Just wondering what everybodies thoughts and experiences are. Do you guys really feel Delta is safer and more secure shipping method over say UPS or Fedex?

I ask because I feel really comfortable shipping expensive shipments through UPS..

I have used for yrs and yrs and trust them . Since I got into reptiles I have used them twice....once with Boeke to receive our Excaliber hets and the other was to receive our desert girl from Robyn .
It means an extra 4 hrs of driving for me but worth the sense of security for me .
I havent had any problems with Fed Ex so long as I have them delivered to the 1st station they hit after getting off the plane in Memphis . I do not trust the fed ex drivers/delivery here in my area...they are afraid of dogs/cats/ snakes....animals in general . They also have damaged and lost expensive non living items ....once even delivering without signature a brand new HP laptop valued at over 2k to a factory across town instead of here...just so happened one of the guys in the receiving deck at the factory knew our family andsaw the name and address on the box ....brought it to us . Thing with receiving shipments here at home from ups is that they usually do not arrive til well afternoon and if the weather is bad I would have great concern....some of the delivery folks are also afraid of dogs/cats and sorta toss and run ....we have a watch dog inside and a yard cat...
Just trust Delta because of the # of good experiences I have had with them in the past.You know when that plane lands you can get your animal right there promptly . ...temperatures are more controlled as well .

I've received delta dash a couple times at the seller's insistence. The biggest advantage to using delta dash is that the package is in transit for only a few hours as opposed to the 18+ hours that it takes for UPS/FedEx. I personally don't like delta dash, but that's cuz it's a pain driving to the airport and it's more expensive. Also, I believe that if a snake is properly packaged it should have no problems surviving an overnight trip. The only time I'd choose delta over UPS/fedex is during temperature extremes.

I have received snakes through both....the airport is slightly more of a hassle to travel to....but to be going to pick up a snake I don't care about the hassle....No problems ever with either one :cheers:

Isn't it like three times the cost to ship Delta?

Really all depends on how much the animal is worth to the buyer and seller.
Also comming from a person that has delt with larger varanids for a number of years!!!
Its alot easier for delta dash.
Its definatly quicker (and you pay for that extra quickness).
Some if not most major airports are a pain to get to.
Personally i would offer the option to buyers to have there animals received delta dash if they want.
I still have a account with them and offer it if someone wants something that day.
Depending on the price of the animal i usually offer to cover some of the cost.
Its not a bad option to have.

Isn't it like three times the cost to ship Delta?

Depends on the size of the package.
Not so sure on smaller herps.But larger ones you have to have a plywood box etc.

Just wondering what everybodies thoughts and experiences are. Do you guys really feel Delta is safer and more secure shipping method over say UPS or Fedex?

I ask because I feel really comfortable shipping expensive shipments through UPS..

I don't feel comfortable with them. Packages on a plane are secondary to people's luggage etc. If they have to much, packages sit and wait for the next plane for room to go. In the past I had to sit at an airport for HOURS waiting on a delivery. When the packages don't fit on a plane they could sit outside in the cold/hot on a luggage cart till loaded. :dunno: No thanks!!

I went with a friend to pick up a rather expensive purchase from delta - and the box had been smashed. So no - I don't believe it's any safer and it sure is a pain in the ass -- our local delta looses everything especially since they changed ownership a few years ago.

And I'll agree with the statement that a properly packaged snake will be fine for overnight travel.

:yessir:

Ok, I work for UPS, so here's the lowdown...It's the best for small lightweight packages...say, under 10 pounds. If you're shipping an adult Burm, better to use Delta and a wooden crate. With UPS, your box sits outside on the airport tarmac a minimum amount of time...30 minutes maybe (and it's packed with a bunch of other boxes into the cargo container). All boxes are loaded into big cargo containers at the nearest hub from where you dropped your box off. That cargo container is put on a roller bed 45' trailer and taken to the airport where it is off-loaded into the sort building and, within 20 minutes, put on the plane. When the plane lands in Louisville, KY (UPS air hub), all the cargo containers are off-loaded into a massive temp-controlled building where they are opened up and all the little packages are resorted to new cargo containers to be put back on the outbound plane to the destination city. Once the plane lands at it's destination, the cargo containers are off loaded and put on those roller trailers, taken to the hub, and then unloaded (in a temp controlled building) and put on the package cars for delivery. If you picked the 10:30am delivery, the box is in that package car for a maximum of 2 hours. So really, any screw-ups by UPS are on the final delivery driver. If you have good drivers in your area, there shouldn't be a problem. FedEx works exactly the same way. There are longer delays if you live in the country, simply because of the longer final destination drive...but I think UPS still guarantees 10:30 delivery unless you're REALLY out in the sticks...lol!

I could be wrong, but can't you insure your Delta shipments? If so, I'd say that'd be the largest advantage other than the time spent in shipment by the snake.

For high end stuff Delta Dash all the way. I ship FedEx Priority Overnight when shipping animals, but if I were to ever have larger animals or animals upwards of $1000 I would definitely offer Delta Air Cargo to customers. FedEx won't guarantee live arrival but Delta Air Cargo does. Shipping with Delta Air Cargo also cuts out for less employee mistakes versus shipping with UPS or FedEx. There isn't a sort facility ( Memphis, TN or Louisville, KY) the package has to go to and then a final hub before getting placed on a truck for delivery. It changes planes just like your luggage then goes to its final destination (your local major airport) to be picked up by the recipient. If you are shipping larger or venomous animals, high end animals, or just want that added security Delta Air Cargo is the way to go.

I actually had an order sent to me via Delta Air Cargo around the Christmas Holiday rush and in the rush it was misplaced at the Salt Lake City Airport enroute to here in Spokane. The package got to the Spokane Airport a day later than expected after they found it. Most of the shipment was well received but there was a partial loss. Delta Air Cargo was helpful in helping me file the claim and I received reimbursement for the lost animals as well as reimbursement for the shipping since it was late and it was their employee error in Salt Lake that caused it to be late. My experiences with Delta Air Cargo have been good and well worth the extra costs of shipping with them.

Speaking of shipping UPS, did they ever change their stance on shipping snakes? I know it's done with Shipyourreptiles but what about other UPS accounts?

Speaking of shipping UPS, did they ever change their stance on shipping snakes? I know it's done with Shipyourreptiles but what about other UPS accounts?

They haven't yet. Or at least that's what I heard from the UPS Store we use.

Speaking of shipping UPS, did they ever change their stance on shipping snakes? I know it's done with Shipyourreptiles but what about other UPS accounts?

The official word is still "no snakes". UPS is still waiting to see how well ShipYourReptiles does...how much money it generates and how well the process goes (ie, no escapes and no idiots trying to ship venomous)! If they find it profitable with no hassles, I think they might change their tune. It's a corporate structure and any decisions are by committee and take forever!