Getting Shipping Boxes

bigsnakegirl785 · 11-28-17, 07:39 AM

So the website isn’t very clear, and I can’t find any answers online. I was wondering how long it takes after receiving an order to get an insulated box and other items from Reptile Express? I’m trying to make the label, but I don’t know what day to put on it. I was hoping to ship tomorrow, but I’ve been trying to figure out the shipping between shifts at work and I haven’t found my answers anywhere.

Also, how should I figure out the weight for the box? Is it just the weight of the snakes, or do I have to figure out the box’s weight, too? If the box is included, do I wait until after the box gets here and weigh everything?

Albert Clark · 11-28-17, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

So the website isn’t very clear, and I can’t find any answers online. I was wondering how long it takes after receiving an order to get an insulated box and other items from Reptile Express? I’m trying to make the label, but I don’t know what day to put on it. I was hoping to ship tomorrow, but I’ve been trying to figure out the shipping between shifts at work and I haven’t found my answers anywhere.

Also, how should I figure out the weight for the box? Is it just the weight of the snakes, or do I have to figure out the box’s weight, too? If the box is included, do I wait until after the box gets here and weigh everything?

Try going to "Ship Your Reptiles" for all your shipping questions and details. They have quite a bit on "FAQ" concerning shipping. Best to ship the same day you make the label but usually labels are valid for 30 days and Fedex will update the date once its scanned at the departing destination. The weight of the animal is more important than the weight of the empty box though. Approximations are acceptable as long as it's not a gross distortion.

bigsnakegirl785 · 11-29-17, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Try going to "Ship Your Reptiles" for all your shipping questions and details. They have quite a bit on "FAQ" concerning shipping. Best to ship the same day you make the label but usually labels are valid for 30 days and Fedex will update the date once its scanned at the departing destination. The weight of the animal is more important than the weight of the empty box though. Approximations are acceptable as long as it's not a gross distortion.

I would do SYR but I wasn’t able to find any single box options, which is why I went with RE.

I’m more concerned with when the box will arrive at my house so I can pack the snakes than with the date I need to put on the label.

If I go with RE I was looking at the biggest box they have available (30” long). I’m shipping Bud (3.5’ and somewhere around 1,400 grams), Draco (2’ and ~50 grams), and Sanji (3.5’-4’ and around 400 grams), and need to pack them for very cold weather.

Albert Clark · 11-29-17, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

I would do SYR but I wasn’t able to find any single box options, which is why I went with RE.

I’m more concerned with when the box will arrive at my house so I can pack the snakes than with the date I need to put on the label.

If I go with RE I was looking at the biggest box they have available (30” long). I’m shipping Bud (3.5’ and somewhere around 1,400 grams), Draco (2’ and ~50 grams), and Sanji (3.5’-4’ and around 400 grams), and need to pack them for very cold weather.

OK, gotcha! Go to this site for your individual shipping kits: PANGEA REPTILE...
These guys are great. Try to remember that these reptiles don't need alot of extra space in the box. I think a 12x 9 x 6 may be appropriate for the all of them. At most the 15 x 9 x 6. Don't need to go with more than one heat pad for that sized box. Too much heat in that confined space is known to kill reptiles. You only need two heat pads for the largest boxes. They will need individual shipping bags or pillowcases. The insulation panels are the real important item also.

bigsnakegirl785 · 11-29-17, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

OK, gotcha! Go to this site for your individual shipping kits: PANGEA REPTILE...
These guys are great. Try to remember that these reptiles don't need alot of extra space in the box. I think a 12x 9 x 6 may be appropriate for the all of them. At most the 15 x 9 x 6. Don't need to go with more than one heat pad for that sized box. Too much heat in that confined space is known to kill reptiles. You only need two heat pads for the largest boxes. They will need individual shipping bags or pillowcases. The insulation panels are the real important item also.

I was advised to get the largest box I could, I assume either to help keep the snakes separated because of the extreme difference in sizes or because we were originally going to be shipping in 20-30 degree weather.

Albert Clark · 11-29-17, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

I was advised to get the largest box I could, I assume either to help keep the snakes separated because of the extreme difference in sizes or because we were originally going to be shipping in 20-30 degree weather.

Well, for sure that's a consideration. Actually, you shouldn't ship unless daytime temps are 40F or higher. That's a shipping regulation. The snakes are only going to be in the box overnight though (priority overnight).

SerpentineDream · 11-28-17, 07:38 PM

It's a larger box with 2 heat packs plus shipping materials so the box's weight might be a factor after all... or is their margin of error pretty lenient?

Albert Clark · 11-29-17, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SerpentineDream

It's a larger box with 2 heat packs plus shipping materials so the box's weight might be a factor after all... or is their margin of error pretty lenient?

The box along with the insulation panels and heat packs don't really make up the true weight. That will come from the weight of the animal combined with with all else. A reasonable estimaton should be rounded off to the nearest pound. No quarter or half pounds should be used,

**Aaron_S** · 11-29-17, 11:45 AM

Probably looking at 4 - 6 pounds after all packing material and etc.

Also the arrival of the supplies will be determined by the postal service. It's a crappy answer but it's true. A couple days most likely.

SerpentineDream · 11-29-17, 02:20 PM

Under ideal circumstances we could wait until late spring for perfect temps but the little guys need to find a place to crash ASAP so it is what it is. Daytime temps should actually be around 40F give or take a degree or 2 and might even slightly exceed that at the FedEx terminal but we're also packing for overnight lows. They'll be spending the early morning hours from about 2 am to 9 am in the low 20s. Then they'll be on the truck for a few more hours.

It's a challenge because there are both boids and a colubrid in there who have different temperature tolerances. BRBs in particular are pretty sensitive to cold. The gentleman advising us kept in mind the size and species in the box and worked out a plan to try to keep them all safe in suboptimal weather. His advice might change slightly based on the forecast the day before. None of us want snakescicles. The large box (20" x 20" x 12" or an equivalent to allow the same number of cubic inches, divided into separate but not completely sealed chambers) is partly because of the use of 2 heat packs, partly due to the size differences and partly to allow a sufficient air supply for the big guys.

bigsnakegirl785 · 12-01-17, 09:53 AM

I have the box, but the label wasn’t with it. Do I print it out, and is it ok to just print out my order history since it includes all the information for shipping on it?

Albert Clark · 12-01-17, 10:16 AM

Bsg, you have to go to the shipping website to get the quote for the dimensions of the box and the weight. You also will have to enter the zip code where it's going before the label can be generated. Yes, you have to print it out but all required info will have to be entered b4 you can proceed forward.

bigsnakegirl785 · 12-01-17, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Bsg, you have to go to the shipping website to get the quote for the dimensions of the box and the weight. You also will have to enter the zip code where it's going before the label can be generated. Yes, you have to print it out but all required info will have to be entered b4 you can proceed forward.

All information has been entered and I paid for the shipping to the recipient already.