Shipping questions

Ok.

I'm so confused.. lol.

After I get certified.. I'll be able to print out labels from home, correct? Do I take the boxes to a fedex store and tell them what kind of shipping service I need?

Gah.. I feel like an idiot. This just seems complicated.

Yes, you can print your labels at home.

When you "book" your shipment on-line and print your labels you will book it as a priority overnight shipment ... make sure you never specify that you are shipping to a residence, even if you are.

Then you drop it off ... if they give you flack, tell them to look you up in the computer because you're on the live shippers list .... I drop off at the FedEx station at my airport becuase they accept priority overnight drop off up until 9pm (less time for the snakes in the box) and when I got on the program my sales rep called over there to let them know that I'd be coming in with snakes. Now I bring coffee for the ladies over there when I drop off my snakes ... they kick a$$!!

The big thing that being FedEx verified helps you with is if your package gets "inspected" at a station between you and your destination, they look you up in the computer to see if you are on the program ... if you are, they send your package through ... if you're not, you have to come pick it up no matter where it is in the country.

-adam

Ok.

On the Fedex website I don't see anything called 'priority overnight'. I don't think their website is that great.. just more confusing. I was looking because I wanted to see if they had a thing I could check shipping rates with.

Since the nearest airport that would be shipping the herps is a one hour one way drive, can I drop off boxes at a fedex store (or whatever they are called)?

Thanks for you help.

I know that You can use Fedex internetship and print the labels at home...Fedex.com. You can set up a regular pickup at your door once a week and/or do a call in 1800gofedex. Call-ins are generally 4-5 dollars more for a pickup, depending on your sevice area. You'll need an account too. The 1800# will have an extension to talk with a customer service rep on how to go about all the specifics on live shipping. If you want I can get some links on this...

Ok, so they'll actually come to my house and take the shipments? This costs more, that's what you said, right? Would this be a good idea to do?

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Originally Posted by Shelby

Ok.

On the Fedex website I don't see anything called 'priority overnight'. I don't think their website is that great.. just more confusing. I was looking because I wanted to see if they had a thing I could check shipping rates with.

Since the nearest airport that would be shipping the herps is a one hour one way drive, can I drop off boxes at a fedex store (or whatever they are called)?

Thanks for you help.

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http://www.fedex.com/ratefinder/home...ack+Rates+Corp to get a quote.

"Priority overnight" is a delivery option for FedEx express.

You can drop off your package at any FedEx location, but different locations have different cut offs for priority overnight delivery ... for example, if I schedule a FedEx pickup, the driver usually shows up around 3pm, the FedEx store down the street requires priority overnight delieveries be dropped off by 5pm, but the FedEx station at my local airport allows me to drop off as late as 9pm ... so by driving out to the airport it's 4-6 hours less time that the snakes have to stay in the box and out of my hands. For me, it's worth the trip. ;)

-adam

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Originally Posted by Shelby

Would this be a good idea to do?

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No. Sometimes they show up at 11 in the morning ... then your snake bounces around on a truck all day long before it even starts the delivery process.

-adam

This will put the snakes in the box longer, but if you live an hour away from an airport the five dollars might be worth it to have it picked up. Again, your best bet would be to call the 1800number and request information on this topic. I'm not too proud of our website either--it sucks for finding the right information, but the 1800# is a lot better. Although I didn't even know we still took live snakes until Adam proved me wrong. I remember about two years ago a courier out in Binghampton(?-spelling) got into his truck after a delivery and found a five foot Boa on his steering wheel...there was an uproar over it and I thought they suspended it altogether, but they didn't.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

No. Sometimes they show up at 11 in the morning ... then your snake bounces around on a truck all day long before it even starts the delivery process.

-adam

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You can have different pickup times...fact. I used to have supplies for my dad's company picked up between 6pm and 7pm every thursday, not before and not after...you just have to give them an hour window with a closing time that's not later than 8pm.

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Originally Posted by jim020cricket

This will put the snakes in the box longer, but if you live an hour away from an airport the five dollars might be worth it to have it picked up.

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From experience, I can say that the pickups $uck for live animals ... they may be great for other stuff, but the drivers really like to show up whenever they are in your area and it's a real pain in the a$$.

Personally, I feel that when shipping live animals, I have a duty to make the trip as painless as possible for them, even if it means that I have to go out of my way a little bit. But, that's just my twisted sense of values. :P

-adam