!! BE CAREFUL !! Wild caught ball pythons sold as captive breds!

I paid a guy named Mike $195 via paypal for three adult female captive bred ball pythons weighing over 3lbs. I received three wild caught snakes drop shipped from an importer.

I confronted Mike about this and he told me to "screw off" in a nutshell. I contacted paypal but I don't think they're going to help me.

This guy is a thief from the "inner city" in Michigan exploiting, cheating and damaging the hobby by selling $15 snakes for $65 and advertising them as captive bred. They have mites/ticks/parasites/etc. on them.

Here's the ad he has on http://www.reptilespark.com/market/s...ale_r.anz5743:

I have 16in american gator$75ea 5ft female ball python$65ea and suriname boas 4.5ft$400ea shipping is $45 in the states buyer pays unless we trade or buyer spends $120 or more i will pay half can lower some prices also will trade any thing listed for adult blood pythons or albino burms email or call mike exoctics at jnmi210@aol.com 313-330-1049 24hrs

Philly,

It would be a shame if your message gets deleted because of not posting your full name.

It would be very important that you also post the complete information for "Mike", such as name address, etc. where you sent your payment.

I'm sorry this happened to you. But for the future remember the old adage "if it's seems too good to be true it probably is". The market is flooded right now with WC pregnant females going for approximatelly $200. There is no way someone will be selling CB pregnant females for $65 a piece.

Regards.

Well.... maybe I missed something, but where in this ad (which has been removed)....

....I have 16in american gator$75ea 5ft female ball python$65ea and suriname boas 4.5ft$400ea shipping is $45 in the states buyer pays unless we trade or buyer spends $120 or more i will pay half can lower some prices also will trade any thing listed for adult blood pythons or albino burms email or call mike exoctics at jnmi210@aol.com 313-330-1049 24hrs....

does it say that they are captive born??

Neil

Is this mike from mikes exotics living in or around taylor Michigan? The same Mike who runs the Tayor Show? Thanks Shawn Morgan

I called him and spoke to him and he told me he had captive bred females available, parasite free and eating well. I included the ad as this was the ad that drew me to phone him and inquire about female availability.

I can forward all email dialogue to those parties interested. Bottom line, he bought them and had Strictly Reptiles drop ship them to me. I've got the invoice as proof and I don't blame Strictly Reptiles for anything as they've done NOTHING WRONG!

It's the classic "bait and switch" and unfortunately I've become less trusting of what people have to say on the phone. I want paperwork/documention before any money is sent, I'm checking BOI and checking references before forking any money out moving forward.

It's people like that who mess up good business in this hobby.

Originally posted by shawnM
Is this mike from mikes exotics living in or around taylor Michigan? The same Mike who runs the Tayor Show? Thanks Shawn Morgan

I don't know if it's the same guy but he does live in Michigan and his ad does say "Mikes Exotics".

I can't understand why you would come on here and lie about the deal, do you think none of us read the KS forums?

You are obviously new to these animals and thought you were getting a good "deal". then when you realise YOU made a bad decision you come on here and slam the seller.

I hope the seller comes on here and gives his side of the story....


Hey ballheaded, this IS NOT KS, don't come to the BOI and lie, because if you do, there is a great chance you will be busted.

Originally posted by Neil Gubitz
Well.... maybe I missed something, but where in this ad (which has been removed)....

....I have 16in american gator$75ea 5ft female ball python$65ea and suriname boas 4.5ft$400ea shipping is $45 in the states buyer pays unless we trade or buyer spends $120 or more i will pay half can lower some prices also will trade any thing listed for adult blood pythons or albino burms email or call mike exoctics at jnmi210@aol.com 313-330-1049 24hrs....

does it say that they are captive born??

Neil

This email is a gem...He said he's going to ship them the following morning with his other packages and low and behold, I get the invoice from Strictly Reptiles in the box along with a sender address in Florida

An email from Mike:

"HEY RON MIKE WITH THE BALL PYTHONS SORRY THEY DIDNT COME AND PICK UP PACKAGE TODAY AND I DIDNT MAKE AFTERNOON SHIP ALSO DIDNT WANT THEM SIT AT A POST OFFICE ALL NIGHT THEY WILL GO OUT WITH ME TO SHIPPING IN THE MORNING FOR SURE I HAVE TO PUT UP SOME BLOOD PYTHONS JUST GIVING U UPDATE DONT WANT YOU TO THINK AM TRYING TO CHEAT YOU OR PLAY GAMES I VALUE YOU AS A COSTUMER ALSO IF U ORDER ANY THING ESLE I WILL WORK A DEAL AND GIVE YOU $20 OFF THE NEXT ORDER THANKS


MIKE"

Originally posted by realvenum
I can't understand why you would come on here and lie about the deal, do you think none of us read the KS forums?

You are obviously new to these animals and thought you were getting a good "deal". then when you realise YOU made a bad decision you come on here and slam the seller.

I hope the seller comes on here and gives his side of the story....


Hey ballheaded, this IS NOT KS, don't come to the BOI and lie, because if you do, there is a great chance you will be busted.

Listen, I'm not going to have a pissing match with you as you are unimportant in my eyes and what you say does not matter as you had no money or loss in this transaction. My KS posts mentioned that I got screwed over and explained the situation so I'm not sure what you were reading what your alcohol blood content level was.

Was $65 a good deal for 3-4lb captive bred ball pythons? Absolutely! Did I think I was getting a good deal? Absolutely! And like I said, you were not on the phone with us as we discussed business so kindly do the group a favor and stop spewing rehetoric and name calling.

I'm an honest businessman, not a liar, thief or cheat. I paid Mike and got animals from Strictly Reptiles. Mike is in Michigan, said he was going to mail the ball pythons out the next day and low and behold he did, he mailed them from Florida, out of the Strictly Reptiles facility using their letterhead.

Please my friend, say no to drugs and shut down the computer for the evening. You're an embarrasment to yourself. Please email me and/or phone me if you wish to discuss this further as I'm sure no one would like to read our discussions.

Originally posted by Philly
Listen, I'm not going to have a pissing match with you as you are unimportant in my eyes and what you say does not matter as you had no money or loss in this transaction. My KS posts mentioned that I got screwed over and explained the situation so I'm not sure what you were reading what your alcohol blood content level was.

Was $65 a good deal for 3-4lb captive bred ball pythons? Absolutely! Did I think I was getting a good deal? Absolutely! And like I said, you were not on the phone with us as we discussed business so kindly do the group a favor and stop spewing rehetoric and name calling.

I'm an honest businessman, not a liar, thief or cheat. I paid Mike and got animals from Strictly Reptiles. Mike is in Michigan, said he was going to mail the ball pythons out the next day and low and behold he did, he mailed them from Florida, out of the Strictly Reptiles facility using their letterhead.

Please my friend, say no to drugs and shut down the computer for the evening. You're an embarrasment to yourself. Please email me and/or phone me if you wish to discuss this further as I'm sure no one would like to read our discussions.

Just one more thing. If I am a "so-called" liar, then why did Mike send me this email when I confronted him about the wc's he sold me that should have been cb's? I'm still waiting on the refund by the way, a refund that I don't expect I'll receive as he's evaded my calls and emails.

"thank you ron for dealing with this problem so well i promise i will make it up to you some how once we it all this right and i refund this to you when i send my snaks i will give a better deal on them than this for now on i will ship first "

This whole issue is making me naseau again, I'm turning my computer off for the evening. I'll chalk this up as a $195.00 education and write it off.