Shipping discussions

[twgrosmick]

There you go again. I didn't say anything about respect for the regulations. I simply meant to imply that they would have a hell of a time prosecuting (since you say it's "illegal") if they didn't ask. Plus, I already told you. They know what I ship. Yes, I see that "all snakes" are restricted. So what? That doesn't mean it's illegal and there are conditions under which they will mail restricted items. At my local post offices, apparently showing them that the snakes are for sure packaged securely and that they can't escape, is enough for them to allow it.

This isn't about "what's cheap" it's about not using services that are clearly a rip off.

What makes you so special that they would allow you to ship snakes when no one else is allowed too. Do you not think that everyone would be shipping through the post office if it was possible seeing as it is cheaper and arguably a better option (which is why I use it to ship geckos). It isn't like you are the only person who packages their snakes securely. The certain conditions are medical research, testing, etc. It also clearly says that. Not cause one cheap *** wants to ship through the post office so that he doesn't have to pay the extra $20 to do it the right way.

If it was allowed then the statement would read "Snakes are allowed only when x, y, and z conditions have been met."

Any I am not misquoting you at all. You said yourself that if they don't ask and you don't lie if they do ask you are not breaking the law. That is like saying that if you go drink and drive and no one stops you or pulls you over then what you are doing isn't illegal. I know that is an extreme comparison but it has the same basis of "It's only against the law if you get caught"

Who determines whether or not something is a rip off? I think that SYR and becoming certified to ship through FedEx offers a very reasonable price to ship. On top of that, the buyer is the one that pays shipping so unless you are trying to make more money on shipping which wouldn't surprise me why not just use FedEx like everyone else who ships snakes?

[ConcinusMan]

What makes you so special that they would allow you to ship snakes when no one else is allowed too.

I give up?

Who determines whether or not something is a rip off? I think that SYR and becoming certified to ship through FedEx offers a very reasonable price to ship.

Define reasonable. Is it reasonable to pay over $50 to ship a $25 snake (with no money back guarantee of on-time arrival, at that) when the post office will do the same thing for as little as $26? Is it reasonable when half of potential sales get killed when they hear the price of the shipping?

On top of that, the buyer is the one that pays shipping so unless you are trying to make more money on shipping which wouldn't surprise me.

Watch it. If shipping (including packaging) turns out to cost more than a dollar under what I expected, I call the buyer and ask if they want the difference back.

I don't get any complaints about the way I ship. From my customers or the post office.

I've said enough. This was about shipping and temps. Not arguing with you.

[twgrosmick]

If we get past the fact that clearly shipping through the post office is not legal/allowed... Why would you use a shipping service that doesn't even ensure that the animals arrive in the morning like FedEx does with their priority overnight option. I know that there are a few exceptions to this with FedEx, but the postal service Express shipping isn't even overnight to every area and to top it off many shipments arrive between 2-4 PM... How do you justify keeping snakes in the box the extra 4-6 hours even an extra day in some cases?

[twgrosmick]

Define reasonable. Is it reasonable to pay over $50 to ship a $25 snake (with no guarantee of on-time arrival, at that) when the post office will do the same thing for as little as $26? Is it reasonable when half of potential sales get killed when they hear the price of the shipping?

This makes it very clear that all you care about is the sale... It is part of the hobby to pay the price if you want snakes shipped. If you don't like it go to a show or don't buy the snake. But cutting corners to save you a few bucks and secure a sale.

How desperate are you really to make a sale on a $25 dollar snake?

If shipping (including packaging) turns out to cost more than a dollar under what I expected, I call the buyer and ask if they want the difference back.

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.

[ConcinusMan]

This makes it very clear that all you care about is the sale... It is part of the hobby to pay the price if you want snakes shipped. If you don't like it go to a show or don't buy the snake. But cutting corners to save you a few bucks and secure a sale.

And what corners would those be? The snakes get there. Fast, safe, and on time. I also don't skimp on the packaging. I use whatever is necessary to make sure they are secure and safe regardless of the cost and I refuse to ship if weather is extreme or I use heat/cold packs and "hold for pickup". And I don't give a damn what time of day they arrive. Most of the time it's between 10am and noon. If a shipment is only guaranteed to arrive by 3pm and it's going to be hot, I use "hold for pickup" and they are available for pickup in the morning, skipping the truck altogether. Same goes for those "2 day" locations. 90% of the time, they get there in ONE day, especially if I use "hold for pickup". An extra day of shipping has never seemed to hurt anything anyway.

How desperate are you really to make a sale on a $25 dollar snake?

I'm not. But some of my customers only want one snake that doesn't cost a fortune and if I have 50 frickin' snakes that are all priced at $25 what then?

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.

It's rarely necessary for me to even call anyone about that. But if you must know, the last time it happened was with a shipment to Mike Meyers. Also, I won't even mention how many times it ended up costing a few bucks more, and I ate that.

[guidofatherof5]

I would like to add something to your discussion but don't want to add to the derailment.

[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.

[ConcinusMan]

Just did a price comparison. Same package, same weight, same beginning and destination address.

USPS Express (1-day delivery) $36.45
Ship Your Reptiles $105.52 NOTE: The rates shown on this page do not include ShipYourReptiles On-Time and Live Arrival Insurance, delivery confirmation or all FedEx surcharges, the most common of which is for delivery to a residential address.

(All of that is included in the USPS express mail price)

Yikes. And with the latter service, I have to drive all the way to PDX to ship it.

That's just friggin' ridiculous any way you slice it. If my customers were buying $20,000 ball pythons I'm sure they would pay it, but that's not the case.