ReptilesExpress.com

[twh]

I thought I should share this experience with all of you:

A couple weeks ago I signed up at Reptiles Express. I had some internet problems while signing up so I sent Debbie an email making sure everything went through. She responded VERY quickly and helped me get everything in order. Right off the bat I was impressed with their customer service.

On Tuesday (8/10) I was ready to ship my first package using Reptiles Express. I printed out the label, packaged everything up, and made my way to the nearest UPS drop off. When I got to the UPS store they told me that they wouldn't take my package. I showed them the letter Reptiles Express suggested I keep with me. The letter is signed by UPS's Director of Dangerous Goods and basically states that UPS agrees to ship live non-venomous reptiles through Reptiles Express. They UPS employees still refused to take my package.

I called Debbie and she spent the next 20 minutes making phone calls. about 35-40 minutes later everyone tells me that I have to drive to the St. Louis UPS hub and drop it off there. They said that they are expecting me over at the hub and that they will take the package.

So I make the drive out to the hub and when I get there - they refuse. More then just refusing they were all being pretty rude about it. I even heard some of the employees joking about killing the snake!!!! So I get back on the phone with Debbie and she spends the next 30-45 minutes making more phone calls. Apparently someone Debbie had spoken with was supposed to call the hub to let them know they could take the package, but the call was never made and when Debbie tried calling this person back she couldn't get a hold of her. I was really impressed with Debbie's effort. It felt great knowing I had someone fighting for me.

About an hour later UPS calls in one of their lost prevention employees. She comes in and takes a look at the letter from Reptiles Express. She asks me a lot of questions and then goes to make some phone calls. After about 20 minutes later she comes out and tells me that it was all cleared up and that I was allowed to ship the package! This lady was the only UPS employee that treated me with any kind of respect that day. She made sure that all the employees knew that they had to accept packages from me and Reptiles Express. She was very helpful!

So I finally send my package out. The next morning they arrive at their destination healthy! ...End of story? I wish it was...

The next day I receive a phone call from the helpful lost prevention lady at UPS. She tells me that the letter was fake and that the signature was copy and pasted. She says that Reptiles Express had a temporary pilot program that allowed them to ship animals but that it didn't work out. She informed me that the customers of Reptiles Express had no way of knowing any of this so none of the customers are held responsible but Reptiles Express is in a lot of trouble.

Now, UPS has really gone all over the place with their position. They went from telling me it was ok to ship to no it's not ok back to everything is fine and then back again to it's not ok. I'm really not sure what to believe here. I sent Reptiles Express an email explaining the phone call I received and Debbie emailed me back saying that she forwarded the email to the owners and that she hoped everything would be worked out soon.

I'm not sure what to think of all this. I did want to share it with all of you to get your opinions.

i just got a email from robyn at SYR and he stated that no third party shipping of snakes from anyone is authorized by UPS period.i did get a copy from RE of a authorized letter from UPS allowing snake shipping but the signature does look cut and pasted,so what's the real story?

i just called RE and no one answered so i left a message,i'll report if they get back.

[PghBall]

i just got a email from robyn at SYR and he stated that no third party shipping of snakes from anyone is authorized by UPS period.i did get a copy from RE of a authorized letter from UPS allowing snake shipping but the signature does look cut and pasted,so what's the real story?

i just called RE and no one answered so i left a message,i'll report if they get back.

Try emailing them. debbie@reptilesexpress.com She is pretty fast when returning emails.

[PghBall]

I think ColdBloodedCarnival had issues shipping due to going to the UPS Store to drop off the package. I was told by Debbie that ReptilesExpress has their contract with the UPS Customer Centers (HUBS) and not the UPS Stores, etc. UPS Stores are almost all franchised and the owners can set up their own policy for shipping snakes. She told me that I could try to contact them first but would most likely have to go directly to the HUB. My local UPS Store also told me that UPS does not ship snakes but the guy was a herper as well and found me a closer HUB in Pittsburgh to take mine to. Also, I purchased my shipping label directly from ReptilesExpress and am attaching both emails I received from UPS for my shipment to show it was no fake:

First Email:

UPS Ship Notification, Reference Number 1: Non-Venomous Reptile Shipper
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 8:36 AM
From: "UPS Quantum View" <auto-notify@ups.com>Add sender to Contacts
To: gls1973@yahoo.com

This message was sent to you at the request of REPTILESEXPRESS to notify you that the electronic shipment information below has been transmitted to UPS. The physical package(s) may or may not have actually been tendered to UPS for shipment. To verify the actual transit status of your shipment, click on the tracking link below or contact REPTILESEXPRESS directly.

Important Delivery Information


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Scheduled Delivery: 18-August-2010

Shipment Detail


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Ship To: (I removed the person's contact information from this post)


Number of Packages: 1
UPS Service: NEXT DAY AIR
Weight: 6.0 LBS


Tracking Number: (I removed this)
Reference Number 1: Non-Venomous Reptile Shipper


Click here to track if UPS has received your shipment or visit
http://www.ups.com/WebTracking/track?loc=en_US on the Internet.




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Please do not reply directly to this e-mail. UPS will not receive any reply message.
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Second Email:

UPS Delivery Notification, Reference Number 1: Non-Venomous Reptile Shipper
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 11:15 AM
From: "UPS Quantum View" <auto-notify@ups.com>Add sender to Contacts
To: gls1973@yahoo.com
***Do not reply to this e-mail. UPS and REPTILESEXPRESS will not receive your reply.

At the request of REPTILESEXPRESS, this notice is to confirm that the following shipment has been delivered.

Important Delivery Information


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tracking Number: (Again removed)
Delivery Date / Time: 18-August-2010 / 10:36 AM


Driver Release Location: MET CUSTOMER WOMAN


Shipment Detail


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ship To: (Removed personal information)

Number of Packages 1
UPS Service: NEXT DAY AIR
Weight: 6.0 LBS
Reference Number 1: Non-Venomous Reptile Shipper
Reference Number 2: PGHBall001




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© 2010 United Parcel Service of America, Inc. UPS, the UPS brandmark, and the color brown are trademarks of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. All rights reserved.
For more information on UPS's privacy practices, refer to the UPS Privacy Policy.
Please do not reply directly to this e-mail. UPS will not receive any reply message.
For questions or comments, visit Contact UPS.

This communication contains proprietary information and may be confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, the reading, copying, disclosure or other use of the contents of this e-mail is strictly prohibited and you are instructed to please delete this e-mail immediately.
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[mechnut450]

well i signed up tonight and will keep updated lol.

[twh]

i just got a email from robyn at SYR and he stated that no third party shipping of snakes from anyone is authorized by UPS period.i did get a copy from RE of a authorized letter from UPS allowing snake shipping but the signature does look cut and pasted,so what's the real story?

i just called RE and no one answered so i left a message,i'll report if they get back.

debbie from RE got back to me shortly after i left a message,RE addressed these issues on fauna and debbie told me they would address them here also,so i'll let that happen.

BTW at this point i have every reason to believe that RE is the real deal working very hard at providing a much needed service to the reptile community,however time will be the ulitmate judge.

[mechnut450]

sign up and approved, tonight I had to send pic of files signed since i don't havea scanner or afax machine. I wil lbe trying it shortly and i know i can get my supplies though them.

[Fallguy]

I just got rejected at my local hub. They made some calls, and also stated that the letter was fake. I called Debbie, and she is currently trying to clear things up. I will let you know how this turns out.

Right now I am not happy, so I will just go to my corner and wait for the outcome.

Is there a way to rush FedEx Certification?

[PghBall]

I just got rejected at my local hub. They made some calls, and also stated that the letter was fake. I called Debbie, and she is currently trying to clear things up. I will let you know how this turns out.

Right now I am not happy, so I will just go to my corner and wait for the outcome.

Is there a way to rush FedEx Certification?

I'm wondering if these are just a few HUBS that are doing this and not all UPS HUBS in general. As I stated above, I had no issues whatsoever and I know the guy saw what I had in the package as he read the label. If it wasn't legit, I doubt mine would have been delivered.

[jben]

I have to ship one out tomorrow, we'll see what happens but I just read in the UPS website that snakes are not allowed at all.
Check it out http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/res...s/animals.html
If you don't want to read the whole thing just scroll down to the bottom.

[Fallguy]

I shipped my test package to fedex... I might not want to even try them again...