Blaze Garrett snake paid for not in the shipment with others.....

We purchased ball pythons from Blaze Garrett of Florida. After paying him 1225.00 via Papal we got our shipment yesterday and when the package was opened while the UPS driver was still at our home we found the albino breeder male was not with the other five snakes. The two female HET albino females were under weight as described, even the one that was described as under weight was found to be more so.

We called Blaze right away and he stated he would go home to see if he had "forgotten" to pack the breeder male.

This has been a horrible sale for us and we are now dead in the water for this years breeding as we do not have our male we paid $525.00 for. This snake was much anticipated and we are heart sickened to have been treated as the seller stated "suspect and untruthful"

We never once thought we would have to video take opening the package and in our excitement to see our first albino frankly didn't even cross our minds.

Papal, our Bank and UPS have all been called into involvement as of today.

We are saddened that our first large purchase has become a nightmare to even get the seller to replace, send or refund. Our entire family talked about and decided on this large purchase and will continue to be in total dismay over the treatment of the seller.

Anna M.Croffoot
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Old 08-19-2009, 06:42 PM #2
SKYMOUNTAIN
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: POLLOCK PINES CA
Posts: 4
Name : ANNA CROFFOOT
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As a further note, we did find a close to duplicate add on this site for three of the snakes we purchased. As you will see the are stated "SOLD" on 08-08-09. We did not have a deal with Blaze for these snakes until the 10th 0r 11th. of August. The add we responded to was in Kingsnake.com as has expired so I am unable to attach it. The BEAUTIFUL albino pictured is the boy we did not receive....http://www.venomousreptiles.org/clas...s/detail/28974

add on this site for the snakes we paid for again showing the male we did not receive.

http://www.venomousreptiles.org/clas...s/detail/29115

My girlfriend bought an albino from Blaze for my birthday last fall (probably an offspring of this missing albino breeder male). He was guaranteed to be "100% healthy". Well, he arrived on October 23, and was hatched on August 24. He arrived a beautiful but EXTREMELY skinny ball python. At two months of age he was just 45 grams. Within a couple weeks he had dropped to 37 grams. At this point, we made the decision to assist feed the snake. After a couple months, he began feeding on his own and is now at a healthy 500 grams.

My girlfriend, Zoe, called Blaze a few times during this ordeal. He was always very apologetic, and seemed surprised that the snake was so under weight. Sometime during the transaction he also mentioned that the albino breeders were his grandmother's (he's a venomous guy). I don't understand how he could think that a two month old ball python weighing less than most hatchlings was suitable for shipping. He also claimed that the snake had eaten with no problems prior to shipping, but I find this very very hard to believe. I feel that the snakes troubling beginnings are solely due to inadequate care from the breeder. From his ad, it appears as though he is still having problems caring adequately for his snakes. Proven females that are 700 grams just after laying, and 1100 grams with a year off are pathetic.

I never posted this before as I thought that Blaze's apologies were sincere, and perhaps he was just unclear about ball python care. This post and his ads clearly show that he leaves much to be desired as a reptile breeder. Regardless of whether or not the missing albino was a "mistake", I would stay very far away from his snakes unless you want some severely underweight animals.

Thank you sooooo very much, we feel so out there and alone on this. I know I keep saying it over again but I am so hurt about the albino, he was to be our first and I will tell this Blaze has never apologized to us, has just been very unfriendly and accusatory that we are liars.

Anna

Has Blaze been made aware of this thread?

Oh yeah Anna, please post any e-mails you have between Blaze and yourself concerning this matter.

You don't give any time line. When did this happen? When did the shipment arrive? When did you contact Blaze? When did you contact paypal, Bank etc.?

Personally I can't imagine how someone could forget putting the albino in the package but if he said he would check into it then you've got to give him time to do so.

Sorry about time line, we made the deal on, 08/10/09- 08/11/09. Snakes minus albino arrived two days ago on 08/18/09. We called Blaze with in minutes of arrival. He stated he would go home to see if he had left the snake on the floor by accident. Within 5 minutes of that call on 08/18/09 he called and said snake was not there. His demeanor changed and he said the following via phone and email...The following is the Paypal communication string thus far. I will go ahead and copy the personal emails should you like to read them, they are much the same. In the Paypal above, the other four snakes are not discussed because we are only asking he return the stated amount for the albino, not the other snakes that were misrepresented. We honestly thought when the other was not in the box he had simply forgotten to place him in with the others, and have tried via phone, emails to work this out.
From Buyer - KELLY CROFFOOT

8/18/2009 16:16 PDT

WE PAID FOR (6) BALL PYTHONS, (5) WERE RECEIVED, THE 6TH SNAKE WAS TO BE AN ADULT ALBINO BREEDER MALE( PAID $525.00 US DOLLARS) CLAIMED AT 1300 GRAMS WAS NOT IN THE BOX NOR WAS IT'S PACKAGING WITHIN THE BOX.

WE HAVE CONTACTED THE SELLER AND HE CLAIMS THAT THE MISSING SNAKE WAS SHIPPED AFTER HE STATED HE WOULD GO HOME AND CHECK IF HE HAD FORGOTTEN IT.

SINCE THEY WERE LIVE SNAKES SENT EXPRESS OVERNIGHT TO US WE OPTED TO ACCEPT WHAT WE RECEIVED. WE SIGNED FOR SHIPMENT BUT THE UPS DRIVER NOTED IN HIS LOG THAT SHIPMENT WAS INCOMPLETE AS HE WAS STILL AT OUR LOCATION WHILE WE OPENED THE SHIPMENT.

WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT THE SNAKE WAS ORIGINALLY SHIPPED ONLY THAT IT WAS NOT IN THE SHIPMENT. IT IS ALSO MY OPINION THAT THE BOX SHOWED NO SIGNS OF BEING TAMPERED WITH.

I HAVE BEEN A STANDING PAYPAL CUSTOMER WITH 100% FEEDBACK AS A SELLER AND A BUYER. I HAVE NEVER HAD ONE INCIDENT AS THIS. I AM ASKING PAYPAL TO HELP IN THIS MATTER AND FULL RESOLUTION.

THIS WAS SHIPPED VIA PAYPAL SHIPPING/UPS

blaze garrett denied KELLY CROFFOOT's request for a $525.00 USD refund.

8/18/2009 17:15 PDT

From Seller - blaze garrett

8/18/2009 17:15 PDT

I personally find this situation rather suspect giving the circumstances. This is a losing situation on my end and unfortunately I am not is a position to be giving any money away (or an albino for that matter). You can proceed how ever you want.

From Seller - blaze garrett

8/18/2009 17:19 PDT

I had them require a signature for 2 reasons. 1. In case you were not there they wouldn't leave it out in the sun and 2. if there were any problems you could simply deny the package and it would be shipped back.

From Buyer - KELLY CROFFOOT

8/18/2009 18:14 PDT

Blaze,

Why would we return five of the items we purchased when you did not include the sixth when you already have all of our money? Surely you don't mean to say here you would want them shipped back after being in a box for 24 hours already! This is a LARGE amount of money, would you have returned what you paid for minus one on the hopes of getting back your money? when the most expensive one wasn't even in the package?

We told the UPS driver before he left the premises that the "albino" was not in the box. To reship you fully know you can not just hand an open package back to the driver and say take it away...I don't want it. The driver noted this. We placed a call to you right after the driver noted the problem. We have proceeded in good faith and frankly your financial situation has no bearing on our not receiving what we paid for. You have a responsibility as a seller, please take into consideration the fact that we have a LARGE loss of $525.00 as you clearly know.

Please refund the amount for the albino in the amount of $525.00

From Seller - blaze garrett

8/19/2009 03:14 PDT

Well if you never except delivery then you would be entitled to a full refund. And that's exactly what you do hand him back the package and say they are not all here, return to sender.

My financial situation has absolutely nothing to to with you not getting your money back. I would be an idiot to actually believe that from me to you the snake just disappeared. I am not going to eat this. I sold you 6 snakes and that's what you got. I just don't understand why your doing this. See I too have always had a good reputation and am in good standings with the reptile world, Ebay, and PayPal why all of a sudden am I going to start ruining that???

From Seller - blaze garrett

8/19/2009 03:32 PDT

Also you emailed me and asked about my shipping methods (UPS). First you never asked that they be insured. The only shipping company that will insure them is FedEx. They require you to have a business account requiring a tax ID number. And even then they will insure it if the COMPLETE box is missing, not 1 item out of a group. You have supposedly been in this trade for how long and you do not know this?

Realistically think about it... How am I supposed to take this. Should I be able to order something with multiple items, get the package, then say "hmmm I would like to get refunded for something I signed for after examining the contents". This just isn't right and you know it. If this were allowed no one would be able to do business because of all the scams.

From Buyer - KELLY CROFFOOT

8/19/2009 08:36 PDT

I our communications you expressed you may have forgotten to include the Albino Ball Python that was not received. You went home and did not find it there so then you sent an email claiming it was shipped. It was not in the shipment. During our earlier communications you sent me a money request that did not include one of the snakes we agreed to purchase. I informed you and you said you forgot and resent the request which I paid from. I reasonably assumed that you forgot to include the snake. I had no reason to not accept shipment of what was received but did take issue with UPS while he was still here. This is noted. You said you would contact UPS per our email correspondence to see what could be done. It seems you found out because of contents as you state they will not insure live animals...but you go on to say I didn't request insurance? I am rightfully asking you refund $525 for the Albino Male Ball Python that was not received in the shipment. I have been reasonable and have done my due diligence by notifying you, having UPS note shipment incomplete, and communicating with you. It appears that you are concerned with your reputation but will not do what is right in this case. Kelly

From Buyer - KELLY CROFFOOT

8/19/2009 08:42 PDT

I our communications you expressed you may have forgotten to include the Albino Ball Python that was not received. You went home and did not find it there so then you sent an email claiming it was shipped. It was not in the shipment. During our earlier communications you sent me a money request that did not include one of the snakes we agreed to purchase. I informed you and you said you forgot and resent the request which I paid from. I reasonably assumed that you forgot to include the snake. I had no reason to not accept shipment of what was received but did take issue with UPS while he was still here. This is noted. You said you would contact UPS per our email correspondence to see what could be done. It seems you found out because of contents as you state they will not insure live animals...but you go on to say I didn't request insurance? I am rightfully asking you refund $525 for the Albino Male Ball Python that was not received in the shipment. I have been reasonable and have done my due diligence by notifying you, having UPS note shipment incomplete, and communicating with you. It appears that you are concerned with your reputation but will not do what is right in this case. Kelly

From Seller - blaze garrett

8/19/2009 13:37 PDT

OK when you called claiming the snake was not there I assured you I was 100% sure I remembered packing him. I said that I would go check to see that if by some COMPLETE stupidity on my part I left him on the floor. Did I or did I not say that??? I was freaking out. I thought you were playing a joke on me. And as for the small het I told you I would through her in for no extra charge as I would not need her because you were already getting my only albino (true or false). You are the one that asked for her to be put on the list of pythons. I gave her a $50 price (which is a stupid price for an 08 het) just because I didn't think at the moment that I should put FREE.

It is well known that UPS will not insure live animal. I have been shipping through them for years and I know that you have received shipments via UPS because you told me that they left a shipment outside in front of someones door. Have you ever had any reptile insured through them??? NO. That is why most people in in the reptile industry guarantee live arrival. They take that out of their own pockets because they can't get it insured. If they didn't, they would simply state that insurance is available through UPS.

And as for doing what's right.... for who??? Am I supposed to just stand by and be taken advantage of??? Back to my original scenario... Should I be able to order something with multiple items, get the package, and "claim" that there is something missing and get my money back. Meanwhile Joe Shmo is over there getting the shaft because somebody found a way to manipulate the system ABSOLUTELY NOT.

From Seller - blaze garrett

8/19/2009 14:55 PDT

Please explain to me how you AGREED to purchase the little het??? That is really bothering me. In no way shape or form was that snake every given a price until I went back and added it on the invoice. If I remember correctly (which I know I do) I had the albino and 2 adult hets listed for $900 shipped or best offer. You came to me with $675 and I declined. The next day you came back with "What about $775", I said to call me so we could discuss this. The next day you did. We discussed the snakes and I said something to the effect of, I also have a little female het left over from last years clutch, if you want her you can "have" her because I would no longer need her if you were to buy the albino. I then informed you that it was the daughter of the albino and the bigger het female and you said something like sure I'll take her. So in what way did you "purchase" her??? I know this has nothing to do with the dispute but please answer this? I mean, it sounds like your trying to say that I forget allot of things. You know... with me going back and just making absolutely sure that I didn't somehow leave him outside of the box and not putting the little het on an invoice.

Blaze, maybe I am reading this wrong, but I see a discrepancy in your e-mails (I have put in bold). From the way I am reading this, you first imply that you do have an albino but not financially able to ship it out. In the second e-mail, you do not have any more albinos.

Originally Posted by SKYMOUNTAIN

From Seller - blaze garrett

8/18/2009 17:15 PDT

I personally find this situation rather suspect giving the circumstances. This is a losing situation on my end and unfortunately I am not is a position to be giving any money away (or an albino for that matter). You can proceed how ever you want.

From Seller - blaze garrett

8/19/2009 13:37 PDT

OK when you called claiming the snake was not there I assured you I was 100% sure I remembered packing him. I said that I would go check to see that if by some COMPLETE stupidity on my part I left him on the floor. Did I or did I not say that??? I was freaking out. I thought you were playing a joke on me. And as for the small het I told you I would through her in for no extra charge as I would not need her because you were already getting my only albino (true or false). You are the one that asked for her to be put on the list of pythons. I gave her a $50 price (which is a stupid price for an 08 het) just because I didn't think at the moment that I should put FREE.

Originally Posted by Junkyard

Blaze, maybe I am reading this wrong, but I see a discrepancy in your e-mails (I have put in bold). From the way I am reading this, you first imply that you do have an albino but not financially able to ship it out. In the second e-mail, you do not have any more albinos.

I took the first one as such: He doesn't want to "give" away the albino or "give" away the money, i.e. he doesn't know that what the OP says is true. If, as he believes, the OP is lying and just wants either money or a free snake, he would be "giving" away money or a snake.

In this case, his e-mails are not contradictory at all. The albino he supposedly sent is/was his only albino.