DOA Tarantulas - Addressing the Elephant in the Room

Every winter we have so many people contacting us asking if it's “safe” to ship tarantulas in the cold. The truth is, Jon and I prefer shipping in the winter to any other season. Temperatures in the winter although low, are consistent. With the help of Google weather forecast and time release shipping warmers we had a 1:142 dead on arrival (DOA) rate this winter season 2012-2013. I can't ever bring myself to say this is “good.” It will only ever be “good” if we are able to eradicate DOA's all together. All things considered, it could have been a lot worse this past winter season.

Now it's April and it's beginning to warm up, at least in the afternoon. When it is 25 at night and 85 during the day this erratic sort of weather increases the chance of a DOA. If your weather looks like this I would recommend getting the package held for pickup. A hold for pickup is a much safer delivery option because Jon and I are able to pack for a more consistent temperature range. The one downside is you'll have to drive to get your package.

If you don't want to have your order delivered in your current weather conditions, nor do you want to pick it up, there is a third option: “Hold until better weather” Just ask us in the notes when you check out. If we believe your current weather increases the chance of a DOA we will hold the order until the weather looks better. If there are any days you are unable to receive the package keep us informed via email. 

If your weather looks really bad we will automatically hold your order. This rarely happens and we will contact you if this is the case.

If you experience a DOA:

1. Take a really good picture of the dead on arrival tarantula and keep the tarantula until I give the OK to discard. The picture needs to be obvious the spider is DOA or else I will ask to have it sent back. Lately I have had a lot of people will try to fake DOA's. Having the spider sent back is the only for-sure way I can verify the tarantula was actually DOA. We apologize for any inconvenience.
2. Please don't publicly post a DOA video or Facebook comment. It's those people who blast a DOA all over the internet before contacting me or giving me a chance to respond who really push my buttons. DOA's suck for everyone, including me. A spider I produced, packed and sent with love arrives dead and aside from feeling awful about the whole thing, I have to pay out of pocket to send a replacement. 
3. Please specify if you would like a replacement (free shipping), store credit (free shipping), something of equal or lesser value (free shipping) or a refund (minus shipping)
4. I will need your name, order number, address (if different from the order address) and date you would like the specified replacement shipped.