Jnette, You are so right. Many of the people sending plants do not put the contents on the outside because if the inspectors see PLANTS on the outside, they would have to inspect them at certain State locations, and they would not be delivered if they were not shipped according to the USDA laws. That is why so many of them get messed up in shipping.
If you put fragile on the box it may work, but there is no way you can put plants on if you are not certified by your State if required. California is one of the worst places to deliver plants. Their laws are really strict. Same with NJ.
All of us try and use our heads when dealing with these perishable goods but I had one really nice lady who offered to send me a few cuttings. Naturally I assumed she would put them in a box. Not so. She put them in an envelope, a regular letter envelope. The post office put it through the machine and they arrived smashed to pieces. I put them in water and hydrated them again and was able to save one out of the three. When I told her she got a bit upset since I suggested she needs to ship cuttings in a different manner.Seems she just never gave it a thought that everything is so mechanical in the post office now that every envelope goes thru a sorter. LOL There are so many funny stories I bet we could all tell.
Time to get back to work. Have a great day. JB
Question regarding shipping plants during heat of summer.
I write live plants on every side of the boxes. I asked the man that worked at the post office if it did any good. He said "no" because everything is done by machine, they aren't handled any different. I ship 2 day priority mail. I use a tracking # so when they say "the tomato plants were delivered on Sat. and they were all died I can say, no they arrived on Wed." by using the tracking the customer can also be informed and make arrangements so the package doesn't sit on their door step in the heat or cold. I had one client tell me her plants arrived dead, I asked for a picture of the tags, she emailed a picture and the tags weren't even from my plants.
How do you keep the USDA rules straight? I don't ship to Ca. or Az. too much work.
Lisa, you asked the guy on your end about marking the package. What does he know the guy on the other end is going to do? Maybe they do go thru them if marked "plants". Or, maybe he did know the state you were shipping that particular pkg to was not one like Ca that would care.
Quite often I write "Seeds, Please hand cancel". on the front and back even if it is a regular envelope with bubble wrap in it. 'course Bob normally takes it in and hands it to the postal worker and stands there while she cancels it too. But then, we are a very small town also and our post office has only one worker at a time.
The guy that works at the PO (we have a small PO) also told me what happens in between my post office and the destination. The person at the other end may care but it all goes in the truck, plane or train together. I'm not talking about USDA inspection I mean how the boxes are handled during transport. Pretty much it's all done by machine so marking it may not help how its handled. I wasn't talking about USDA or state inspection. Just the care with which its handled.
I see, so you know what? I'll bet if you paid for the sticker certification that JB has to have, it goes into a different pile. Bet that is what makes them be handled differently. It might be the same thing with tracking numbers? 2 day priority? Is he saying these are all sent together by machine? Then why bother with things like JB is doing or your 2 day priority?
If they don't sort them some place, why are you paying extra for these services?
Do you write your own address labels? I haven't done that because I don't really send that many things. I got a CD telling how to do that and I am wondering if they address any of the things we are talking about. I know if you go on the website for the PO that they have a very extensive site. Wonder if there are explanations on there.
From what I understand the 2 day priority mail is processed separately. But all the packages are handled the same because the machines can't read whats written on the package. I guess they tumble down the conveyor belts all together. They all set at the airport/loading dock together in the heat or cold. I do 2 day mail with tracking #'s, the plants are individually wrapped in cardboard sleeves. Most of the time they make it just fine but it always makes me nervous until they get there.
I guess I am wondering at what point the ones like the 2 day priorities separated out to be sure they get there in 2 days? Tracking numbers I can understand because they just go past a reader of some kind on conveyor belts I would imagine. On or off and are scanned. At some point some head north, south, east, or west. There again, bar coded to be read.
No wonder there are no jobs. With everything automated all they need are repairmen to see them once in a while and grease the wheels.
Then they have the sender printing out the labels. Do you do that? I know a lot of the people on here do.
When I sell on eBay I use PayPal to print the shipping labels. When I sell on DG if I am paid through PayPal I use them to print the shipping labels but if I am paid directly I use Clip and Ship. It is easy and I find it just as convenient. You need a cheap postage scale and a computer. You can purchase all the paper for the labels online. I get good buys on Amazon and Clip and Save shows you where to buy also.
There are so many things available to make shipping easier. I recommend looking into it.
Jnette , what's an "Aimee " ? I love the shiny leaves . When I find out what it is , I'm probably gonna want one .
LOL, Aimee is a gardenia. I got mine from J Berger off of Marketplace. Sally, she is the one posted right above yours. I think she said she quit shipping for a while because of the heat.
Is that right JB?
Sally, JB's plants are soooooo healthy. I just love mine and it doesn't take any special care. I am going to get another one from her when she can ship again. One that I can make a tree (standard) out of.
One time I made the comment that I have never been able to grow gardenias. She said even I could grow an Aimee. And, so far she has been right. There has been nothing to growing it. She did it all. I have it indoors in the winter and on the deck in the summer. That's it. Give it water, and some fertilizer once in a while.
Jnette , well that cuts me out unless I can put it in zone9 b or 10 a . I'm taking my tropicals this one last time , south . Just too much, hauling them back and forth .
I have three gardenias here in Ga , and they do fine ,outside , but no one to water for me down south and it does get dry .
Jnette-thats why I find this thread so helpful-to learn how others ship plants. I would really like to know how others package the plants and secure them in the box?
I usually hand write the lables its just works easier with my so called "system".
Well, I guess you need to go read Jill's post then Lisa. Single plants that are shipped in the tall triangle boxes, you are familiar with those? Normally I think they are put in from the top down and then with the bottom open, you reach in and tape the rootball to the box. Possibly pack some paper around above it first. Depends on the plant I believe.
I sent some recently and had them packaged pretty much like Jill does and then just put them in the flat one rate boxes and fill them with packing if they don't fill the box.
I am sure someone will come along and give you a better way but that is ok.
I read her article, I don't ship bareroot though, unless I'm trading. I do use the flat rate boxes, a couple of times I have used the "shirt boxes" (flat rate) and actually assembled the box AFTER putting the plants in. Please keep the ideas coming.
If I may butt in here I would like to tell you what I use for single plants. Most of my sales are single or double plants. I prefer selling that way because it is so easy to ship.
The USPS has a Priority Box called the Shoe Box. It opens on the top and bottom and is 7 1/2 W 5 1/8 D x 14 3/8 H. It takes one 6 inch pot or two 3" pots. I use a plastic sleeve to hold the wrapped plants. The plastic does not touch the plants if I can help it.
But when the customer opens the box they can pull the sleeve and the plants come out without harming them. I make sure nothing rattles or slides up and down before I seal the box. There is nothing better that I have found to ship singles and doubles in. The shoe box is FREE from the USPS but it is PRIORITY MAIL.
It depends on how tall your plants are but I have even bent some over to get them in the box and they are just fine because my plants are young and not brittle.
Hope this helps you decide how you want to proceed with your plans of shipping. JB
Thanks, I do use the Shoebox, but I usually ship 4-6 plants at a time so the regular square boxes work better, even if I have to lay the plants sideways.
thanks JB, You know, it sure would be nice if the p.o.s carried them and could just give you one when you needed one. For myself and others like me, who just send plants once in a while, we don't need 20 or 25 of each size. They really get in the way after a while when you have so many. Even if they are free.
The shoe box sounds wonderful. Wonder if I could maybe put some shoes in some to put them to use. Then if I needed one I could just throw the shoes back in the closet where they are now and use the box.
My post office carries them, yours doesn't? I order them too but I can get them at the PO.
Nope, mine doesn't carry any of that stuff. It sure would be nice. Can you just ask for one or two? Wow, I would love that. It could be because ours is such a small building and we only have one person working.
You can still ship Priority Mail with your own box just not Flat Rate. If your shipping bareroot it is probably cheaper to not do flat rate. I really like the flat rate for the seedballs I make because they are heavy but its usually cheaper for me to ship plants regular PM. Just tell them you want PM and the 1 postal employee will put PM tape on it.
The flat rates are the ones that my post office carries. Nothing else. Nothing out of the ordinary. No shoe boxes. LOL so, how much extraq does it cost for priority mail Lisa?
Here's a link http://www.usps.com/welcome.htm. I use a kitchen scale and I printed out the zip code list so I don't have to look on the computer everytime. Just enter your zip and the destination zip plus the weight and the postage will be calculated. Just remember the PO rounds up so 1.0 lbs ships for the same as 1.15 lbs. Then you go up to 2 lbs. I printed out the zone chart (from my location) and the prices. So I know a head of time how much it will cost. You can play with it just to see how it works.
So then do you have an account with the p.o. for the postage you use each month?
Jen, Our post office will give you as many shoeboxes as you want at a time. The post office has my visa number and when I clip and ship they charge it to my visa. I do it all online and when I take it to the post office they always accept it. ONline you get a discount too. At least I do.
They are very strict at our P.O. I think because of the military traffic and they tell people to not use regular boxes, to use the P.O. boxes. They sell other ones too, but out PO has four or five clerks. I just take my boxes in that have the postage on them and put them on the counter and never have to wait for anyone to wait on me. There are several people who do that.
The flat rate is not always cheapest ...I have found that depending on where it is going, I am better off sending things plain Priority.
Because you send so many plants out JB. You are keeping them in business. Keeping them in their jobs. :o)
I think I should get a discount too. LoL
Good luck with that.
You can order, online, either flat rate box's or Priority mail box's at no charge, and they will be delivered to your home. The Priority Mail "Shoebox" works very well for shipping 1 to 3 plants, depending if you remove from the pot or not. The "tubes" work well for taller plants, but can be difficult to fit more than 2 in tho. . You can also get Priority Mail shipping Labels, and stickers to use on non-standard boxs. If you use paypal, you can print your labels there, Delivery Confirmation is free on packages, and postage is discounted. Come's right out of your Paypal account. Easy to track as they have several "report" functions. I have never had a problem with Delivery Confirmation. Priority mail get's it there in 2-3 days. I guess there will be a "first time" for that but so far not. I rarely remove plants from pot's unless their over 4 in. pots. I don't ship "bare root" period. I remove the plant, put damp newspaper around the root ball, wrap in plactic, then wrap the whole plant in paper grocery bag's that I've cut to fit. I mist the plant, and mist the inside of the paper. I've not had one complaint, even shipping out of very hot Florida right now. Again, I suppose there will be a first time for that also. If the shipper takes just a bit of care packing, and the plants have a good root system, they generally will be fine.
My 2 cents worth.
mj
I know they send you the boxes free. Guess I just don't want bundles of 25 of every size box they have on the chance that I might use one. I have 2 bundles of the flat rate boxes. The shoe boxes sound good. Guess it probably would be worth making room for some. Oh me. I really do not have storage room in this house. Guess I could make may DH move over in the basement.
You all do tell about wrapping and packaging them real good, but you still do not stress the importance of sending them on Monday or Tuesday!! That to me is very important for the newbie to know.
You probably think that is a given, but it is not.
Jnette,
Even If I ship on Wed...it's going to get to ( so far) any place in the lower 48 states by Friday or Saturday at the latest. I have a neighbor that works for the post office. All the sorting facilities are Air conditioned. So the only time the package's are subject to heat /cold extreme's is in the carrier's vehicle/or when it's sitting on the recipient's front porch. The insulation from packaging IF packaged correctly, with a good root system they should be fine, NOTE , I'm not saying bare root, that's one area I really don't like, too iffy.
I do only ship on Mon. and Tues. one time an order shipped on Tues. didn't get to its destination until Sat. so its not worth the risk to me. I must admit the only problems I've had involved the plant setting in the sun during this really hot spring.
mjs-how do you secure the plants in the box?
Well MJS, I just lost some cuttings that got to my post office on Saturday and sat in the post office all weekend. Our post office does nothing with with packages on Saturday. A part timer works 3 hours and does nothing but letter sized things to the boxes. You cannot buy stamps, mail packages or talk to her. It is essentially closed.
I got them on Monday pretty much shot. You may not do cuttings, but that was one of the things this thread is about.
Also, JB who is a grower cannot send soil West of the Mississippi. There goes your bareroots.
Ours may not sit in the hot sun on the doorstep, but they just might sit in a small, hot, building that the air conditioner, if there is one, is turned off for the weekend.
Thats why I don't ship any later then Tuesday. Don't you get mail delivered on Sat.? I do but our PO is closed.
How come JB can't send soil W. of the Mississippi? I use only commercial potting soil I don't grow in beds that maybe the difference. Nothing I sell comes out of the ground I do rooted cuttings, everything I grow is started in and sent in custom potting soil.
The only thing I will ship bareroot is rooted succulants but the key is to keep them dry, not wet.
Maybe thats why JB has suspended shipping until the weather cools down, so far I haven't had to. Every case is different I guess you work with what you've got.
No, we have a p.o. box in the building.
You would have to ask JB all those questions. I just know she said she cannot. She has suspended shipping because of the heat. Dave just lost 200 small plants he shipped this last week.
I apologize for being so tardy in responding to a few of the comments, but I have a very sick dog and this has been a rotten, hot and miserable day so far. Thank God it is almost over. Tomorrow will be better.
Trust me, I am telling you that according to the entomologist and supervisor of the Plant Inspection Program of the state of new jersey I am required to ship all my tropicals, no matter if I grow them in organic soil, BAREROOT in order to guarantee delivery to many of the States West of the Mississippi. I do not question or argue, I just pay my NJ fee for inspection of my greenhouse, pack and ship according to NJ DA standards and therefore I stay out of trouble here and my plants are guaranteed to be delivered and most of the time never inspected because of the way I mark them on the boxes.
Jen, did you notice if your package from me was opened and resealed? I think most of the reasons for our NJDA regulations is that it helps our nurseries when it comes to guaranteeing delivery and passing inspections. NJ is known as the Garden State and it also insures customers in other states and countries that only pest free stock will be offered for sale by their certified nurseries.
I doubt if any of you do much International shipping but in the event you do there is a new system you may want to look up on the internet for the explanation. On October 1, 2009 there was a change in the way that Federal Phytosanitary Inspectiion Requests will be accepted and the FPCertificatte Issued. ........
www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2009/07/ppusefee.shtml
If I want to ship to Alaska, Canada, PR, or any other country my State Inspection fee is $50.00 for each federal phytosanitary certificate of a commercial shipment and $20 for each FPC of a non commer ial or low value commercial shipment. That is over and above my other yearly inspection fee of $75.
If you want to do things properly and in accordance with the standards of your State, you really must comply with your local Dept. of Ag. plant Div. regulations. I choose to do that because I have very close ties with our State Dept. of Ag. and I do not want any problems caused by sending plants illegally.
I choose not to ship internationally because I sell starter plants and cuttings and the amount of money they are worth is not worth it to me to pay all the fees and shipping when usually I can help the person locate a grower in their own country.
I this answers some of your questions. Each State is different when it comes to laws regulating shipment of plants etc. Even different when it comes to how they want certain plants and shrubs shipped. I read something on Backyard Growers by Molly Scanian about her experience with shipping plants. She wrote a cute email to someone named Becky. It was under the title Shipping Plants She has shipped bareroot maples to California.
A am sorry this is so long but I wanted to cover several comments all at once and be done with it. Also, I put in all by plant ads that I only ship Mondays and Tuesdays and I reserve the right to cancel shipping due to weather at anytime, but, I always, when that happens contact the buyer by email and inform them of the reason and tell them if they want to cancel the order and have a refund they may do so. Seldom does that happen.
I find most of the people who really wanted the plants will wait for them. I do not like to keep their money for an extended period without contacting them. In fact, if I know there is a problem with shipping the first Monday after payment is received, I will tell them not to send the money until I get back to them. Just good PR.
Sorry to hear about your sick dog, yes tomorrow will be better..
Your state inspection is 75.00, mine is 125.00:(. You answered my question when you mentioned entomologist (bug person) also you do tropicals. I agree just do what they say because there is a reason I had just never heard of that before.
Lisa
I just read the link you posted JB. That is terrible. I thought if you paid that for a certificate per country, state, or whatever it covered the area, not the plant. So, it sounds like they are saying you have to pay it for every plant shipped???? That is awful!
Lisa, thanks for the nice thoughts for Barney. He is old, but he is a good dog when he is not sick. LOL. Oh well, we all get old and sick eventually. I need to get some sleep and have more patience.
Jen, when I read the link I got the same thing out of it you did, each plant. Can you imagine what it would cost to ship two starter plants worth about $6 to Australia, Canada, or wherever outside of the USA. LOL I don't think the customer would want to pay for that.
I had to turn down a nice order of Christmas Cactus to PR and I thought it would be easy.
So much red tape I had to cancel the order. I just gave up and told the customer I was so sorry.
Must get back to my sick pupper. Hugs. JB
JB-Get some sleep. Eveything is will seem better when you had sleep. A really good friend of mine had a cocker named Barney I called him Barnyard.
I live in AZ. I had ordered some plants on line last month and this month and they have all arrived safe and sound. FYI