Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Saw an ad with USPS Express shipping available. Didn't know it was an option. Any experiences with it? Comments appreciated.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

USPS doesn't knowingly ship snakes. So don't do it if it's a snake. I think they do amphibians and lizards but haven't used 'em for those myself.
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

Thanks man, I didn't know if maybe something had changed.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Jorge, USPS does not knowingly ship snakes. Also, I dont think USPS express guarantees overnight shipping. I think they only guarantee within three days. I would not ship that way or except snakes shipped that way IMO.

Yeah that's kinda what I thought, thanks. Just checking, cause the ad wasn't from like some newbie with one or two snakes.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Well, ignoring the fact they don't technically allow shipping snakes (though I think we've all had something shipped by a carrier that doesn't allow it at one time or another), like it was mentioned, they don't guarantee overnight.

In fact, if you go to a post office, and ask to ship something overnight, QUITE OFTEN, they come right out and tell you it's 2 days. Just had it happen with a gecko, shipper was sending it to me overnight, I paid "overnight" shipping, then I got the tracking # and it was a 2 day shipment. Had to change all my plans to have someone home to receive it. Not the first time it's happened to me either. So with USPS, overnight isn't necessarily true.
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Brian Suter

www.serpenteer.com

n/p
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

They tell the person who ship overnoight if it cannot get there overnight. It all depends on the location. Some areas are hard to get to so they don't gurantee in one day.Remote areas like outside of a city or a small town in the middle of knowwhere..

But if they say it will get tere tommorow (nearly 90% of the time because most people live near metroplotian areas) it does.They garantee it and if it does not get there by either 10 am or 12 pm they refund the money.

The packages are handled the same way as fed ex does the carrying for USPS. Matter of fact i know people who work for fed ex and USPS and the packages sent by USPS actually get better. more careful, treatment.
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www.Bluerosy.com

They definitely do tell you. But the problem I ran into was, they tell you at the time of package drop-off. While I'm sure you can find out maybe on their website or by some other means, it doesn't take much for a person to get a package ready, go to ship it, then find out it's a 2 day ship, expecting it overnight.

It happened to me shipping a package. I actually went back home, contacted the buyer and made sure 2 day would be ok. But it was a pain. When it was me receiving, the shipper also found out at the post office, after expecting it overnight. I can tell you without question, that in both instances, neither end of the transaction was a remote out of the way area. Heck, I lived in Northern Virginia at the time, about as Metro as you can get. And it's been awhile, but I know I was shipping to a bigger city in Florida.

Can't pretend at all to know the reasons, and I've NEVER had a problem with a package sent USPS. But, I've definitely had the overnight shipping be an issue. I also think it shouldn't be the same charge if it's not actually "overnight", but it is as far as I can tell.
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Brian Suter

www.serpenteer.com

Hi Brian, USPS overnights to about half the addresses in the U.S.. If they miss an overnight shipment, you can ship the next overnight free.

I never had them lose a shipment, but they were late almost half the time.

On the otherhand, UPS, overnights over 90% of the addresses in the U.S., and has never been late for me. But, they are expensive.

The funny thing is, you the shipper HIRE the company to carry your shipment, once you deliver it to the shipper, its out of your hands. Yet, the receiver many times blame you for what the shipping company does. The truth is, you have no control over what those companies do. Cheers

Hi Brian, USPS overnights to about half the addresses in the U.S.. If they miss an overnight shipment, you can ship the next overnight free.

actually they refund you total bill. Just take the slip down to any opost office and they will refund the amount in full. That is even if they are late by 10 minutes

I never had them lose a shipment, but they were late almost half the time.

I found the opposite to be true. After thousands of shipments with USPS overnight they say when they get there. I maybe had 3-5 late deliveries. Only one casualty from being in the heat to long.
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www.Bluerosy.com