Ok, I just tried my first snake shipping through ShipYourReptiles.com. The site is great, and was very easy to use, so I had no trouble with them.
However, be wary of where you take your box to drop it off for shipping. I went this afternoon to a UPS Store nearby with the box, all taped up with the printed label and holes punched with 'Live Harmless Reptile' written on the side. All went well...until they heard the snake move around (She's a corn that hates confinement). At that point, they started asking if that was really a live animal, and giving the spiel on 'UPS doesn't ship animals'. I told them this was through SYR and they made me wait while they looked them up. Well, finally they reluctantly took the box, but gave me a warning that their driver might not accept it.
I called SYR a bit ago, and they said that doesn't happen often, but when it does it's always the UPS stores. Something about their being privately run, so they're more picky. He advised me to go to Office Depot/Staples counters in the future.
So, I'm passing on this bit of info to save others the added stress. It's bad enough worrying about if your packaging was good enough, if they'll be too warm, and if the box will get there alright...we shouldn't have to worry about the darn people taking the box.
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