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Refrigerated vetenary medicine

Has anyone ordered any refrigerated products which needs to be kept cool in a bag? 

Yesterday: I paid for a prescription from the vet to buy an expensive vetenary product on line.  

5:00pm yesterday: I place the order with Viovet paying extra for refrigeration.

1:00pm today:  A copy of the order in my Email says it has been dispatched and will be with me tomorrow using the courier Dx,

4:30 pm I contact the the courier Dx and explain it needs to be kept refrigerated, they claim they haven't got it yet and they can't help, contact Viovet

4:45pm I ring Viovet explaining this.  They say it hasn't really been dispatched yet, it just means its gone through some part of their system and it will be kept refrigerated overnight

5:00pm Half satisfied, and calming down, another message then pops up from the courier.  We have your package and it will be with me by 12pm tomorrow.

What do I make of this?

I will certainly be asking the courier to wait until I see if it's still cold. 

Of course I can do this directly through the vet, but it will cost me 60% more for an already expensive product.  



Comments

  • Presumably, sticking a few cooling pads in a polystyrene box is likely to keep it sufficiently cool for a period of 19 hours?

    I don't believe "refrigerated" literally means "must be kept in a refrigerator."
  • peter021072
    peter021072 Posts: 384 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 18 August 2021 pm31 5:07PM
    I hope so, but I doubt it.  I ordered it from Viovet because a customer complained about receiving his at room temperature from another on-line supplier.  Is there such thing as same day delivery, surely it's a must for this ? 
  • I hope so, but I doubt it.  I ordered it from Viovet because a customer complained about receiving his at room temperature from another on-line supplier.  Is there such thing as same day delivery, surely it's a must for this ? 
    Same day delivery isn't going to make any difference, they need to pack it with cooling pads in an insulated box to keep it cool.

    Why don't you give Viovet a chance first?  There's nothing to indicate that this will not be sent chilled.
  • Probably because Viovet first tell me in writing it's been dispatched, then when calling them they say it hadn't really been dispatched  but it will be refrigerated overnight, then I get a message from Dx minutes later that they have just received it. Doesn't fill me with confidence.

    Perhaps they will stick it in the fridge tomorrow just before delivery so I won't complain!
  • Probably because Viovet first tell me in writing it's been dispatched, then when calling them they say it hadn't really been dispatched  but it will be refrigerated overnight, then I get a message from Dx minutes later that they have just received it. Doesn't fill me with confidence.

    Perhaps they will stick it in the fridge tomorrow just before delivery so I won't complain!
    I don't see why confusion over it being dispatched means they won't have cooled it appropriately.  It won't be going in a fridge, they'll put it in an insulated box with cooling pads as I've said.

    I've received food in a perfectly chilled condition two days after it was dispatched in an insulated box with cooling pads, you certainly don't need to put it in a fridge.
  • A polystyrene box with cooling pads will keep small vials of medication cold for a prolonged period - certainly for longer than the 24 hours since yours was packaged for dispatch. I've had expensive (£2,000+) IVF medication shipped via this method several times with no issues.
  • comeandgo
    comeandgo Posts: 5,852 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Also had sperm delivered, by Royal Mail, in polystyrene box with cold bags in place and it still did the job though delivery was for next day.
  • mattyprice4004
    mattyprice4004 Posts: 7,492 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 19 August 2021 pm31 6:03PM
    I hope so, but I doubt it.  I ordered it from Viovet because a customer complained about receiving his at room temperature from another on-line supplier.  Is there such thing as same day delivery, surely it's a must for this ? 
    There's lots of same day delivery companies about, but the 60% extra the vet charges will pale into insignificance when you find out the cost! 
    You'll literally pay anywhere between 80p and £1.50 per mile between yourself and the supplier. 

    Also, if they do 'bung it in a fridge' just before they get to you (not sure the average Sprinter van has a fridge though...) the contents would still be warm - it'll be in an insulated box and insulation doesn't just work one way :)
  • ItsComingRome
    ItsComingRome Posts: 505 Forumite
    500 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 19 August 2021 pm31 10:59PM
    I'm assuming the lack of an update from the OP is due to having egg on their face by assuming Violet wouldn't deliver the medication chilled, despite having no grounds to assume that?
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