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Fed Ex Certification

T

tom e

New member
Ok, I just got the fax from Fed Ex telling me to ship out my sample box... I have a question because there isn't much info here, and what there is is very hard to read on this fax.. I'll call my rep (Gail) to get some of these answers cleared up..

First question is: I have seen and am pretty familiar with how people ship snakes- having recieved many shipments..
Is there anything in particular I should make sure I do when packing? Also where does everyone get the perfect little box and styrofoam 'walls'?
Also should I poke holes through the box/styrofoam? Or should I leave it?

Thanks!
 
I got my shipping supplies through Superior Enterprises.
You will end up getting more than you need, but if you plan to ship hatchlings it's all good.
One thing to remember is to tape the lid shut on the deli cup.
 
> Is there anything in particular I should make sure I do when packing?

Federal law requires double containment. most people don't do this, but I suggest you do it...at least for the same package. Put a deli cup in a pillow case. That's do it. ALSO, include a letter explaining how you ship. It makes the process move smoothly. EMAIL ME, and I can give you a copy of the letter I used. About 30 people have used it to get approved, so it seems to work fine. Any letter - or none at all - seems to work, but why not make it easy? Put a heat or cold pack, but don't open/freeze it. Explain you use one otr the other as necessary (in my letter already).

> Also where does everyone get the perfect little box and styrofoam 'walls'?

Superior enterprises is where most people get them. Remember, to be legal, the box MUST contain a receipt/invoice listing the common and scientific name of the animals - and how many of each - are in the box. I'm not sure if FedEx requires this, but do it for your sample package. Same on the outside being labeled as containing live harmless reptiles. Both of those are stipulations of the Lacey Act for the interstate trade in reptiles (well, live animals, but we are talking snakes). FedEx doesn't seem to always require this, but it is the law. No ands, ifs, or buts! Do it for your sample box at the very least.....lol.

> Also should I poke holes through the box/styrofoam? Or should I leave it?

No, don't do it.

ALSO, since you must label the box "live harnmless reptiles" and ship it regularly, you do NOT want to ship it "as is." Put it inside of a slightly larger box to protect it (and explain you are having the INNER BOX approved only) - and this is the RECOMMENDED METHOD - or wrap it in thick paper and put the label on the outside of the brown paper. Explain that you will not normally use the wrapping paper, but you put that to protect the box being approved.

KJ
 
I downloaded a .pdf showing exactly how Fed Ex wants the reptile packaged... it was on my other PC which is not hooked up now. I'll look around for a copy, I think I printed one out. If I find it, I'll scan it & send it to ya :)
 
For anyone that uses Superior Ent., do you know if the prepunched deli cups are punched at an ok sized hole for baby corns? I'm thinking to get some, but I just want to be sure...

Other than that, I'm on my way, lol. Wish me luck!
 
tom e said:
For anyone that uses Superior Ent., do you know if the prepunched deli cups are punched at an ok sized hole for baby corns? I'm thinking to get some, but I just want to be sure...

Other than that, I'm on my way, lol. Wish me luck!
Click to expand...

I've been using those for corns - and smaller snakes - for many, many years.
KJ
 
Instead of a letter, I printed out individual instructions for each item in the box on slips of paper that were attached to each of those items. Inside the box was my bag and shredded newspaper with the package testing form on top. I had my bag tied and taped shut with a piece of paper taped to it stating "Adult snakes shipped in bag OR deli cups." Inside the bag I had both hatchling and subadult sized delicups. In each delicup I had my papertowels along with a slip of paper indicating snakes were in the cups. The lids were taped shut.

I didn't receive a single email or phone call from testing. The only email I received was the report that my packaging passed the test. I'll confirm what KJUN said, ship your real box inside another.

I also purchase from Superior Enterprises, but you can also save a bit of $$ if you order boxes from ULine and then get 3/4" styro sheets from your big box harware store (Lowe's, Menard's, Home Depot) and cut to fit. Takes a few extra minutes to cut but saves some decent $$.

D80

PS. I also agree, don't cut holes. Cardboard will breathe well enough, and the styro isn't air tight, for the snakes to be fine when you do end up shipping.
 
When I lived with my parents way back, I would just make boxes using regular boxes from shipping/packing supply stores and then get the HUGE sheets of foam from Home Depot and cut out pieces to line the box. Now that I live in an apartment this is next to impossible to do, but it was uber cheap and worked very well.
 
Before Superior, I used to cut my own insulation, too. After Superior, you won't catch me ever doing it again. Sure, it's a little cheaper, but too much of a hassle with the number of boxes I go through in a year. :( Minutes count on morning when I package up boxes. If I were to do it now, I'd have to "precut" 20+ boxes at once and store them for when I needed them.

PLUS, I could never make the home cut ones look as good as the Superior ones. Sure, they both work regardless of look, but I was always bugged that the edges weren't straight enough, etc. Yeah, I'm am anal-retentive SOB.......lol. The Superior Enterprise boxes just LOOK more professional than anything I could do myself. :(
 
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