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Steps To Become Fedex Certified!!!

TripleMoonsExotic said:
Yup, it's called the Federal Lacey Act.
Their is some argument about what is specifically legally required to put on the package; but consensus says to be safe and cover your butt, include the quantity, common name and scientific name of each species in the shipment. I put an e-mail into the USFW on the 17th to get it spelled out (and written proof that's what I was told to cover myself), but I have yet to get a response.
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Stephanie,

It would be really interesting to hear what they have to say on the subject.
 
cobravenom said:
Dont worry about the business to business clause. They cannot prove you are not a business and that you are not shipping to a business. Just use Sam's Reptiles shipped to "John Doe's Reptiles Unlimited" or whatever you can come up with. If you are breeding and selling you are a legit business in my opinion.
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In case one doesn't read the Fedex TOS -- you must be a legally zoned business for it to constitute a business address - in home businesses are still residential zones and therefore don't fall under their business to business conditions.

This means that you need to drop off or pick up from a Fedex location or ship to or from a business zone to be in step with your certification waiver. Not everyone follows this rule and considering most Fedex employees don't seem to know their own rules, it for the most part doesn't matter -- until the one day comes when it does. :yesnod:
 
John E Dove said:
You could also try shipping through Repster who also uses Fed Ex.
http://www.reptster.com/connections/fedex/fedex_terms.php

I've not used them yet but they sound good.
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Well some people love them and some people hate them. I for instance LOVE THEM! Everything went without a hitch and I sent my very first snake out using their service. Really not that big of a deal IMHO. Hell they're not the ones packaging the animal, YOU ARE!

I honestly believe that if you just went online, either using your account or just using the "public" access and purchased a Priority Next Day label you could drop it off at the counter and no one would be the wiser.

I would STRONGLY recommend finding out what the latest drop of time is for your local carrier and if it's 6:30pm, have the animal there at 6:15pm. If you drop the animal off at 8am when they open, the animal is going to be sitting in the box untill 6:30pm when they have the "pickup". Just my opinon, but I feel like that will greatly reduce stress to the animal, not to mention keeping the animal out of the box for at least 10 hours.

But thumbs up for Repster! Even with my discount on my account they still beat my next day priority price by $10 bux!
 
ToshaMc said:
In case one doesn't read the Fedex TOS -- you must be a legally zoned business for it to constitute a business address - in home businesses are still residential zones and therefore don't fall under their business to business conditions.

This means that you need to drop off or pick up from a Fedex location or ship to or from a business zone to be in step with your certification waiver. Not everyone follows this rule and considering most Fedex employees don't seem to know their own rules, it for the most part doesn't matter -- until the one day comes when it does. :yesnod:
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ive always received my packages right to my door. but, my packages always stated my name, and nowhere on the box "Matthew Ciupak Reptiles" or something similar.

Southern Wolf said:
David.... you may want to read the thread about Reptster in the BOI. You may change your mind.
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reptster is pretty recent (not THAT recent..) but on their forums, the only problems users experience is on the website. other than that, the packages are shipped ok. so :iagree: with David :thumbsup:
but imagine it in a year or more
 
mattciupak said:
reptster is pretty recent (not THAT recent..) but on their forums, the only problems users experience is on the website. other than that, the packages are shipped ok. so :iagree: with David :thumbsup:
but imagine it in a year or more
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Read the BOI thread. His business practices are deplorable. This thread is about certified FedEx shipping, not about using David's FedEx account shipping. ;)
 
I thought that this email attachment I received from my Fedex rep. might help clarify their own "howto" in getting certified. :thumbsup:

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SHIPPING LIVE REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN DOMESTICALLY

THE FOLLOWING MUST HAPPEN PRIOR TO AGREEING TO ACCEPT ANY LIVE REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN SHIPMENTS:

1. Customer’s packaging must be reviewed and approved by FedEx Packaging Design and Development (“Packaging Lab”).

Fill out an Application for Test Services. This Application is available in e-mail bulletin board under Packaging (subject: Application for Test Services), from logos (#118598) or by the following link: http://images.fedex.com/us/services/pdf/PKG_Services_Application.pdf

Send the Application, along with the packaging to be evaluated and tested, to:

FedEx Packaging Design and Development
2856 Directors Cove
Memphis, TN 38131

If you have any questions for the Packaging Lab, you can contact them at 1-800-633-7019.

2. The Packaging Lab will review the application, evaluate, then test the packaging. They will send a letter to the customer (with a copy to the account executive, Senior Manager of the station for the customer’s area and the Field Packaging Engineer) advising if their packaging has been approved or not.

If the packaging has been approved, the Account Executive must then have the customer sign a Waiver of Liability for Reptile and Amphibian Domestic Shipments. You can obtain a waiver by sending a copy of the approved test packaging report to Angela Raburn ([email protected]).

After the Waiver has been fully executed (the Account executive can execute on behalf of FedEx), a copy must be kept in the customer’s file maintained by the Account Executive, an original returned to Angela Raburn and a copy (along with the approved test packaging report) must be faxed to the Animal Control Desk (773) 601-0545 or sent to the following address:

FedEx/Animal Control Desk
O’Hare International Airport/Building 612
Chicago, IL 60666-0004

If the packaging is not approved, the customer must make modifications to their packaging and resubmit.

A list of approved shippers by account number are kept on TAO bulletin boards.

For marine life the bulletin board is: Marine life-Waivers.

For reptile the bulletin board is: Reptiles-Waivers (we don’t take any kind of venomous reptiles even on an exception basis).

For insects the bulletin board is: Insect-Waivers.

WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY REPTILE, MARINE LIFE OR INSECT SHIPMENTS WITHOUT THE ABOVE PROCEDURES IN PLACE.
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This was sent directly to my rep. (who then forwarded it to me) from Angela Raburn (Fedex Legal Dept.) upon my discussion with her about my own current process of getting certified.
 
Just throwing this out for input. I have been approved by the package testing department as far as that goes. However, it seems to me I may be getting a "run around" from the people between me and final approval. I got the report that my package passed a week and a half ago. My "Account Rep." has not contacted me at all. I have been in touch with another person that "says" they have sent e-mails to my rep to get things going. I still have not seen or gotten called at all as far as the final paperwork goes. I have given them my fax number and double checked to make sure they have the proper number. I am sure my e-mail address is right since the testing lab was able to send the test results back to me with no problem.

I am wondering if this is S.O.P. or if I should look at some kind of end run around someone who may not be happy with the fact that I will be shipping reptiles? What say you.
 
A question for those that have been approved. Are they wanting to inspect the box , insulation and wadding? Or is the container the animal will be in also to be sent? I don't want to do this more then once, and I gave up looking for the answer after 100 posts or so.

Thanks
Rick
 
Rick,

It is the whole deal... box, insulation, packaging, the container the animal is in inside the box, etc. The two main things they are looking at are the boxes ability to withstand the trip, as well as the animals safety and possibility of escape.

Simply using a box from Superior packed exactly like you would as if you were really shipping (minus the animal itself, but include the deli cup with air holes or a snake bag) will get you passed. Literally do everything you normally would minus the animal. Including putting some paper towel (or care fresh, etc) in the deli cup and then tape the deli cup like you usually would. Add the heat pack (can be used for this purpose), peanuts or whatever filler you like.

I have not talked to one person who has used Superiors insulated boxes and been turned down. Hope this helps. If you got anymore questions let me know, Bro. Always glad to help when I can.
 
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