How different breeders ship

[anthroterra]

I'm not sure how important packaging is to certain collectors, but it is to me. I typically have animals shipped to my work, and having a label that indicates snakes would freak out my phobic boss Health of the animal is also a big deal. I figured I'd share what I've seen with three of the large breeders I've had experience with. Please share yours

Royal Constrictor Designs (young ball python): Shipped within a few hours of my order. Emailed me that he had done so, complete with a tracking number, and requested that I let him know that he had arrived safely. Box was labeled "Perishable: handle with care" and nothing else indicating what was inside. The box was lined with styrofoam and had multiple heat packets that kept my mystic potion nice and warm. He was in a suitable size deli-style container with a moistened paper towel which was labeled with his morph, sex, and hatch date along with a business card. He will not sell an animal or ship it until it has shed and had it's first meal. Highly recommended!

VMS Herp (corn snakes): You can order any time, but he only ships on Tuesdays. He emails you in order to ensure that someone will be there to greet the delivery truck on the correct day and provides the tracking number. Box was labeled "Perishable: handle with care", but there were green stickers put over this that said "Live harmless reptiles: Do not expose to direct sun, heat or cold. Keep at 70*. Handle with care." One side has a green label with what was shipped checked off. Box lined with styrofoam. Snakes were in individual deli cups with morph, sex and hatch date labeled on them and a paper towel to hide in. He will not ship if the weather is too hot, cold, etc in your area the day of arrival.

Bob Clark (young ball python): Snake shipped the day after order with no email confirming that she was shipped and no tracking number. I emailed the next day to see if he shipped it and never did get a response, but she arrived safely. Box was labeled "Perishable: handle with care" and nothing else indicating what was inside. Box lined with styrofoam. Snake was in a cloth bag and cushioned with shredded newspaper. No paperwork or anything else indicating morph, sex, or hatch date. Also of note: she was very young and slightly underweight. I'm not sure if she had her first feeding prior to shipment, and she shed the second day I had her. Beautiful snake, but I'll never order from him again. (I had also ordered a snake from his website that he had forgotten to take off, so I sent him a payment for a snake he already sold. No response from him, but I discovered the error three days later and requested a refund. A month and a half and several emails later it still had not been refunded, so I just ordered a different snake and paid the difference)