High shipping - what's the solution ??

Shipping is killing me. Losing me potential sales.
For whatever reasons, a lot of people interested in my snakes (Cal Kings) are east coast - and the current 2lb rate is around $70 or so.

I look at classifieds, and see some people advertising shipping for $50 - how the hell do they do it? Do they just eat the difference, or is there a way to get a better rate from FedEx?

For me to eat $20 and the cost of a new box, insulation, cold pack - it's just not possible.

What's the deal, how do they ship for so little?

They're probably just eating the difference, or they have a deal worked out for high shipment volumes. Reptster is 20% off Fed Ex's normal rate, so that's a way to save a little as well. I agree shipping overall is getting kind of high, but it is for everyone--the gas prices are driving the cost of everything up (pardon the pun).

Thanks for the Repster suggestion! I'm checking them out right now.
That 20% will make a huge difference.

For those reading this thread - what FedEx said would cost me ~$70 - I can do through repster using a repster box for just under $50

Until I have the volume to demand such deals from FedEx myself (unlikely anytime soon, if ever) - clearly repster is the way to go. Furthermore, it looks like repster may be making a deal with UPS as well - which give us some competition in finding the best shipping rate.

Thank you WingedWolf - I appreciate the tip.

NP, I think what they're doing it absolutely wonderful for the herp community (they're not making gobs of money off it, either). As a small breeder myself, I wasn't looking forward to going through that Fed Ex certification process--now I don't have to.

Originally Posted by FunkyRes

For those reading this thread - what FedEx said would cost me ~$70 - I can do through repster using a repster box for just under $50

Is repster an actual delivery service or do they contract thru someome else?

What about their reliabilty?

It's basically a fedex account.
You put your shipping info in (from address, return address), pay via cc, and you get a label which you then affix to the box (which they provide) and drop off at your usual fedex drop spot.

Repster is highly reliable and will send you free insulated boxes to use for your over night animal shippments. Give them a try Ed. They ship through Fedex and are trying to get UPS on board too.

so, when selling an animal you include the shipping price with the order right? so hold on...you have to send that money forth and then pay again?

Originally Posted by Geckophoria

Repster is highly reliable and will send you free insulated boxes to use for your over night animal shippments. Give them a try Ed. They ship through Fedex and are trying to get UPS on board too.

Sounds attractive as an option, but I am getting the most reliable service with Fedex and thats important to not have to worry about a live animal showing up or not.

It is costing $70.00 plus even for the smalliest package under 2 pounds shipping from the east coast to the west coast(damn fuel surcharges).

The cost of shipping is certainly keeping a few people from buying.

I have had packages completely disapear with UPS or take days for an overnight delivery.