Jump to content

The Dangers of Posting Plants


Cryptocorynus

Recommended Posts

Hi again everyone, and yes, I'm going to be a Negative Nelson again and share with you one of my worst experience ever with Australia Post, which just happened to have come to a glorious climax this afternoon.

On the 3rd of May (a Tuesday) I was sent a large hygro attached to a piece of cholla wood and a gigantic magenta barclaya by a woman in Victoria through Express Post. I normally receive Express Post parcels two days after they are sent as I live out of the major cities, but when Friday came around and it still hadn't arrived she launched a customer enquiry to find out where it was. Apparently the parcel was in Brisbane (where it should have been the day after it was sent). However, Monday came around and it still hadn't arrived... then Tuesday, and Wednesday, and Thursday... and a week after the enquiry was lodged it still had not arrived. At this point we were both sure it had been lost and were working up an arguement to get compensation from Australia Post.

Just as we were going to get serious and send our request for compensation, it strangely turned up at my house about an hour ago (Monday 16th May). I wasn't sure what had happened, but I knew whatever was inside must have been in a pretty bad way as it had been in there without light for a day off two weeks.

dewftr4.PNG

The sequence of events.

 

D01D0B32-007F-4AD3-8D25-F511C21C5595_zps

6C5BEE3B-378A-4F56-B7E8-56F64627A758_zps

The hygro I was sent...

 

OqlYd9l.jpg

The hygro after two weeks in the post...

 

QCyM6OK.jpg

The cholla wood had even started to gather mould. 

 

8xD2KA2.jpg

The barclaya I was sent...

 

j6XixzG.jpg

Z3UJcnp.jpg

... and what I received. It was rotting badly and the smell was horrible! I think I am going to be able to revive it (it has one half-decent leaf) but was very hesitant about putting it in my tank if it had anything that would come from it and kill my fish. I'm normally pretty relaxed about putting plants I collect into my tanks, but this was very different! 

Edited by Cryptocorynus
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Cryptocorynus said:

Australia Post

Found your problem ... 

Most time they are ok, but when they get it wrong, it's really wrong!!

 

What's your plans with the plants?

They need CO2, a lot of it.

I have revived crypts at the point of melting by putting them in a clear air tight container, filling it with Soda water (the kind you can buy in coles) and placing it in the sun. The high CO2 levels really helped it pull through.

 

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, jayc said:

What's your plans with the plants?

Well, I'm going to attempt to revive the barclaya, but the hygro is too far gone. I need to take them in to the post office tomorrow anyway. I can tell you, they'll be regretting that they need to see things in person as part of their process for claims once they smell everything!

 

1 hour ago, jayc said:

I have revived crypts at the point of melting by putting them in a clear air tight container, filling it with Soda water (the kind you can buy in coles) and placing it in the sun. The high CO2 levels really helped it pull through.

That is such a good idea! So you can really just use straight soda water? It doesn't burn them or anything?

Edited by Cryptocorynus
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Neverheard of co2 burn. It's not like using too much Excel or glut. Mix with some tank water to be on the cautious side. 

It's just high levels of co2 gas. You could put in some macro nutrients like potassium as well.

 

 

Edited by jayc
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, jayc said:

Neverheard of co2 burn. It's not like using to much Excel or glut. Mix with some tank water to be on the cautious side. 

It's just high levels of co2 gas. You could put in some macro nutrients like potassium as well.

Wow, well, thanks for the tip! I'll be sure to try it! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

do what you can to save the barclaya, ill send you some hygro but you'll have to reattach it to the wood.

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Foxpuppet said:

do what you can to save the barclaya, ill send you some hygro but you'll have to reattach it to the wood.

You would do that? I'll pay for postage if you wanted. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow! good luck let us know how it all pans out interested in the revival process.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lol gotta love australia post. I had my plants sent on a tuesday from qld to nsw should of got at thelatest on friday. Attended post office to check if package was there to be told it wasnt delivered they were done for the day and to come back monday. The seller checked the tracking and it was delivered at 4pm. Thankfully the post office was open on saturday so i could get them.

 

 

I sent shrimp once when i was in the bush and the package was late took 11 days express post as it sat on a conveyor belt going around and around until they investigated my complaint. 

 

Most shrimp survived but i couldnt complain fully anyway since they cant be sent in the post

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, OzShrimp said:

Most shrimp survived but i couldnt complain fully anyway since they cant be sent in the post

I send my fish through Fastways. You should try that in the future. They're a lot more interested in issues than Australia Post. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

47 minutes ago, Cryptocorynus said:

I send my fish through Fastways. You should try that in the future. They're a lot more interested in issues than Australia Post. 

What is the cost like using Fastways? I have always assume it is a lot more expensive so I have never really go check it out myself. Do you also mind sharing the information and process? Do we drop it off at their depot or do they come pick up, etc? Sorry I am just starting to think using a proper courier for shipping including larger packages like fish.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't forget the new timings for express post too, it's no longer as express lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't forget the new timings for express post too, it's no longer as express lol

Huh? Did Auspost change their 'express' post t&c?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry @jc12, I typed up a complete reply to you and then I had some computer troubles and lost it. Basically, I'm able to drop the packages off at a local general store (which is on a main road) for it to get picked up. Normally it costs about $20 to send a large esky away. Fastways has a complex way of determining postage costs through various colour zones, so I think you should hear that first-hand. I would recommend them. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, NoGi said:

Can the general public use Fastways? Or do you need an account with them.

I have an account with them but I'm quite sure (just like with Australia Post) that it's only optional. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Compensation (including $22 spent on postage) has just been denied.

gy89gy8o.PNG

A war has just been started. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Compensation (including $22 spent on postage) has just been denied.

gy89gy8o.PNG

A war has just been started. 

At the very least refund of the postage costs.... Express post took how long?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wonder why they did not address the fact that it was a express post parcel and it took 13!!! days to get there. The fact that there was plants is a different matter. IF you pay extra for express post there should be some kind of compensation for it taking that long.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

33 minutes ago, Foxpuppet said:

At the very least refund of the postage costs.... Express post took how long?

Like @Disciple said, it took 13 days. I'm definitely going to be taking this further. Getting the monetary compensation is now my second priority. What I mainly want to do now is address with them the fact cases like this shouldn't be allowed to be closed in their favour. They are judge, jury and executioner at the moment and need to be knocked down a few notches and shown that operating like this is totally wrong in every sense of the word. It's like they see themselves as above the law and able to do whatever they please. They will keep operating like this if no one stands up to them, and that's what I plan on doing. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

50 minutes ago, Cryptocorynus said:

Like @Disciple said, it took 13 days. I'm definitely going to be taking this further. Getting the monetary compensation is now my second priority. What I mainly want to do now is address with them the fact cases like this shouldn't be allowed to be closed in their favour. They are judge, jury and executioner at the moment and need to be knocked down a few notches and shown that operating like this is totally wrong in every sense of the word. It's like they see themselves as above the law and able to do whatever they please. They will keep operating like this if no one stands up to them, and that's what I plan on doing. 

what do they mean in that line clause 74.1.2 about prohibited carriage? are they trying to say your plants are illegally being posted?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

31 minutes ago, Foxpuppet said:

what do they mean in that line clause 74.1.2 about prohibited carriage? are they trying to say your plants are illegally being posted?

I have no idea. I think they're trying to say they're not wanting to take any responsibility for perishables (maybe even that you shouldn't be sending them?), but in the form I had to fill out to apply for compensation they wanted to know what was in the parcel and had options to tick such as "fruit and vegetables" and I think from memory also "plants" so I'm pretty sure that seeing a they were on the form right next to things you would definitely be able to post, perishables probably aren't prohibited.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Join Our Community!

    Register today, ask questions and share your shrimp and fish tank experiences with us!

  • Must Read SKF Articles

  • Posts

    • beanbag
      Update to say that after a few gravel vacs, front wall scrub, moss / floating plant trim, that the condition seems to have improved.  My current theory is that it is due to waste / debris management, where "stuff" like that brown mulm accumulates in the substrate and behind the HMF filters.  Maybe some tanks can somehow deal with it, but mine can't.  Also another experienced shrimper suggested that maybe those "shell bugs" don't just live on the shrimps but also in this debris.  Maybe this is the reason some tanks fail due to "old tank syndrome" where all they need is a good gravel vac? Also, I am guessing that plant trim helps too because now more of the nutrients and light go into growing algae instead of more plants? Well anyway for this tank I will try weekly water change and monthly gravel vac / plant trim.  For my next tank, I'm thinking of something like an under-gravel system where this mulm can fall down and I vac it out.
    • sdlTBfanUK
      Good to have an update and good to hear you are getting shrimplets, so hopefully your colony will continue and you may not get to the point where you have to cull some to stop over population. These type of shrimp only live 12 - 18 months so the adult deaths may be natural? If you have the time I would do weekly 25% water changes, adding the new water via a drip system and do some vacuuming clean of the substrate each week, even if only a different bit each week! See if that helps in a few months and if it does then stick with that regime? It should help reduce any build-ups that may be occuring!
    • beanbag
      Hello again, much belated update: The tank still has "cycles" of 1-2 month "good streaks" where everybody seems to be doing well, and then a bad streak where the short antenna problem shows up again, and a shrimp dies once every few days.  I am not sure what causes things to go bad, but usually over the course of a few days I will start to see more shrimp quietly standing on the HMF filter, and so I know something is wrong.  Since I am not "doing anything" besides the regular 1-2 week water changes, I just assume that something bad is building up.  Here's a list of things that I've tried that are supposed to be "can't hurt" but didn't prevent the problem either: Dose every other day with Shrimp Fit (very small dose, and the shrimp seem to like it) Sotching Oxydator Seachem Purigen to keep the nitrates lower Keeping the pH below 5.5 with peat Things that I don't do often, so could possibly "reset" the tank back to a good streak, are gravel vac and plant trim, so maybe time to try those again. One other problem I used to have was that sometimes a shrimp would suddenly stop eating with a full or partially full digestive tract that doesn't clear out, and then the shrimp will die within a few days.  I suspected it was one of the foods in my rotation - Shrimp Nature Infection, which contains a bunch of herbal plant things.  I've had this in my food rotation for a few years now and generally didn't seem to cause problems, but I removed it from the rotation anyway.  I don't have a lot of adult Golden Bees at this point so I can't really tell if it worked or not. Overall the tank is not too bad - during the good streaks occasionally a shrimp will get berried and hatch babies with a 33-50% survival rate.  So while there are fewer adults now, there are also a bunch of babies roaming around.  I guess this tank will stagger on, but I really do need to take the time to start up a new tank.  (or figure out the problem)
    • jayc
      If that is the offspring, then the parents are unlikely to be PRL. I tend to agree with you. There are very few PRLs in Australia. And any that claim to be needs to show proof. PRL genes have to start as PRL. CRS that breed true after x generations doesn't turn it into a PRL. Neither can a Taiwan bee shrimp turn into a PRL despite how ever many generations. I've never seen a PRL with that sort of red colour. I have on Red Wines and Red Shadows - Taiwan bee shrimps. So somewhere down the line one of your shrimp might have been mixed with Taiwan bees and is no longer PRL. It just tanks one shrimp to mess up the genes of a whole colony. 
    • sdlTBfanUK
      Sorry, missed this one somehow! The PRL look fantastic and the odd ones look part PRL and part Red wine/Red shadow in the colour. They are still very beautiful but ideally should be seperated to help keep the PRL clean if you can do that.  Nice clear photos!
×
×
  • Create New...