Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just started shipping snakes again over the past several months through fed ex next day and the prices range anywhere from $65 at the lowest to $90. Typically the price is around $80-85 dollars just shipping one baby hognose in a standard small reptile shipping box with insulation and the weight is 1 pound. My question is are these prices normal now or am I paying too much? I even have an account with fed ex too. I have one customer keep telling me he's had snakes from all over shipped to him at no more than $50 overnight via fed ex. Are some sellers just eating the cost of shipping past $50 to satisfy customers? Also,I'm shipping from Colorado to states usually just above me or east coast.

Thanks,
Kevin

Shipping prices are directly related to gas prices. When gas is high shipping is high. One this i do as a breeder is use a third party shipper that has a huge discount. Shipyourreptiles.com is on that offers a discount, but i have one i use personally that gets a way better discount. If you are shipping a couple boxes a month it might be worth your while to set up an account with them. Email me if you are interested, i can refer you.
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Erik Spisak
www.hawgnose.com

Why would you promote an illegitimate third party reptile shipper that is not approved for that by either UPS or FedEx? In this age of legislation actively looking to shut down the hobby and industry of reptiles, this kind of bootleg service only threatens to endanger the hard working and APPROVED live reptile shipping services that DO operate within the proper channels.
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Robyn@ ShipYourReptiles.com TheReptileReport.com

and ProExotics.com

I will not be bullied. Business is business. I've used fed ex for more than 15 years, and fed ex knows what i do. If a third party logistics can save 30% vs 16% i will use them. If you feel i'm doing the industry a disservice, i wouldn't worry about it. I'm not some big reptile breeder that has a million in inventory and ships a 100 packages a week and can absorb the overhead. I buy shipping supplies from superior shipping because often they are cheaper than other sources. I enjoy my hobby and do my part to keep it going.
Erik Spisak
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Erik Spisak
www.hawgnose.com

Erik,

You aren't being "bullied". Robyn is pointing out a very very real concern.

Using illegitimate shipping services to ship reptiles is a huge nightmare waiting just waiting to happen. Your quite flippant reply clearly shows one of two things. One, you just don't understand how using a non-approved shipper to ship reptiles ENDANGERS the whole industry. Or two, you do understand that fact, but saving a few bucks is more important to you than the ability of the reptile industry to ship and receive product. Robyn pointing out this to you isn't you being "bullied" it is you being informed what is the correct way to ship or receive reptiles.

Shipping mishaps happen, and if one of the packages shipped by this "third party 30% logistics company" needs to be opened and a reptile is found, can you guess what happens? The reptile and the packaging are destroyed! How are you feeling about your few bucks saved now? How about the black eye those types of events bring the reptile world. The media is often informed when an event like this happens. All of that to save a few bucks? For real, that is the path you would choose?

I'm not saying you have to use SYR. But to go on a forum and tell folks to use an illegitimate reptile shipper is wrong for the shipper, wrong for the reptile that could be destroyed as the result of your recommendation and wrong for the reptile industry as a whole.

Chad