Reptile Basics

"They say I'm lazy, but it takes all my time"- Joe Walsh

Archive for February, 2009

Shipyourreptiles.com is here!

Feb 18

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Well, now that the cat is out of the bag-

www.shipyourreptiles.com

Chad and Robyn- Pro Exotics-  have cooked up a pretty neat deal with UPS to let you ship your reptiles (NON VENOMOUS) through UPS.  Up until this point UPS has only had a pilot program to try out the idea.  On March 16th the shipyourreptile and allproshipping sites are due to launch.  I spoke to both Chad and Robyn at great length about his site and some of the problems that have been encountered with similar previous attempts a few weeks ago.  These guys have it covered!  Everything I could think to throw at them they had answers for.  I have been working with the PE family for a few years now and they really are professional and well meaning people and  I don’t see how this can go wrong.  Now that Chad is retired, well really retired, and on the scene full time I see only more and more exciting things on the horizon.  After all, Robyn can’t do it all :)

Looks like you will not need to become “certified” through UPS, simply sign up on the website, watch the instructional videos and you are off and running.  No more “business to business only” restriction that you have with FedEx.

If you ship, or want to ship, your reptiles I would encourage you to check this out.  Chad, Robyn and the crew will be set up at Daytona this year as well to help you ship all of your new toys home.  How cool is that?

As soon as the site launches I know how all of our reptile shipments are going to be sent- Besides, the Brown truck is here 5 days a week anyhow!

At Least now I don’t have to be quiet any longer………………

In show news-

Looks like Charlotte went pretty well for most of the vendors I talked to.  Certainly off to a good start.  Would have been nice if they opened up the ailes a bit, they certainly had the room?? Whats up with that??  Overall though, a good show for all.  Both Stu and Frank set up there and both did pretty well.  Mark at Royal Reptilia did quite well.  Really didn’t hear anyone set up there crying.  That’s a change??

I will be up in Ohio with Frank for both shows this weekend.  Of Course, you know it will snow- I have to drive there and back.  I am constantly reminded why I left Long Island.  I have not been to either of these shows in the past and look forward to meeting some regular customers there.  We ship quite a bit to that part of the country so hopefully many of you can say hi.  I will be set up with/helping Neil Golli.  We pack tomorrow- last chance on requests………………..

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Shows!

Feb 13

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Seems like all of a sudden we have shows stacked up in a big way!  Never thought of Feb/March as big show months?  Guess I didn’t think??

This weekend is the new Charlotte NC show.  I will not be set up but have a few friends that will be.  Stu will be set up with a few dry goods (stats, hides, heat tape, etc) so you can stop by and see what he has for animals and pickup odds and ends if you will be there this weekend.  Kind of curious how this show works out.  I am not a huge fan of the Repticon crowd for a few reasons, one of them is the disaster show in NJ I was dumb enough to attend, and I know a couple of them are not too happy with me but I wish them success with this new show.  Can only be good for the hobby and it would be a good thing to see a stronger show in NC again.  Raleigh has come back quite a bit but never has really recovered.  Hopefully this one is it?

Next weekend is Columbus/Cleveland for me.  Not officially a vendor but am going up there with a few rack deliveries, pickup some rodents for this season and check out Neil Golli’s new setup.  I will have some hides, stats and other smaller odds and ends with me.  Might want to shoot me an email if you know you need something, be happy to bring it and save you some shipping.  Pretty well full as far as racks/cages already though.  Might have room for one or two things so it can’t hurt to ask.

Weekend after that is the Hamburg PA show.  Frank and Mark (Limey) will both be set up with some dry goods there and this is generally regarded as the biggest Hamburg show of the year.  Worth checking out!  Once again, already about filled up on racks and cages but email with any dry goods needs and we will see what we can do!

Then Tampa.  Told you this is getting busy!  I am going down with the truck/trailer for that one.  Will have the full load.  Reserve specific rack/cage needs now if you want them guaranteed.  I will have about everything I normally go to a show with-misting, radiant panels, stats, dosing needles, scales………………..I look forward to Fl. in March.  Not stupid hot yet but probably nicer than here.

Remember, the best way to ensure you get what you need is to email ahead.  Seems like every show someone misses out on something they needed because I didn’t have room for it or it sold out before they could get to me!

That same weekend it looks like Frank will be in Havre De Grace and Mark (Limey- he really like to be called that!) will be on LI for the show there.  Then we hit the busy season??

White Plains NY and Tampa FL

Feb 2

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The White Plains show was about average for a January show and many vendors reported better than average.  Seems the reptile economy is still not too bad?  Saw a lot of new faces there this time, like BHB and a few others.  Seems some vendors dropped out and there was some table openings.  Pretty hard to come by a table at this show so they filled up pretty quick.  Hopefully BHB and the other new vendors hang around, saw some nice variety.  It is nice to get some new faces at any show once in awhile.  They bring some different animals and products and help keep it interesting for the buyers.  Bruce said they had a record crowd for the January show.

Better than that, it looks like we just barely beat the bad weather coming home.  Bobby and I always joke about getting caught up there one of these winters.  Has not happened yet, but this one was pretty close.  Coming south in VA on Monday it looked pretty ominous.  Just some flurries while we were there fortunately.  Easy drive though with no traffic or holdups.

Next month we will be at Tampa.  I have not done that show in several years.  Not sure if it was an “Alex” or “Tony” show last time I did it.  That’s how long for those of you that remember all that.  I will be fully loaded for it so I should have a decent selection of racks and cages.  I am starting to hear rumblings of decent size pre-orders after the Orlando Repticon that if occur will fill me up pretty quick so if you plan on needing something you might want to get the order in!  Looks like I will have Frank there with some animals as well as the infamous “Dr Lew”.  Got him away from his boring day job at a hospital!  Funny, he only seems to tag along for the Fl shows??  Will have plenty of thermostats, misting, books, hides, heat panels, etc, etc.  If you have a specific need it is never a bad idea to let me know though.

When last I typed I said I would be getting the pics of the show displays up that weekend.  Gee, didn’t miss that by much?

I think we are going to keep these as a “show picjup only” for the time being.  They are pretty time consuming and I want to keep the volume down.  We really can only cut them right after a vacuum table resurfacing due to all the small acrylic parts.  That only happens about every 150-200 sheets of material cut.  Essentially, they are a pain!  If you need a set for show delivery just let me know and I will see what we have on hand.  Got about 6 available for Tampa and will likely only bring 3 unless someone needs more.

This month  Stu will be attending the Charlotte show with limited goods-Rancos, Johnsons, some books, maybe a couple of racks.  Get your order in!  I will also be up in OH for Columbus/Cleveland middle of the month for those two shows.  Visiting Neil Golli and picking up a pile of frozen rodents.  Check out his new place.  Will be happy to bring along anything anyone up that way needs.  Save some shipping.  Looks like Frank will be doing Hamburg later this month as well-again, let me know!

By the way- in case you want to get in touch with Frank, Stu or Limey directly about shows, animals and pickups……………..

www.coldblooded_novelties.com (Frank)

www.snakesngex.com (Stu)

www.royalreptilia.com (Limey)

Hope the breeding season is going well for everyone this season-Need to see lots of animals on the table in Daytona this year!

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