Holy Shipping costs, Batman . . . .

[Monte]

. . . Yikes - I just got introduced to the world of shipping with UPS in 2005. Now, I'm not a novice - I just haven't shipped a ton of geckos since WAY early in 2004, with my switch over to cresteds.

Anyway - I saunter into my favorite drop off point for UPS. I have a 16x12x9 standard insulated herp box. Usually 35 bucks got you a long way. So I get to the counter - sending it to the southern part of the US - and she said "That will be 97.60." After I finish cleaning my underwear, I do quick mental calc - lessee - I sold a 100 dollar leo bought 2 years ago from RT for 60 bucks - and 40 dollars for shipping. Paypal takes 3% - which left me about 1 dollar left after SHIPPING.

She says "I'm independent now - if you want cheaper rates - you have to go directly to UPS."

No problem - I go to UPS. I have left my shipper license/permit/whatever lapse with UPS - because they changed the regs, allowing herp shipments. I get there - fill out the stuff - and they see the label "Live Harmless Gecko" on the box - and he says "I don't think we can ship that." Then he points to the sign which says, "No live animals"

Being the good natured "hippy" I am - i say cheerfully to call your boss and check. In the mean time I show them the pretty yellow/white albino male - and they ooh and ahh -and find out that they can ship them. They say this is the 1st time they've ever had to find out if they shipped geckos (even though I've done it through that place at least 20 times) - and I live in a city of approx. 50K.

So I bring my package up - thinking - 40 bucks to the south, that should do'er. The Bill comes to Almost 62 dollars. CRAP. So I bite the bullet and send it. It's going to a good home - and I'm out of leos for good.

Before I leave - I ask "What if I sent it in an 8x8x8 package?" - 40 bucks! What if it's 2 pounds instead of 1 pound. "40 bucks".

The Morale of this story - Start shipping in smaller dimensional boxes. The price savings are HUGE.

Sorry it's so long - but I'm wound up. LOL

 

[riverjop]

Monte! Did you check out the prices, for just tapeing the deli-cup lid and sending it off?

 

[Milwaukee Reptiles]

Yup... shipping costs me from $45-$55 for a 15x11x7 box, and that's with a UPS account. I'm lucky if I break even on shipping, and that's charging $50 to the customer. Smaller boxes are on the way.

Funny how my bill always seems to have $5 extra in "adjustments", but never says what they are....

Also, the people at UPS know me now, so now they always want to see what creature I'm sending out this time... lol.

 

[Manhattan Herps]

i feel your pain monte

about a month ago i sold a pair of beardies for 250 shipped, 50 was supposed to go towards the shipping, i got everything set up, then called UPS to schedule a pick-up, as i was on the phone i asked what the shipping price would be, and he said "72.50" (15x10x8 box, 2lbs)i was pissed off..but i paid the rest, they are in a great home now, so im not to pissed, i have about 20 smaller boxes coming..i cant beleive how pricey shipping has become..sheesh

 

[progeckos]

That’s the unfortunate truth Monte. UPS is now charging dimensional weight instead of actual weight. I use the 12 x 9 x 6 boxes from Superior Enterprise and it usually costs me $50 now (+/- a few dollars). It seems like every year the rates go up and it’s the same for all the major carriers.

Jeez, I remember when shipping was $25-30…

 

[sircat]

yeah...I have a hard time charging over $45 and shipping has cost me btwn $45 and $50 so far....I don't even add cost for box ($2+) and heat packs when needed...and yes, when using paypal they take some too

 

[bro paul]

I feel your pain Monte! I took about 6 months off from shipping and then I went to my local UPS store and heard the same 90 something dollar cost and about hit the floor...

Overton, your avatars keep getting more disturbing...lol

 

[Monte]

I think it's time to start a trend toward shipping leos in toilet paper tubes.

I gotta find those industrial, non-crushable ones. Sort of like a poster tube. LOL.

Get a long one - and you could ship a 1.2 trio.

All for $1.87.

 

[Gregg M]

I just shipped a leo to Xavier.... It cost me $90.06..... The good part is, they did not get it there by 10:30am so I got a full refund..... I had to fight and make about 15 phone calls, but I got it all back..... Most of my shipping is through delta dash so I expect a $70 shipping charge but my jaw hit the floor when I shipped with UPS last week...... They claim it has to do with gas prices or some crap like that..... Go with DHL..... They are half the price......

 

[Gregg M]

I don't even add cost for box ($2+) and heat packs when needed...and yes, when using paypal they take some too

I think it is rediculous to charge a box fee..... It is part of the buisiness and should be added into the price of the animal when pricing..... Most people that ship venomous, charge 25 buck for the box...... I have never added a box charge.... It cost maybe 3 buck to build a wooden box to ship hots......

 

[iasonn]

I just shipped a few geckos, and went with DHL, they all made it on time and the rates were much better. Just FYI, your milage may vary

 

[Xavier]

I just shipped a leo to Xavier.... It cost me $90.06..... The good part is, they did not get it there by 10:30am so I got a full refund..... I had to fight and make about 15 phone calls, but I got it all back..... Most of my shipping is through delta dash so I expect a $70 shipping charge but my jaw hit the floor when I shipped with UPS last week...... They claim it has to do with gas prices or some crap like that..... Go with DHL..... They are half the price......

Glad you got the money back, I'm still waiting for the bill on the male I sent you...

 

[magick-bears]

I have not been following the shipping issues as I am not yet ready to start shipping. But am I reading this right? UPS now allows live reptile shipments? If that is the case it is very good news I would think for all of us. Yes I understand the prices are going up but that is every where. I have almost got out of the mail order business more then once because it seemed like shipping cost were eating away all my profits.

As for DHL I will never again use them to ship or receive anything. I had a very expensive shipment of Corn snakes shipped to me using them last year. Not only did the shippment get lost for 2 days, when it was finaly found a supervisor was supose to deliver it to me. When he handed me the box it was very warm. I asked him why and he told me that he had something come up after he had put it in his car and that it sat out in his car for almost an hour befor he could bring it out. The temps that day were in the 80's. Unfortunatly the entire shipment was dead.

~Jeff C.

 

[nydrgnldy]

The only thing I have to say is that IMO UPS is the better company....why you might ask.I have had shipments with both UPS and FedEx fed ex drops the box at the door and never knocks.Granted I always know its coming and check every few minutes but with UPS the come to the door and knock.So I figure if your going to pay high prices you might as well get the better service...Just my opinion.
if only the post office were more dependable,that might be an option But I know I have had overnight delievries take 4 days.So Honestly I wouldn't chance them.
Robin

 

[Russ S]

Hey All,

UPS charges dimentional weight or actual weight whichever is higher. I know this because i asked, lol.

As for the mysterious $5 misc charge, I was told that it was a surcharge for residentional delivery.

 

[hill4803]

Its almost cheaper to ship delta dash! UPS has a habit of not even bothering to try to deliver to me...3rd floor, last time I ordered from rodent pro, UPS didn't even leave the little thing to tell me they delivered. I even sat & watched them drive right by my building and go to the lease office...lazy turds. Luckily this will change soon, I am closing on a new house at the end of the month...A whole new delivery guy to torture with my packages!

Hey Overton, have you been working out? That dress looks great on you, but you need to accessorize!

 

[outrageous02909]

does anyone know how to set up a account with ups, dhl, fedex. thank u

 

[Monte]

I don't know of the others - but for UPS just call them, and they do it over the phone. No sweat. That being said, you don't need it to ship non-venemous geckos anymore. They will do it for anybody.

 

[leaftail]

does anyone know how to set up a account with ups, dhl, fedex. thank u

Steve, there are already some good threads on this, in various fauna forums. If you did a fauna-wide "search" for this info, you'll get a lot of good answers and advice, from not just leo people.

 

[princesskain]

Why is it easy for everyone else..

I never knew setting up an account would be so hard..

I contacted DHL 1 1/2wks ago saying "I need to ship lizards, can you do that for me?" They asked "What kind of lizard", I replied "A gecko". The gal put me on hold awhile, comes back and says "sure can, but you have to fill out a waiver. I'll call you tomorrow with more account info". So no phone call, but they do send me a care package a few days later. ..Minus the waiver. So I contact them about it. They find out they sent it seperately, to the wrong place (??), so it's resent. I get it a couple days later, but the waiver says nothing about lizards, it only lists lobsters, frogs and insects. So I call them today.. (Mind you, 1 1/2wks after getting this ball rolling). they say "sorry, we can't ship reptiles. Sorry for the inconvenience". I was so angry. But my question is.. am I doing something wrong? Because they are telling me it's against their policy, yet others here are doing it?
And is it also illegal to go through Fedex? 90% of the herp packages I receive come to me through Fedex, but when I called them today - they also told me reptiles are against their policy. He said the only exception is Business to Business (ie - petshop to petshop, zoo to zoo etc..). WHAT'S GOING ON? I asked the Fedex guy "So why do all my packages come through you?" He says, "We don't know about it, they are illegal packages". I said "Can't be too illegal, they all say LIVE HARMLESS REPTILE on the side" . Anyways.. after 10 min of run arounds, he says.. "we can try to set something up with you if you sign a waiver saying we will not be held responsible for any of your packages while in transit". And I'm thinking, 'so what the am I paying you for again'? (I mean, if I wanted to ship with that amount of faith and assurance, wouldn't I just go through the Post Office? Afterall, that's cheaper.) Anyways, I DID GET AN ACCOUNT - THROUGH UPS. And might I add, the gal that set up my account was terrific! Very thorough, very friendly. I'm hoping for the best.

I wanted to share my experiences, as others I'm sure will run into these problems too. It's been really frustrating. Or can someone just tell me what I'm doing wrong? Why are these carrier's telling me "it's against our policy"?

Thanks for reading,
Hailey