Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This week I am going to set up an account, but I wanted to know some opinions/expeirences from some of you who have shipped reptiles either with Airborne, UPS, USPS. Which carrier do you think is the best? Have you ever had any problems? When setting up an account is there one on the UPS site? I didn't see one, or maybe I didn't look hard enough. Silly me.

Any info on this subject would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!

Shayna
Leo Lovers Lizard Lounge

UPS for me...
Tundra Geckos

In California at least, should be everywhere, Delta Dash through the airlines is the only ones who allow the shipments of reptiles. UPS allows the shipment of live reptiles only if you set up a daily account in which they charge you anywhere from $7-$16 per week but they do discount your packags. Fed-ex and the United States Postal Service and Airborn do not allow the shipment of live reptiles period. Alot of people just do not tell the shippers what is in there packages and simply have regular accounts( just hope they do not open the box ).

All my animals were shipped via UPS from the breeders. I had shipped a chameleon once via Express Mail. Nobody in the post office said anything about not shipping reptiles. I did mark 4 sides of the box "Harmless Lizard" so the post office was awared of the content inside the box.

I've read that UPS does it on a case-by-case basis and is somewhat up to the local manager, and FedEx has a live-shipping department, but I haven't tried to call them. I have used the Post Office Express Mail service numerous times this year and a few years ago and never had a problem. I only ship Mon-Wed, so even if there's a holdup, it'll likely get there in 2 days instead of staying over a weekend somewhere.

I've received geckos from UPS, FedEx and Airborne Express, and they arrived fine, but don't know what would happen if they found out what they were shipping inside, or what type of 'treatment' they've gotten on the way (ie. radiation, X-ray, etc.) In fact, the time we used Delta Dash, the 20 geckos arrived in the wrong state, so I guess they're not always what they're cracked up to be.
Herpcam

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Rob Jenkins
herpcam.com

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Rob Jenkins
herpcam.com

I have an account online, so I just enter the address, print out my own labels from online and tape them to the box.

I drop off the package around 6:30pm at the UPS facility (they close at 7pm). The guys that work there are cool; they know I ship reptiles and are always joking "what do you have an alligator for us this time".

So far I've been happy with them.

If you want to sign up for an account go to www.myups.com

Good luck.
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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Red Striped Tangerines, Carrot Tails and Screaming Amel Fat-Tails

Hey Ross, got a question for ya. What do you label the sides of the boxes as(harmless lizard, etc.). Because when I tried to ship it with them, they wouldnt take it because they said it was a living animal. Maybe I need to print out a sheet of their rules and bring it in to show to them??
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Josh
My Email

Hi Josh,

I have never had a problem with it no matter how I label the box... are you bringing them to a UPS Shipping Hub or just a drop off location?
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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Red Striped Tangerines, Carrot Tails and Screaming Amel Fat-Tails

I went to a UPS building that is right next to the airport. The people in there, wouldnt allow me to ship it, for some reason.
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Josh
My Email

Josh, that's one of the reasons I went through the formal procedure of getting approved to ship my geckos. You get a great letter from UPS stating that you are allowed to ship. I have never had to show it, but I take it with me in case their is a "new guy" working the counter. Likely your UPS office doesn't know the rules.
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Sam
Gecko Den
Email Me

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Sam
Gecko Den
Email Me

Thanks Sam. I will try and get the letter through the mail instead of at the place.
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Josh
My Email

If they tell you that you do, ask to talk to a supervisor, or just sign up for a free account at UPS website, then e-mail their help center. They will send you a form to fill out. You explain on the form that you will be shipping non venemous lizards, and what procedure you will be using to pack them, etc... Then FAX the form back and they will send you a letter giving you permission to ship. Took about 2 weeks and I just drop my packages of at the UPS counter before 7:30 the night of shipping, packages arrive by 10:00 AM the next day. You can also ship Geckos and other small lizards through the post office, but they do not guarentee next day arrival, even on their next day service.
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Sam
Gecko Den
Email Me

And, how many shipments did you say you'd be doing a week? I was thinking .5 or .25, but I'm going to try 1.

Thanks
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Rob Jenkins
herpcam.com

Rob,
I created a business account. Told them one - three packages a week but that I wasn't sure that I would ship every week. So far, sometimes I ship three packages in a week, then don't have to ship again for a month. They have never given me a hard time about it, and setting up the account and maintaining it is free. The only time I get a bill is when I actually ship. The pre-printed shipping labels (free) are nice too, I just pack them up, fill in the address I'm sending to, and get to UPS counter at 7:20 PM, give them the box, and they have never been late on a delivery. This is nice because the lizards are in the box for the least amount of time possible.
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Sam
Gecko Den
Email Me

I know a lot of people ship that way, and they are cheaper than UPS, but I won't have anything to do with them. A representative told me that they don't follow the instructions on the boxes (ie, this side up, fragile, etc). I found that out after I called to complain about a carrier leaving a box of geckos on my door step in the middle of February. He didn't ring the doorbell and if I hadn't have heard his van drive off I would have never known they were out there. It was super cold that day and it wouldn't have taken long for them to freeze. Bottom line, they don't go the extra mile like all the other carriers.

I guess its personal preference. Ive heard numerous stories of bad shipments through USPS, UPS, Airborne, Fedex, but its not the company name that is bad. Its the individual local stations that have bad service. I have been using airborne for 3 years, I shall also add that I have used both UPS and USPS before and wasn't happy with them. Overall, I prefer Airborne over all other mail carriers.
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My Site

Airborne will NOT quarantee next day delivery for certain towns. I found this out after having some reptiles shipping here and receiving them 2 days later (happened more than once until I now refuse airborne). Airborne had nothing to say about it, but luckily the reptiles were alright.

>>This week I am going to set up an account, but I wanted to know some opinions/expeirences from some of you who have shipped reptiles either with Airborne, UPS, USPS. Which carrier do you think is the best? Have you ever had any problems? When setting up an account is there one on the UPS site? I didn't see one, or maybe I didn't look hard enough. Silly me.
>>
>>Any info on this subject would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!
>>
>>Shayna
>>Leo Lovers Lizard Lounge
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*Erin*

Personally, I use FedEx. They know I ship reptiles, inverts, etc. and do not have a problem with it. USPS usually takes anywhere from 1-2 days to reach most destinations and will not guarantee the exact arrival date anymore. I have had multiple problems with Airborne from stolen packages, lost packages, billing problems, etc. that I would never do business with them no matter what the circumstances. I used UPS for a while, but I experienced problems with billing and the time in the day for destination arrival. FedEx has yet to piss me off to a point of no return. The worst they have done is read the list of contents, open the package, and this resulted in a very healthy Uroplatus phantasticus arriving DOA in NY. Unfortunately, all the other carriers have done much worse in my experience. In the future, who knows, maybe I'll just ship everything Delta Dash if they ever get everything together and come inspect our facilities.
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Justyn
Intense Herpetoculture

It is strictly against Airborne's TOS policy to ship reptiles...

http://www.airborne.com/USSvcs/USSvcsCond.asp?nav=USServices/USShipping/ShipmentPreparation/USSvcCond&sc=acpt

Quote:
D.SHIPMENTS NOT ACCEPTABLE

1. Any shipment prohibited by law.
2. The following articles:
9. Live birds, mammals, snakes, lizards, bees, or other animals except for those which may be shipped subject to paragraph C of this rule.

UPS, USPS, and Delta Dash are the ONLY carriers that will ship live reptiles, and they all have conditions and limitations.

Golden Gate Geckos