• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

UPDATE ON SHIPPING

HI ALL!

OKAY, HERES WHAT I KNOW SO FAR.
AT THE END OF JULY ALL THE SHIPPERS THEY HAVE BEEN
TRACKING WILL BE REVIEWED FOR PERFORMANCE, REVENUE,
PROBELMS, COMPLAINTS, ETC.... AT THAT POINT THEY WILL
DECIDE WEATHER OR NOT TO TRY TO CHANGE THEIR POLICY.
FOR NOW, MY UPS REP IN TULSA SAID THAT THEY CANNOT
STOP ANYONE FROM SHIPPING SNAKES. WHY YOU ASK? SOME
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DENIED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THEY HAVE SUED SINCE THEIR COMPETITORS WERE LEFT ALONE SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR "VOLUME". EVERY CASE THEY LOST IN COURT OR SETTLED OUT OF COURT. ONE CASE
THERE WAS ALMOST 100,000$ AWARDED.  MY REP SAID THAT
MOST AREA MANAGERS ARE LEFT TO DECIDE IF THE PERSON OR BUSINESS THAT IS SHIPPING IS GOING TO BE A "RESPONSIBLE SHIPPER".  THE PROBELM WITH THIS IS THAT
MOST OF US INDIVIDUALS OR  "GARAGE SHOPS" SHIP THE SAME WAY OR EVEN BETTER THAN THE "BIG BOYS". SO WHEN
SOMEONE IS DENIED , THEY CAN SUE, PROVE THEY USE RESPONSIBLE SHIPPING METHODS JUST LIKE THEIR COMPETITION , AND SO FAR UPS HAS HAD TO PONY UP SOME SORT OF SETTLEMENT EVERY TIME. NOW THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS ALL THE DARN HASSLE YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GO THROUGH.  AS LONG AS THE SIDE OF THE BOX IS MARKED WITH THE QUANTITY, SPECIES SCIENTIFIC NAME, AND COMMON NAME, PACKED CORRECTLY AND SECURLY, NO ONE
SHOULD HAVE ANY REAL PROBLEMS EVEN AS OF NOW ACCORDING TO MY REP. UNLESS THEIR IS SOME REASON FOR
SUSPISION OF EXPLOSIVES ETC... THE PACKAGE WILL NEVER BE X-RAYED OR OPENED. STANDARD UPS POLICY WHEN A SNAKE IS FOUND IS FOR THE PACKAGE TO BE RETURNED TO SENDER IN THE FASTEST POSSIBLE WAY.
 NOW IF YOUR AREA UPS MANAGER GIVES YOU GRIEF WHAT MY REP. RECOMMENDS IS THIS: IF YOU DONT HAVE A UPS ONLINE ACCOUNT, GET ONE. INSTEAD OF PUTTING "YOUR SNAKES" OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, TRY TO USE YOUR COMPANIES INITIALS. MAKE SURE THE PACKAGE IS PACKED
CORRECTLY!! USE THE DROP OFF AT A DISTIBUTION CENTER IF YOU CAN OR A DROP OFF POINT THAT IS IN A COOL PLACE OF BUSINESS. FIND OUT WHEN UPS USUALLY PICKS UP AT THAT DROP OFF POINT AND TRY TO DROP YOUR BOXES OFF A
HOUR BEFORE SO THE PACKAGE SPENDS MINIMAL TIME THERE.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE DAILY PICK-UP, GET FAMILIAR WITH YOUR DRIVER WHO DOES THE PICKING UP. TAKE A FEW
DAYS TO MAKE "SMALL TALK" BUT BE VERY NICE NO MATTER
WHAT. IF HE/SHE ASK ABOUT WHAT YOUR SHIPPING ALL THE TIME,  DONT BE SPECIFIC, PULL OUT A BEARDED DRAGON OR SOMETHING VERRRRY DOCILE SO HE CAN SEE AND GO "OH HOW CUTE".  SHOW HIM SOME "SUPPLIES" THAT ARE LARGE
AND LEAVE IT AT THAT. USUALLY THEY'RE IN TO BIG A HURRY
TO ASK MUCH THOUGH.  FOLLOWING THESE STEPS SHOULD
LEAVE YOU HASSLE FREE. EVEN IF YOU HAVE BEEN BUSTED BEFORE OR HASSLED TRY PICK-UP INSTEAD OF DROP-OFF OR
VISA-VERSA. IF YOUR CURRENT ACCOUNT HAS BEEN "TAGGED"
OPEN UP A NEW ONE USING INTIALS OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT. IF YOUR AREA MANAGER STILL GETS WIND AND GIVES YOU GRIEF, EMAIL ME PRIVATELY.
 WITH ALL THIS IN MIND, REMEMBER THAT IT IS NOT ILLEAGEL TO SHIP THROUGH UPS AS LONG AS YOU HAVE SOMEWHERE ON THE BOX MARKED WITH SCIENTIFIC, COMMON NAME, AND QUANTITY (LACY ACT REGUARDING INTERSTATE SHIPPING OF REPTILES). I USUALLY PUT ALL THREE IN A ROW WITH NO SPACES IN BETWEEN.   

WELP, THIS IS ABOUT ALL I KNOW RIGHT NOW. SOON AS
I GET ANY MY WORD I'LL BE SURE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW.

GOD BLESS TO ALL!!!
BEN SPARKS <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>
 
HI EVERYONE!!

WELP, I GUESS TODAY IS THE BIG DAY!! I GOT A CALL THIS
MORNING FROM UPS AND WILL BE MEETING WITH THEM
AT 11:30 THIS MORNING TO GO OVER WHAT THEY HAVE COME
UP WITH.  SOON AS I GET BACK TO THE BOX I'LL LET EVERYONE KNOW WHAT THE NEWS IS (HOPEFULLY GOOD!!&#33<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>
WE WERE SUPPOSE TO DO THIS AT THE END OF THE MONTH
BUT ITS BEEN BUMPED UP TO TODAY SO I DONT KNOW IF THATS GOOD OR BAD, AT ANY RATE THOUGH WISH ME LUCK AND SAY A LITTLE PRAYER : ) !!

GOD BLESS!!
BEN SPARKS <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>
 
HI EVERYONE,

WELL, I WISH I HAD BETTER NEWS BUT I'LL LET YOU KNOW ALL THAT I DO.
 UPS HAS DECIDED THAT THEIR POSITION IS GOING TO BE TO
HANDLE EACH SHIPPER ON A "INDIVIDUAL" BASIS. THEY BASICALLY SAID THAT THEY ARE GOING TO RESERVE THE RIGHT TO NOT LET SOMEONE SHIP REPTILES WITH THEM IF THEY FEEL THEY ARE NOT SHIPPING IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER.  THERE HAS BEEN A FEW INCIDENTS OVER THE PAST
6 MONTHS THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF THAT THEY INFORMED ME ABOUT. I BROUGHT UP OF THEIR PREVIOUS LAWSUITS AGAINST THEM FOR ALLOWING CERTAIN COMPANIES TO SHIP AND NOT OTHERS GIVING ONE A MARKET EDGE. THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY LOST OR SETTLED OUT OF COURT ON ALL OF THESE THAT I KNOW OF. THEY SAID THEIR LAWYERS FELT THAT IN THE FUTURE AS LONG AS THEY ALLOWED "RESPONSIBLE SHIPPERS" TO USE THEIR SERVICE
THAT THE ISSUE WOULD NOT COME UP AGAIN. IT MAY COME UP FOR POLICY REVIEW AGAIN IN THE FUTURE OR IT MAY NOT.  I WISH I HAD BETTER NEWS BUT I FEEL I'M AT THE END OF A LOOOONG ROAD RIGHT NOW AND DONT SEE ANY FORKS IN IT. I APPOLOGIZE IF I GOT ANYONES HOPES UP AND I'M SORRY I DIDNT GET BETTER RESULTS FOR THE HERP INDUSTRY. IF I CAN COME UP WITH ANY OTHER IDEAS ETC...
I ASSURE YOU I WILL CHECK THEM OUT.

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND EMAILS AND
AGAIN I'M SORRY I COULDNT DO MORE.

GOD BLESS TO ALL OF YOU!
BEN SPARKS <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('>
 
Ben,

that is too bad that it didn't work out this time around.  And don't worry about not doing anything, you have done more than most of us in the industry can or would have.  

However, I do see their point one way and of course the opposite in another.  For one, it is those irresponsible shippers that caused the "incidents" that made them leary.  I can't blame UPS really for not wanting to make it generally acceptable for any joe schmoe to ship herps.  But of course, what is it that you can do to become "responsible" in their eyes?  Wouldn't you have to actually SHIP some live packages through them to gain that distinction?  Or would it become like Delta and they come to inspect your house and collection to make you a "known" shipper?  That is an aweful gray area to me.
And of course there are those companies that are getting a business edge if they are allowed to ship through UPS while others are not.  I am allowed to ship herps through them, but then there are several others here in town that aren't.  Why am I allowed to and they aren't?  To tell the truth I have no clue other than it may have something to do with the particular rep that you get.  

Anyway, let's not give up people.  As long as we continue to pack our animals responsibly and safely, we will eventually get to the end of that long road and have no more problems shipping!!!

Cheers!  And thanks Ben for all the hard work!
 
THANKS ROB,

THEIR MAIN PROBLEM AND WHAT SEEMED TO BE THE BIGGEST
SET-BACK WAS THAT THE INCIDENTS WERE NOT WITH THE
JOE-SCHMOE SHIPPER, IT WAS WITH LARGE WELL KNOWN COMPANIES IN THE INDUSTRY.  TAKE LLL REPTILE FOR EXAMPLE AND THE STUNT THEY PULLED . AND YOUR RIGHT ABOUT LOOKING AT BOTH SIDES, ITS NOT LIKE THEIR DECIDING ON WHETHER TO LET PEOPLE SHIP HOT-WHEELS OR SOMETHING. AT ANY RATE THOUGH WE WILL PERSIVERE !!!

GOD BLESS
BEN SPARKS <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>
 
Ben,

I know you've posted this information before, but could you please tell us with whom it was that you met today?  That way, when I go to my local UPS office I can at least have some information to let them know that I am one of those "responsible" shippers.  Thanks for trying what you have, and thanks for the information!

Darin
 
THE UPS REP THAT HELPED ME SPEAR HEAD THIS IS AMANDA
HARDWICK. I MET SOME OF HER SUPERIORS BUT SHE WAS THE ONE THAT "WORKED FOR ME". SHE REALLY WENT OUT OF
HER WAY TO TRY AND MAKE IT WORK. I GAVE HER SOME TEDDY BEAR HAMSTERS WHEN SHE CAME OUT TO OUR HOUSE
AND YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THEY WERE GOLD PLATED.
ANYTHING I DO AT UPS I'LL DO THROUGH HER.

HOPE THIS HELPS!
BEN
 
Just wondering, what was the "stunt" that UPS pulled? I've ordered from them in the past, and have thought about ordering more in the future, but if they've done something to jeopardize our shipping rights, I won't buy from them again. Could someone fill me in?
 
i would also like to know about the stunt LLL pulled but more importantly, what can an individual do to prove that they are a responsible shipper?  do we pack the herps up directly in front of them to get their approval in shipping?  thanks ben, you have done more than anyone in this industry (definitely recently and maybe even ever) to get herps to a level of legal shipping!  your efforts have not gone unappreciated!
 
Ben,


             You really should get more credit for what you have accomplished !  You have found out what and why UPS's problems with shipping herps is, which is more than I could do locally when I called I was told  " ITS OUR POLICY SIR, THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT " .  You have gone way out of your way to help us all out and you should know that people appreciate your time, effort and commitment to this matter which is beneficial to all of us that do ship herps.  I had a situation last year and you tried to help me out and I wont forget that either.  We need more people like you involved in the herp community and I personally would like to thank you for what you have done.


Gary Walsch
Sunshine State Reptiles
 
Here is a question for all of you...
How many people out there are allowed to use ups for shipping reptiles without a daily pickup account?

I have tried several times, only to hear that I am not allowed to ship reptiles (much less snakes) without a daily pickup account where ups comes to my facility every day.  That I am NOT ALLOWED to drop off packages at a counter or center.  Then I hear of several people who have occasional shipper accounts and permission to ship reptiles and do drop offs.  I tell Ups this and they say that it is against national policy and these people are not allowed to do this.

If any of you do have permission to ship without a daily account, I would greatly appreciate knowing who you deal with so that I can get somewhere!  I would be happy just using usps, but they now cannot guarantee any overnight shipping of live animals--only 2nd day.
I figure step at a time--cant get them to let me ship snakes, if I cant even get an account.  

Thanks for any input.
Dana
 
Ben, Thank you!  I am sure it took a great deal of your time to make all of the arrangements.  For the rest of us, how do we proceed.  Is there anything we can reference (UPS contact?) if we encounter any problems at the UPS counter?
 
THANKS EVERYONE,

I'LL TRY TO ANSWER EVERONES QUESTION BEST I CAN.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, EVERYONE HAS TO HAVE A DAILY PICK-UP
ACCOUNT TO GET WRITTEN PERMISSION TO SHIP. I KNOW THIS SEEMS EXPENSIVE TO SOME BUT ITS EASY TO DO IF YOU SHIP EVEN JUST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. THE PICK-UP RATE IS BASED AND WHAT YOU SPEND ON SHIPPING WITH THEM EACH WEEK. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU SPEND 60$ OR MORE IN SHIPPING THEN IT IS FREE. IF YOU SPEND 30$ A WEEK IT COST SOMETHING LIKE 10$ AND IF YOU SPEND NOTHING I THINK ITS 15$.  THIS IS THE EASIEST THING TO DO.  WHEN YOUR DAILY DRIVER SHOWS UP JUST TELL THEM WHAT DAYS YOU ARE MOST LIKELY GOING TO SHIP ON (MON-WED) AND TELL THEM NOT TO WASTE THEIR TIME COMING THE OTHER DAYS. IF YOU SHIP TWICE A WEEK THEN YOUR OUT NO $$ AND ALL IS WELL. ALSO, TO EASE GETTING PERMISSION ALWAYS REFER TO YOURSELF AS A "BUSINESS LIKE ENTITY". FOR EXAMPLE, WE WERE NOT INCORPERATED OR ANYTHING SO WE WERE C.R.C.-HOBBY SHOP.  THEY SEE IT AS A BUSINESS WITH BUSINESS TO BE HAD AND WERE MUCH MORE OPEN THAT THE ORIGINALL CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH THEM AS A "JOE BLOW INDIVIDUAL SHIPPER".  FURTHERMORE DO NOT GO TO THE COUNTER SOMEWHERE AND ASK FOR PERMISSION TO SHIP, THIS IS JUST ASKING TO GET DENIED. WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR ACCOUNT ONLINE THERE IS A "HELP" EMAIL FOR QUESTIONS ETC.... EMAIL THEM ABOUT YOUR WANTING TO OBTAIN WRITTEN PERMISSION TO SHIP "HARMLESS REPTILES". THEY WILL GET A REP IN CONTACT WITH YOU. THESE ARE SALES REPS WHO MAKE MONEY FOR GETTING YOUR BUSINESS, AS OPPOSED TO THE SUPERVISER AT THE COUNTER THAT IS PAID BY THE HOUR AND HAS NO INCENTIVE REALLY TO GET YOUR BUSINESS. THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST WAY TO GO!!
 SORRY IF I DRAGGED THAT ALONG THERE, NOW TO THE QUESTIONS ABOUT LLL.
 BACK IN JANUARY LLL WAS SHIPPING SNAKES WITH UPS AFTER ALREADY BEING BUSTED BY THEM ONCE AND TOLD NOT
TO DO IT AGAIN. A PACKAGE SHIPPED OUT BY LLL SOMEHOW GOT BUSTED OR SOMETHING AT A UPS DOCK AND THE SNAKE
APPARENTLY GOT LOOSE SOMEHOW. A UPS EMPLOYEE PUT A
5 GALLON BUCKET OVER THE SNAKE AND THEY CALLED LLL.
LLL COMPLETELY DENIED THAT IT WAS THEIR SNAKE ALSO DENYING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY  FOR IT.  THE "UPPERS" AT UPS INVESTIGATED SWIFTLY AND THERE WAS NO DENYING THAT THIS WAS LLL'S SNAKE. MEANWHILE THE SNAKE SITS UNDER THIS BUCKET FOR 2 DAYS UNTIL UPS PULLS ITS SHIPPING FROM LLL, NOT ALLOWING THEM TO SHIP. AFTER "SHUTTING DOWN" THEIR SHIPPING LLL ADMITTED THAT THE SNAKE WAS THEIRS, ADMITTED THAT THEY LIED, SIGNED AN AGREEMENT NOT TO SHIP OUT ANYMORE SNAKES VIA UPS, AND FINALLY WENT TO
GO GET THE SNAKE. THIS WAS SOOOOOOO DAMAGING YOU
CANNOT IMAGINE. LLL IS CONSIDERED IN THE TOP 5 SHIPPERS
WITH UPS (IN THE REPTILE INDUSTRY) AND FOR THEM TO PULL THIS OFF MADE THE WHOLE INDUSTRY LOOK PRETTY BAD.  I WAS TOLD OF THESE EVENTS DIRECTLY FROM UPS.
 IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO ASK OR EMAIL ME PRIVATELY, I'LL DO ALL I CAN TO HELP.

GOD BLESS TO ALL!
BEN SPARKS <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>
 
Ben. You lost me. LLL is not allowed to ship snakes with UPS, but smaller dealers can ship, if they have a daily pick-up scheduled? Did LLL do something besides ship a snake, when</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">BACK IN JANUARY LLL WAS SHIPPING SNAKES WITH UPS AFTER ALREADY BEING BUSTED BY THEM ONCE AND TOLD NOT
TO DO IT AGAIN</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
 Are you saying that for $15.00 a week, we can schedule "daily pick-ups" and they will ship our snakes for us? I applaud your efforts! Thank you!
 
SORRY ABOUT THAT,

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SHIP ALL REPTILES, EXCEPT SNAKES.  WHERE LLL GOT IN TROUBLE WAS THAT THEY HAD
PERMISSION JUST LIKE I DO TO SHIP REPTILES, BUT NOT SNAKES. THEY WENT AHEAD AND SHIPPED SNAKES AND GOT
BUSTED ONCE, AND THEN GOT BUSTED AGAIN AS I MENTIONED ABOVE. IF YOU GO THROUGHT THE STEPS I MENTIONED AND HAVE THE "DAILY PICK-UP" ACCOUNT, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SHIP EVERYTHING BUT SNAKES.  THE
"SNAKE" SIDE OF IT WAS WHAT WE WERE WORKING ON AND
ALTHOUGH OUR REP TOLD US "GO AHEAD AND SHIP WHATEVER
YOU HAVE, JUST DONT WRITE "SNAKE!" ON THE BOX" WE ARENT TECHNICALLY ALLOWED TO SHIP SNAKES.  WHAT LLL DID HURT US PRETTY BAD BECAUSE UPS SAID THAT THEY HAD A SPECIFIC WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH LLL OF WHICH THEY SIGNED STATING THAT THEY WOULD  - NOT - SHIP ANYMORE SNAKES, AND THEN THEY DID. CREDABILITY WAS THE FACTOR HERE.  GIVE ME A EMAIL OR CALL ME AT 918-487-6803 (LEAVE A MESSAGE IF YA GET THE MACHINE AND I'LL CALL YA RIGHT BACK).

GOD BLESS
BEN <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>
 
I have a box with Mail Boxes Etc, and always ship my kids out through them...the boxes are usually marked perishable and sometimes live harmless reptiles, and I have never had any issues shipping out or receiving reptiles in this fashion. So try MBE and see if that works for you Dana.
 
LC,

I thought about using MBE, but I was hesitant to do so.  Do you send them via FedEx or UPS when you use them?  I also know that MBE charges a little bit extra for their service.  Do you know how much it is?

Thanks,

Darin
 
I've sent fedex, airborne, and ups. It's maybe $5 or so more and they'll see what carrier has the best price, and it's worth avoiding the headache of going to a UPS counter. I've never had a problem with the MBE that I go to....every time something new comes in, they love to see what's in the box  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

Granted, I doubt all of em are like that, but it's worth a shot. Plus for me, I don't have to worry about critters sitting in bad conditions when they arrive...they stay inside, and no one tosses the box around, plus I get a call as soon as they come in.
 
Back
Top