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Info Reptiles Express - interesting situation

Haha, maybe. It's been a long day and I must have clicked Last Page instead of Newest Post. I was actually surprised that I didn't see anything about the email when I posted because I'm usually not the first to things like that. Guess I proved myself right with that. :rolleyes:

Regardless, I hope when UPS hammers out all of their internal kinks things turn out in favor of those who want to ship snakes through them. I don't use UPS anymore because I've had a couple not-so-great experiences with them in the past, but it is always good to have multiple options for shipping available.
 
kmurphy said:
If all you need is the RE waiver to ship reptile via UPS then what is to stop someone from joining, getting the waiver and then dropping their membership. They could even pass it on to all their friends.

There has got to be more to it then just the waiver because the longer they are in business the more people have their waiver and the less control they have over it. I agree that the waiver allows you to ship but RE must have more control over others using the work they've done with UPS than just the waiver.

Maybe I am off base. I admit I haven't visited their website.
Click to expand...

Why would a person join, get the waiver, and then drop their membership? The whole point of shipping thru them, I thought, is to save money....
 
Are people shipping snakes waltzing into the UPS places an loudly announcing: "I HAVE A BOX FULL OF SNAKES HERE" because I have never had a UPS employee ask me what is in the box when I ship. I prepare the label on line, go into UPS and just say "here this is ready to go" and they take it.
Do the employees ask or is the person shipping volunteering the contents?
 
When I walk in with a box labeled with an RE label.. they will usually ask what's in the box. I have no quialms about telling them what it is and if they wanted to inspect it.. I'm not worried about that either because my packaging is secure.. If they do inspect and put everything back the way it was then there should not be any problems... I have never had this happen (knock on wood) because they know now what I ship and have no problems with it.
 
dzoo said:
Are people shipping snakes waltzing into the UPS places an loudly announcing: "I HAVE A BOX FULL OF SNAKES HERE" because I have never had a UPS employee ask me what is in the box when I ship. I prepare the label on line, go into UPS and just say "here this is ready to go" and they take it. Do the employees ask or is the person shipping volunteering the contents?
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Reference this thread on proper labeling requirements per the federal government. While they may not ask for details on what's inside, you shouldn't lie to them if they do. I've never been asked though, FedEx or UPS.
 
I have to agree...if you box is properly put together...properly packed...there should be no problems...many UPS employees deliver and handle boxes on a daily basis not know whats in it them...why should a snake be any different...its a box...it should be labeled fragile...thats it.
 
dumje said:
I have to agree...if you box is properly put together...properly packed...there should be no problems...many UPS employees deliver and handle boxes on a daily basis not know whats in it them...why should a snake be any different...its a box...it should be labeled fragile...thats it.
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WRONG. The box must be labeled, at a minimum, "Wildlife." Read the linked thread with the federal labeling requirements.
 
The employees at my hub always ask what is in my box, and I always tell them. They get a kick out of knowing, and they are perfectly fine with it :)
 
...its a box...it should be labeled fragile...thats it.
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"Perishable", "Live Biological Specimens" "Live Harmless Reptiles" etc. works if you really want to label it but none of that makes a bit of difference in how the box gets handled and might make it more prone to theft or abuse. The important thing is to make sure you have an accurate delivery address and recipients phone# on the box and your return address and phone # in case there are any problems, the box is sturdy and properly taped up and the animals should be packed to survive any possible delays.

I don't like to lie but I also don't want to have a lot of drama at UPS - if they did ask me what was in the box I would just say amphibians or frogs or something innocous that isn't going to generate a negative response or conversation. Its really none of their business whats in the box IMHO and I am not there to play show and tell.

I could just imagine the response one would get if you went in with the box labeled "Wildlife" - red flag to inspect!
 
It isn't a matter of "wanting" to label it, Jon - it is a Federal law that all shipments containing living things be accurately labeled. It may not happen often enough to make a solid impression on people, but shippers have been busted for these violations (there are actually threads about a couple on this site).
You might not think it's any of UPS' business what is in the box, but that's probably because you are shipping outside their TOS & don't want any hassles (if you aren't, then there wouldn't be any hassles).
In addition to what Steph has posted, check out the IATA regulations
 
Personally, I disagree with the "Wildlife" labeling encouraged by SYR (and a few others). That is vague enough that it could reference any number of prohibited animals, and could be expected to raise more red flags.

Before anybody asks - YES, I label my packages Live Harmless Reptile, AND note the species contained (though, admittedly, the latter is done inconspicously)...but, no, I don't use UPS.
 
hhmoore said:
Personally, I disagree with the "Wildlife" labeling encouraged by SYR (and a few others). That is vague enough that it could reference any number of prohibited animals, and could be expected to raise more red flags.

Before anybody asks - YES, I label my packages Live Harmless Reptile, AND note the species contained (though, admittedly, the latter is done inconspicously)...but, no, I don't use UPS.
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Me too - I label "Live harmless reptiles" and then the scientific name. I usually leave off the common name and "snake" but the people at my local UPS store are cool with it either way, I just don't want some employee thinking "hey that'd make a nice addition".
 
All of my packages have a label on them with the following info:
LIVE HARMLESS REPTILE(S)
Quantity:
Scientific Name:
Common Name:

I know this may draw some undue attention from the UPS staff, but it is a Federal requirement, so I follow the guidelines.
Also, the RE waiver is still good as far as I'm concerned; Shipped two animals out yesterday, they are out for delivery this morning.
 
hhmoore said:
Personally, I disagree with the "Wildlife" labeling encouraged by SYR (and a few others). That is vague enough that it could reference any number of prohibited animals, and could be expected to raise more red flags. Before anybody asks - YES, I label my packages Live Harmless Reptile, AND note the species contained (though, admittedly, the latter is done inconspicously)...but, no, I don't use UPS.
Click to expand...

I don't disagree with it, because the law is what it is, but I too label "Live Harmless Reptiles." The point is that you're not required to, it specifically states, at a minimum "Wildlife." Some people aren't comfortable putting "reptile" on their packages...I would rather see them comply in some form rather then ignore the labeling requirement entirely. :shrug01:
 
Same here. Would rather be honest and up front then have a problem down the line.


herpguy311 said:
All of my packages have a label on them with the following info:
LIVE HARMLESS REPTILE(S)
Quantity:
Scientific Name:
Common Name:

I know this may draw some undue attention from the UPS staff, but it is a Federal requirement, so I follow the guidelines.
Also, the RE waiver is still good as far as I'm concerned; Shipped two animals out yesterday, they are out for delivery this morning.
Click to expand...
 
Its really none of their business whats in the box IMHO and I am not there to play show and tell.
Click to expand...

It is 100% their business, since they're shipping it and need to follow appropriate protocol and safety procedures. I don't *like* their regulations but then, I'm not a stockholder or director, so I don't really have a stake in it. Any business has the right to know what they're dealing with...
 
My packages are labeled "Parishable, Fragile, Handle with Care" on the outside of the box usually all four sides and then on the label itself I will put what's contained in the box. My UPS guy this last time asked if I would show him what I ship next time.. He's curious about how they are packaged and shipped which I think is really cool since he tells me he's not really a snake guy :) At least he's showing interest and isn't squeamish about it! I've shipped off 16 packages since March which is good for me since I'm just a hobbiest with a small collection and all have been delivered successfully with the one incident with the waiver when RE first came on the scene but since then.. all's been well :)
 
The problem with all this, if I may butt in... is UPS employees are not all up-to-date on what they can or cannot accept. Most of the time, I drop off my packages and if they ask what it is or why it's labeled perishable my answer now is, "I don't know, I was simply told to drop it off."

Once you tell them what it is, despite having the waiver, or letter from UPS corporate they go crazy! So I now keep my mouth shut.
 
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