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FedEx is now granting contracts for shipment of harmless herps. But this is not for people just walking up to the counter! You must get an account and send test boxes to make sure they are packed professionally. They still will not insure the live herps any more than any other non-airline carrier. But if packed properly, it is seldom an issue with overnight sevice. This could be a huge help in the herp industry for those who are willing to do it right.

There is a lot of "how - to" help available online. Email me for the URL if you are interested.

Share this info with anyone who can ship in a professional manner. The more people who use this service, the bigger and more important the reptile industry will appear to FedEx, who will then strive to keep our business.

ok to start with I worked for fedex..and in all honesty I wouldnt trust fedex with carrying a chunk of stone next door for me...that should say something considering someone who worked for them is saying it. just a little something to think about.

who have worked for UPS and Airborne, too - as well as some of the airlines! And I do believe that they all treat packages badly at times. That's why I pack mine as though they will play football with them - I am afraid they will!!

All that being true, the fact is that many breeders have been using FedEx, UPS, and Airborne for years, either with or without permission. And when well-packed, almost all herps will make it to their destination without incident. Now shippers will have the chance to be "legit" as well - just as if we were a "real" industry instead of being treated as some sneaky, illegal, scumbags who don't even deserve to be allowed to mix our business with that of "normal" people.

hehe cathy the difference between ups and fed ex is that fed ex uses forklifts...and believe me each person gets at least 4 or 5 handling errors a day...handling errors being them damaging. usually handling errors come from being ran over or forked. I'm not trying to be an ass I'm simply stating what i've seen and my opinion nothing more.

SiLeNcE,
Hmmm....you sound like a disgruntled ex-employee!

hehe 'K'athy the difference between ups and fed ex is that fed ex uses forklifts...and believe me each person gets at least 4 or 5 handling errors a day...handling errors being them damaging. usually handling errors come from being ran over or forked. I'm not trying to be an ass I'm simply stating what i've seen and my opinion nothing more.
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Well, I have a friend who works for FedEx and the handling isn't always the best by some employees, but no more than any other major shipping company and apparently not as bad as you paint the picture of, at least not in my neck of the woods. I have had quite a few snakes shipped via FedEx and UPS and have never had even a dented in corner of the box. So, yes, although their is always that chance that something terrible could happen to the boxes and therefor the cargo inside, the likely hood is far from high. Hence the all snakes should be properly packaged for 'tossing'.

I suspect it all depends on who is working at each depot. Some warehouses for UPS or FedEx may have completely incompetant empoyees where others will have professionals who do know how to drive a fork lift without driving it off the loading ramp or skewering boxes with the steel tines.

personally the only complaint I have with boxes of live critters being mailed to was a couple squished silkworms and boxes reaking of cigarette smoke. They stunk so much I had to throw the box out the door to prevent my entire appartment from reaking of cigarette smoke. I could never stand the smell of cigarette smoke, even in the days when I did actually smoke myself.

Well said Kathy! Hopefully the others will follow suit and allow legal shipment of harmless herps in the future too. Is this in relation or response to the thread (and poll) on the other site that Rich had going?
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I don't think I can post the link here, so I will email it to anyone who is interested.

My dad's housekeeper's ex-husband's former lawyer says he knew a guy who had a friend that once roomed with a barber who once cut the hair of a guy who at FedEx ... and he said that they routinely opened boxes and ate the contents, regardless of what was inside ... jello molds, clothing items, reptiles ... nothing was safe!

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

In all sincerity, I've experienced much greater reliability (timely, accurate deliveries) with UPS than with FedEx.

There you have it, my two cents.

-Brandon
www.nosnakeban.org

Thanks for sharing this news with everyone. That is hopefully a good sign. I really had my doubts that they wouuld ever allow even trying this but it certainly would be great to not have to ship 'behind closed doors' anymore.