Shipping discussions

[mikem]

I am gonna call BS. Who have you done this too recently? I would love to hear from people who got credited back $1.50 because shipping was a bit cheaper.

Not trying to jump into the conversation, but Richard has let me know that he misquoted shipping by $3 and asked me if I wanted him to send it back.

[twgrosmick]

Not trying to jump into the conversation, but Richard has let me know that he misquoted shipping by $3 and asked me if I wanted him to send it back.

Well then I apologize for my bs comment on that. The way he was talking it sounded like all he cared about was making a few bucks. None the less, the fact that he is shipping snakes through the post office isn't right nor allowed

[ConcinusMan]

Not trying to jump into the conversation, but Richard has let me know that he misquoted shipping by $3 and asked me if I wanted him to send it back.

Actually, I think it was $5 but whatever. The amount isn't important.

I don't really make anything Tyler. Or perhaps very little. I don't know, I don't keep books and I'm definitely not trying to get rich here. Just offsetting the cost of the hobby. I've spent far more on this hobby than I've brought in I think. Even WC snakes have a cost in gas, deworming meds, food, and equipment before they go out the door. I don't just catch and ship as a rule.

I don't know what to say about the post office. They do allow me to ship them. I don't know about it not being "right" or wrong but they have been very reliable in getting the snakes safely to their destination. According to what I've heard, and their documentation they do allow shipping of harmless live lizards and other reptiles so it seems to me that what is wrong here is their discrimination against snakes. They're just as harmless as a lizard.

On a side note, the last shipment I made, they insisted on seeing the way they were packed. They told me they found a non-native snake in the post office the day before. I guess idiots that don't pack them right screws it up for everybody.

Two postal supervisors have allowed my snakes to ship after they saw that they were just small garters, and saw the way they were packed. Now they just know me at those offices and know what I'm shipping. I don't what else to say about it. There's a lot of things they don't allow on paper but still do it. One time I was packing a bag of tobacco to be shipped. They told me they can't allow that and told me to go home and pack it so they don't see it, then come back and ship it.

[twgrosmick]

There's a lot of things they don't allow on paper but still do it. One time I was packing a bag of tobacco to be shipped. They told me they can't allow that and told me to go home and pack it so they don't see it, then come back and ship it.

First we need to clarify the difference between being allowed to do something and it being right because obviously you are looking at those as one in the same. Just because your postal workers aren't doing their job correctly doesn't make it right. If the package were to get held up somewhere else by someone who was curious as to what type of reptiles you were shipping then you would have a problem.

Also, I would really like to know what locations you were using to get SYR quote. There are other ways of shipping, reptiles express is cheaper than syr and offers the same service.
I would actually like to thank you Richard because honestly you just made yourself look like the biggest *** without me even needing to say anything else. As mentioned above you clearly have no regard for the rules and don't care as long as you think you could place the blame on someone else. To sit here and try to argue that it is allowed is clearly bull **** when you said yourself your postal workers don't follow the rules anyways. How about when someone else tries to do it and they get busted because you told them "It is ok, just don't say anything" or when a package gets opened up and they find snakes, or even worse, if one snake gets out and then because of pricks like you the reptile hobby comes under even more attack on the basis that "we" don't know how to follow the rules and properly package/ship snakes.

As a side note, I apologize for the minor profanity used. I just am not a fan of people trying to cut corners to save a few bucks...

[ConcinusMan]

Also, I would really like to know what locations you were using to get SYR quote.

Simply go to their website, put in the information they ask for, and they give you a quote. Now, are you through ranting? I honestly don't know why you're getting so bent out of shape. Seriously.

Now, if you care to pay over $100 for me to ship you a $25 snake, that's up to you. I'll ship it any damn way you want to pay for. It's not my money. Just keep in mind, the last (and only) time I did that (it went FedEx) the snake arrived dead and the package beat all to hell. That was the only shipping fatality I've ever had.

I'm still not clear why I need another company as a middle man if they're just going to send it FedEx. Somebody please explain. I don't even know what they do besides sell fedEx shipping labels and packaging.

EDIT: Nevermind. I just read what they do. Still don't see any reason for it.

[Robyn@TRR]

"I guess idiots that don't pack them right screws it up for everybody."

Oh, the irony.

USARK and other reptile industry representatives are testifying before Congress TODAY, trying to save the future of the reptile hobby/industry from anti-reptile legislation. A significant part of that argument is that reptile keepers are responsible folks that follow the guidelines and rules. ShipYourReptiles has sent folks to Washington DC to testify that reptile breeders and dealers ship snakes as a regular part of industry commerce, but they do it safely and responsibly, following strict guidelines and using approved shipping channels.

You aren't allowed to ship snakes US Postal. Period. Pleading ignorance or "who cares?" is no excuse. It also doesn't save you from any legal ramifications. Parsing the word "allowed" doesn't win the argument.

Pawning off YOUR responsibility on ignorant postal workers is also not an integrity saving excuse.

And neither is "my snakes only cost $25, whaddya want from me?".

Legitimately shipping live snakes has a particular cost. Pay it, be responsible, represent the hobby and industry properly, or don't ship snakes. YOU are the one that is going to "screw it up for everybody", as you say.

The SYR rates start at 20% BELOW the FedEx rate. And that is what it costs to ship snakes.

You have been doing it illegally "forever" (the US Post Office is a federal agency, it isn't just "against company rules"). NOW IS THE TIME to step up and do the right thing. For your sake, your integrity, and for the safety and future of the reptile industry.