Using your own packaging

[MrLang]

If people abuse the right to ship live reptiles and that right gets taken away, the ball python industry sinks pretty fast IMO.

Let's continue to ship within the law and encourage others as much as possible to do the same

[Jabberwocky Dragons]

Mandatory? From where have you gleaned this? Seems to me that if you don't need the extra thickness there's no reason to use it.

Depends on the temps...I would think 1/2 inch is fine in most cases...

Can I just buy regular brown shipping boxes and right live harmless reptile on them and ship them? Do I have to use the expensive shipping supplies if I use ship your reptiles? I would cut the foam for the inside and do it like the ones they sell it would just be brown with handwriting instead of white with perishable handle with care. Has anyone used there own boxes or knows if this is ok?

The OP asked about shipping with your own supplies through Ship Your Reptiles, not a general question about insulation and temperatures. I personally prefer 3/4'' for normal shipping but it doesn't really matter here. Ship Your Reptiles requires a minimum 3/4'' insulation to use their shipping service.

From their website:

Insulation lining must be at least ¾ inch thick. The insulating lining must cover all four sides of the inside of the cardboard box, as well as the top and bottom.

http://www.shipyourreptiles.com/en/g...s/#question-20

[MrLang]

It's unclear to me what SYR even does for you. They allow you to print labels and have the package picked up at your house? Is this because you can't drop off live animals at the pick-up locations? Couldn't you go about all of these steps directly through UPS yourself?

I don't understand the purpose of SYR...

[Dave Green]

It's unclear to me what SYR even does for you. They allow you to print labels and have the package picked up at your house? Is this because you can't drop off live animals at the pick-up locations? Couldn't you go about all of these steps directly through UPS yourself?

I don't understand the purpose of SYR...

You can't ship snakes via UPS.
1. You can avoid getting FedEx certified if you ship properly through SYR.
2. You can save a few bucks as they get a discount.
3. Probably another reason or two but I'm a bit tired today...

[Stewart_Reptiles]

It's unclear to me what SYR even does for you. They allow you to print labels and have the package picked up at your house? Is this because you can't drop off live animals at the pick-up locations? Couldn't you go about all of these steps directly through UPS yourself?

I don't understand the purpose of SYR...

SYR does not use UPS nor should YOU use UPS when shipping snakes, it is against UPS policy to do so.

You can have your package picked up or dropped of at the hub, it is up to you however I would encourage to use common sense and not using pick up in extreme temps.

Using SYR allows you to print your shipping label without having to be fedex certified, it also allow you to ship residential to residential which is not allowed in your contract if you are fedex certified. People who are certified to ship reptiles via Fedex can only ship business to business in other word hub to hub and not door to door even if many do so.

Even though I am Fedex certified I benefit from a greater discounts when using SYR.

Lastly SYR has insurance available which is not the case. when using your own fedex account.