Any good way to ship?

lisagordier · #1 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005, 06:25 PM

All this talk recently of problems with shipping different reptiles through different companies got me thinking.

Is there any GOOD way to ship an animal?

It really makes me glad that I lived only about six hours from San Diego, CA where I got my girl at an I.R.B.A convention. And makes me leary that if I ever did want another snake from someone far away that it might not make it.

What sort of advise does anyone have?

louise · #2 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005, 06:55 PM

i will never have another animal shipped to me again.

budgie · #3 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005, 07:46 PM

i get over nite,all my snakes come good as new(LOL0 i just get them sent to my ups store round the corner

lethargiic · #4 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005, 08:39 PM

after hearing horror stories about shipping. im going to going local only unless buyer wants to make a trip. But you can ship just about any airline. Most will ship live freight but check with restrictions n so forth...also check with same day delivery if the package is going short distances.. and overnight shipping etc...

Always do your research in shippers and their restrictions. (I heard DHL is the new up and coming shipper and have nothing but good from them) but contact them for policies, terms and conditions..etc. and ALWAYS GET INSURANCE/TRACKING INFO...)this will protect you in case the shipper looses the package and they will reimburst you for the insurance value and shipping cost. If this isnt taken then the shipper is not liable for any lost packages which includes live freight.

louise · #5 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005, 08:41 PM

my snake was shipped over night and is really sick

Dbutton · #6 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005, 09:14 PM

DHL will not ship any live animals including fish per their reps. words. I do see people who advertise DHL shipping, but I also see people avertising shipping via UPS and they are a definate NO on shipping snakes.
As for snakes being recieved in bad shape, all I can say is that they were either in poor condition prior to shipping or they were not properly packed with the use heat or cool packs depending on the time of year.
In my opinion Delta Dash is probably the best due to their faster shipping times which can have the snake to it's destination in usually less than 12 hours. They also have climate controlled rooms that they keep their live animals in while awaiting shipment and awaiting pickup. I know that ReptileMama had some trouble with her shipment recently, haveing spoken to many breeders who ship with Delta I know that it is an extremly rare thing. And I also know that you need to properly label the box yourself before shipping on all sides so that whoever handles the paskage knows exactly what is inside. At least with Delta you can insure your package contents too. With Fed-Ex, who now offers reptile shipping including snakes, they don't offer any insurance at all or guarantee arrival times.
There are always going to be risks while shipping any live animal. It is the sellers duty to make sure that the animals are properly packaged, in top condition and shipped using the best shipping method available, NOT THE CHEAPEST!
Lack of any of the above puts the animal at risk and shows a very low regard for life on the part of the seller. But you are always going to have those people who will ship poorly packaged reptiles that are already in bad condition through the cheapest way that they can sneak them through.
I will continue to ship my baby boas and eat the price of the better shipping boxes and the better shipping method in order to make sure that they get to their new homes in perfect health.

David

louise · #7 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005, 09:19 PM

Dbutton, i would feel 100% safe gettin a snake from you. i have read your posts and seen how you take care of your snakes. i guess i jumped the gun when i said i will never geta snake shipped again.

lisagordier · #8 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005, 09:19 PM

Thanks for the quick replies, reasurrances, and information. All this will help if I ever decide to buy from someone outside of my state. Which is very likely since not too many good shows come my way.

NocturnalCreations · #9 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005, 09:43 PM

I did read about the recent death to the Amazon due to Delta losing the package. I am sorry to hear about that but I have been using Delta for years for shipping snakes and puppies. They did lose my Emerald I bought from Karen and Craig Clark for a couple hours when it arrived here but other than that I have never had any real problems. When I ship I do use 60 hour heat packs even for short flights if its cold and I always use insulated boxes and of course I pay for their insurance. I still think they are the safest way to ship. I have had problems with UPS, Fedex and Airborne losing package in the past and I would never trust them with reptiles.

Tim Rash

budgie · #10 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005, 10:20 PM

the last snake i got shiped she was in a pillow slip covered with news paper and in a heated box,she was angrey bite me twice(LOL) but i have another one coming that way on tuesday i get them shiped to my local ups store i know the chick who owns it,so its all good heres a pic of my new little female coming on tuesday http://market.kingsnake.com/image/327959.jpg

louise · #11 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budgie

the last snake i got shiped she was in a pillow slip covered with news paper and in a heated box,she was angrey bite me twice(LOL) but i have another one coming that way on tuesday i get them shiped to my local ups store i know the chick who owns it,so its all good heres a pic of my new little female coming on tuesday http://market.kingsnake.com/image/327959.jpg

very pretty. i bet you cant wait.

budgie · #12 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005, 11:10 PM

yeah im excited(LOL) shes got some crazy colours all her litter mates were salmon,i like her tail that it im not buying any more snakes for another year,i have 3 females and one male,so next year i;ll get another male i got a smokin deal on that little snake

Mark_scuba · #13 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005, 11:50 PM

DHL Does Ship snakes...
I Just Got Mine the other Day....
It was shipped overnight,in a foam lined box with newspaper but the snake was in it own tupperware with bedding and holes...
It also had a heatpad , not sure how many hour heatpad but it was stiil nice and toasty when he got here....

Dbutton · #14 (**permalink**) 03-21-2005, 12:56 AM

I didn't say that people were not shipping via DHL. I said that it was against their policy to ship snakes. it is against UPS's policy to ship snakes and people do it all the time. They just don't mark the box as a snake or tell the person behind the counter what is in the box.
Take a picture of the label on the box or the waybill so we can see what it shows as contents.

David

Dbutton · #15 (**permalink**) 03-21-2005, 01:17 AM

I just sent this message to DHL customer service and we can see what they say.>>

Thank you for contacting DHL. We are reviewing your message and you will receive a response within one business day.

-----Original Message-----
From: David Button [david@thealbinoboa.com]
Sent: Sunday, Mar 20 2005 4:17PM
To: customerservice@DHL.Com [customerservice@DHL.Com]
Subject: General

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS
================================
I am a reptile breeder and see many other breeders advertising that they ship with DHL, and yet when I called a service rep. from DHL they said that they don't allow any live animal shipments at all. Could I please get the straight facts on this and maybe a link to your regulations regarding live animal shipments. Thank you.

David Button

NicoleRussell · #16 (**permalink**) 03-21-2005, 01:34 AM

I have had reptiles shipped UPS, USPS, and DHL.
I had the following experiences:
USPS: 1 shipment 1 missing lizard (recovered and healthy but close call)
UPS: 14 shipments: one dead snake (DOA); and one opened box but live, safe animal
DHL: 3 shipments no problems

Mark_scuba · #17 (**permalink**) 03-21-2005, 05:02 AM

I dont have the box anymore ...But it had written in big bold magic marker on all four sides of the box "Live Harmless Reptile"
This is also the second snake i got DHL..
No Problems...
But im not disagreeing with you about their policy..
But its not like it was hidden ..
I believe it also had red stickers that said Live animals ...
Not sure though...

Mark_scuba · #18 (**permalink**) 03-21-2005, 05:07 AM

Hey I forgot my wife took a picture of the box he was shipped in..
Here it is....
I cant read the Label....But you can def. see the writting....

http://redtailboa.net/pp/uploads/120...rrival_001.jpg

Dbutton · #19 (**permalink**) 03-22-2005, 02:25 AM

Ok, here is what the DHL customer service department sent me.

Dear David,

Thank you for contacting DHL.

While animals are prohibited, there are a few small animals that are accepted under these special restrictions.

· Only those animals listed here can be shipped, under these restrictions.

· Small animal shipments can only be shipped DHL Express Service.

· Domestic only

· DHL is not responsible for loss or damage due to delays.

· Small Animal Waiver. must be completed by the shipper

Tortoises
Frogs
Fish
Crabs
Crawfish
Worms
Insects, Non-venomous
Lobster

No other animals are accepted.

We appreciate the opportunity to serve you.

Ollie
DHL Customer Service

SO maybe they thought yours was a tortoise. I don't know, but it seems pretty clear that snakes aren't on the list.

David

herpkingdom · #20 (**permalink**) 03-23-2005, 10:29 PM

Content & photographs of the following article are Copyright of David Weymouth from Mountainkings.com

"How to properly ship a reptile".....

http://www.herpkingdom.com/CS/shipping.html

I always used Airborne. They allow shipping of most reptiles and amphibians with the exception of snakes and any venomous reptiles.

USPS is not recommended as they tend to randomly irradiate packages and that just can't be good for the animals.

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