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Packaging and DOA Policy By: BettySplendens Submitted: 1/24/2009 I CAN ONLY SHIP WITHIN THE USA!! PLEASE NOTE! As of January 2010 I have switched entirely to reflective foil insulation in my shipping boxes. This material was first developed by NASA to protect the astronauts from extreme temperature shifts. It works by reflecting potentially dangerous heat from the outside as well as retaining the heat on the inside, thereby protecting your bettas from extremes of both hot and cold. It is more expensive than the styrofoam board I have used in the past, but I've had such excellent results with it that I consider it worth the added cost. I am not a commercial dealer in tropical fish, but a private hobbyist who hand-raises my fish. As such, each of my bettas is special to me, and I do my best to make sure his or her trip is as safe and stress-free as I can make it. Here are my ten steps to packaging a betta: 1.)The fish are fasted a full 24 hours prior to shipment, to minimize ammonia and nitrate build up in their shipping bags caused by decaying feces. 2.) Depending on the method of shipment, I try to package the fish as late in the day as possible to insure they are not in their bags any longer than necessary. USPS shipments are dropped off at 4:00 pm,which is the latest they accept them. 3.) The fish are carefully caught and placed into a small plastic cup of clean water prepared with Amquel to reduce stress during shipment. 4.) The cup of water and fish is gently poured into the shipping bag, and the bag is carefully twisted and knotted, leaving ample room for oxygen.Bettas are air-breathing anabantids, and the air is more important to them than the amount of water. A basic rule of thumb is that you should provide enough water to adequately cover the fish, and no more. 5.) The bag is then inverted and placed into a 2nd bag, which is also knotted tightly. 6.) The identification number and/or description of the fish is written on the outer bag with a waterproof marker. 7.) The bag is wrapped in newspaper for further insulation and isolation. 8.) The bag is placed inside the insulated shipping box. 9.) The excess space is filled with tightly-wadded newspaper, styrofoam peanuts, or other reliable insulating material. 10.)The package is closed and fastened securely with packaging tape and labeled 'FRAGILE' and 'THIS END UP!'. I stopped marking the packages as containing live tropical fish because, although this is perfectly legal with both UPS and USPS, many employees do not know the rules and can cause unnecessary delays while they confirm that the shipment should be permitted. Heat packs are automatically included when the weather warrants one. I always check your forecast at Weather.com before shipping, and adjust my packaging accordingly. Heat packs are, however, not free. I use 40+ hour packs, and they cost me approximately $2.00 to buy and to have shipped, so that is what I charge for them. Trust me, nobody is getting rich offa heat packs ;). As of 7/31/10 the DOA policy has changed. Where previously I would replace the cost of any DOA received from an overnight shipping option, I am no longer offering a live arrival guarantee for any method of shipping. Fish are fragile animals, and as a buyer you must accept the risk that your betta(s) may die in transit, and that once the package leaves my hands I cannot be responsible for what happens to it. That being said, I have an emotional investment in every one of my bettas, and always pack them with the greatest of care, taking into consideration the weather, temperatures, and other factors (holiday seasons, etc) involved with seeing them safely through the postal system. Regardless of the shipping method you have chosen, if you receive a DOA and really feel that it was due to some negligence on my part, email me and let's talk it over. I have absolutely no problem offering a full refund or replacement if I'm to blame. Bettas are a hobby for me, not a commercial venture, so I'm interested in establishing good relationships with reliable, repeat customers who I know are good betta owners. If you have a complaint, let me try to work with you :). The idea of ordering a betta from the internet and having it arrive dead can be scary, so keep in mind that I ship hundreds of bettas per month and have an average of 0.8333333333333334% DOA's per year! This figure includes those that were shipped via Priority mail, which most sellers do not calculate under their live arrival guarantee. I would like to invite all new customers to do some research on me before placing an order, and hear what others have to say. I have a good reputation in the betta community as a seller and a shipper, and I plan to keep it that way ;). If you receive a DOA and would like to register a complaint, please attach a clear photo of the dead betta in the original, unopened shipping bag and send it to bettysplendens@yahoo.com within 6 hours of receiving the shipment. This new policy applies to Priority AND Express shipping methods. If you are concerned about extreme heat or cold, arrangements can be made for "Hold For Pickup" service: your post office will hold your package there and notify you as soon as it arrives that it is available for pick up. This saves the bettas a longer trip in a very hot or cold delivery truck as it makes its rounds and is possibly even leaves them sitting in extreme temperatures on your front step. There is no additional charge for Hold For Pickup service.

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HEJSAN FROM SWEDEN EVERYONE! Everything in Sweden is going well, although I'm still busy learning the language and coping with a newborn, so it will be a bit before I'm as active as I'd like with the fish. This is a Facebook update! I have created a new BettySplendens Facebook page that will be used exclusively for betta-related networking. On the 16th of August I will be going through and deleting most of the people on my personal Facebook page who are not actual friends or family (many of you have become friends through the course of the hobby, and of course will not be deleted). If for any reason you wish to remain on my personal page, please let me know by emailing bettysplendens@yahoo.com, or FB email. Otherwise, go to the new BettySplendens Facebook page and click the 'like' button for more betta-related news and updates :).

Tack så mycket (that's ''Thank you very much'' in Svenskie-land ;))! ~Victoria~

Slight change of plans! I have decided that, instead of reinventing the wheel, I'm going to create a personal FB page and use the old one purely for betta stuff. So if you're on the original page (now called BettySplendens Bettas), please stay put! :P

For all the betta inquiries:
Just a reminder, I am not selling bettas in the US at the present time. I may begin to supply a few select bettas throughout Europe sometime in late Spring 2011. Cheers!

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