UPS/ShipYourReptiles.com

[Em Wright]

I'm glad to hear that SYR has taken such responibility in this. That makes me feel really good about them. Yes, this shouldn't have happened at all, but at least they're taking steps to make it better.

 

[kathylove]

I think they are good, professional people. And I think they will probably get it worked out eventually. But it could take some time, so I can understand that you don't want to take the chance while they are working out the bugs.

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

In my opinion, they would make it better by providing a way to decrease the chances of this happening again, to anyone. Sure they can refund the shipping costs and reimburse the acquired fees, but it doesn't make what UPS did ok.

I still think the best thing for them to do is to provide an official UPS document that gives users of SYR permission to ship snakes and can be included with each and every shipment to prevent problems or just get on UPS to change their policy. Problem solved!

I can't put my customers (heck, I can't handle it!) through the "bugs" in this system...Especially when they're as serious as packages being opened and the animals inside being handed over to animal control.

 

[Em Wright]

That makes a lot of sense, Steph. I agree with the authorization paper for users of SYR... That's a good idea and something I think they need to work on. That way this doesn't happen to anyone ever again.

I'm glad that for the most part the crisis is over. *HUGS* You poor thing, good luck on getting those guys to you safely and I hope you don't run into anymore problems.

 

[MegF.]

I personally will not be shipping thru UPS unless they can work the problems out. I have enough trouble with FedEx, don't need more with UPS. I have had animals shipped to me using my account number. It would be the same if a customer didn't like the product. They shouldn't have to pay for the shipping so they return it under my number. I had an animal shipped to me and the guy only had Delta Dash. I number one didn't want to pay the cost of Delta's shipping fees and two, I don't have an airport within an hour of me. I gave him my account number to ship MY animals to ME. There was no problem from Fed Ex over that. I have had several serious shipping problems with Fed Ex that makes me want to switch in two seconds. The only problem is that UPS sounds just as bad and does the same darn thing. I think we're screwed whoever we use.

 

[KJUN]

Yes, you can if you're the one doing the shipping. I was referring to someone else using using your account and shipping being a no-no.

Did you sign up under a personal or business account? I had two different account numbers, and I was approved on one. I used the wrong account once, and I got busted. The ACCOUNT is what got approved - not the person. I broke the rules (no biggie once I explained how I made the mistake) because I used an account that wasn't approved. (I had mixed up the two account numbers). I would have had to sent in a NEW box under the second account name to get approval for the second account, too.

Anyway, ANY employee of mine can ship under by approved account. It doesn't HAVE to be me. I've also got the right to generate a return label (for a returned product) to supply to a customer with the ability to RETURN a snake to me. That doesn't mean ship a snake I bought, but to return a package to me. Of course, I think THIS is a loophole that FedEx really hasn't thought about since it has unapproved people NOT employed by me shipping live harmless reptiles, but I haven't brought that fact up to them.

Anyway, we all know account reps will sometimes tell you the easiest thing - not necessarily the write thing - but I figured I should ask if you signed up for a personal account? Maybe that's the difference? If so, GOOD....because know we know to advice everyone to just sign up for a business account. I don't see why anyone wouldn't do that, anyway.

I trust the above because of the number of times - from different people - that have told me this on FedEx staff. The loophole was informed to me by a friend that ships out 3-5 thousand reptiles per year with FedEx (he actually has had a couple packages returned - which isn't surprising), and it seems to be true based on what I've been told by FedEx. I have never tried it, sooooo.....!

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

Did you sign up under a personal or business account?

I'm honestly not sure. I'd assume a business account, but I can double check with my rep.

Anyway, ANY employee of mine can ship under by approved account. It doesn't HAVE to be me.

Yes, of course, you are correct...I probably added to the confusion because I didn't clarify what I was trying to say (again). An employee though is at your location or otherwise supervised/trained by you, not the other side of the country shipping an animal to you as a seller, customer or whatever the case may be. That's what is not permitted. As an employee, you are still responsible for what the employee does.

Either way, I was told about it originally by my rep...And then their was the whole Reptster debacle (I remembered the name - hah!). I'll try and remember to give her a ring today.



So I was lying in bed thinking last night...The last two time I've sent/received items through UPS their were problems. I sent Becky my old show displays which they absolutely destroyed. Then when I bought my last AP rack they lost the two 6' x 3' boxes that contained the sides for two days. Wonder if it's a trend or I'm just jinxed in the UPS department...

 

[KJUN]

I'm honestly not sure. I'd assume a business account, but I can double check with my rep.

I don't know that makes a difference. I was just wondering aloud. Nothing more. Shrug?

Yes, of course, you are correct...I probably added to the confusion because I didn't clarify what I was trying to say (again). An employee though is at your location or otherwise supervised/trained by you, not the other side of the country shipping an animal to you as a seller, customer or whatever the case may be. That's what is not permitted. As an employee, you are still responsible for what the employee does.

Hmmmmm, that's part of what has been explained to me differently. I've shipped (personally) from what feels like half of the US. It doesn't matter where I ship from - and I've shipped to "myself" while I was herping elsewhere. Employees can also go to like, let's say, Daytona, and buy snakes for my business and ship back to me. Not all major "breeders/sellers" ship out from the same state. It has to be an employee, but I've never seen evidence that the employee has to be HERE. But, YES, I am responsible for what the employee does...and it MUST be an employee.

I've had my wife ship for me since well before we were married, and she's done it from other states, too. I'm a sole proprietorship, and I guess I might have bent the rules a little since I don't PAY her......but I never had an issue. I know that if 3 people form a breeding consortium, they CAN ship under one business account.

In essence, what I'm saying, is I would NEVER let someone else ship under my account unless I could show "reasonable" evidence that they were a partner/employee 9unpaid or not) of my business. This is a grey area, and I can assure everyone that I agree with you - don't risk it if you have any doubts. The rewards aren't worth the risk.....but realize there does seem to be some loophole "grey areas" under the contracts / liability waivers as written.

So I was lying in bed thinking last night...The last two time I've sent/received items through UPS their were problems. I sent Becky my old show displays which they absolutely destroyed. Then when I bought my last AP rack they lost the two 6' x 3' boxes that contained the sides for two days. Wonder if it's a trend or I'm just jinxed in the UPS department...

I hate UPS, too. I'm completely with you. I'll give them a chance if significantly cheaper than FedEx (but I'm working on a larger discount due to colume right now), but I hate UPS. Often, I skip buying something if the seller only uses UPS because they have a HORRIBLE track record with me. PLUS, if you call and complain or try to find a package, they don't let you talk to ANYONE locale. FedEx will give you the number for the locale hub.....and I've got calls from drivers SOON after trying to find a delayed package (rare, but does happen). On a 1 to 10, I'd consider UPS a 3 if FedEx was arbitrarily assigned a 10. I do my best to even avoid dry goods shipped via UPS. My favorite is an RBI rack that was left on my front porch without a box or any coating. The box was so destroyed that they just TAPED the label to the rack and dropped the deformed rack on my front porch with the tubs taped in place.....lol. Goch, it takes talent for UPS to mess up THAT much.

To be honest, I have avoided UPS like the plague since the strike in the mid-90's. That's when they lost my trust and my preferred business.
KJ

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

Hmmmmm, that's part of what has been explained to me differently. I've shipped (personally) from what feels like half of the US. It doesn't matter where I ship from - and I've shipped to "myself" while I was herping elsewhere. Employees can also go to like, let's say, Daytona, and buy snakes for my business and ship back to me. Not all major "breeders/sellers" ship out from the same state. It has to be an employee, but I've never seen evidence that the employee has to be HERE. But, YES, I am responsible for what the employee does...and it MUST be an employee.

No, no, you're right! That's what I was getting at. It must be an employee using your account (regardless of location), not someone you're purchasing from (for example). If I went to Daytona I could ship myself animals back to PA (if I had employees, they could do it). In my situation, Char isn't an employee, but a friend and if I permitted her to use my account I would then be violating my agreement with FedEx.

I can't say I hate UPS...But my driver is incompetent (he likes to deliver to the 2nd floor apartment instead of me - you should have seen me 7 months preggo trying to drag a box he delivered with a computer in it back down the stairs - fun fun!) and I seem to have a heck of a lot more problems compared to DHL, FedEx or USPS. I really don't get it.

 

[Nanci]

On a side note, a guy I work with works at Fed Ex Express, too. I told him I was in the process of getting certified to ship snakes, and he says "Oh yeah, we see those all the time." I say "I hope you take good care of them!" "Yeah, we do. We sure do. We're afraid they're gonna get out if we don't!" I never thought _that_ would be a reason to handle live animals carefully, but it works for me!

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

On a side note, a guy I work with works at Fed Ex Express, too. I told him I was in the process of getting certified to ship snakes, and he says "Oh yeah, we see those all the time." I say "I hope you take good care of them!" "Yeah, we do. We sure do. We're afraid they're gonna get out if we don't!" I never thought _that_ would be a reason to handle live animals carefully, but it works for me!

Hah! That's great! :rofl:

 

[Em Wright]

That's a good thing to hear!

 

[ForkedTung]

I've had my wife ship for me since well before we were married, and she's done it from other states, too. I'm a sole proprietorship, and I guess I might have bent the rules a little since I don't PAY her......but I never had an issue.

OH KJUN, We all start PAYING the moment that ring goes on the finger...lol

 

[MegF.]

If only it were true. They "lost" my shipment at the hub in Tennessee. My poor snakes sat another day in a trailer on the docks because they didn't want to open the trailer. My customer and I talked to 21 fed ex employees and supervisors. All I got was..."well don't worry, you'll get your shipping back". One of the supervisors even got on a conference call with myself, my customer and he and asked me how long I thought the snakes would survive in the box I shipped them in....HUH????? How the heck should I know...You can't even tell me where they are!!! What kind of question was that???? I was so pissed at Fed Ex that I would have dropped them right then and there if I could have. They have us by the perverbial balls though being the only shipper that will take live snakes. UPS sounds just as bad...

 

[Drizzt80]

The thing is, they will survive for quite a time in that box. We prefer/choose overnight because it reduces that risk of problems and extremes. It's the extremes (temperature) that's the killer. They can obviously go weeks without food and I'd love to know just how long without water . . . I'd be comfortable with a couple days or three.

What I'm not comfortable with is my shipment in the hands of other people (that could care less what's in the box) for more than that 16 or so hours!

D80

 

[MegF.]

The thing is, they will survive for quite a time in that box. We prefer/choose overnight because it reduces that risk of problems and extremes. It's the extremes (temperature) that's the killer. They can obviously go weeks without food and I'd love to know just how long without water . . . I'd be comfortable with a couple days or three.

What I'm not comfortable with is my shipment in the hands of other people (that could care less what's in the box) for more than that 16 or so hours!

D80

Extremes in temperatures is right. The snakes left my house with a heat pack as the temps here were quite cold. Temps in Tennessee and Mississippi where the snakes were going was cool in the morning, but went up to 80 during the day. I expected delivery at 10 am. I ended up with the snakes sitting in a trailer in the sun all day until the following day. I have no idea what temperature the trailer reached...I didn't know what was sitting on top of the box...they had accidently placed the box in the standard delivery instead of next day....Those snakes could have had a 300 lb. set of gym equipment sitting on them for all I knew. Fortunately I packed the snakes well and all were delivered safely, but I hesitate to ship across the country again.

 

[KJUN]

OH KJUN, We all start PAYING the moment that ring goes on the finger...lol

"Pay" involves a voluntarily cost incurred. This feels more like FEES, FINES, or TAXES......taxes with salty lemon juice and fresh ground glass abrasions all mixed together in tender spots.

Yep - that about describes marriage......lol.

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

Update...

It is apparent to me that SYR will not be answering my concerns in relation to this particular shipment (or the "no snakes" rule in general). No proof has been provided that they are in fact exempt from UPS's "no snakes" policy and my questions were completely ignored. SYR also failed to contact Char with an alternative shipping suggestion or follow through with the reimbursement of the animal control fees. She shipped out last night for Army boot camp. Sorry to see it turn out this way, but I really don't know what else there is to say.

This whole thing has been moved to the BOI out of respect for Rich (he doesn't want BOI type posts here). Check it out here.

 

[Khaman]

Did you receive the snakes safely?

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

They're to arrive today, and not through UPS/SYR.