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Reptiles Express, snake shipping suspended

lovin2act

lovin2act

I gave my wife herps
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Just got this email:

Temporary Suspension on Snake Shipping




Valued Reptiles Express Members,

The success Reptiles Express has enjoyed these first few months has been fantastic -- THANK YOU! to all who have joined as members and are using our services!



We have been working hard with UPS to develop a business model that provides value and service to the reptile community, and overall things are going well. We have however had some issues that need to be resolved concerning the shipping of SNAKES.



While reptile enthusiasts think nothing of holding, handling, or transporting a harmless non-venomous snake, this is new territory for UPS personnel, and the idea is taking some time to be fully accepted.



Technically we DO have a "snake waiver" -- we CAN ship snakes. But in spite of that fact, there has been some resistance to accepting them at some of the UPS facilities. This has resulted in confusion, delays, etc, which is obviously not good for any of us - including the animals. In order to preserve our ability to ship snakes going forward it's important that we help UPS work through these issues as calmly and smoothly as possible.



In an effort to do this, effective immediately we are placing a temporary suspension on the shipping of snakes. This is a voluntary move on our part that we feel is in the best interest of us all, and it applies to SNAKES ONLY -- we ARE still shipping other reptiles.



Updates on this issue will be posted on www.reptilesexpress.com as things progress.



We thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and for your continued support as we work towards making Reptiles Express the best it can be for us all.



ReptilesExpress.com
Clay Ghann
Michael Houtzager
Brendan Tighe
 
Doesn't look good

What it looks like is RE is sliding down. I think UPS is so unweildly large that there's a good chance they can't be consistant with policy and exception.

RE suspends snake shipping to calm UPS's snake fear down, or for higherups to make more visible that legit exceptions exist to policy? How long, couple weeks, a month? There will be centers and hubs that won't fall in line. If say, only one person in a hub knows of the authorized waiver RE has w/ them, and that person isn't available that day, there'll be a problem. On;y so many phone calls can be made to try resolve a particular instance, and execs might he swamped that day for w/e reason.
I see this as a long-term suspension if not the end of snake shippping with RE, and feel it wasn't the good option to Fedex as it first appeared to be.

Like many have said before, anyone shipping snakes get Fedex certified.
 
I agree that Fed-EX is going to be the way to go. I shipped a few times using RE and had no problems. I was actually upset when I got this Email today. Guess its time for the certification
 
I'll tell you one thing... I'm definately using RE for lizards, turtles and everything else anyhow... It's definately not them that's at fault here.. They are always on alert and ready to assist their customers in any way possible when problems arise and have been outright and forthcoming with any and all information that was asked to be provided by them on all threads related to them. I'm truly hoping this isn't the end of snake shipping through them because I enjoy the discounted rates and haven't had any issues since the first box I dropped off and that was taken care of in no time by Debbie! Since then I drop my boxes off at my HUB or with my regular driver and never had any issues.. they knew exactly what I was shipping and were happy to assist in anyway they could. The person at my Hub would actually keep the box inside by the counter just so it wouldn't have to sit in the Hot warehouse before shipping it out! Let's just be patient and see what comes of this but I have to agree... Having a Fed Ex Certification is a good thing to have just in case!
 
Oh yeah for sure I agree that RE has been nothing short of amazing!

It's UPS that I wish would get their heads out of their :eek:
 
There's a lot more politics involved with this then most think. I spoke to Brendan a few days ago before this email went out and I'm confident that everything will be back up and running as soon as possible, once the owners of RE and UPS settle a few things. I wish them all the best and hope this goes smoothly for them. :)
 
I talked to Deb and yes.. there is a lot more that can't be said.. she couldn't tell me much of anything but said that they are working with UPS to take care of this within the next couple of weeks and hopefully all goes well!
 
Melinda said:
:angry: Great, just great. I am not signing up for any more shipping services until they work out the freakin bugs.
Click to expand...

And thus the reason I have been telling everyone they need to sign up for a FedEx account... .but no one wants to listen to me :rolleyes:
 
I did Kevin.. :) LOL... It's the best backup plan but I will still be using RE for lizards and whatnot when I get going again.. got some babies on the way from my buddy who breeds them.. hatches them then sends them to me to sell for him :) I like the compromise because I then get pick of the litters from him!
 
I hope they get this taken care of soon. I hate having to charge $10 more for shipments, and then not being able to ship direct to someone's door if necessary. Fed Ex may be great, but they are considerably more expensive, and not as flexible.
 
I hope they get this taken care of soon. I hate having to charge $10 more for shipments, and then not being able to ship direct to someone's door if necessary. Fed Ex may be great, but they are considerably more expensive, and not as flexible.
 
WingedWolf said:
I hope they get this taken care of soon. I hate having to charge $10 more for shipments, and then not being able to ship direct to someone's door if necessary. Fed Ex may be great, but they are considerably more expensive, and not as flexible.
Click to expand...

My fedex packages come to me in an air conditioned van.... not a huge dark delivery truck with no AC. I'll pay the extra... my animals are worth it :thumbsup:
 
RidgeTop Reptiles said:
My fedex packages come to me in an air conditioned van.... not a huge dark delivery truck with no AC. I'll pay the extra... my animals are worth it
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It should be pointed out that not all FedEx hubs have those vans in service. ;) The big thing to me is no residential delivery with FedEx. I know it ticks my customers off that I won't violate my waiver with FedEx and ship to their home.
 
TripleMoonsExotic said:
It should be pointed out that not all FedEx hubs have those vans in service. ;) The big thing to me is no residential delivery with FedEx. I know it ticks my customers off that I won't violate my waiver with FedEx and ship to their home.
Click to expand...

Right - What gets me is the folks who throw a big fit over people who ship UPS without a waiver - but will ship Fedex to a residential address. BOTH are against the TOS of the companies. I really don't find one worse than the other :shrug01:

Obviously I am only referring to those who ship residential... The ones who only ship commercial are following the rules ;)
 
SERPENTS DEN said:
I wonder what would happen if FedEx, UPS the airlines suspend shipping ALL live animals/reptiles. The way things are going you can't say it would never happen.
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I'm guessing folks would go back to "flying under the radar" so to speak. I really hope that doesn't happen, but I'm with you on this one... With the way things are looking, I wouldn't be too surprised.
 
Abby said:
Right - What gets me is the folks who throw a big fit over people who ship UPS without a waiver - but will ship Fedex to a residential address. BOTH are against the TOS of the companies. I really don't find one worse than the other.
Click to expand...

When it's a large company lying to its customers and in turn those customers are violating UPS policy because they're taking them by their word I find that much, much worse. An individual choosing to violate their own agreement is much different then a company violating their own agreement and taking their customers with them.

Most of us weren't aware that FedEx specifically meant business zoning and home businesses didn't count (I certainly didn't). My rep never said a dang thing about it all these years. :ack2:
 
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