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UPS, FedEx, Airborne Express, USPS - bad guys.

We have letters from both UPS and FedEx and while I think there may be some predjudicial reasonings, I think there may be some very valid reasoning too as to why they allow some to ship and not others.

With UPS, we did have to set up an account for daily pick-up, plus the understanding that it was live harmless lizards only and that they would not guarentee live arrival.

With Fed Ex, we litterally had to hound them in for months. We have both the FedEx Ground and Express accounts and used the volume (including dollar amounts) as leverage.

Now, with both UPS and Fed Ex, they have specific requirements as to the packaging. Fedex actually had us make up a box as if there was a reptile in it and send it to them so they could inspect it.

I am happy to say that we passed, but I just can't see every small hobbyist or breeder going through this.

I personally, would much rather see a more "friendly" solution to this. I think with petitions and numbers (especially $ amounts) these agencies will come around. I mean, reallistically, what if they take one look at this lawsuit and decide to unilatterally cut everyone off?
 
"We have letters from both UPS and FedEx and while I think there may be some predjudicial reasonings, I think there may be some very valid reasoning too as to why they allow some to ship and not others."

The only reason that would make me different than you would be the amount that you ship. Granted, there are ALLOT of people that ship daily, but there for 20 fold more that ship once in a while. All the business the deny from the "once in a while" would surpass that of any larger breeder. So their reason, being money, does not hold water.......sorry that is true.
Now, I AM happy that they allow you to ship. Like I said, I personally use Delta anyway. There are occasions though when it just makes more sense to ship overnight vs. Delta, I gave those on my other post.
As far as the example of the box and how one ships. I think that is great they asked you to do so. It shows that we DO care for the animals we keep and we are not a bunch or 'weirdos' that are in this industry. There are MANY knowledgable individuals that breed snakes. There are MANY professionals (in their other jobs/real jobs) that breed snakes. With that said, I am probably many others, would be more than happy to show examples of how they ship.

Just a side note, this is not an 'attack' at you and was not to be made personally torwards you. It just irritates me when it comes to dealing with ignorant people.........these companies fall in that category.
 
can you provide the email addy that you used in your communication with them about our needs/your needs?
Click to expand...

Ways to ship link at FedEx

I mean, reallistically, what if they take one look at this lawsuit and decide to unilatterally cut everyone off?
Click to expand...

Yes, I understood this danger from the beginning. That's why any lawsuit would have to be a two-pronged attack. (1) To claim that they are allowing an unfair advantage to people who are allowed to ship with them, in respect to those who are denied this service, and (2) They are being discriminatory from the beginning by not allowing commerce of legal harmless merchandise to our customers via their door to door delivery service.

Claim #2 is actually independent of #1, so their negating claim #1 by stopping shipping for ALL shippers would not affect claim #2.

Even so, if they took a look at the business they would lose by HAVING to cut off current shippers, it would certainly be a considerable factory in how much money our industry is worth to them. They are not just gaining the business that they do not have yet. They would also be KEEPING the business they already have, even that which is taking place "under the table".
 
ups a little rough some times

I sent a computer to az and when it got there it was all
apart they took care of the costs to repair it but why was it dissasembled?
I was told the trucks vibrate and shake as to the reason it happened.
It was well packaged we saw to that at the pack and send.
I would hate to send a living thing with them.
my 2 cents:slamit:
 
Thaks Rich. I was aware of that page, I just wasn't sure if you had another email addy that you were using for someone 'higher up'..................wishful thinking on my part I guess! :)

I will send an email as well. Curious as to the responce I will get.
 
Volume -- Rich is right in that even our whole industry lumped together the volume is small for these larger shipping companies. I have a step brother that works in shipping/receiving for a company that UPS picks up from twice a day (full trucks) and an ex-client of my web design firm that they leave a trailer at his location every morning and pick it up in the afternoon. These are medium customers to these large companies.

Brian the only difference between us shipping and you is profitiability. Fedex charges us the same amount per box that they would charge you. Except they are picking up multiple boxes at the same time and also picking them up from 2 companies in the same complex. This increases Fedex's (or any of the carriers) profitability so they are more willing to listen. We are working to get our volume up to receive discounts but at a $1000 a week in shipping we are not there yet.

In the last 3 months I have noticed a change in the major carriers. Fedex has gotten a little more hungry for business. I handed print outs from a previous thread on this board to the salesman earlier last year to show volume for the industry as a whole. The salesman sent a single email to the legal department about shipping animals. When he did not receive a reply he took it as no and dropped the issue. I bugged him and bugged him whenever I saw him about this issue and he gave me lip service. Finally after running into an issue with a UPS shipment I contacted their main sales phone number. She gave me my local sales rep and I explained that didn't work and I needed someone with more pool (she did not have an issue with shipping animals so there may have been an internal policy change as well). She gave me a couple people up the food chain in sales. An email AND a phone call to each at the same time got a response. We sent in a test package and passed that hurdle. This information was faxed to legal and a contract was sent to my sales on the same day (this change in response time from Legal is why I think there was an internal change in policy). UPS seems to be removing their service to smaller companies, probably wanting to target the more profitable large accounts.

By the way there are other companies that descriminate against the pet/reptile industry. I tried to place advertising on the front page of Yahoo (they have a shopping section on the right hand side of their home page that is advertising). They would not do so because we sell live animals. But they will take my money through Overture which is owned by Yahoo. Also many sites will not allow advertising for certain industries even though they are legal (cigarettes, alcohol and online pharmacies being ones off the top of my head). With the huge amount of money in those industries I'd think that they would have legally tested that practice previously (there may be case law for you to view).
 
I will get my FEDEX policyies and scan them in Monday from my office and post them. I even have the peoples numbesr and names I spoke to also.
 
I found a copy of my policy at home Im scannning it in now will post soon if it works sometimes it doesn't work for me here. The only thing I had to do before shipping was ok was follow the policy and ship a empty box with how I would ship the reptiles so they can test it. Was a peace of cake
 
hope this works here is page 1
 

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Hope those help you all. If I print all my labels online and set up a online account which I did I recevie a 10% discount on shipping they will supply all the labels, label sleeves and supplies which you order online also. The more volume you send the more the discount.
 
Wendy,
You are 100% correct. Like I stated in my post earler if you re-read it, the only thing that is deiffferent here is volume, you might ship more than the average 'Joe'. That all breaks down to $$ for them.

I sent a short and to the point letter of what I am looking for.
Here is what it said.......

I wanted to contact you in hopes that we could come to an agreement. I am a nonvenomous snake breeder in Arizona. I have been in this industry for 15 years and hope to be in it for years to come.
I am writing you because I am in need of a good sound relationship with a overnight delivery company.
When I ship nonvenomous snakes, I use the following techniques for shipping:
1. I get a standard cardboard box
2. I line the cardboard box with at laest 1' thick styrophome. This insures safety of the snake from extreme temperatures (both hot and cold).
3. I place the snake in a 'snake bag' and tie it shut to unsure that it cannot get out.
4. I placce crumbled up newspaper or shredded paper in the box surrounding the bad with the nonvenomous snake. This gives the snake some extra 'cushionin' if you will from being moved abruptly from side to side in the box.
5. The box is taped shut and I ship.

The above steps are followed when I ship each and every time. Not once have I had a snake die in shipping.

I know that there are individuals that are permitted to ship with your company, but I am unsure what you base your decisions on (who can and who can't).

I would be more than happy to open an acct. with your company in hopes of using your services when my shipping needs dictate so.
I am more than willing to answer any questions or concerns you might have, just email me and I can get back to you very quickly.
I look foward to a response from you all and hope that we can have a long term relationship that will benefit us both in the years to come.
Thank you for your time,
Brian Oakley
Phx., AZ
[email protected]

We will see what their response is.
 
Thanks, Tom.

To be honest, item "J" would would kill the agreement for me. I ship MANY of my packages to residential addresses, so such an agreement would be useless to me. What difference does that stipulation make in the manner in which the package would be handled?

Dan, do you have that same stipulation in your agreement?
 
That is my original argreement the one I renegotiated I can ship to residence just have to have number to reach them just incase noone is home to receive package
 
For me keeping and breeding snakes is just a hobby not a livelyhood, but I do agree the shipping problem does need to be addressed. So count me in on a class action suit just post the information when the time comes and the check will be in the mail!
 
The Fedex situation gives me hope at least.
Even if it is business to business shipping, you could always ship to an authorized fedex center for a customer to pick up.
I know that it is not perfect, but it is definitely a step. For Tom, how easy was it to re-negotiate?
Dana
 
They prefer business to business but they will do residence as long as they have number to contact them and have someone there for package. I explained to them som eof the people I deliver to are residence and they just changed it. But can't be PO Boxes or Rural Routes
 
Well I received a response today from FedEx. I have copied and psted the reply in full. You will notice that there is a link that they suggest I write to. I wanted to post that link here so that WE ALL can use it and write to them.
Like it has been mentioned, this may work better in greater numbers. Up to you, but I will post the response I get from this next email as well just for an update.

EMAIL REPLY BELOW-
We received your inquiry. Thank you for your interest in FedEx.

FedEx does not accept live animal shipments as part of its regularly
scheduled service. Animal shipments must be coordinated and approved
by the FedEx Live Animal Desk. Please go to the FedEx Web site for
more details:
http://www.fedex.com/us/services/termsandconditions/liveanimals.html

We hope this information is helpful. Again, thank you for contacting
FedEx.
Denise Schenzel
 
The link is where I started then a rep called back and talked to me had to do box test then sign papers was easy but took a week or so to do
 
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