Opinions Wanted

I'm looking for some opinions on a recent experience. I will not mention any names as I can't see any good coming out of it.

I recently contacted a breeder to be placed on his waiting list for hatchlings of a not too common animal. He was very polite and said that if his adults failed to produce this year, he was probably going to sell them. I responded by thanking him for his quick reply, wished him luck breeding his animals, and added that if he should decide to sell the adults I was interested in buying them.

Exactly thirteen days later I scan the kingsnake.com classifieds and find the breeder has listed for sale the adult animals in which I expressed interest. I immediately sent off an email telling him I wanted them. Naturally he responded that they were already reserved.

Am I out of line for being a bit perturbed here?

Comments appreciated.

Bob Garby

i hate to say it but i think that happens all the time.
its happened to me..and yes its frustrating and what to do about it i dont know.
there really isent much you can do but maybe avoid that person in the future if they dont take an interest in helping you fulfill your needs ...there are plenty of snakes in the jungle.

Am I out of line for being a bit perturbed here?

Bob,

Were you upset by the fact he did not contact you?

regards,

Daniel

This is one of those rare instances where if it was ME that had the adults and had spoken to you.... I would have told the OTHER GUY that I had made a mistake and couldn't sell them to him because YOU were first! THAT would be the RIGHT thing to do! I would be just as upset as you are if it happened to me.... and rightly so! FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED! It's not YOUR fault that his memory (like mine) is SHOT! He should live up to his promise!

....Neil

I'm assuming this was over email?

If so do you still have the record? I would forward them all to him...

and then move on.

Bob,

Maybe he honestly forgot about it. That can happen.

Hopefully the waiting list did not require deposits. One day he was signing people on a "babies" waiting list. Less than two weeks later his adults failed to reproduce, and he decides to sell them. Now, IMO that's what's really disturbing.

Best regards.

Thanks for the replies.

Daniel (Were you upset by the fact he did not contact you?) -
Yes, I was upset that he didn't contact me prior to listing the animals. Since it was only 13 days from the time I expressed interest in the breeders and them being advertised for sale, I have to believe he had a good idea he was going to part with them. I know it would take me a while to debate selling animals to which I had devoted several years.

Steven (I'm assuming this was over email? If so do you still have the record?) -
Actually it was both email and phone. I forwarded my original email to him with my desire to obtain the adults when I responded to his kingsnake ad.

To be fair, the breeder never verbally accepted my offer to purchase the adults, so we never discussed a price. I was more than willing to pay the price he listed on kingsnake, though. He has since sent me an email stating the buyer actually paid more than his asking price.

Hi Daniel (One day he was signing people on a "babies" waiting list. Less than two weeks later his adults failed to reproduce, and he decides to sell them.)-

He was not soliciting for his wait list. Through my research I found he was working with animals I wanted, so I inquired about being put on his list. Just wanted to clarify. Thanks.

Bob Garby

To be fair, the breeder never verbally accepted my offer to purchase the adults, so we never discussed a price.

Bob,

I'm still puzzled by the fact that one day he is thinking on breeding them, thirteen days later they are sold. Maybe you saved yourself from a headache. Just a thought.

Take care!

Daniel,
I think the breeder is making a move to specialize in a particular animal, and is reluctantly selling the animals (different species) I wanted to raise funds. I have no doubt on the quality of any of his stock.

Thanks,
Bob Garby