Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, still have my ARB because FedEx is making me run around in circles to get certified to ship. (BTW, if anyone has any tips, please feel free to PM me! I'm about to strangle the next person who goes silent or gives me a totally blank look when I ask them how I get approved to ship a snake.) So I had to get a few more pics since he shed recently. I'm gonna miss this guy, but I know he's going to a good home where he will be able to sow his wild oats.

>>Great picts as always Ed!
>>
>>Isn't there a formal program/number to call to become a certified shipper?

There is from, I think. Someone on another forum posted step-by-step instructions on how to do all this, but getting past step 1 (which requires the initial person answering the phone to have a clue) is not easy, and it's time consuming to keep calling back and asking more/different questions and getting different answers.

I will figure it all out eventually.

Thanks,
Ed

Sorry, that should be "There is, I think"...

99.9% of Fedex employees do not know about this program. Talking to them is pointless. After you do get approved it is best to not label the box as snakes. That way you do not have to attempt to educate another Fedex employee who does not want to be educated everytime you ship. They never ask what I am shipping and I don't tell. If they were to ask the answer is "software". Also keep in mind that there are millions of people who hate snakes. Put a live snakes sign on the box and somewhere along the line it might get slammed around. Snakes are great. People suck.

>>99.9% of Fedex employees do not know about this program. Talking to them is pointless. After you do get approved it is best to not label the box as snakes. That way you do not have to attempt to educate another Fedex employee who does not want to be educated everytime you ship. They never ask what I am shipping and I don't tell. If they were to ask the answer is "software". Also keep in mind that there are millions of people who hate snakes. Put a live snakes sign on the box and somewhere along the line it might get slammed around. Snakes are great. People suck.

Jeff,

Oh, not using the word "snake" was the first lesson I learned. I was going to ship via UPS and not specify it was a snake, but I figured the worst case scenario could be really bad. It's really a travesty that in this day and age people are still so phobic and hysterical when it comes to snakes.

I was going to write "live reptile" on the box. Do you not put any indication there is a live animal inside? If not, how do you prevent the package from getting tossed around?

Good news, btw, I finally talked to a FedEx person who at least had a clue. You have to call the Packaging Design and Development Services. Calling the main 1-800 number is waste of time, like you said!

Thanks,
Ed

I use the Superior Enterprise insulated shipping boxes. White with red lettering that says perishable. I slap homemade "priority overnight" stickers all over the box. They get delivered undamaged on time most of the time. The snake is packed in a deli cup or snake bag with lots of crumpled paper to cushion impacts. Have not had a snake injured or killed shipping in many years.

>>I use the Superior Enterprise insulated shipping boxes. White with red lettering that says perishable. I slap homemade "priority overnight" stickers all over the box. They get delivered undamaged on time most of the time. The snake is packed in a deli cup or snake bag with lots of crumpled paper to cushion impacts. Have not had a snake injured or killed shipping in many years.

Perishable software?

Thanks for the info, I never thought it would be such a hassle just to ship a harmless animal. When I was a kid, you could get a live alligator/caiman in the mail. That probably wasn't a good thing, but it seems like we've gone to the other extreme now...

I've always loved your pictures of Mendoza. I think even after he goes to a new home, you should re-post pictures of him occasionally.

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Paul D

www.MoonlightBoas.com