• In case most of you have not noticed, I made changes to the donation amounts as well as the durations for all of the paid membership levels. Things are winding down here, and this seems to be the most prudent way to deal with the "end of life" period of this site.

    Contributor level members - $10 per 30 days
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  • Responding to email notices you receive.
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    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.

UPS has updated their policy...

Gecko_Den

Gecko_Den

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You no longer need to jump through hoops to get certified to ship lizards with UPS. They still don't allow snakes, and will not honor any claims regarding a lost or damaged shipment of lizards, but neither will FEDEX if you get certified through them....

Shipping Live Animals

UPS provides service on a limited basis for packages containing some types of live animals. The term "animal" as used herein refers to anything living, except plants. While the list of "Accepted Live Animals" provided herein is an exhaustive list of animals that can be offered for transportation in accordance with the conditions listed, the list of "Prohibited Live Animals" is only a partial list of animals provided to clarify specific species that are not accepted for transportation and may not be shipped via UPS. Any animal not specifically listed on the "Accepted Live Animals" list is prohibited by UPS and will not be accepted for transportation.

Packages containing live animals must be prepared in accordance with the requirements as specifically stated herein. Packages containing live animals must provide for the basic humane care and safety of the animal during transportation. Any package containing a live animal shall be considered a perishable commodity and will be accepted for transportation solely at the shipper’s risk for any damage or loss arising from the perishable nature of the item. UPS shall not be liable for any special, incidental, or consequential damages.

In the event a package containing a prohibited item is found en route or in the UPS system, that package will be stopped at the location or UPS facility of the discovery. UPS reserves the right to dispose of the package.


Endangered or Threatened Species

In addition to the Prohibited Live Animals list provided here, any live animal that is an Endangered Species is prohibited by UPS and will not be accepted for transportation. Shippers must refer to the list posted on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Web site, and the Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants 50 CFR 17.11 and 17.12, December 1999 (pdf file).


Service Type

Live animals will only be accepted for transportation when shipped via UPS Next Day Air service, and such shipments will only be accepted Monday through Thursday.


Packaging

Design and Construction of the Primary Container: All live animals offered for transportation must be in a new box. Corrugated boxes must be constructed of a minimum of 275 # bursting strength corrugated or 44 edge crush test. It is recommended that any package containing animals requiring moisture during transportation be constructed of water-resistant material such as wax coated, wax impregnated, or plastic corrugated. Minimal ventilation holes should be provided as necessary.

Internal Packaging and Other Considerations: Internal packaging materials must be used based on the characteristics of the animal, taking into consideration the necessary humane care for the animal while in transportation. Lizards and geckos should be individually contained in bags constructed of breathable material, such as burlap. Insects should be contained in individual primary containers such as plastic jars with ventilation. Fish must be double bagged in strong plastic bags with a minimum thickness of 4 mils. Each primary bag should be approximately one third full of water with the remainder filled with oxygen.

Package Testing: Any packaging used or developed to transport animals should be submitted to an International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) certified package testing laboratory for pre-shipment testing in accordance with ISTA Procedure 3A before being offered for transportation.

Additional Considerations: Additional components such as food, moisture, and temperature controls should be added as necessary to provide a safe environment during transportation. Additional dunnage should be added to prevent movement of the primary containers or receptacles within the outer box.


Accepted / Prohibited Live Animals

Accepted Live Animals

This is a comprehensive list of live animals accepted for transportation. Shippers are prohibited from shipping any animal not listed here, and all other live animals will not be accepted for transportation. The following live animals are accepted for transportation unless poisonous, venomous, and/or a Threatened or Endangered Species.


Amphibians (All): Examples: frogs, salamanders, toads
Crustaceans (All): Examples: crabs, crawfish, lobsters, shrimp
Fish (All)
Insects (Limited to beneficial insects only): Examples: bees, butterflies, crickets, lady bugs
Mollusks (All): Examples: clams, mussels, snails
Reptiles (Limited to the following):
- Lizards: Examples: chameleons, geckos, iguanas, monitors, flying dragons
- Turtles: freshwater turtles (except: snapping turtles), land tortoises, sea turtles
Worms (All)

Prohibited Live Animals

Live Animals that are prohibited from being shipped and are not accepted for transportation include, but are not limited to:


Any poisonous, venomous or threatening animal
Any Threatened or Endangered species
Arachnids (All): Examples: mites, scorpions, spiders, ticks
Birds (All)
Crocodiles (All): Examples: alligators, caimans, gavials
Mammals (All)
Obnoxious Insects: Examples: flies, locusts, mosquitoes, roaches, termites, weevils
Snakes (All): venomous and non-venomous
 
Thanks for posting, Sam!

That will be of much use to me, I will be shipping leos this year or next for my first time...
 
Ups

This has always been UPS's policy, but you will still need to submit a "Live Animal Determination Form" and submit it to Stephanie Berenguer in the Hazardous Shipment Dept. to be authorized to ship harmless geckos.
 
You no longer have to submit a request.

This e-mail was received today.

Please include the following line in all replies.
Email Reference Number: NT20050106_0000021074

Dear Sam Mounts:

Thank you for your inquiry. Special approval from UPS is no longer
necessary to ship live animals. For information regarding the shipment
of animals, please visit the following link:

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/prepare/guidelines/animals.html


If we may assist you in the future, please let us know.

Thank you for using UPS Internet Services.

Dave


In an effort to improve the service we provide through UPS.com, you are
invited to participate in a survey to help us evaluate your overall
experience when using UPS.com. Please visit the following URL to access
the survey:

http://www.ups.com/servlet/FormProc/cscemail/survey/cssurvey


> -----Original Message-----
> From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
> Sent: Jan 6, 2005 6:43:37 PM MST
> To: [email protected]
>

> Comments:2 years ago when I first opened my UPS account, I went
> through the process to be allowed to ship live harmless reptiles, leopard geckos to be exact. I was approved and received a letter stating as such from UPS. I have misplaced the letter and would like to be sent another.
>
> I have been 100% pleased with the service that has been provided me by
UPS, and have never been questioned regarding package contents. However, I would still like to have another letter in case the issue ever arises.
>
> In order to get the letter i was in contact with a UPS rep in
Philadelphia, I no longer have her contact info, and hope that it is noted in my account file that I have already completed the steps to gain the waiver.
> Thank you,
> Sam mounts
> Gecko Den
> Acct #: EDIT
 
ups is great

I to am going to be shipping geckos this year through ups. I went and got certified and it went so smooth that I called my local rep. just to make sure that the paperwork I filled out was all I had to do.I had talked to a couple of people just to make sure I was'nt getting a different story from someone else, but I all came back the same " your all set to ship ".
 
geckoholic of course

OK, so, I can just walk into UPS with my package with air-holes labeled "Live Harmless Lizards" and they'll take it??? Just like the old days? Whats that stuff about the testing of the package materials?
 
I'm not too sure what the restrictions are for a walk up facility?? I was even told that I did'nt even had to label the box "live animal" or anything( even though I would), I was just told I could label it so the person handling it would know to be ..........careful??????
 
As far as testing the box, it stated that it SHOULD be tested, not that it HAS to be tested..
 
Thats great news......
Do you ship with UPS???
Im thinking about switching after this awful service I had with DHL.....
Any complaints???
PM me.
 
SCA1 said:
I was even told that I did'nt even had to label the box "live animal" or anything( even though I would), I was just told I could label it so the person handling it would know to be ..........careful??????
Click to expand...

Regardless of the policy of the carrier, I believe per the federal Lacy Act, live animals have to be labeled as such, or is that just snakes?
 
I think it's cool that they are finally understanding that they get alot of busines from people who ship reptiles. I got the same email from UPS about shipping herps and so I went to get some boxes and an estimate for the price and as soon as they heard that I was shipping a "live" animal they freaked out. I don't think any of the people down here in the south have heard of the new "policy." It got me mad because none of them would believe me..they kept on saying "We used to ship animals but not any more". I went ahead and shipped with USPS.
 
You just about need to bring in your letter authorizing you as a reptile shipper every time you go in there!!!

And what is up with UPS? Has anyone else noticed the prices there charging latley? I have checked UPS against FEDEX and they are about double the price!!!! I just shipped a box (not a live animal) 10lbs 42"X 31"X 4" and UPS was just about double the price of FedeX!
Fed EX = $31.99
UPS = $60.34
check it out for your self! Shiped from 83860 to 72002 (residential)
I have checked 2lb next day air UPS against Fedex and found it about the same, FedEX is almost half the price every time!
Is it because I live in BFE? or has anyone else noticed this?
I mean it's kinda hard to sell a leopard gecko for 40 bucks when it costs you $59.13 Next day air saver to send it UPS!
 
I just got off the phone with a UPS Rep. It seams the only benefit in shipping UPS is that it is legal to ship the geckos through them (which is a BIG benefit). BUT...They will in no way treat the package (even if marked "Live Animal") any differantly than any other package, like, they won't keep it warm, etc. They said that they hold no responsibility for the animal at all.

I did a test, from my zip code (01824) to CA (90210). UPS was about $5 more expensive. I think it depends on whether the courier you are using have a sorting facility in the area the package is being shipped or not, so if you are shipping to some area and UPS has a sorting facility in the area and Fed Ex doesn't, then UPS will probably be cheaper (And, vice versa), just a guess.

I also just noticed that there is no discount for having a UPS account. I have a Fed Ex account, and they give me a 10% discount because I have an account.


Overton,

I also asked the guy about getting a letter from him, he said they don't have them anymore now that the policy has changed and that every facility should know that they are accepted now.
 
new UPS rates

It recently cost me over $60 to ship a gecko to Upstate NY, when it used to cost me $41. The reason is that UPS has changed their dimensional weight criteria. My standard box (14x10x10) had a dimensional weight of 3 lbs. before January 1st, and now has a DW of 8 lbs!!! When I did the same dimensions with Fed-Ex, they were abut the same... DHL was slightly cheaper. Basically, the calculation for determining dimensional weight (DW) when shipping with UPS is: W x L x H / 194.

I was in an absolute panic, so I called my UPS rep. What I was told is, that if I can get my box size to a DW of 5 lbs. or less, I can buy pre-paid shipping labels in lots of 25 for $26.28 each, 50 for $24.91, etc., that are good for 15 months. Now, this sounds like it would work for me, but I need to get all new boxes now! So, I did a lot of math, and I'm on a quest for boxes that have a total of 970 cubic inches or less.

Superior Enterprises' smallest shipping box (12x9x6) has a DW of 4 lbs. Other 'ideal' box sizes that have a dimensional weight of 5 lbs. are:
12x10x8
12x12x6
10x10x9

Any suggestions anyone?
 
Wow, that is cool Marcia! So, the prepaid labels can be used to ship anywhere for that 1 price? That would be a great savings for any large breeder/shipper.

About the box, you should try independent box companies, sorry but I don't have any names for you off hand. You will probably have to buy in bulk though.
 
I am looking into the 12 x 9 x 6 box from superior enterprises.. They said I would have plenty of room to ship 1 or 2 geckos in a box and have plenty of void space..dimensional weight would be 4 lbs.( alot better than being charged for 6 lbs.)
 
Pre-paid Shipping Labels

I talked to my district manager and they stated that the fuel surcharge is not included in that quote. The charge on a 4 lb. package is about 2.50 per label( or 9.5 %). If you buy the pre paid labels with the current surgcharge, it locks in the 9.5% over 15 months( saves you on any increases).Still sounds good to me...
 
?

So where can I get these prepaid lables? Especially when all the UPS employees around here don't think your allowed to ship herps. What can I do to get them without being turned down because it's for animals?
 
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