Becoming FedEx Certified?

[Christen]

Yes you can just go through SYR.

 

[wildlifephotographer]

Now, I got my Breeder certificate in the mail, so that was really cool. It has my breeder # on it, my name and home address, phone number and website and snakery name. I thought that was pretty neat. I can't wait for the start of 2012 so I can register all my snakes with ACR.

 

[ryoverde]

Hi guys. I read back through the posts as best I could, so some of what I say is reaction to scatterings of comments.

I love FedEx, they don't even know their own regulations; can anyone hook me up? I'm going a little cuckoo here, been looking everywhere. I couldn't find a link...

So has anyone actually tried "Ship Your Reptiles"? Would they be okay to use once or twice while I get FedEx Reptile Certified? Doesn't like they do much but use their send from account name...

Y'know, while searching, I went and found the USDA APHIS (APHIS?) Animal Welfare document which clearly states that there is an exemption from all these regulation for, ahem, "Hobby Breeders: Small-scale breeders with gross sales under $500 per year are exempt, as long as these sales do not include wild or exotic animals, dogs, or cats. If you own no more than three breeding female dogs or cats and sell the offspring, into the pet channels only, you are exempt." I think that covers a lot of folks, don't you all?

I have the document if anyone wants the durn thing. AND -- Title 9 CFR and Title 50 CFR don't have ... excrement in them about the domestic shipping of non-wild reptiles. Re-read that once or twice if you like. I couldn't find anything in either of them about shipping of captive bred reptiles as pets. "Wildlife", to wildlife preserves. "Pets", warm-blooded. Marine animals. I'm at a loss about captive-bred reptiles for breeding/pet/commercial.

Anybody can have a FedEx account. You don't have to be a business; you don't have to give them a credit card. I've had one for.... um, more than 10 yrs. Sometimes used it only for tracking; shipping less than 1x per year. Go to their website, make an account. Woo-hoo.

PLEASE let me know about the Ship your reptiles thing if anyone knows, PM, email, post, I don't care.

Thanks.
Cara Beserra in SA TX
aka ryoverde ([email protected])

 

[chris68]

I've used SYR several times with no issues whatsoever :*)

 

[MegF.]

I thought SYR was no longer shipping snakes due to the issues they were having with snakes being held at depots who were not aware of the change in shipping regs or being sent to animal reg. I know someone on here had three ball pythons sent to animal regulations after they opened the clearly marked boxes and declared that UPS doesn't ship snakes. The breeder had to drive to that other state to get the animals out of hock even though it was not illegal. I'd make very sure they will ship snakes before I'd commit to that. I had an excellent rep with Fed Ex but like all good employees they get sent off to other spots where they are needed and so I no longer have that contact. You will just have to call fed ex and ask for the name and extension of your local rep and have them help you fill out the paperwork. Make sure when you send the box for their check that they pay for the shipping and list that you want the box back. No sense wasting an unused heat pad and box for nothing.

 

[ryoverde]

Thanks, Chris! for letting me know. I guess I'm going to give them at least a try; they aren't much if any more expensive than online shipping with FedEx, which is strange, but I guess they're doing low percentage of high sales type thing. And the offer of *real* insurance, which I hope won't be needed.... (fingers crossed)

Cara B in SA TX

 

[ryoverde]

The problem I have with FedEx, Meg, is the local central office, or the Hold For PickUp (SA isn't very big, there's only one) office flat turned me away and told me to call the regular 1800 number. *They* told me I couldn't ship because I was neither a registered breeder nor a pet shop. I asked how to become a registered breeder and was told that there was *no information available* on becoming a FedEx Registered "breeder". Thursday. On the phone in the FedEx office with Peppermint baby for over an hour trying to get the information from them. I even told them I was a "hobby breeder" by accident -- I didn't know the reg, but I did use the exact words. They didn't ever say anything about a Live Animal Desk or anything, much less, wow, a phone number. So I only have very very sharp things to say about FedEx's quote customer service right now.

According to SYR Robyn, they only use FedEx for shipping snakes; this flies in the face of the person who SYR shipped with UPS, but *there are other shipping options that you the customer can pick*. Just like FedEx has other options. So if *you* want cheaper service, well, you get what you pay for, I guess.

My instructions from the experienced breeder to whom I am return shipping is to *always* use Priority Overnight, preferably with signature required -- but he says his temperatures on his end are good, fall seems to be starting, so I have *asked* him if he would like to bypass the signature required and allow drop-off at his door if he's out for 5 minutes...

I would not here, in San Antonio, I would Hold-For-Pickup only, or wait till winter. Then again, I am shipping on a cold pack to get the snake safely out of town, to Memphis sorting facility, not because it's needed on receiving end. In other words, it's hotter than heck here... dog days of summer, 102 deg and more. Forget being in the sun, too.

Sorry if I seemed lecture-ey.... I memorized my instructions as well as I could. Think I got'em?

Cara B in SA TX

 

[MegF.]

SYR was using UPS...that's why they were different. They said that it offered another venue for shipping. Didn't work out so I guess they went to fed ex...no different than doing it yourself. Any person that does breed can get a shipping certification. My rep never asked how large a company I had. Only that I needed to ship to a busines...which you can get around if you need to. Hold for pickup at a facility would be no problem. I'd ask for your rep's name and his or her number and deal with them. They can get you the paperwork and will provide their numbers for the shipping for inspection. It's really not that difficult once you get someone without their head up the ...er...you know!

 

[Nanci]

I've had good customer service with FedEx. I had to send a snake to boondocks NY. The buyer went to the FedEx to ask it they accepted reptiles. They told her no. My excellent rep had disappeared, so I called regular customer service and said I needed a new rep, but then explained my situation. The only local FedEx facility said they wouldn't accept reptiles, so what was I supposed to do? The FedEx employee called that office and spoke to them and told them that the shipper was live animal certified, and the office said okay no problem. Then the customer went there again just to verify, and they told her that they thought _she_ wanted to ship. You know it's impossible to get a local number, but FedEx has been very helpful for me, for calling various offices to see if they would take reptiles.

 

[ryoverde]

Unfortunately, when the reps all refuse to help, what does one do? I've called the FedEx general customer service number and spoken to 3 or 4 different folks now; same results. And it's not like the local "head" FedEx facility is crying "snake snake"; they're crying "it's ALIVE". Hopefully, I can get this *one* poor little guy returned home to his "dad"... then worry about the rest of it *later*. Just one little snake... I've only gotten in a dozen lately.

 

[ryoverde]

Oh, I apologize, I was impolite on the last post, at least once, by forgetting to add name & location:

Cara Beserra in SA TX

And I apologize if my discouraged attitude is coming though on posts too strongly...

 

[MegF.]

You're speaking to the general help desk. You need to speak to the rep that handles your specific area. Tell them you want to get certified to ship live reptiles and they need to send you the paperwork so that you can sign the contract and send your box for testing. If they argue tell them that Fed Ex does indeed ship live animals and that you want to speak to someone at the live animal desk or a manager. It's literally not that hard if they'll just get off their butts. If I still had my rep's contact number I'd put you through to him. His name was Rob and he was awesome. Helped a lot of people here even though they weren't in his district.

 

[Pugsley]

I asked a friend who works at FedEx to find out what he could about getting certified. This is what he found, I'm guessing on their website somewhere, he didn't say where.

Live Animals and Ornamental Marine Life (Including Live Fish)

FedEx Express does not accept live-animal shipments as part of its regular-scheduled service and does not transport household pets such as dogs, cats, birds and hamsters. FedEx Express may accept certain shipments of live animals such as horses, livestock and zoo animals (to and from zoo locations only) on an exception basis if approved and coordinated by the FedEx Live Animal Desk (call 1.800.405.9052).

If approved by FedEx, we may accept non-venomous reptiles, amphibians, live/tropical fish and beneficial insects on an exception basis under the following conditions:

1. Shipments must be from a business to a business (from a breeder to a pet store, for example).
2. The shipper must have its packaging tested and pre-approved by FedEx Packaging Design and Development for the type of animal being shipped. Call 1.800.633.7019 for assistance. It is the responsibility of the shipper to adequately package shipments for all temperature extremes and handling conditions.

Contact your FedEx account executive for details and additional requirements.

So try calling the second 800 number, 1-800-633-7019 and see if they can help, if not ask for the Live Animal Desk.

 

[MegF.]

Call the 800 number. You can shipped to a holding facility from your business as well. I have a business out of my home and have a business liscense. Honestly, they've never given me any issues about it and I've been shipping through them for about 8 years.

 

[Nanci]

Have you looked at the sticky I have down in my personal forum?

 

[Tavia]

I need to work on finishing getting certified. I've so far only completed the easy first step of creating a FedEx account. Still have the harder steps to do. Problem is that I hate, hate, hate talking on the phone! Add in the possibility of talking to someone clueless and obstinate about their own company's policies and definitely not looking forward to that!

 

[Christen]

You know I never did talk to anyone on the phone. I could never get a hold of my local rep so I just filled out the paperwork and sent in my test package. Heard from legal about a week after that. They emailed me my agreement and I printed it and faxed it back and I was done. Overall it was pretty easy.

 

[ryoverde]

Christen, I'd love to hear how you got your paperwork. Unlike Tavia, I don't so much mind talking on the phone, but my house is an electronics signal *dead zone*. To heck with my cell phone working; cordless phone-land line combination has bad reception. 900 Mhz, 1.2 Ghz, you name it. Can't talk hubby into plan old wired line -- if we could even *find* one anymore!

Hi Nanci. I've tried *a* sticky in your personal forum, or so I thought; I'll try again. I must've ended up in the wrong place; I was very confused. That happens to me from time to time. And of course, got interrupted and forgot to go back to it -- I bet that never happens to anyone else, though...

Pugsley, effort beyond. Thanks. I'm going to print it out and go... sit out in the driveway in my car with my cell phone with good reception and try 1 number after another...

Meg, thanks for keeping encouraging me on.

As for this one baby snake, SYR is working right now. The gal at the FedEx main facility pick-up didn't recognize me, and baby snake is half-way home tonight, out of Texas' heat. (na-na-nah-nah-hey-hey-ah, good-bye.) Hooray!

I nearly forgot his cool pack this morning, since we had a "relative" cold front -- it's amazing, when you get used to 102-104, how cool 93 can feel... And mornings in the high 60's instead of right up at 80. Heavens, I nearly had to get a jacket. Wait a week, I'll adjust back down. But it was kinda tough, I had to snap my memory engrams to remember to pack the cool pack, to get baby snake out of town...

Okay, now that baby snake is on his way home, I'll start processing for future headaches. Had to get this one out mucho pronto. Yes, I have lived in San Antonio 20+ yrs and Spanish never took. Maybe because the 1st person to try n teach me thought it would be "funny" to teach me "opposite Spanish", aka hubby's 1st (and last) serious practical joke. I've had little trust with folks teaching me Spanish since (especially the smart-alec I'm married to...)

Going to keep watching thread though...

And, thank you a hundred times over to date, to everyone...

 

[ryoverde]

Quick update on SYR, the peppermint male was successfully returned, healthy to boot, ate within a day of getting home, I am told. So I guess the "lesson learned" is to make sure to use the FedEx portion of their services *only* and it's okay?

Hope everyone has a great day; it's raining in San Antonio! Hurray! and only supposed to be 86degrees!!!