Lack of customer service from sellers

The common issue I realize on this site is the lack of customer service to almost being downright rude behavior.

I understand things are posted and the common response seems to be "read the description" or "it's in the description"; but this is a major turn off when shopping and/or purchasing a pet. For the most part it feels like communicating with a teenager or an adult that lacks good social mannerisms.

I had purchased a snake earlier which I found many of my questions from the seller "it's in the description" or "I already told you that"; when in fact information like "When was the snake last fed" was not answered.

I moved this to the General Business Discussions section since it is suitable for it (and not formatted in the manner the BOI would require). If you do decide to name any seller specifically, that would go on the BOI (and I would ask that you read the stickied rules thread, which is highlighted in red, near the top of the BOI before you do if so). Thanks.

I have noticed the same thing.
What you need to realize is that the herp "business" is not like most other businesses. Herp sellers do not necessarily have any background in business, sales, or customer service. Rather, they are hobbyists that decided, to whatever degree, to make a business out of it. Many herp sellers don't necessarily have the same service or communications skills one would expect when purchasing other products. This is especially apparent in the BOI; the way some "business" people talk to their customers when there is a dispute can be truly horrific.
On the other hand, I think that herp sellers can become jaded after a period of time. The daily grind of answering questions for dreamers, tire kickers and others with no intention of buying, scammers, low-ballers, shoplifters etc. probably gets old after a while. I think this is particularly true in the case of retail herp store owners. That is one reason that I have never wanted to own a pet store.
For the buyer, the solution is relatively simple- only buy from sellers that offer good service and treat their customers with respect. There are quite a few of them here.

Originally Posted by Herpin Man

I have noticed the same thing.
What you need to realize is that the herp "business" is not like most other businesses. Herp sellers do not necessarily have any background in business, sales, or customer service. Rather, they are hobbyists that decided, to whatever degree, to make a business out of it. Many herp sellers don't necessarily have the same service or communications skills one would expect when purchasing other products. This is especially apparent in the BOI; the way some "business" people talk to their customers when there is a dispute can be truly horrific.
On the other hand, I think that herp sellers can become jaded after a period of time. The daily grind of answering questions for dreamers, tire kickers and others with no intention of buying, scammers, low-ballers, shoplifters etc. probably gets old after a while. I think this is particularly true in the case of retail herp store owners. That is one reason that I have never wanted to own a pet store.
For the buyer, the solution is relatively simple- only buy from sellers that offer good service and treat their customers with respect. There are quite a few of them here.

HM:
I agree. I spent a good hour talking to the manager of the pet store I purchase my feeders from. He has over 200 breeds of corn snakes. Some of the rarer types that he is charging a few thousand dollars for.

It was nice to see someone enthused and willing to help me by offering information on his background on breeding.

He stated that while someone is purchasing a snake from someone else to save $50-$100; what are they really saving? The breeder's reputation is worth an extra $50-100 if you know you are getting a quality breed with documentation to show such quality.

He told me he has pics of the snakes breeding, clutching eggs, and hatching. Included is all the timestamps of feeding, shedding, and other information. He stated this may be overkill, but you know you are getting a quality snake from him and has the documentation to prove it.

I think you're making a mountain over a molehill. You're new to the site, so you probably are not aware that most people do not check threads frequently for updates, but instead rely upon notifications from the private messaging system or direct contact through emails.

Also, it is rather bold of you to make a sweeping, mostly inaccurate statement concerning customer service by sellers on this site when you joined last month and made a total of four posts, two of which occurred in one advertisement for sand boas. You were gently reprimanded by one of the moderators for lack of reading comprehension in the advertisement itself, and then the seller noticed his thread had been bumped and responded.

Buying and selling goes both ways, and sellers can choose not to sell to you just as quickly as you can choose not to purchase from a buyer. Right now you are coming off as a high maintenance buyer, which most sellers steer way clear of because of silly threads like this.

Originally Posted by snowgyre

Buying and selling goes both ways, and sellers can choose not to sell to you just as quickly as you can choose not to purchase from a buyer. Right now you are coming off as a high maintenance buyer, which most sellers steer way clear of because of silly threads like this.

I called it correctly. You are high maintenance and that is being forgiving, I would say more except for the moderator kindly reminding the folks frustrated with you in this thread to avoid name calling. You have been added to my personal do-not-buy-from-or-sell-to list, and probably the lists of others here.

And just to clarify, my original post was not meant to be inflammatory, it was an interpretation of how you were coming off to people who didn't know you. You ended up proving all of my points in it though. Way to live up to the reputation. e_e

Originally Posted by snowgyre

I called it correctly. You are high maintenance and that is being forgiving, I would say more except for the moderator kindly reminding the folks frustrated with you in this thread to avoid name calling. You have been added to my personal do-not-buy-from-or-sell-to list, and probably the lists of others here.

And just to clarify, my original post was not meant to be inflammatory, it was an interpretation of how you were coming off to people who didn't know you. You ended up proving all of my points in it though. Way to live up to the reputation. e_e

You get the award then! You said it, people had to be reminded of the name calling which the members started, in fact I just made a statement about the lack of customer service and it has now turned into a tit-for-tat because I frustrated so many with my observation.

I do not really care about do not buy or sell lists as much as I do not care about Karma points. If you had been paying attention, I took my money elsewheres. I spent over $1000 in the past month. Money that could had went to sellers on this forum, but because of the rudeness, I took my money to other breeders that catered to my "High Maintenance" needs.

Glad I proved your point. Hope you feel good and it made your day. Perhaps if I misinterpret what you said, you should reflect on how you wrote it. But you may be an elitist that I stated earlier and cannot be bothered by this. I get it.

Vanessa, it is rather bold of you to assume that since I am new to the site that I am in experienced.

I been keeping, breeding, trading, and selling reptiles and animals as a hobby for over 20 years.

My main job is in IT Desktop Support that I been in for 22 years.

I been a seller on eBay since 1998.

I recently moved on from fine art photography which last 10 years, which included wedding/family/business clients, presentations/workshops to students, as well as Gallery associations.

One thing as a customer in all those industries that I learned over the years is nothing says take your money and move on that bad customer service.

First, in this tech age we become multi-taskers even with multiple professions, hobbies, and family obligations. I find it hard to believe that someone who is posting on this site to sell does not have time or time to waste in answering questions, even if it is already stated in the post. If someone is too busy for that, perhaps they should not be breeding and selling.

Sellers and breeders need to understand for every buyer you have, you may have 5, 10, or even 30 non-buyers.

You are right, it is a two way negotiation. By me asking questions and being a "high maintenance buyer" I am thinking of the good of the reptile. I sm assessing whether you are a high maintenance seller or breed that keeps the parameters for the snake that are not nesscary or improper, which could lead to stress of the pet adjusting to the new environment.

So Vanessa, I gladly took my $500 and purchased from a brick and mortar shop that took the time to answer my questions. Now the White Diamond Ball is thriving.

This was not the case from my first online purchase ever that was through this site, in which the snake died 8 days later. Which made me very weary from making an online purchase of anything living.

Finally, to judge me on my post from my stats is not accurate. You do not know how many private messages and emails I sent inquirying about snakes on this site; only to recieve one or two word answers that are ambiguous, which leads me to a follow-up making me seem high maintenance.

I'm with Vanessa on this, that is a pretty wide net you just cast. I have strived for excellent customer service in the three years I've been here. I agree there are guys that are difficult to buy from and I've even received poorly packaged animals from "big names". I have also received some great stuff from some people that's never been heard of. Long story short, check the BOI, it is a great tool. If you spend enough time on here, you can quickly figure out, the good and the bad.