Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I posted in the shipping forum as well but there isn't always a lot of traffic there, so I was hoping someone here could advise...

In the past I've shipped with NW AirCargo but I wanted to become a 'known shipper' with Delta Dash. I know after 9/11 they were not accepting new known shippers for live reptiles/snakes. I filled out the known shipper request form advising I wanted to ship live snakes. They are now requesting the $50 fee to process my application. I am wary of sending the fee without knowning if I could even become a known shipper (I *assumed* they would tell me if it was even possible before requesting the fee, silly me!). Does anyone know if it is still possble (or done it?) to become a known shipper with Delta? I don't want to waste my money and have them tell me 'sorry!'.
Thanks,
April
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'There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."' -Rainshadow

I became a known shipper a couple of years ago with Delta. Was no big deal and no fee involved. But that was then!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I became verified shortly after 9/11, was no big deal. Delta sent a "rep" out to the house to make sure I was a legit business. You have to have at least a room in your home dedicated to nothing but your animals to qualify. A copy of my business license was also required.

Good Luck,

Al Brown/Brown's Boas

Sounds like I have to be a legit business. :/ I'll ask the rep that emailed me. I was just using my 'hobby' name when it asked for my business name. I oo have a snake room and I guess I could file a 'fictisious business name'... hmm.. I wonder if this is more trouble than it would be worth.
thanks a bunch for the replies!
-April
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'There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."' -Rainshadow

Not 100% sure but I remember somewhere that ficticious business name was not required if business name was an extension of your legal name. Like April "last name" reptiles.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I don't really think you could fake the business side of it. The buisness license part they required a faxed copy of my business license. A business license is not all that expensive. Here in Chattanooga, it's only $20 a year and I don't hardly ever have to pay any state tax since 95% of my transactions are across state lines. Anyway, this is why I have accountant handly the money part I give him the data he takes care of it. Anyway check into your local city gov. and see. Sounds silly, but I got excited to hang my Business license on the snakeroom wall. It was all legit. And I wrote my whole collection off on taxes! I also keep a printed copy of Chattanoogas animal ordinance laws on my desk, Just in case I am ever given issues with my collection! Know your local laws folks it is important if you are planning on building a big collection or have the classic bedroom collection.

Al Brown/Brown's Boas

I looked into this recently as well and in regards to my question of how likely it was that I would receive approval, this is the email I received in return.
=========================================================
Hi Jonathan,

It would be very unlikely that you would not be approved to become a
known shipper with Delta Air Lines, Inc. If it eases your mind at all, I
have yet to see anyone be denied.

Thanks,

Tonya M. Phillips
Coordinator
Verified Shipping Desk
Office: 404-714-8179
Fax: 404-714-0885
========================================

Now, I don't recall anything about having to go through an inspection or showing a business license, so I would recommend looking further into that.

Hope this helps!
jb
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Jonathan Brady
"Sarcasm is angers ugly cousin" -Dr. Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson) in "Anger Management".

The rep did come to my house to "verify" I am a business and have a valid product to ship.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

It should also be mentioned that I decided NOT to pursue getting approval so I don't know what the rest of the process is like after that email.
jb
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Jonathan Brady
"Sarcasm is angers ugly cousin" -Dr. Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson) in "Anger Management".

Tonya Phillips is the same person I am dealing with as well. I'll ask if I need to have a business license and see what happens before I pay my fee.
Thanks for the reply!
-April
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'There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."' -Rainshadow

Sup April!
sense I live close to you and we'd probably be dealing with the same local people I figure i'd tell you how my situation went. I called and all the stuff I needed to and waited. I had to keep on them and finally I was told anyday i'd hear from someone to set up a time to inspect or they were gonna do a suprise inspection? Which I understood with the 9/11 stuff but what if I wasn't home? Anyways, a week later they came for a suprise inspection and I was there and all they wanted to do was see my boas and make sure they didn't see anything wrong like weapons,drugs ETC. Now, they didn't ask for proof of buisness but i'm pretty sure they said my shipping name should involve some kind of buisness name so I put my name plus reptiles at the end and that was it. Think I did that in early 05. Never had to pay a fee but one of the questions they asked was how many shipments on average would I be sending a year. I think thats because they want to make sure it's enough to be worth their time which is understandable. Goodluck with that. It's easier then you'd think. I think the hardest part is keeping on them and making sure they don't lag.

Thanks a bunch for the info! I'm still waiting to hear back from Tonya, see how long that takes. I guess for now I'll just be getting my FedEx cert until I get more info. I started setting myself up to be a business a few years back but decided to keep it more as a hobby for a while. There's always NW Air Cargo, I've shipped with them a few times without problems.
If I find out more 'from the horse's mouth' I'll be sure to post.
-April
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'There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."' -Rainshadow

I asked the guys at the desk (Austin, TX) the very same question a couple of weeks ago while I was picking up a snake.
They didn't seem to know. They said there was a form. I could get that and the information necessary on line.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

hey j, you're in austin? I'm in Killeen. Didnt realize there were any fellow forumers that close..... Jon
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1.1.1 breeding pair blue tongue skinks w/ juv. offspring
1.0.0 Juv. Albino Bullfrog
0.0.2 Giant Pixie Frog (one juv. and one adult)
1.1.0 Clawed frogs
1.1.0 Albino Clawed frogs
0.0.1 Superlight juv Sulcatta
0.0.2 Fly river turtles
0.0.2 Savannah Monitors (one pastel)
0.2.0 juv pastel Columbian boas
1.1.0 monster pink pastel columbian boas
1.2.0 Hypo Hog boas
1.0.0 Hypo boa
1.1.0 Hypo boa babies, Poss. DH sunglow
0.2.0 Hypo poss. DH sunglow
1.0.0 Coral albino boa (my baby)
and
1.2.0 Pomeranians (the wifes babies)

Call the 1-800 number, book a flight, and take whatever your shipping down to the hub. Let them inspect it, answer any questions and you shouldn't have any problems. I went round and round with the whole "known shipper" crap, untill I finally took the back door. Once you've shipped a couple times, both parties become familiarized with each other, and your an instant "known shipper"

Please do not use false info on your aplication. If they find out it may stop them from allowing anyone else from becoming a shipper. Yes you must be a buisiness and show some kind of proof. Payed reciept with your buisiness name on it and license or tax ID #. With all the negative attention we are getting we do not need to atract anymore negativity to our hobby.
Jeff