Fedex associates dont know anything about reptiles shipping

Let me start by saying that I am certified with fedex to ship live harmless reptiles. I am so frustraded though because apparantly no one at fedex knows that its possible to be certified. When you guys ship do you tell them that there is a reptile in the box or do you just drop it off? Apparantly all the locations in my area tell me that their location can't accept the package even though my account reflects that I am certified.

What's up with this? Is there somewhere I can go to see the locations that I can ship from?

You need to go to the main Fed Ex hub, not to a Fed Ex/Kinkos office.

Take your paperwork with you and get your rep involved.

Sent from my HTC Droid Incredible using Tapatalk.

I just called the main location in my are and the response I got was we don't ship live reptiles. I'm getting my Rep involved. I guess its not their fault that headquarters doesn't inform them of their own policies.

I've had that argument on the phone countless times, but thankfully the hub here does know that Fed Ex issues waivers for reptile shipping, lol. Once you straighten them out, you shouldn't have to do it again.

I'll straighten them out alright. LOL

After countless arguments with my hub I now just take it to a pak mail store. I just drop it off and don't mention what is in the box. I have the waiver but it is just not worth the time explaining it every time I drop something off. I have never had an issue since dropping it off at a 3rd party place.

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Originally Posted by J.Vandegrift

After countless arguments with my hub I now just take it to a pak mail store. I just drop it off and don't mention what is in the box. I have the waiver but it is just not worth the time explaining it every time I drop something off. I have never had an issue since dropping it off at a 3rd party place.

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There's enough of us in my area that ship snakes from my hub, they don't even blink an eye. Additionally, there's a little conveyor to the left of the reps, you can just walk in and set your package there, and off it goes!

Surprising that your hub is being so difficult!

My hub is difficult too. I did the same thing and just dropped it off without mentioning anything. My account reflects that I'm certified so I'm sure they can look that up if they hear some movement in the box or something (very unlikely) . I think the boxes do get treated with more care if they say live animal inside. The girl who took my box flipped it in the air as she walked to put it in the outgoing section. I had to get her attention and tell her "Do you not see the big red letters that say perishable and fragile and the arrows pointing UP" ..... I swear some of these employees just don't give a crap.

I keep all of my official paperwork that I received from FedEx in my glove compartment, so that I can easily run out and get them if I need them. They have verifiable contacts on them, including the live animal shipping desk. To date I haven't needed them.

Also, everyone I've had contact with, within FedEx has been very accommodating about shipping snakes, and I have a rep who is very engaged and involved (and I'm his first snake shipper account). I have no doubt that if I ran into trouble, it would simply take a call to my rep to get it sorted out. I guess my point is - don't be afraid to reach out to your rep - that's what he or she is there for - to help you get these types of situations sorted out for you.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I keep all of my official paperwork that I received from FedEx in my glove compartment, so that I can easily run out and get them if I need them. They have verifiable contacts on them, including the live animal shipping desk. To date I haven't needed them.

Also, everyone I've had contact with, within FedEx has been very accommodating about shipping snakes, and I have a rep who is very engaged and involved (and I'm his first snake shipper account). I have no doubt that if I ran into trouble, it would simply take a call to my rep to get it sorted out. I guess my point is - don't be afraid to reach out to your rep - that's what he or she is there for - to help you get these types of situations sorted out for you.

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My Rep is very involved. I will call her and see if she can sort things out.

Just wondering, do you write the contents of he package on the box? Is it a requirement with fedex? I couldnt really find info on this in my paperwork.

The Lacey Act, which is a Federal law, requires that you must state that the box contains live animals or wildlife, and that you must state the Latin name, common name, and number of animals in the box. This can either be written on the box, or you can put it under the shipping label in the pouch (or any other attached envelope that they can open without opening the box), so long as you write on the box that the information is under the label so they know where to look for it.

Failure to do so, and getting caught, means not only will the shipper get a hefty fine, but so will the recipient if they knew what was in the box and accepted it when it didn't have proper labeling. It's a serious law, though many get away with ignoring it every year. Those who don't get away with it suffer a big hurting on their wallet.

Whoa I didn't know that. I did write the contents on the top styrofoam cover but I doubt that's enough. I will write it on the box next time and if they give me trouble ill ask them to speak with Carlos ( my Rep gotbme the name of their manager :) )

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

The Lacey Act, which is a Federal law, requires that you must state that the box contains live animals or wildlife, and that you must state the Latin name, common name, and number of animals in the box. This can either be written on the box, or you can put it under the shipping label in the pouch (or any other attached envelope that they can open without opening the box), so long as you write on the box that the information is under the label so they know where to look for it.

Failure to do so, and getting caught, means not only will the shipper get a hefty fine, but so will the recipient if they knew what was in the box and accepted it when it didn't have proper labeling. It's a serious law, though many get away with ignoring it every year. Those who don't get away with it suffer a big hurting on their wallet.

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I don't condone anyone not doing it, but have you personally ever heard of anyone who has been prosecuted for failure to do so? I haven't heard of even one case.

I don't know anyone personally (but, I don't get out much). I did read something written by a shipper who got caught, where he mentioned it, though.

Either way, there's nothing wrong with this law. It's a reasonable law, and it does no harm at all to obey it. It could potentially do a lot of harm not to. I wouldn't put any of MY customers in that position. It must be understood that the receiver of the package gets prosecuted as well, not just the shipper.

Can you please give an example of how you label this info on your boxes and were exacly you place it?

Thanks

Like most folks shipping reptiles, I label the outside of the box "Live Harmless Reptiles". I actually had some custom stickers made up to use, and they also say to avoid sunlight and extreme temperatures, because live animals are within.

On the top of the box, I add "More information under shipping label" to one of these stickers.

In the plastic pouch, under the label, I include a sticker or card that states "Ball Python (Python regius)" Number: 1 (for example--put however many animals are in the box).

This fulfills all of the labeling requirements for the Lacey Act. Placing the species and common name, and number on the outside of the box where it's easily visible instead of under the label would also fulfill the requirements, but I don't see the point in freaking out any ophidiophobes that might have to move the box. This way, anyone who wants to know what is in the box can open the shipping label pouch and look without disturbing the shipment (which is the intent of the law), but it's not right in their face if they don't care.

Well to be fair, in the grand scheme things FedEx, a very very very small portion of their customers are shipping reptiles. And even further, to ship reptiles, you have to have a special wavier. So its not that surprising that your average FedEx employee would think that they don't do it.

I do drop mine off at FedEx kinko's, when I moved where I live now a couple of years ago, first time I dropped it off they tried refusing it, but I had my paperwork and they took it. Now I'm there so often they know what's in the box and know that it's OK.

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Like most folks shipping reptiles, I label the outside of the box "Live Harmless Reptiles". I actually had some custom stickers made up to use, and they also say to avoid sunlight and extreme temperatures, because live animals are within.

On the top of the box, I add "More information under shipping label" to one of these stickers.

In the plastic pouch, under the label, I include a sticker or card that states "Ball Python (Python regius)" Number: 1 (for example--put however many animals are in the box).

This fulfills all of the labeling requirements for the Lacey Act. Placing the species and common name, and number on the outside of the box where it's easily visible instead of under the label would also fulfill the requirements, but I don't see the point in freaking out any ophidiophobes that might have to move the box. This way, anyone who wants to know what is in the box can open the shipping label pouch and look without disturbing the shipment (which is the intent of the law), but it's not right in their face if they don't care.

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Thanks...I understand the basic "Live Harmless Reptile" part. I was wondering about the additional info to cover the Lacy Act.

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Originally Posted by jball1125

My hub is difficult too. I did the same thing and just dropped it off without mentioning anything. My account reflects that I'm certified so I'm sure they can look that up if they hear some movement in the box or something (very unlikely) . I think the boxes do get treated with more care if they say live animal inside. The girl who took my box flipped it in the air as she walked to put it in the outgoing section. I had to get her attention and tell her "Do you not see the big red letters that say perishable and fragile and the arrows pointing UP" ..... I swear some of these employees just don't give a crap.

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I can guarantee you that they don't treat you box with any extra care. It gets stuck on the conveyer belt just like any other package and is dropped/thrown/slid just as much as any other package. Most of the package handling is done by machines so Fragile, perishable, Live animial is pretty meaningless. I have a buddy that worked for fedex for years and some of the stories that he has told me makes me surprised that any package makes it to it's destination undamaged.

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Originally Posted by J.Vandegrift

I can guarantee you that they don't treat you box with any extra care. It gets stuck on the conveyer belt just like any other package and is dropped/thrown/slid just as much as any other package. Most of the package handling is done by machines so Fragile, perishable, Live animial is pretty meaningless. I have a buddy that worked for fedex for years and some of the stories that he has told me makes me surprised that any package makes it to it's destination undamaged.

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Best not to think about it huh. Its a good thing our snakes are tough!

I always keep it firmly in mind when I pack them. Extra crumpled newspaper never hurts. I don't want any space in there that the snake might slide or fall through. I try to package them to survive being thrown down a flight of stairs, because it just might happen. I pack deli cups for geckos pretty full of paper towel, too, for the same reason.

Ironically, in tests, it was USPS that handled packages most gently. UPS came in a far second, and Fed Ex third, for hard impacts. (USPS packages were rolled more, but less violently). Too bad they're not an option.

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

I always keep it firmly in mind when I pack them. Extra crumpled newspaper never hurts. I don't want any space in there that the snake might slide or fall through. I try to package them to survive being thrown down a flight of stairs, because it just might happen. I pack deli cups for geckos pretty full of paper towel, too, for the same reason.

Ironically, in tests, it was USPS that handled packages most gently. UPS came in a far second, and Fed Ex third, for hard impacts. (USPS packages were rolled more, but less violently). Too bad they're not an option.

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They are much cheaper too

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Originally Posted by jball1125

The girl who took my box flipped it in the air as she walked to put it in the outgoing section. I had to get her attention and tell her "Do you not see the big red letters that say perishable and fragile and the arrows pointing UP" ..... I swear some of these employees just don't give a crap.

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I would have dropped her on her head if I saw a person do that. And they don't, with anything. I swear if you don't have a tracking number on something (not reptiles of course) they always just so happen to lose it.

Great thread, I was just wondering about this sort of thing. I hope it goes well for me when I start shipping! I know there is at least one person shipping BPs through our FedEx hub so it *should* go smoothly.

As for the "handle with care" and "up" message.... it really does mean nothing. When I got my trio of het pieds I was sooo excited to pick them up! I got into the office, asked for it, she came back, and DROPPED it on the counter :mad: She probably dropped it on the floor before she brought it out for me :rolleyes:

A part of the hobby we just cant change. :(