Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It is becoming insane! I have shipped through the three major overnight shippers, and average cost for a small 10x10x10 or 12x12x12 box is going for $50-$60, and that is not to CA, NY, AK, HI, which are higher. I don't know how anyone can still offer $35-$40 rates. How do you do it???

Some have said they don't use the dimensions of the box, but everytime I don't use them, the company does, and I still get charged the higher rates! Sometimes as late as a week later, in the case of DHL, my bill will was adjusted higher to make up for the box dimensions.

Everyone who wants to buy something is stunned at my shipping rates, but I send them a copy of what the charges are, so they know I'm not making it up. It's just unbelievable.

Any ideas???
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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

You should probably be shipping delta or another airline anyways $75 usually I know UPS doesn’t allow snakes to be knowingly shipped I think DHL is the same .You should always use the legal means just to be safe I wouldn’t trust overnight any way.
Vince Pramuk

occationally, if I can get a lot of packages to go out the same day, it is too far away for me to afford this option if I don't have but a package or two going out. I have labled my packages going through the normal shipping companies, and I have yet to have one returned. I even had one company crush the box, remove the boa from both box and bag and throw it in another plain box and ship it to the buyer. It was running loose and completely unprotected in the box they used, and I was horrified about it (The package was reported damaged in transite to both of us (buyer/seller), so the buyer was aware that was not how I shipped the boa).
My experiences averaged about $85 via NorthWestern, but I am not yet certified through Delta.
Thank you for your comments.
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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

I Can't believe the costs of shipping either. I know alot of people do not like paying those high shipping costs...and I do not like it myself. I would rather pay $450 for a snake rather than $400 plus $50 shipping....hmmmm? Yes it is all psychological !!!. Just charge a little more and cover the shipping. If you lower cost of animal then just pay half the cost. The shippers have us either way. Andy

I'm pretty lucky because I ship from my work and not only get the company discount because it is charged to their account, but I am also in total control of the information entered. I never pay more than $15 for a package. Usually it's about half that. I only use FedEx. DHL absolutley sucks. Not only are they outrageous, they're ALWAYS late and the boxes I receive from them are mangled. I hate DHL. I just received a package through them last week that was a full day late because it got stuck in OH and they had no way to transport it any further until the next morning. Great service. And UPS is also outrageously priced and usually late too but nowhere near as bad as DHL. FedEx is the way to go. Always on time and seem to be much cheaper, at least for now. And as far as telling them what's in the box...absolutley none of their business. That's just how I do it and it's worked fine for me every single time. I've shipped at least 500 times in the last 4 years or so.

A little extra info. I talked to a guy about a year ago that used to work in a FedEx warehouse. He told me that packages marked "Fragile" are just a target to see exactly how fragile they really are. He told me the only packages they respect are live plants. So his advice was to mark every box "Live plants, keep from extreme temps, do not stack". So that's how I label everything now. You never know if it helps or not, but can't hurt.

Just for starters its illegal to mark boxes incorrectly.

Kind of sounds like a teenage mentality on their part. No offence to mature thinking teens intended...
But, good idea.
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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

I would love to pay that much for shipping!!
Of course, so would my customers..
If I find myself in such a position, I'll see if I can't do that as well.
Thanks!
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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

wedgies they are giving us...feel the burn??
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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

I have seen the higher shipping rates for the last 3-4 months now and let me tell you, I am not happy about it either. The only thing I could think of and what I have been doing is splitting the shipping costs with the buyer, I try to give a flat $25 shipping cost (since shipping is usuaully $45-60).
It has made me want to go to shows instead of buying over the internet as well... it's tough to pay $50 shipping on a $30 corn snake! lol
I prefer airlines but like you, can only use NWair cargo since I couldn't get verified with Delta prior to 9/11.

>>I have seen the higher shipping rates for the last 3-4 months now and let me tell you, I am not happy about it either. The only thing I could think of and what I have been doing is splitting the shipping costs with the buyer, I try to give a flat $25 shipping cost (since shipping is usuaully $45-60).
>>It has made me want to go to shows instead of buying over the internet as well... it's tough to pay $50 shipping on a $30 corn snake! lol
>>I prefer airlines but like you, can only use NWair cargo since I couldn't get verified with Delta prior to 9/11.

I agree. I have lost a LOT of business over the shipping costs. A year ago, I was able to ship easily for $30-$35, but now I'm getting charged between $55-$90 (yes, Delta and other "legal" shipping companies here are charging a LOT) and I have listened to many a customer complain, saying they can get cheap shipping from someone else. What a rip!
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Lower Ground Reptiles

www.lowergroundreptiles.net

Probably the better shipping rates come from large companies that ship so many packages, they get big discounts...otherwise, unless you are lucky enough to ship on an account where you work (as one gentleman mentioned), I can't see how better rates are offered. I can't afford to lose more money on an animal just to give a good shipping rate. Why imagin selling a $35 animal and offering to cover half of shipping as well. Why, I would be giving away the animal for free, once box, styro, heat/cool pack, gas is all figured into it.
I hope things change, but I fear it will only get more and more expensive, probalby on a yearly basis from now on. Very sad indeed.
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>>Probably the better shipping rates come from large companies that ship so many packages, they get big discounts...otherwise, unless you are lucky enough to ship on an account where you work (as one gentleman mentioned), I can't see how better rates are offered. I can't afford to lose more money on an animal just to give a good shipping rate. Why imagin selling a $35 animal and offering to cover half of shipping as well. Why, I would be giving away the animal for free, once box, styro, heat/cool pack, gas is all figured into it.
>>I hope things change, but I fear it will only get more and more expensive, probalby on a yearly basis from now on. Very sad indeed.
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I hear you. I only ship out a few snakes a year, since I am a small business and only breed a few select reptiles. So no discounts for me, I can't afford to loose money either.
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Lower Ground Reptiles

www.lowergroundreptiles.net

Hi Laura. I save a lot by personally taking my packages to the center at the airport I bypass a lot of miscellaneos charges and it is definitely much cheaper. I also ALWAYS pay by check right then and there so no fees can be added on or adjusted after the fact. In addition to this I typically eat part of the shipping cost to make a deal more attractive. We know how much it costs to ship but many buyers think they're being ripped off after $35 regardless of size and weight involved.

I'd love to be able to do that. I usually give a flat shipping fee for snakes uder 4 feet, and if it goes over I have to eat it. I think I will try my local packaging center, where I drop the packages off to be picked up. They know I ship a lot of packages, but since their volumes are higher, they said they can probably give me a better deal than my online account. In other packaging stores it has been higher, but I never had one wanting to beat the price I pay before. But then, I used to have to pay only $30-$35. )I will see how it goes today. I like that I can pay in advance, so as to not worry about added charges. )
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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

Depends on whether you drop it off at the location, and you have an account, or don't, or if you have it picked up.
Those 3 different scenarios are charged differently with some or all carriers.
With Fedex, i've paid as much as $60~ for a 12" X 10" X 6" box when dropping it off without having an account. I think they average it out to 5 pounds too, even if it's not one pound.

When having it picked up, and having the weight over estimated by the driver, I would pay maybe $35-$40 for the same box.

When having it picked up and having the exact weight used, or slightly under estimated, I would pay $30 or less for that same box.

Another thing is the packing material. Newspaper weighs alot!!!
I learned the hard way when I realized I was paying about $15 out of that $60 to ship old newspaper.. lol

Use styrofoam peanuts, or plastic packaging airbags. Both weigh nothing and can literally reduce the cost to almost half.

I remember I used to put flat layers down, then crumbled, then shredded around the snake, then crumbled, then flat to look nice.. lol... glad i'm not doing that anymore!

I tip my driver for Holidays and all... if he measures the exact weight or less, and if I save $5 a box, and if I ship only 100 boxes a year, that's $500 extra in my pocket. I'll take that!

Another thing is to follow up on delivery commitment times.. I would say atleast 1 out of 10 times it's late, and I call and get a full refund! I always offer it back to the customer and they almost always refuse to take it! If you average that out, the one of 10, the refund means you save about $5 on each box.

Hope this helps!!

Take care, Joe
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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

I've never had the driver come pick up a package...If I had more than 3 go out in a day, then I would probalby do so, but at $5 charge for the service, I couldn't do it for a single or even two boxes day.

Why does the driver weigh it? Don't they weigh it at Fed Ex too? I know all of mine are re-weighed there...sometimes they say it weighs more than it did at my house, just so they can charge more...

I didn't realize their was such a weight difference between peanuts and paper...Doesn't sound like I use as much paper as you used to...don't do the flat paper. Where can I pick up the plastic airbags? I guess I feared they'd have a harder time breathing with all the plastic in there...that's why I didn't do peanuts either...

I drop all my packages off at a packaging center. I just put in box weight and dimensions online (I do have an account), and it gives me a horrible price. It generally says I saved 4-5 dollars (the amount of gas billed to me usually)...but with a price of $50-$60 per box, it is hard to see it. It is not even really based on weight...I put in 3 pounds and it is the same cost as 5 pounds. It's the box dimensions that are killing me. Whether I omit them or not, they always check at FedEx and I am billed dimension weight. A little 3 foot snake cost me $57 to ship a few days ago. It was only a little over 3 pounds.

I will try the air pillows and peanuts, but unless your box is well below 12" on any side, they will charge an arm and a leg.

Always eager to learn ways of saving money.

Thanks for your ideas Joe.
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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

I have found that it varies greatly depending on where the package is bound. The same size/weight of box (for the standard small box, FedEx charges 2lbs, even if it is less), that I've been charged anywhere from $35-$47.

I always drop the packages off to the shippers' hubs- which are located at the local airport in my case, so the snakes are in transit a minimum amount of time. Since I have accounts and prepare shipments online, I do save a considerable sum compared to walk in customers.

I usually charge $40-50. Many times I eat the cost of the packaging materials, but I consider it a cost of doing business.
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Kassandra Royer
Royer Reptiles

I've never been able to charge for packaging supplies. Shipping rates are too high as it is...But, that is also why I do not buy styrofoam lined boxes already made, at $5 or more per box plus shipping...It is cheaper to buy the styro sheet at Lowes hardware, at $7 a sheet, it will last many boxes. It is not as professional looking, I suppose, but then I do not charge packaging/handling/box fees.

I definitely agree that it is more depending on where the box is bound. East and West coast, AK, & HI are the worst.

I just found that it cost me quite a bit less to ship a 12x9x6 box than a 10x10x10 box. That rather surprised me.

I don't know how some people slip through the cracks and never get their packages measured...but, whether I put the measurements on it or not, they do, and I'm charged. Every time.

Thanks for responding.
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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

I thought Hawaii had strict regulations on reptiles??
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Thanks,

Dave "Rainbows-R-Us"

0.1 Wife
0.2 kids
4.12 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
1.1 Ball python
0.1 BCI "Elvira" normal from 1989
1.0 BCI albino / het-anery
0.1 BCI Hypo / het-albino
0.1 BCI Anery / het-albino
0.1 BCI Hypo (possible super)

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I do not know about the legalites. As per my wesite, buyers are responsible for checking out legalities before purchase. I know about 6 years ago, I sent a package involving lizards to HI, and I know the cost was very high. Though can't remember specific details now. I know I probably should research the legalities behind every town, city, state, country that I ship to, for my own safety, but thus far, I've left it to the customer to take responsibility for that. though, if it becomes a problem for me, I will certainly do so myself.
Thank you for enlightening me on HI. I've not had anyone inquire from there since that time. But, it is nice to know.
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I don't know if it's just my driver, but he'll put 1 pound if the box weighs one or two pounds. That is a biig difference from 5 pounds.

See, they overestimate to be safe. If they underestimate, the plane would have much more weight on it than they thought, maybe more than safe... so most will overestimate, also to overcharge.

I use smaller boxes too.. a 12 x 12 x 12 box is for a snake about 3'- 4' in my case, I would use a much smaller box for babies... even 10X8X5.

The styro peanuts is breathable, and I use the plastic sacs around the ends to fill voids, not directly on or around the snake.

I've also had them reweigh at the station a few times and it came out to $60 or so, but even when having it picked up and charged the $4 pickup charge, it is still about $30-$35.

I've noticed that only if the credit card used gets declined, then I am charged for gas and extra fees... I just call and get it removed... because usually they bill the card at a different time than when they say they will... lol
If they say they will bill the day it arrives, and they bill 2 days after that... well! is that my fault? lol

Maybe it's because I don't have an account and fall through some loophole.. lol.. who knows...

Don't know where you can get the plastic sacs, I usually get them in shipments to me from That Pet Place. The styo peanuts are available online at shipping supply stores for about $20 for a HUGE bag, as opposed to $20 for a tiny bag at a shipping store like Fedex, UPS, Staples, etc.

take care, Joe
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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

You use the written shipping invoice then? With this they don't charge you for gas?
Because, I am beginning to think they charge account holders for gas because of the supposed "discount" account holders are supposed to receive. The discount always about equals the gas charge. How strange is that?
Looks to me like they are avoiding giving the "discount" by charging more for the gas.
Sneaky.
Thanks for the tip on where to get the peanuts, I was thinking they were going to be too expensive.
Someone has to sell those air packaging pillows somewhere..hopefully, I will be able to find them.
Thanks
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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

Words of wisdom there.
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Greg Holland
GM HERPS
www.gmherps.com
gmherps@sbcglobal.net

>>Another thing is the packing material. Newspaper weighs alot!!!
>>I learned the hard way when I realized I was paying about $15 out of that $60 to ship old newspaper.. lol
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>>Use styrofoam peanuts, or plastic packaging airbags. Both weigh nothing and can literally reduce the cost to almost half.
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I would never use styrofoam peanuts to ship any living animal. When they settle, they can cut off oxygen and kill the reptile/amphibian rather quickly. I've had more than one snake arrive to me dead when shipped in packing peanuts.
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Lower Ground Reptiles

www.lowergroundreptiles.net

Do you know it was the peanuts for sure? Could it possibly have been anything else? Temps? Anything? I've had a few arrive with peanuts, but thankfully none were dead. Perhaps there is no easy answer.
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>>Do you know it was the peanuts for sure? Could it possibly have been anything else? Temps? Anything? I've had a few arrive with peanuts, but thankfully none were dead. Perhaps there is no easy answer.
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It was the peanuts. I had necropsies performed on both animals and they had both suffocated.
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Lower Ground Reptiles

www.lowergroundreptiles.net

I appreciate your post and warning.
All my best,
Laura
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under 12"?
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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

I am cool with the kitchen and cleaning crew here at my office building. I have them set aside small boxes after they unpack sugar, plastic utensils, peanuts, chips, snacks, etc...
After one week of collecting, i had enough boxes to ship out all babies last year and I still have over a dozen left.

Same with Pet Stores.. I know mine get's deliveries Wednesday and throws out great shipping boxes with seled styo's!

Shoe stores, supermarkets, deli's, grocery stores, libraries, etc....

-Joe
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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin