SHIPPING: What you need to know!

Just a friendly reminder about properly labeling packages

Or you may get a call like I did this morning from the department of agriculture. The package I was waiting for was quarantined at the FedEx hub. Luckily it doesn't sound like the shipper is going to get in any trouble but they are sending both him and myself 'notice of marking violations letters'. The box was a standard 'live harmless reptile' box but no common or scientific name was listed. The inspector's dog barked at the package which alerted them. Package was released to me after inspection, but I wanted to put this out as another warning for people shipping, please make sure to follow proper labeling!

Yea, I always attach a packing slip in a clear plastic sleeve to the outside of the box. I write on the packing slip exactly what is inside. This way they don't have to open my box and I don't have to write what is inside all over the box as advertisement for any unreliable package handlers.

I think California has some hot to trot laws in regards to anything live crossing state lines. This isn't the first time I've heard Cali stopping a package. When my Mum moved out there she wasn't even allowed to bring her house plants into the state without a thorough inspection!

Where do you guys buy the plastic envelopes for the outside of the packages? Or will the post office just have them when I go to ship?

FedEx and UPS have them free, you can order them online. You also really should not be shipping out of a post office. Shipping snakes is expressly prohibited; assuming your shipping a non-snake, they don't guarantee overnight and their tracking system is atrocious.

Sorry, I use post office as a generic term for ups, usps, and fedex. I normally use ups, but I've only shipped inverts before. Thanks for the reply.

Originally Posted by TripleMoonsExotic

FedEx and UPS have them free, you can order them online. You also really should not be shipping out of a post office. Shipping snakes is expressly prohibited; assuming your shipping a non-snake, they don't guarantee overnight and their tracking system is atrocious.

I agree with this, but there are some dissenting opinions. I actually brought this up previously in a different thread and it was mentioned that USPS is guaranteed overnight now.

I have had previous bad experiences with USPS and insect orders taking 3 days on an overnight package.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...d.php?t=225302

Originally Posted by scaledverts

I agree with this, but there are some dissenting opinions. I actually brought this up previously in a different thread and it was mentioned that USPS is guaranteed overnight now.

I have had previous bad experiences with USPS and insect orders taking 3 days on an overnight package.

There's a big sign at my PO that says that do not guarantee next day delivery to all locations. I'm sure if I ship a few states out they'd arrive next day no problem, but out to California for example, that would not arrive next day. I've been in the same boat as you though, items shipped next day and they don't arrive until several days later.

I have never shipped a snake before and have been reading this information here. What service would I use in order to ship an animal without having to do all this paperwork and taking a few weeks. Is there a service I could use that I just do the packaging, pay for shipping and they send it?

also from what i see the standard is 50 dollars for shipping. but when i go to get an estimate using fedex website it is way more expensive...like 90