Need some reassuring FedEx/shipping stories

I've got something I'm really excited about that was supposed to be delivered this morning to my local hub, but FedEx screwed up big time and now I'm really hoping they come through and deliver her for pickup tomorrow morning. I don't even want to think about what might happen if the snake is lost in the mail or doesn't arrive until Monday... :/

Anyone care to share some shipping horror stories that had a happy ending?

First time I had a snake shipped it got to my city in Missouri and then for some reason got rerouted to Washington State. They got it to me the next day but she was freezing cold and looked dead. She did just fine though. Just stay calm and keep checking the shipping info. Good luck!


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Here's my tale from when an inbound boa ended up on a two-day trip instead of overnight, thanks to FedEx.
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...d.php?t=538969

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Here's my tale from when an inbound boa ended up on a two-day trip instead of overnight, thanks to FedEx.
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...d.php?t=538969

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This makes me feel a little better, as it's very similar to what's happening with this shipment. Shipped Thursday for guaranteed arrival by 10:30 AM today. Tracking shows it was picked up last night, but then there were absolutely no updates until after several calls to FedEx. Now it's showing "in transit" in TN. Here's hoping it magically makes its way out of TN tonight and gets to IN tomorrow morning. I've never had any issues like this with receiving an overnighted package before.

At least both the high and low temps are pretty moderate. Have you verified though that there will be Saturday delivery tomorrow? Situations like this are why it's advised to only ship Mon-Tue-Wed.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

At least both the high and low temps are pretty moderate. Have you verified though that there will be Saturday delivery tomorrow? Situations like this are why it's advised to only ship Mon-Tue-Wed.

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There is Saturday pickup/delivery available in my area, as my local hub is open, and I've confirmed with FedEx that this is what *should* be happening. I just don't have much faith in them at the moment, but hopefully I'm pleasantly surprised when I wake up with all sorts of tracking updates.

I know M-T-W is preferred, but unfortunately with my work schedule it's easiest to pick up on Fridays. :( Haven't had an issue prior to this with the couple of snakes I've gotten, but this is definitely an experience that will make me reconsider in the future if I order any more and make a different day work.

When my beardie was delivered, FedEx said they knocked on my door and no one answered so they left a note to pick her up at the hub after 6 pm. I was sitting about 6 feet from the door watching TV so i know they didnt knock or use a doorbell. Luckily i checked at 10:30 and saw the note and it was like 5 mins old so i called and after the lady told me their drivers dont have 2 way radios or phones or anyway to contact them and then telling me she cant contact the manager, i ripped her a new one and told her i am surprised she qualified over a chimp for her job and if i didnt get a call back from the manager, i was going to drive down to the hub and raise hell. i got a call in like 5 mins from the manager saying the driver will be there in 15 mins.

When i got 2 of my AP cages, there were foot prints on the boxes and 2 tops had cracked corners.

Other than that, Fedex has been pretty good. UPS SUCKS. They always arrive late, always screw something up. i swear, you have to be semi retarded to work for them. It must be a prerequisite.

Just seeing all this! So very sorry :/

any luck or updates ?? Fingers crossed for you and the poor snake !

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Just seeing all this! So very sorry :/

any luck or updates ?? Fingers crossed for you and the poor snake !

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I've been up since 5:45 dealing with FedEx. The snake did not leave Memphis last night like it was supposed to. I verified that she would be departing with 3 different people. So now I'm looking at a Monday delivery to my local hub, assuming that FedEx actually carries through. I am beyond frustrated with this situation, especially because it appears that they messed up from the very beginning. She was supposed to be routed through Indy but instead got routed to Memphis. Indy is a 2.5 hour drive for me. I could have easily made that trip to pick her up. Memphis is a 16 hour round-trip. That's a different story.

Really hoping I don't end up with a dead snake, and it kills me to think of the stress she's probably going through right now. :(

Wow that’s unbelievable !! God I feel for you. Just awful.

They were aware it was a live animal ??

Could they get it back to the sender faster and maybe they can warm it up and settle and try again in a few weeks ??


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I live in Minnesota and had my 2 day old baby retic shipped from Oklahoma just a week and a half ago showed up on schedule and she’s amazing.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/webk...56c6/imagejpeg

I've had several snakes shipped to me through FedEx. They all arrived on time, but once I looked out the window and watched the delivery guy walk up my long driveway. I saw him flipping and spinning the box (marked very clearly "LIVE HARMLESS REPTILE"). He was even tossing it up in the air and catching it. It's a dumb thing to do with any package but I was shocked that he would do it with a live animal shipment. I was pretty pissed about it. The snake was unhurt but very stressed out.

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Wow that’s unbelievable !! God I feel for you. Just awful.

They were aware it was a live animal ??

Could they get it back to the sender faster and maybe they can warm it up and settle and try again in a few weeks ??


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They are very aware that it's a live animal. A case manager through FedEx investigations/Trace has been assigned to the case. The seller has also been working to try to get resolution to this, but the issue is that FedEx just does not send out on Saturday for Sunday delivery. We were hoping that the snake was still in Wisconsin yesterday based on the lack of tracking updates, and if so, we were going to try to get the snake back to the shipper. But the snake was already in Memphis. This whole situation is unfortunately just textbook "what can go wrong with Thursday shipping" because now the best case scenario is four nights in a box at FedEx instead of just one. :(

I swear Memphis is the worst FedEx hub. Maze was stuck there overnight when the plane she was on 'broke'. And they didn't think to move her to a new plane until I frantically contacted the breeder and they sorted it out with SYR. She arrived safe and sound Saturday, but I was in full panic disaster mode the entire time.

Some other folks have gotten their shipments delayed over the weekend before and the animal was just fine -- sending good vibes that the same goes for your guy.

I was going to say that I hear people who will only ship Monday and Tuesday to avoid this.

Its really a shame that a huuuuge company like them lacks such needed communication to prevent this. If it was shoes or furniture it’s annoying but who cares his is an animal!!!

I hope your snake is fine! Wishing you luck!!!!!

Would they let someone who lives in Memphis pick up the package?

I hope something works in your favor for sure. Having somebody local to memphis pick it up would be ideal, and I hope everything goes okay when they arrive to you. I hate FedEx, I cursed out somebody on the phone the other day as they're so incompetent. I hate using Delta to ship venomous, and out of using it three times, two of those times I had issues. Delta you ship it and it arrives the same day for venomous.

The second time I used them I ordered two Naja siamensis(Black & White Spitting Cobra), well when it was shipped from PA the temps were okay, and should of been to me in New Orleans MSY airport that evening/night which the temps were okay here, so no heat pack was used from the shipper. The big wooden box labeled "VENOMOUS REPTILES" was lost, and nobody could find it and I kept checking the updates and never saw it leave ATL, so I had a feeling before that. So when I get to MSY to get it, nothing. The next morning(after it got down to the low 30s) they managed to find the crate, and get it shipped to me. One snake didn't make it, but the other held on, and he's my favorite snake actually and my calmest aside from my Rufous. I went after them for neglect of animal and a lot of other stuff. At the end they ended up mailing me a $500 check so I was basically paid to get a snake. This made me very sour towards them though. They are supposed to have a regulated temp room for animals and my crate with snakes wasn't in there, so one suffered and the other barely made it, boy was I hot.

The second issue is when I ordered a trio of super rare rattlesnakes that are from a tiny island. I was waiting for Delta to update the tracking to say it was arrived, and it never did, when I showed up they told me that the package was locked up and the Delta Cargo people left. I simple said that the animals were insured for $2500 and they had already paid $500 to me for neglect in handling before and if something happened then it would end up costing somebody a job. Needless to say, they got somebody there with a set of keys to get my snakes.

I'll try to avoid Delta when possible, that's why I had Cody from here get my last two venomous from the show near him and we met up. No issues that way.

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Originally Posted by Starscream

I swear Memphis is the worst FedEx hub. Maze was stuck there overnight when the plane she was on 'broke'. And they didn't think to move her to a new plane until I frantically contacted the breeder and they sorted it out with SYR. She arrived safe and sound Saturday, but I was in full panic disaster mode the entire time.

Some other folks have gotten their shipments delayed over the weekend before and the animal was just fine -- sending good vibes that the same goes for your guy.

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Memphis is FedEx's main hub, that's where everything goes to get sorted out, as it's their "Super Hub".

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Would they let someone who lives in Memphis pick up the package?

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That would be the smart thing to do, but I somehow don't think they're that smart.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Would they let someone who lives in Memphis pick up the package?

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I wish I knew someone in Memphis. :/ The representative was working to try to get them released to me from the superhub in Memphis before I really looked at the drive and realized it would be around 16 hours of driving total.

Oh man, that sucks! I'm sorry you've lost snakes to whatever should be a relatively straightforward process. It's almost like FedEx isn't used to shipping things. : sigh :

I looked up shipping label codes on SYR, and that's how I found out they routed mine to Memphis by mistake. Indianapolis is their second major hub and is where mine should have gone.

I'm confident in the breeder and how they would have packed her, so here's hoping FedEx stops being so incompetent and sends me a live animal...

Most recent update is that the package departed Memphis at 1:20 this afternoon! Hopefully everything goes as it should from now on and the snake is safely delivered to my hub for pickup tomorrow morning.

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Originally Posted by WhompingWillow

Most recent update is that the package departed Memphis at 1:20 this afternoon! Hopefully everything goes as it should from now on and the snake is safely delivered to my hub for pickup tomorrow morning.

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Let's hope for the best!!

Any update here OP...

ive been worried about this like it was coming to me.

I really hope for the absolute BEST

Please update ASAP. I’m sure I’m not the only one

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Any update here OP...

ive been worried about this like it was coming to me.

I really hope for the absolute BEST

Please update ASAP. I’m sure I’m not the only one

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It was a stressful morning because for several hours it appeared as though FedEx had lost her, but she magically appeared in South Bend at around 10:30 today, and I was able to pick her up at my local hub at 12:30! She arrived alive and doesn't seem to be in too rough of shape. 🙌 I'll post an introduction thread for her shortly!!

AAAAAAAAAMAZING!!!!

what is she even. Anything here for us loyal subscribers ???

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

AAAAAAAAAMAZING!!!!

what is she even. Anything here for us loyal subscribers ???

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A Dumeril's! Just posted an intro over on Boas.

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Originally Posted by greco

I've had several snakes shipped to me through FedEx. They all arrived on time, but once I looked out the window and watched the delivery guy walk up my long driveway. I saw him flipping and spinning the box (marked very clearly "LIVE HARMLESS REPTILE"). He was even tossing it up in the air and catching it. It's a dumb thing to do with any package but I was shocked that he would do it with a live animal shipment. I was pretty pissed about it. The snake was unhurt but very stressed out.

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Honestly, I would have been ballistic about that, and I truly HOPE you put in a written complaint about that specific delivery person...they don't deserve to have the job! And the best way to keep it from happening to other reptiles being shipped is to make a royal stink about it. Animal cruelty is NOT OK, & that could only
have been deliberate...probably hates reptiles.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Honestly, I would have been ballistic about that, and I truly HOPE you put in a written complaint about that specific delivery person...they don't deserve to have the job! And the best way to keep it from happening to other reptiles being shipped is to make a royal stink about it. Animal cruelty is NOT OK, & that could only
have been deliberate...probably hates reptiles.

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I disagree with this "stink" strategy. If you need to lodge a complaint, or educate a driver about safe handling of a live package, I think honey works much better than vinegar.

If you insist on berating your pizza guy for a late delivery, raising a stink, I don't think you are going to get improved service, or warmer pizza. If you send food back to the kitchen/chef with a note about "how stupid can you be not to follow my directions" I guarantee your plate comes back with extra surprises, non-appetizing ones.

It's the nature of the service industry.

I hear time and time again of shippers that have FRIENDLY rapport with their drivers and local counter staff. They alleviate reptile phobias with a kind and generous attitude, and help turn reptile fears and lack of concern into personalized, thoughtful service.

Threaten to get your FedEx driver fired and suddenly all of your packages will suffer. Kindly remind the driver that the package is a live reptile, and shaking or tossing the package can cause stress or complications can help prevent that treatment for your future packages. Offer to pop open the box and show off your new acquisition- "You want to see this new gecko/snake/frog? It's pretty cool!".

At ShipYourReptiles we deal with customer service each and every day. The very nature of the job is that MOST of the calls and emails that come in are for package issues- delays, misroutes, confusion, etc. We get the ballistic customers, all the time. It isn't helpful, nor productive. That "ballistic" stress has already driven the customer over the edge, and stresses out our staff as well. It actually impedes progress.

We still try and service the customer and solve the problem, but the nice/pleasant/patient/cooperative customer typically experiences quicker resolution and skates very easily into the "above and beyond" service category, every time.

I think the strategy applies across life. To your delivery driver, to your hair stylist, to the reptile breeder you are trying to buy an amazing animal from, to the young lady making your burrito bowl at Chipotle.

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Originally Posted by Robyn@SYR

I disagree with this "stink" strategy. If you need to lodge a complaint, or educate a driver about safe handling of a live package, I think honey works much better than vinegar.

If you insist on berating your pizza guy for a late delivery, raising a stink, I don't think you are going to get improved service, or warmer pizza. If you send food back to the kitchen/chef with a note about "how stupid can you be not to follow my directions" I guarantee your plate comes back with extra surprises, non-appetizing ones.

It's the nature of the service industry.

I hear time and time again of shippers that have FRIENDLY rapport with their drivers and local counter staff. They alleviate reptile phobias with a kind and generous attitude, and help turn reptile fears and lack of concern into personalized, thoughtful service.

Threaten to get your FedEx driver fired and suddenly all of your packages will suffer. Kindly remind the driver that the package is a live reptile, and shaking or tossing the package can cause stress or complications can help prevent that treatment for your future packages. Offer to pop open the box and show off your new acquisition- "You want to see this new gecko/snake/frog? It's pretty cool!".

At ShipYourReptiles we deal with customer service each and every day. The very nature of the job is that MOST of the calls and emails that come in are for package issues- delays, misroutes, confusion, etc. We get the ballistic customers, all the time. It isn't helpful, nor productive. That "ballistic" stress has already driven the customer over the edge, and stresses out our staff as well. It actually impedes progress.

We still try and service the customer and solve the problem, but the nice/pleasant/patient/cooperative customer typically experiences quicker resolution and skates very easily into the "above and beyond" service category, every time.

I think the strategy applies across life. To your delivery driver, to your hair stylist, to the reptile breeder you are trying to buy an amazing animal from, to the young lady making your burrito bowl at Chipotle.

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I definitely understand what you're saying, and personally, I always aim to remain respectful in my interactions with others. I also believe that most people tend to handle situations the best way that they know how at the time. With that being said, sometimes persistence and being very direct is necessary in customer service situations in order to reach appropriate resolution.

With my particular shipping fiasco, I have no doubt there would have been a much worse outcome had I not been such a royal pain in the ass to FedEx. I was patient to a point and never raised my voice and was not rude. But you can bet that I was calling every 2 hours for updates so they knew I was not going away and that I escalated things to social media when I still had no answers four days later. It's a shame that customer service oriented businesses, such as FedEx, frequently require that the customer take the brunt of responsibility for following up to ensure issues are taken seriously. :(

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Originally Posted by Robyn@SYR

I disagree with this "stink" strategy. If you need to lodge a complaint, or educate a driver about safe handling of a live package, I think honey works much better than vinegar.

If you insist on berating your pizza guy for a late delivery, raising a stink, I don't think you are going to get improved service, or warmer pizza. If you send food back to the kitchen/chef with a note about "how stupid can you be not to follow my directions" I guarantee your plate comes back with extra surprises, non-appetizing ones.

It's the nature of the service industry.....

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With all due respect Robyn, I agree with most of what you say...however, a live animal is NOT the same thing as a pizza! Nor do I think it would have been a
good idea to open that well-shaken box for a neighborly show & tell with the offending delivery person.

Also, I've worked many years in various kinds of public service, & I did not mean that I'd have berated that delivery person...I'd have been talking to his boss.

It's the job of his boss to properly train employees so they do their job properly, and failing that, to let them go. There's just no excuse for a delivery person
to be tossing a box around with live animal in it. I have a VERY long "fuse" personally...but I'd fire an employee who deliberately & knowingly handled a package
is such a way that could damage or even kill the occupant being entrusted to his temporary care. And it wouldn't keep me awake nights either.