Shipping difficulties advice

[Argentra]

Ok, I just tried my first snake shipping through ShipYourReptiles.com. The site is great, and was very easy to use, so I had no trouble with them.

However, be wary of where you take your box to drop it off for shipping. I went this afternoon to a UPS Store nearby with the box, all taped up with the printed label and holes punched with 'Live Harmless Reptile' written on the side. All went well...until they heard the snake move around (She's a corn that hates confinement). At that point, they started asking if that was really a live animal, and giving the spiel on 'UPS doesn't ship animals'. I told them this was through SYR and they made me wait while they looked them up. Well, finally they reluctantly took the box, but gave me a warning that their driver might not accept it.

I called SYR a bit ago, and they said that doesn't happen often, but when it does it's always the UPS stores. Something about their being privately run, so they're more picky. He advised me to go to Office Depot/Staples counters in the future.
So, I'm passing on this bit of info to save others the added stress. It's bad enough worrying about if your packaging was good enough, if they'll be too warm, and if the box will get there alright...we shouldn't have to worry about the darn people taking the box.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

UPS stores are often a problem, even the staff at the hub has recommended me to drop off my animals directly at the hub and avoid dropping them at the store.

It's a little further for me to drop the packages at the hub however they know me, know what I ship and they never caused me any trouble, they even keep my packages in the office (only room with air conditioning) until the very last minute when they are picked-up so I can't complain.

[ctgecko]

i've had this problem with many ups stores , it really depends on the owner of the ups store! i even had a ups driver that was in the store tell me that he has worked for ups for 15 years and he has never heard of shipping reptiles and he was pretty sure it was illegal too . the guy made me look like a criminal to everyone else in the store .it was kinda embarassing , but avoid the hassle and go right to your local hub . it is funny that ship your reptiles says they are paird up with UPS but every store i ever went to has never heard of it and you look like a complete idiot trying to explain the website to the employee!!

[WingedWolfPsion]

Luckily, my closest UPS store are great, they know me there now, and they know I'm shipping snakes. No problem.

[SinisterSerpents]

Well you done a wonderful job shipping her!! I got her safe and sound and she's seems to be liking her new home so far! Kudos to you and your first shipped snake!!!