Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey folks check this out. I have been using UPS 12x12x12 shipping boxes for quite a while now and charging them to my account. Prices consistently range between 30 and 40 dollars on average for next day air. The other day I decided to pay up front for a box and the store charged me 62.00! Ouch what a mistake! I asked why the price was so high and they told me that even though the box says right on it that it's a UPS 12x12x12, they rounded it up to a 13x13x13 causing the price to practically double what it should've been. After packing the box, it was admittedly almost 12.5 on one side but for the average eye this was still a 12x12x12. Anyone else have a similiar experience? I guess UPS just isn't a stickler for the size but if you use the store and pay up front they will rape you so watch out!

I always charge to my account, but I have had a lot of UPS express boxes over charged when they get to their hub. Some employee there is not realizing that UPS express boxes get charged by actual weight only and not dimensional weight. They don't even look at the box to see the UPS labels from UPS and charge as dimensional. Also I have had alot of time these boxes which are 10x10x10 and 12x12x12 being measured at larger sizes and being charged more. I have fought with UPS every single time because of this. They also do not like to change it as they can not see the box themselves in front of them and know that it is an UPS express box. If it is a 12x12x12 box that is not theirs then it gets charged dimensional weight. Luckily I have not had it happen in the last couple of weeks but for a while there it was every other box that it was happening to.
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Rob Trenor
RK Reptiles
www.rkreptiles.net
www.oldworldchameleons.com
www.ballpythonmorphs.net

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I was just in there to ship some bearded dragons. The box only weighed 6.5lbs, but shipping was going to be $73! The last time I shipped through them it was only $30. This is a heaver box, and larger, but is a 2.5 times greater cost because of this alone? The guy I talked to said that at the beging of the year they started to charge a fuel surcharge of %5.0. But again, this can not cover the entire increase in cost. Any one know what is going on here?

What would be another company that I can ship through?

Thanks, Jake.
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0.3 Normal Leopard geckos
1.0 High Yellow Leo
1.2 Albino Leos
3.1 Frilled Dragons
1.0 Juvi. Gold Bearded Dragon
0.4 Adult Bearded Dragons
0.0.4 D. Leucomelas
1.0 Adult Albino Corn
0.1.1 Normal Corns
1.1 Creamcicle Corns
0.0.1 Crimson Corn

If the box was larger and it jumped you up to the next dimensional weight bracket it could explain the extra costs. Larger boxes they charge a pretty penny to ship. I've noticed a difference in price with UPS if you have a daily pickup with them as opposed to a drop off at their location.

Some people have been getting special letters of exception to ship with Fedex. There are some hoops you have to jump through but it is worth it to be legally and safely shipping reptiles.
Scales - Premium Exotic Reptiles

I don't think sense can be made of UPS. They do what they want when they want too. I think one would loose their mind trying to make sense of them.

Tonight I shipped a package of 10 snakes through UPS. I wrote on the box Live Non-Venomous Reptile. When I went up to pay. I was charged $42.00 for a 12X 12X 10 box. They asked what was inside the box. I told them baby snakes. They simply said "okay" and shipped the box next day air.

I think this company does what they want and follows their own rules depending on the hub they are in.

What kills me is, if I have them approve me as a shipper. They say shipping will be half the price. Can this be true? I hate charging people an arm and a leg for shipping.

Well I guess they are alright where I live. They are all nice people and get my reptiles out to my customers cheaper then Delta.

That's my two cents on this topic.

Thanks for listening or reading
Jason