Reptile & Amphibian Forums

can someone tell me how do you ship a snake, what companies will ship, and how would i go about getting one shipped to me, i am going to pay for the shipping, can i go to fed ex and prepay?

i guess it depends on who is sending them. i got two hatclings via fedex it was like 15 bucks for rush delivery overnight. The ppl who sent them added ice packs because it's burning up here in vegas.

>>i guess it depends on who is sending them. i got two hatclings via fedex it was like 15 bucks for rush delivery overnight. The ppl who sent them added ice packs because it's burning up here in vegas.
>>

FEDEX will approve people to ship live harmless reptiles once you go through their approval process, but the actual value is running in the $45/box range right now.

KJ

The cheapest FedEx box I have been able to ship is about $30, but most have been $38 - $50, occasionally more than $50, especially if ice packs are included. Maybe that shipper was "eating" some of the cost and sharing it with you.

It is not difficult to get approved by FedEx, but takes some time and effort. It wouldn't be worth doing for just one shipment, only if you plan to ship on a somewhat regular basis. I don't know of any shipping company that will take you on as a walk in, so if you want to ship only one time, it is better to find a local reptile shop or breeder who would be willing to ship for you for a fee, using their regular shipping company.

Good luck!

>>The cheapest FedEx box I have been able to ship is about $30, but most have been $38 - $50, occasionally more than $50, especially if ice packs are included. Maybe that shipper was "eating" some of the cost and sharing it with you.

Hey Kathy,

I have a friend that works for a furtune 500 company. They ship a LOT via FedEx. Because of this, they obviously get a discounted rate. The amount of that discount REALLY surprises me! He ships typical snake-sized packages through them for $7-10/box! He just has to pay his company back for any boxes he ships marked "personal." Not a bad deal at all in my opinion. If a large breeder had those prices, they would almost own the online sales market....lol. He only shipsa couple of boxes of snakes per year.

Anyway, just wanted to say "hi," and pass that tidbit of info on to you. I don't want to be the only one jealous of him!

KJ

I used DHL, but I don't ship that often. I remember earlier this year it cost me 30 bucks with the same company???? Strange, isn't it??? Obviously, I didn't complain or ask questions since I saved money, LOL.

Zee

>>I used DHL, but I don't ship that often. I remember earlier this year it cost me 30 bucks with the same company???? Strange, isn't it??? Obviously, I didn't complain or ask questions since I saved money, LOL.
>>
>>Zee

If the buyer is going to be home the next day I use DHL.They dont ask any questions and there happy to take there 15-20 bucks.They drive in air conditioned/heated vans so I dont have to worry as much.Ive delivered parcels and the back of those bigger trucks that get insanely hot if your on a city route or just taking a lunch break...Paul

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Taste like chicken

>>>>I used DHL, but I don't ship that often. I remember earlier this year it cost me 30 bucks with the same company???? Strange, isn't it??? Obviously, I didn't complain or ask questions since I saved money, LOL.
>>>>
>>>>Zee
>>
>>If the buyer is going to be home the next day I use DHL.They dont ask any questions and there happy to take there 15-20 bucks.They drive in air conditioned/heated vans so I dont have to worry as much.Ive delivered parcels and the back of those bigger trucks xxxx get insanely hot if your on a city route or just taking a lunch break...Paul
>
I proof read that twice..lol..Take out the (that).
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Taste like chicken

I stopped using Airborne/DHL when they merged and have NO intention of ever using them again even if shipping was almost free....unless they start certifying shippers like FEDEX. Have they?

Back when they first merged, I used Airborne exclusively, then DHL stopped taking herp shipments. Too many people I know had packages openned enroute, and DHL wouldn't return the snakes OR forward them on. Basically, they were stuck "halfway" between destination and origin. Sounds like they REALLY cared about the animals, doesn't it? What turds they were/are. (UPS I haven't trusted since the strike.)

Airborne was the first to really help us herpers out, so they have EARNED my business.

Tell your friend to think about opening up his own shipping account. FedEx could terminate the company account if they find out that his company is shipping animals illegally.

Chris
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mean people suck

>>Tell your friend to think about opening up his own shipping account. FedEx could terminate the company account if they find out that his company is shipping animals illegally.

Which is why I didn't mention his name or company, but do you REALLY think FEDEX is going to do ANYTHING to a fortune 500 company that would reduce the amount of packages they ship with FEDEX? LOL. The company could be shipping cocaine and FEDEX wouldn't care as long as they still shipped thousands of packages per week and paid the bill on time!

KJ

FedEx never used to allow anyone to ship herps, until they found out one huge reptile producer was spending $1 million per year on UPS shipping - that is when they decided that reptiles might not be so bad after all. That breeder helped a few others get permission, and it blossomed from there.

Those of us who ship a few packages a week are nice to have as customers, but the companies that send hundreds of packages per week get whatever they want, and I am sure that their reps will do whatever is necessary to keep them happy, if there is any way to do it.

If I had that situation available to me, and I was friends with the boss, I would ask THEM to get the reptile certification. But it would be pretty difficult to go to the trouble to get your own account and then to go from paying $15 per package to $35 or $50 per package.

But remember, all reptile boxes should be labeled as such with common and latin names, to comply with federal regs. I usually put the common name "corn" on the label (or one side of the box), and the latin name on the other side of the box. That makes it less noticed by drivers and warehouse people, who are often scared of them and who don't even know that FedEx does allow people to ship reptiles.

Who spends a million a year in shipping?

>>But remember, all reptile boxes should be labeled as such with common and latin names, to comply with federal regs. I usually put the common name "corn" on the label (or one side of the box), and the latin name on the other side of the box. That makes it less noticed by drivers and warehouse people, who are often scared of them and who don't even know that FedEx does allow people to ship reptiles.

Kathy,

From reading the provisions of the Lacey Act (interstate commerce of animals), I took it to mean that the box must be labelled externally, but NOT that specific. "Live Harmless Reptiles" is all that seems to be needed according to the provisions of that law. The contents DOES have to be given in common and scientific names (which is on the receipt I include INSIDE of each box), but the law doesn't seem to say or imply that such a detailed list has to be on the external portion of the box. Basically, it just has to be there for when any enforcement agents actually open it up to verify the contents.

Do you have some references for other laws or new laws I must have missed? I'd love to see them so that I can continue to follow the regs as best I can!

KJ
KJ

but my info is probably not current. I am sure you can probably read copies of the law on the Internet, but the way I label should cover all of the bases.

So far, I have not heard of anyone getting cited for labelling technicalities, but it will probably happen sooner or later. My guess is that the Feds will just cite a wrong label technique on somebody who was already arrested for something else, and they just want to add another charge to the list.