Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am getting ready for the breeding season and wanted to get certified to ship. I was going to do fed-ex but it looks like they are trying to make it harder for us nonbusiness owners to ship snakes. So I was going to try out Delta, but I know nothing about how they do business. It looks like I drop it at the airport and the customer has to pick it up there too. Big question would be how do I get certified to ship Delta. Is there a forum like the one for fed-ex (the on fauna)? Or also has anyone been cartified with Fed-ex latly and is it only for business to business like I'm reading or are you still shipping from a fed-ex location to a persons house legally.
Thanks for the help.

You might want to post this on the Shipping Discussion forum as well.

I don't know about Delta Dash, but would like to hear input too.

As far as FedEx goes, I was told by my rep that I had to ship business to business, so I'm guessing I could ship it from my regular job (I'm a hobby breeder too) to the receiver's place of work. She didn't specifically say it had to be pet business to pet business. I have yet to do my box testing, etc. as well.

Billy

I did post it there too but not to poeple looking there. I did just read though most of the 43 pages on the fauna web site and it looks like the bus to bus isnt that big of a problem. I am still looking in to this though because why get certified if your still not telling the truth about how your shipping.
Jason

The link on their page is currently not working it used to be at

http://www.delta.com/prog_serv/cargo/forms_applications/verified_shipper/index.jsp

You can call their 1-800 number to get the forms required it takes about two weeks or so to get verified.

A word of caution:

My last two shipments with Delta Dash have been less than spectacular.

A recent cage was destroyed by them (which they admitted to).

A week later, I purchased a snake and had it shipped via Delta Dash. An hour before pickup (at 9:00 PM in the evening), I called their 1-800 number to make sure the flight was on time. They informed me that my snake missed it's connecting flight from Atlanta to Oakland and would not arrive until 1000 hours the next morning.

When I expressed concern over my new animal, they informed me that the snake would be kept in a temperature controlled animal holding room. I was given new arrival info.

At 11:50 PM that night, Delta Dash's cargo facility in Oakland calls and tells me that my snake has been there for two hours! I told them I was on my way over and they tell me they are closing in 10 minutes (I live 30 minutes away). They refuse to wait for me to arrive......

to make a long story short I picked the snake up at 0500 hours the following morning. The snake was kept in a cold cargo wherehouse for 7 hours (Oakland does not have a tempreature controlled facility). Luckily, he was just fine.

I will stick to FedEx. My last three transactions through them have been flawless.

I know it is extremely frustrating when these events occur.

I just bought a pair of jungles in Daytona, and was shipping them home via Delta Dash using the same planes that I was a passenger on. I set it up the day before, and was told to have my animlas at the cargo desk by 11:00 a.m. I did exactly that, then found out there was a heat restriction in Atlanta, and my animals could not ship until 6:30 the next morning. I freaked, tried Fed Ex who informed me they could not accept reptiles at that location, so I was left with Delta as an only option. Luckily they did have a temperature controlled holding facility in Daytona, which they showed me. I reluctantly left them there and boarded my plane. They left Daytona at 6:30 a.m. the next morning and I picked them up at 10:10 a.m. in Cincinnati. They are doing just fine, much better than me, I was a nervous wreck the whole time.

Likewise, on more than one occasion, I have had to chase down my reptile shipments from Fed Ex as well. I live between two distribution points and during extreme weather, ask that my animals be held at the facility in place of being trucked to my house. The reason being I can pick them up at 7:30 or 8:00 a.m., or wait at my house while they're driven all over town and show up by 10:00 a.m. Several times they have been held at the wrong location from what I was origianlly told, and I've had to drive as much as an hour to find them.

I guess my point is, none of them are perfect, you have to do the best you can to pick between the options depending on where you live and the associated circumstances. Shipping via any method is always stressful for me, probably moreso than for the animals!

Good luck!

Mark
-----
uncommonboa.com

I prefer Fed-ex, it never failed with Delta Dash, the more expensive the shipment, the more they screwed it up!
-----
Chris & Alliey
www.bloodyleopard.com
E-mail Us

Here's the link to Delta's known shipper application form, it'll cost you $50 non-refundable to submit. You fill out this form, then you'll get an email with the application and a request for $50. I like Delta Dash because you usually get same day service. The shipper sends it out in the morning and by afternoon, you have your package. Not always, but often. The downside of course is it is a little more expense than Fed Ex or UPS, and the shipper and receiver have to go to the airport. I am near one of Delta's primary hubs (Cincinnati), so it works our great for me.

http://www.delta.com/business_programs_services/delta_cargo/cargo_forms_applications/known_shipper_request/

Plus, Fed Ex does state that it has to be busines to business (I'm not sure how much they enforce the policy though, I've received my fair share of Fed Ex reptile shipments to my home):

If approved by FedEx, we may accept non-venomous reptiles, amphibians, live/tropical fish and beneficial insects on an exception basis under the following conditions:

http://www.fedex.com/us/services/terms/us.html#liveanimals

Shipments must be from a business to a business (from a breeder to a pet store, for example).
The shipper must have its packaging tested and pre-approved by FedEx Packaging Design and Development for the type of animal being shipped. Call 1.800.633.7019 for assistance. It is the responsibility of the shipper to adequately package shipments for all temperature extremes and handling conditions.

Contact your FedEx account executive for details and additional requirements.

-----
uncommonboa.com

Haven't had a problem with Delta. If you don't want your package to get bumped, than use the DASH service. DASH packages do not get bumped. It's a little more than standard Delta cargo, but well worth it IMHO.

I have had problems with FedEx, UPS, and DHL though. MANY problems with UPS.
-----
Richard Carew
Sunset BCI
You laugh at me cuz I'm different! I laugh at you cuz you're all the same.
Stop Inhumane and Illegal Practices

I don't know how this is that some people get great performance and others terrible, but I have had consistant poor performance from any airline, Dash included. The only time I use airlines anymore is if the packages are huge or it's the only legal way to ship.

I've had great performance this year from FedEx. If the location looks like it's gonna be too hot, have them hold at the facility and put the actual address of the facility as the shipping address, with the receivers name and phone on the package.

FedEx will give you a refund if the package is late. Try to get that from any airline.

>>Haven't had a problem with Delta.

>>I don't know how this is that some people get great performance and others terrible,
>>
>>

Luck of the Irish I guess. LOL I wonder the same when people speak of good UPS service. I haven't had a single good one from them.
-----
Richard Carew
Sunset BCI
You laugh at me cuz I'm different! I laugh at you cuz you're all the same.
Stop Inhumane and Illegal Practices

I'm with you on UPS. However, the snake in question was shipped via Dash - and service was lousy.

The cage was also shipped via dash because I had an animal coming in. Not only was the cage bumped - but damaged. Delta noted that they dropped the package during a plane change but is currently fighting with the shipper over his refund (the shipper immediately refunded me the money).

To make matters worse, Delta did not disclose to me upon pick up that they had dropped the box. The only disclosed it after I called to report the damage.

As far as FedEx is conerned, I'm sure the reason I've had good experiences is because I'm close to a hold center.

So maybe I've aleady used up my quota of bad luck with DD - still, I'm not planning on using them again.