Reptile & Amphibian Forums

... I have been investigating the use of fedEx to ship boas and other harmless herps.. the info I have from FedEx is not good.. if you're interested, let me know.
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Gus
A. Rentfro
RioBravoReptiles.com
www.riobravoreptiles.com

"Quality is not an accident. Perfectly healthy animals are a minimum requirement.. everything else is just salesmanship" gus

I work for Fedex and the word is...PROHIBITED!!! Specific questions should be referres to the animal control desk in Chicago (773) 601-5880.
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Like many who work with FedEx, you are completely in the dark regarding all their programs and policies..

There is such a program..

I applied and they approved me but I have refused to sign the legal waiver. I have all the relevant information here, it is abusive and unfair and likely contrary to the laws governing freight and the Fair Trade act.. most of all it means they can kill our animals by delaying the shipment, outright abuse or any eventuality and have zero liability. Heck, FedEx warrants on-time delivery of frozen steaks, for God's sake, but not our animals. It is nuts to use them and reward them for these prejudicial policies.

Apparently, though they allow it...FedEx does not warrant or guarantee live reptile shipments in any way. If the animals die for any reason there is no recourse. If they are injured for any reason, the same.

They require that shippers of reptiles sign an agreement that there is no recourse or claim allowed at all for any reason. They suspend the FedEx Service Guide entirely.. FedEx can lose your box, an employee can drop-kick it into a ditch, whatever. They will sign for your box but there is no condition under which FedEx will warrant any reptile shipments for any reason. All guarantees of performance by FedEx are suspended. This info straight from a Mr. Brown in the Legal department. In addition, only business-to-business shipments are allowed.. residential service is prohibited.

My post was meant to get the word out...

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Gus
A. Rentfro
RioBravoReptiles.com
www.riobravoreptiles.com

"Quality is not an accident. Perfectly healthy animals are a minimum requirement.. everything else is just salesmanship" gus

So in order to recieve a package both parties have to be approved? Business to business?

Gus,
..You are right that there is a program within FedEx to get approved and to ship reptiles. And you are right that most of the FedEx employees are clueless about it. However, I think you should rethink the issue of FedEx immunizing themself from any liability when they do ship reptiles. If they were to have to pay very many claims FedEx management would likely totally abandon the program. Most of us who are shipping with the other shippers have no recourse in the event of a lost shipment or the reptiles arriving dead. The shippers have an official "No reptiles" policy and even though the local employees ignore the rules and accept our shipments the company would likely disallow any claim for loss or damage when we are shipping items on their prohibited list. Several of the next day shippers, including FedEx are giving excellent service recently and I have no problem accepting full liability. I am careful with checking weather and packing the shipments and I have had no problems for quite some time.
Jeff

>>Like many who work with FedEx, you are completely in the dark regarding all their programs and policies..
>>
>>There is such a program..
>>
>>I applied and they approved me but I have refused to sign the legal waiver. I have all the relevant information here, it is abusive and unfair and likely contrary to the laws governing freight and the Fair Trade act.. most of all it means they can kill our animals by delaying the shipment, outright abuse or any eventuality and have zero liability. Heck, FedEx warrants on-time delivery of frozen steaks, for God's sake, but not our animals. It is nuts to use them and reward them for these prejudicial policies.
>>
>>Apparently, though they allow it...FedEx does not warrant or guarantee live reptile shipments in any way. If the animals die for any reason there is no recourse. If they are injured for any reason, the same.
>>
>>They require that shippers of reptiles sign an agreement that there is no recourse or claim allowed at all for any reason. They suspend the FedEx Service Guide entirely.. FedEx can lose your box, an employee can drop-kick it into a ditch, whatever. They will sign for your box but there is no condition under which FedEx will warrant any reptile shipments for any reason. All guarantees of performance by FedEx are suspended. This info straight from a Mr. Brown in the Legal department. In addition, only business-to-business shipments are allowed.. residential service is prohibited.
>>
>>My post was meant to get the word out...
>>
>>-----
>>Gus
>>A. Rentfro
>>RioBravoReptiles.com
>>www.riobravoreptiles.com
>>
>>"Quality is not an accident. Perfectly healthy animals are a minimum requirement.. everything else is just salesmanship" gus

It is not a question of protecting FedEx from claims for dead or injured animals.. they suspend the service guide entirely.. they accept no responsibility to even deliver the box or return it to you. This info straight from FedEx..

Labs and others send dangerous items, virus, bacteria whatever and have the right to expect service and a guarantee of performance by FedEx. Many perishable items or time-sensitive materials are sent FedEx, the shippers of those items expect the box to be delivered or get a refund.. simply by virtue of the fact that we ship our live reptiles we have no rights to expect fedEx to deliver the box? Sure they will take our business (and our money) under these terms.

If you are using them knowing all these facts and the fact that they prohibit residential delivery you are participating in a system prejudicial to us and our industry. What will you do when they lose a box of your animals?

Gus

Gus,
..I have a FedEx account but do not use FedEx. If I did use them and they lost the box I would be in exactly the same situation I am in now using another shipper that officially prohibits shipping reptiles if they lost the box. We get a bad deal from everyone in the shipping business. I see no reason to be any more angry at FedEx than all the other shipping companies which prohibit reptile shipments.
Jeff

>>It is not a question of protecting FedEx from claims for dead or injured animals.. they suspend the service guide entirely.. they accept no responsibility to even deliver the box or return it to you. This info straight from FedEx..
>>
>>Labs and others send dangerous items, virus, bacteria whatever and have the right to expect service and a guarantee of performance by FedEx. Many perishable items or time-sensitive materials are sent FedEx, the shippers of those items expect the box to be delivered or get a refund.. simply by virtue of the fact that we ship our live reptiles we have no rights to expect fedEx to deliver the box? Sure they will take our business (and our money) under these terms.
>>
>>If you are using them knowing all these facts and the fact that they prohibit residential delivery you are participating in a system prejudicial to us and our industry. What will you do when they lose a box of your animals?
>>
>>Gus
>>
>>

Gus is correct about several things:
1. FedEx does not do a good job of informing their vast population of workers about special programs and rules
2. There is a special program dealing with reptiles
3. The legal waiver document is less than desirable

I have been shipping legally with FedEx for a few months after a 4 month process to get my legal status. I have been pleased with their service. I did sign the legal waiver. Why did I sign it and give up my "rights"?
1. I guess I never saw myself as having any protection or rights before. Like most people, I was shipping illegally. I used Airborne Express. Even though they knew what they were shipping, the company policy prohibited it. I never lost an animal but if I had there would have been no recourse.
2. The legal waiver from FedEx was obviously constructed by lawyers who have a negative attitude towards reptiles and their owners. This prejudice is common throughout our society. I see this as an opportunity to show that (a) we (the humans) can pack & ship responsibly (b) that our animals can move through their system without any extra fuss and (c) we can give them valuable and hassle-free business.
3. I really can't see a situation where these people would see any advantage to mis-treating one of our packages and deliberating harming an animal. I have to believe that most of their employees would really rather not damage the box and have the possibility of a snake slithering out at their workplace.
4. I have enjoyed shipping legally where everyone understands who I am and what I am shipping. I put stickers on 5 sides of the box that give details about what exactly I am shipping. There is no doubt that a live boa constrictor is in that box.

I guess the bottom line is that I saw more "upside" to this program. I see it as an opportunity. If we play the game right maybe we can get better rules as we go along.

Not only DONT !!! But run from anyone trying to ship via Fed-Ex.
It pretty common these days,a few dealers actually advertise such.Shipping Fed-Ex is no different then shipping via USPS.

Another Fed-Ex East Employee standing by to answer any questions
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Money Only Wished It Had The Control Over The World That FEAR Does !

As an employee, I never understood company policy until now. How can you say "Fedex is a company that is prejudice against reptiles?" With any shipping companies you should know their is a no guarantee risk when shipping live animals. STOP giving Fedex a bad rep. If that's the case why don't you accompany your shipments personally to avoid any risk to your shipments? Leave Fedex alone!!!
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