I live here in Southern California as well. My "Local Rep" is EXTREMLY helpful. (So helpful I think he might work on commission!) I’m e-mailing his name and phone # to you.
I've never shipped a snake yet, but I got certified. This is exactly what I did (So you don't have to weed through the entire thread at Fauna)
1. Open a Fed-Ex account. Wait at least 24 hours for account to activate
https://www.fedex.com/signup/oes?enr...tid=f037262224
2. Prepare a shipping box. Just like one to ship a reptile. In deli cup, or whatever you would put the snake in, put a post it note that says something like “Live harmless reptile goes here” Seal up the box just like you would to send it.
3. Fill out this form
http://fedex.com/us/services/pdf/PKG...ion.pdf?link=4
4. Put the form and the packing box into a larger box to ship them to the address on the bottom of the form.
5. NOW call an account Rep. Yours or mine, mine just connected me to package testing, so you may be able to call them direct. Tell them you need the acct # you should use to send a package to the testing lab so that THEY pay for shipping.
6. Ship them the box. Wait. About a week.
7. Get box back ~Approved I hope, mine was first time. My box and materials were from “Scales”:
http://www.exoticlizards.com/miscell...-supplies.html
8. Call account rep, explain that you need the Waiver to ship reptiles. If he/she seems confused, request that they contact James Brown in Legal. Fax the account rep a copy of your approval notice. (He/she needs to send it to James Brown)
9. Wait some more. Couple days, not long. Account Rep SHOULD FAX or E-mail you a copy of a Waiver letter to your BUSINESS name. (Idf not, call your Rep and inquire about the Waiver) Sign and FAX back. Try not to worry about the Business to Business part. Most of us have decided to interpret that as “Home Based Business” and my account Rep knows I live in a residential neighborhood and am a Home Based Business. When you ship something, just ask the receiver for a name of a “Business” if they should ever choose to become a home based business and send the package to the business name “C/O” whomever is purchasing the animal.
10. Wait a couple more days, you should get your signed and completed waiver back from Fed-Ex very shortly.
11. Thomas Acey says I should call him before I ship my first box so he can set me up for discounts for using a MasterCard and printing labels on my PC (You don’t get the discounts unless you ask specifically. Jean at Creature Company told me about them so I would know to ask)
Good Luck! Hope that helps!