I have several years of combined experience in two different mail and packaging centers, as well as working several unrelated positions where I was in charge of the mail and shipping. In both of the two different mail and packaging centers that I worked in, we carried Fedex, UPS, and USPS (the post office). I had constant interaction with all three, as I was the one who had to to get on the phone with said shipping companies to "handle business" when there was a problem. (I will say that it has, however, been a few years since I worked in a mail center, so maybe it has changed some. I can't really say with certainty either way, although I suspect from my recent, albeit much more infrequent interactions with these companies that it hasn't- much.) So please take what I am about to say with as big a grain of salt as you'd like, as it is
from my own experience (which is all I can speak to).
Fedex is the most reliable (timely), least likely to damage a package, and quickest and easiest to settle a claim if necessary. The overnight service is the most reliable by far of the three. It is also the most expensive.
UPS (United Parcel Service, NOT the post office) Is more affordable than Fedex, and far more reliable than the post office as far as delivery dates/times, and not damaging packages. They do not currently allow delivery of snakes to my understanding though, so, moving along…
With the post office, we constantly had packages turn up missing or destroyed
regardless of signature delivery, registered mail, insurance, etc.
Also, we were told by the post office on numerous occasions that their Express service (next day) is
not guaranteed, and MANY of these higher priced packages would arrive a day, or sometimes DAYS late. (I see on their website, the Express service says "money back guarantee", but also has a footnote saying "some restrictions apply," so who knows? The link to that page is here:
https://www.usps.com/ship/service-chart.htm)
I could go into difficulty of filing an insurance claim, and lack of satisfactory customer service (availability and quality), but I think this is less important than the actual likelihood that your snake will arrive alive and on time.
So to sum up: we were CONSTANTLY dealing with DAMAGED or LOST packages from the post office, most all of which we could do nothing about. We RARELY had to deal with this from specialized shipping companies.
I just wanted to throw out there that this may all be irrelevant, because I would imagine USPS would be remiss to take on the added logistical, financial and legal accountability that would be required for shipping reptiles (especially without increasing the prices).
If there’s one thing I learned from the shipping business, it’s that people's feelings and convictions about the post office run deep. I am not trying to offend anyone, or slight USPS in any way, it is a huuuuge organization, and I do respect what they do, and in many ways, what they represent to our country. I use them all the time for my basic mailing needs. I just simply feel that
specialized shipping involving live animals should be done through a company whose
focus is specialized shipping!
Theo- Please don't take this the wrong way, but I would not be comforted much by receiving the insurance money promptly if my snake had been impaled by a sharp object in transit! LOL No but seriously, I am not saying the post office NEVER pays people, just that in comparison to specialized shipping they fall very short...
