Fedex shipping contract question

I recieved my fedex contract for shipping reptiles in the mail yesterday. It's all fine and good, but one of the requirements is that all shipments are to be business to business only.. no residential shipping. So.. how are we reptile shippers getting around this? Are we classifying everyone who buys snakes as a 'business'? I do suppose most buyers that are getting a snake shipped to them are into breeding/selling snakes..

Just wondered your thoughts on this.

From what I hear, most people are ignoring this clause. Odds are that unless the buyer works from home, that they will be having the reptile shipped to a place of business. I am not sure what the point of the clause is anyway. FedEx made a conscious decision (and a very good one) to allow shipping of live reptiles (particularly snakes which no other carrier allows except for select airlines) and then they throw in that clause. Also, they don't offer any guarantee of live arrival. Basically the contract is just to indemnify themselves and doesn't offer any of the protection of a regular package shipment. Did any of this rambling make sense, because its been a long day!

Yeah, makes sense. I don't know why they bothered to add that in there either..

Now that I think of it, its probably because there is much more likelihood of a missed delivery at a residence than at a business where others might be there to sign.

Yeah, I suppose, but all they seem to care about is not having to be responsible for live delivery, so what difference would it make?

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Originally Posted by jglass38

I am not sure what the point of the clause is anyway.

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James Brown from the FedEx legal department told me that the reason that this clause exists is because in some residential areas, FedEx drivers are allowed to just leave the package on the doorstep without even knocking on the door.

FedEx is actually trying to be as responsible as possible and IMO it is up to the shippers to at least try and meet them half-way.

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

James Brown from the FedEx legal department told me that the reason that this clause exists is because in some residential areas, FedEx drivers are allowed to just leave the package on the doorstep without even knocking on the door.

FedEx is actually trying to be as responsible as possible and IMO it is up to the shippers to at least try and meet them half-way.

-adam

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Agreed 100% . If we all work together to minimize the risks and prove that its safe when done correctly, maybe more companies will see the light. I am glad FedEx has decided to listen to the voices of herping community.

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

James Brown from the FedEx legal department told me that the reason that this clause exists is because in some residential areas, FedEx drivers are allowed to just leave the package on the doorstep without even knocking on the door.

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Seriously. When Fed-Ex delivers to our apartment, they ring the door bell and RUN! We can be sitting in the living room, hear the door bell, race to the door and have to catch the guy half way across the parking lot...

That's nothing compared to the UPS drivers... I'm pretty sure they throw the package from the street to the doorstep... mmm delivery.

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Originally Posted by Krynos

That's nothing compared to the UPS drivers... I'm pretty sure they throw the package from the street to the doorstep... mmm delivery.

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LOL...they're not all like that. The UPS guy that delivers to my neighborhood gave me his cell phone number in case he ever misses me while trying to make a delivery. When I get home, I can call him and he'll come back to the house. Not bad service, in my opinion. But of course, they don't deliver snakes.....so it's not the best service! ;)