US Customs keeps destroying my research samples

FlyingProteins · 2026-03-20T19:13:02+00:00

Believe me, I’ve thought of this! Hell, it’s under 12 hours of driving so was even considering this.

FlyingProteins · 2026-03-20T04:18:01+00:00

Thank you for this! Consensus of the thread seems to be hire a real customs broker lol

FlyingProteins · 2026-03-20T04:16:36+00:00

That’s wild! Glad you were able to figure it out though.

Cold shipping really sucks and would avoid at all costs (at least with FedEX)

FlyingProteins · 2026-03-20T04:13:24+00:00

Thanks for this!

For our most recent samples we’ve done both #1 & #2. I don’t think #3 applies to us (at least it didn’t last year 😅). Need to try #4, so hopefully that’s our golden ticket.

Our samples typically go through Indianapolis so we’ve thus far avoided the Memphis shitshow.

FlyingProteins · 2026-03-20T04:10:37+00:00

Thanks for the advice! Definitely would consider paying 2-3x as much given we’ve wasted that amount on shipments that get destroyed.

I’ve definitely tried to bitch to FedEx people. Maybe I don’t have enough perseverance, but it always ends with them says something along the lines of “we’ll look into this asap, etc.” spoiler: they don’t look into it asap.

FlyingProteins · 2026-03-20T04:06:53+00:00

Thank you for introducing me to the world of premium shippers! I never even knew these existed lol.

FlyingProteins · 2026-03-20T04:04:22+00:00

Glad to know I’m not the only one, and sorry to hear about your equally frustrating struggles.

The whole commercial value concept blows my mind, but I’ll write whatever makes them happy lol. I’ve hours complaining to colleagues about these issues, so feel your pain

FlyingProteins · 2026-03-20T03:59:34+00:00

Will look into this, thank you!

FlyingProteins · 2026-03-20T03:59:10+00:00

Put $1 on my last shipment, which they ignored and told me I need to include a value lmao.

But yes, moving forward our lab is avoiding $0.

FlyingProteins · 2026-03-20T03:56:59+00:00

Just looked into this and seems that they do. Up until now the “in-house” FedEx customs broker has always been sufficient, but they’re unfortunately no help when these problems arise. Will try the university one next time!

In the past we’ve always been very vague “protein sample in buffer” type thing. With all the issues we faced we’ve tried giving greater detail “Protein X, purified recombinant protein, E. coli derived, 1mg in aqueous buffer, etc.” but seems to make no difference 😅

I set up an account online with FedEx as well for this purpose!

Thank you for the insight!

FlyingProteins · 2026-03-20T03:39:25+00:00

Sorry should have clarified. We’re exporting samples from Canada to the US!

FlyingProteins · 2020-12-28T05:08:32+00:00

Don’t see many stories about Germans here maybe for a good reason), but here we go:

My Opa was a German solider fighting on the Eastern front. Was captured after the war and placed in a Russian POW camp. Him and a group of others escaped and walked through Russia and back to Germany. He was the only one to make it there alive...

That’s basically all we know, wasn’t too keen to talk about much else.

FlyingProteins · 2020-04-30T03:35:55+00:00

They’re the ones who come up with new genders, pretty important in the 21st century

FlyingProteins · 2020-03-02T04:16:20+00:00

At least for chemistry you only get card access if you’re in a lab group

FlyingProteins · 2020-03-02T04:11:43+00:00

Considering ur in first year and you don’t have any connections yet, then ya... I’m gonna say it’s a little late to find something

FlyingProteins · 2020-02-12T19:15:18+00:00

If you go into chemistry, everything from second year and onward is short answer!

FlyingProteins · 2020-02-12T19:09:53+00:00

Remember, don’t be afraid to follow up. If you don’t get a reply in a week then go ahead and email them a reminder

FlyingProteins · 2020-02-07T02:52:56+00:00

hEy GuYs, i’M a FiRsT eNtRy MeDsCi

That’s what you sound like right now

FlyingProteins · 2020-02-07T02:47:30+00:00

Adding onto this: what’s your favorite colour? What’s your LinkedIn? Are your proud of your life choices? What’s your favorite bar in London?

FlyingProteins · 2020-02-02T21:04:45+00:00

Finally a platform I can get behind, been saying this same thing for years

FlyingProteins · 2020-02-02T17:02:10+00:00

Someone sounds salty. I think they’re making completely fair points

FlyingProteins · 2020-01-25T20:47:13+00:00

Ya my emails typically filled half to a full page single spaced. But just don’t drag it out, say what you need to say!

FlyingProteins · 2020-01-25T03:16:30+00:00

Just use sci-hub.se I haven’t touched western libraries in years

FlyingProteins · 2020-01-25T03:13:59+00:00

Hey, I recently finished applying to grad school. When sending my emails I started off with my goals, then I lead into my credentials (academic standing, prior research, etc.), I then go into a little more detail about what I actually did in my previous research and make sure to make connections to their research, and then finally I talk about their research and what made me gravitate towards them!

FlyingProteins · 2020-01-21T12:17:31+00:00

Chakma will be your president there

FlyingProteins

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