transhiper?
Oh this is the fish I was looking at http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi/?fwguppies&1364809007
He's linked up with a broker......
That is true you pay him $5.00 to ship to the USA. When the Trans Shipper get it you then pay for example only:
Express Mail: Import fees @ $1.20 per fish/ handling @ $2 per fish / shipping box $5 / heat pack $2 / Express Mail $40 / total $
Priority Mail: Import fees @ $1.20 per fish / handling @ $2 per fish / shipping box $5 / heat pack $2 / Priority Mail $25 / total $
Usually dead or alive and no guarantee either.
Quote from: GeorgeG on March 20, 2013, 08:08:15 AM
That is true you pay him $5.00 to ship to the USA. When the Trans Shipper get it you then pay for example only:
Express Mail: Import fees @ $1.20 per fish/ handling @ $2 per fish / shipping box $5 / heat pack $2 / Express Mail $40 / total $
Priority Mail: Import fees @ $1.20 per fish / handling @ $2 per fish / shipping box $5 / heat pack $2 / Priority Mail $25 / total $
Yeppers, there will be lots of fish shipped from the Thailand location to one broker who reships to the various customers.....think a thousand+ fish at $5 a pop....
Maybe go on aquaboards and ask about them. They seem to have been around a while.
Looks like they have good feedback..... they must be doing something right!
Dennis
I was more curious as to the cost of shipping I still haven't had a fish shipped to me. I'm lucky to have some great breeders around.
I don't think I like the whole shipping of fish to much. Even with a guarantee that's just for the fish you still have to pay for shipping them again. Most of the time shipping is more than the fish was.
I think that you'll find that most fish travel very well, if the weather permits and they don't get held up some place en route. During prime shipping weather, there are very few casualties.
Weather like we're having now is a recipe for disaster.
Quote from: b125killer on March 21, 2013, 06:19:14 AM
Most of the time shipping is more than the fish was.
If you can find what you want locally, by all means buy local..... that's definitely what I do. My biggest problem is there's no local outlet for un-named danios around here. lol
Dennis
These guys must have a big business bringing in fish or have good connections.
i know that getting a shipment of fish into the US from just about anywhere costs thousands o dollars for either labs or individual people on a one off basis. Most of the problems has to do with customs. There could be a lot more interesting fish in the US if that were not the case since the market seems to be pretty large.
In LA there is a block or two of fish warehouses that are very close to LAX (the main LA airport). They specialize in bringing fish into the country and then distributing them. It is a fascinating place to visit.
We have a few of those fish distribution centers up near O'Hare too. The one out in Bensenville is really great to go through...I used to know the night suoervisor out there, he got us in all the time.
Shipping from overseas is not cheap. I am planning on bringing in some wild discus this season and shipping is about $500.00 for 5 boxes. Lucky for me I have someone who is suppose to split the cost with me. Then you need a broker to clear Fish and Wildlife an then Customs so they add a bunch to the cost also. Then you hope there are no DOA's. I hope to have 3 or 4 boxes of wilds for my self just to justify the cost.
I am surprised how cheap it is George.
Good deal.
shipping fish in general isn't cheap. with the cost of shipping i'm surprised that the LFS can sell most fish so cheap. I know they get discounts for the volume but you would think that it's a mind boggling bill.
naw, a lot of distributors do bulk deliveries....I've seen where the LFS pays as little as $ .50 a fish or less....unless getting from a breeder, the cost as included in their purchase. Now, those importing fish...another story.....but most don't import, they leave that to the distributors. Chains like 'Petland' , etc...do their own importing, etc....chain wide, the cost is minimal..
I think you can get a lot of fish in a large shipping container and only have to deal with a single import/fisheries transaction. The expense is spread out over a huge number of fish.
Quote from: BillT on March 22, 2013, 12:45:25 PM
I think you can get a lot of fish in a large shipping container and only have to deal with a single import/fisheries transaction. The expense is spread out over a huge number of fish.
Exactly.....