Need some reassuring FedEx/shipping stories

[Neal]

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.

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.

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

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

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