Best way to ship Tarantulas

[TheInv4sion]

I know how to pack Ts but what is the best service in your guys' experience with shipping tarantulas?

 

[z32upgrader]

Well, USPS is illegal, so that leaves Shipyourreptiles.com(which uses FedEx), FedEx, and UPS. FedEx is the only company I currently ship with. Both UPS and FedEx say live animals are prohibited, but that's company policy, not US Law.

 

[lunarae]

It's still policy as well with usps from my understanding. I don't believe it's against federal law. Otherwise all the T businesses that are out there openly advertising that they ship usps would most likely be shut down. As well as those who do so many unboxing videos who clearly recieved their Ts usps arrested and charged. Certain species are against federal law to ship period. But Ts is not one of them.

If it was against the law. Ups and FedEx wouldn't get away with it at all either no matter what their live animal policies are.

 

[TheInv4sion]

I knew fedex had a live animal service but USPS on their website says to visit a local post office to check. Not sure which is better but I assume FedEx?

 

[Trenor]

I have received tarantulas, roaches, crickets, meal worms and other bugs with USPS shipping. My Mom who is a postal worker just rolls her eyes and notes if one of those roach boxes gets lose they person with it might be likely to wack me. As far as I am aware it is a postal policy and not a law as Lunarae stated.

 

[mistertim]

I generally use quantum teleportation.

 

[EulersK]

Well, USPS is illegal, so that leaves Shipyourreptiles.com(which uses FedEx), FedEx, and UPS. FedEx is the only company I currently ship with. Both UPS and FedEx say live animals are prohibited, but that's company policy, not US Law.

You certainly seem like you know what you're talking about, but I haven't had an issue with USPS at all. As a matter of fact, I go out of my way to tell them that I am shipping live animals. It costs $15 extra, but they're sent with perishables - that is, they are not dropped off of convener belts, they're not left outside for any period of time, and they're first off the truck when delivering.

I've had nothing but great experiences with USPS. One of my shipments for overnight arrived the morning after it was due, and they gave me a 100% refund on shipping. I've tried FedEx once and UPS twice... I won't bore you with stories, but all shipments were a nightmare.

 

[z32upgrader]

It largely depends on the individuals running the post office as to whether they'll bend the rules, or even know the rules themselves. I don't allude to the contents, just answer their questions truthfully when the ask if I'm shipping anything hazardous. I personally don't trust USPS to do a good job. I haven't ever had problems with FedEx like I did shipping USPS in the past before I knew of the restrictions. Lots of stuff you can research on the legality of USPS. Look here:
https://www.google.com/webhp?source...espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=shipping usps arachnoboards

 

[EulersK]

It largely depends on the individuals running the post office as to whether they'll bend the rules, or even know the rules themselves. I don't allude to the contents, just answer their questions truthfully when the ask if I'm shipping anything hazardous. I personally don't trust USPS to do a good job. I haven't ever had problems with FedEx like I did shipping USPS in the past before I knew of the restrictions. Lots of stuff you can research on the legality of USPS. Look here:
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=shipping usps arachnoboards

Anything from arachnoboards is several years old, from what I've found. Not the best info for a service that seems to change on a monthly basis. However, I found a recent source that confirms what you're saying.
https://www.ups.com/animals
Specifically, under Prohibited Animals, it explicitly states:
"Any poisonous, venomous, or threatening animal."

They go on to say that the only insects that are allowed are "beneficial" insects, such as bees. Yes, I understand that spiders are not insects, but USPS is not in the business of taxonomy. They would likely bundle all arthropods in with insects.

EDIT:
I just realized that link is for UPS, not USPS. However, it's the same for USPS. Here we go:
http://pe.usps.gov/text/pub52/pub52c5_007.htm
Specifically, it states "All poisonous insects and all spiders, except scorpions under limited circumstances are nonmailable."

That being said, both UPS and USPS prohibit shipping tarantulas.

 

[lunarae]

Yes it's against usps policy but it's not against law. Big difference when it comes to consequences. One means if they find out you shipped it they will get pissy and may refuse to ship for you if they know what it is and so on, the other jail time. For instance spiders and such is against policy but not against law. Where as there is actual laws against shipping invasive species and such. I know it's against the law to ship queen ants.

 

[EulersK]

Yes it's against usps policy but it's not against law. Big difference when it comes to consequences. One means if they find out you shipped it they will get pissy and may refuse to ship for you if they know what it is and so on, the other jail time. For instance spiders and such is against policy but not against law. Where as there is actual laws against shipping invasive species and such. I know it's against the law to ship queen ants.

I'm sure @Poec54 will weigh in on this, but certain states also have very strict policies. Florida, I believe, is one of them.

 

[Trenor]

I'm sure @Poec54 will weigh in on this, but certain states also have very strict policies. Florida, I believe, is one of them.

I think that has to do with state laws on invasive species not on shipping in general. You can't ship Dubia roaches into FL but it is also against the law to drive them in to FL as well. They just don't want the invasive species in the state however it might get there.

 

[TheInv4sion]

I generally use quantum teleportation.

I will try that. Seems reasonable enough

 

[lunarae]

Yes there are laws against introducing specific species to states and such. It's why any big business that sells roaches refuses to sell to FL.

Another one is queen ants, no big business is going to sell them because it's illegal to ship them anywhere in the US for the same reason as roaches.

One way to know if something is and isn't illegal to ship to Joe schmo is to see if you can buy it from a big named company and have it shipped to you. (Nor fool prrof but a place to start) If you can buy it with no special documentation and it will ship to you with no insane needs to do so, chances are it's legal to ship.

But each state does have its individual laws against specific species they won't allow in because they are invasive. However I do not believe there is any species of T or spider on any of those lists.

 

[TheInv4sion]

When you do overnight shipping do you guys tell the post office its a live animal or label the container or do you just leave it unmarked and let it happen. idk if there is any risk in doing overnight without telling them it's an animal.

 

[Trenor]

I don't think any of the live stuff I got in the USPS/UPS/FedEx have ever been labeled live anything. It seems most that have shipped to me just let it happen. I have never shipped any live creatures myself. Though that might change when a male or two matures or I get into sling trading.

 

[EulersK]

When you do overnight shipping do you guys tell the post office its a live animal or label the container or do you just leave it unmarked and let it happen. idk if there is any risk in doing overnight without telling them it's an animal.

Well, I would have always advocated telling them that it was a live animal, but now I'm not so sure. Frankly, they don't really treat it any differently... other than that $15 perishable thing I said. They do allow dead poultry to be shipped, so just say that!

 

[TheInv4sion]

First time packing a T

• TheInv4sion
• Apr 19, 2016

Did I do good?

First time packing my T

• TheInv4sion
• Apr 19, 2016

First time shipping CnC please

 

[Quixtar]

I purchase boxes from a shipping supplier that are labeled "Perishable". Other than that, I do not indicate the shipment of any live animals. I simply print out the shipping label online, then bring the box to the local post office and drop it off at a window without talking to anyone.

 

[cold blood]

I'm sure @Poec54 will weigh in on this, but certain states also have very strict policies. Florida, I believe, is one of them.

I've got packages from him, they were always fed ex over night, in a "live animals" box, with every single species clearly labeled on the outside of the package.