kenneth Yates of South Carolina

This guy is a total piece of work. He posted his entire collection for sale on kingsnake. I noticed the ad, it looked pretty good, so I emailed him and we agreed on a price. I sent the money to him next day, the money was recieved and he promptly sent out the animals. This is where the trouble began, I got home with the boxes, a friend and I started unpacking the animals. First off, we noticed that he did not properly insulate the boxes or put appropiate heatpacks in with the animals. The first box we opened contained green and black mambas, 4 of the greens were extremely cold and dead, the black was also cold and dead(picture attatched). We continued to open the boxes as fast as we could inorder to get he animals out and warmed up quickly. As we opened the others, we noticed that there were 4 neotropical rattlers missing(suppose to be 2.4) and a puff adder was also missing(suppose to be 0.0.3). We also noticed that there were extremely small heatpacks in some boxes and heatpacks were not in some of the other boxes! All the animals were extremely cold due to the poor packing methods and the 40F- weather. Kenneth was promptly called and emailed after the animals were unpacked. Kenneth called about 4 hours later in a state of panic saying that all the animals were there and that he didn't know what was going on because he paid someone to box them up for him. He said he would find out what was going on and call back. He has never called or contacted since last saturday morning, the response to the first call by me. I have made arrangements to file fraud charges for the animals missing and a lawsuit for the value of them. What is funny is that he has never responded to any of the phonecalls or messages, until tonight when I emailed him, told him my intentions and gave him the chance to end it now without the legal problems, well, he emailed me not even 3 minutes after I emailed him! Here are pictures that I have taken of the dead animals and how they were packed.
Kevin Smith
Here is the original list of what was posted on the ad on Kingsnake:
1.0 12 FOOT KING COBRA 650.00
1 Indo King Cobra--NICE ADULT 325.00
0.1 Sumatran Gold Spitting Cobra 380.00
1.0 Suphan Cobra 375.00
0.1 Black Mamba 435.00
1.2 W.A. Green Mambas 425.00 Each
4 E.A. Green Mambas 425.00 Each
1.1 Egyptian Cobras 125.00 Each
0.0.3 Puff Adders 95.00 Each
1.1 Cape Cobras 175/265
1.1 Black & White Spitting Cobras 150/250
1.1 Black Pakistan Cobras 160/275
1.1 Macklott’s Pythons 125.00 Both
11 Canebrake Rattlesnake early 03 25Ea./5-20.00
1.0 Black-Tail Rattlesnake--Beautiful 295.00
2.4 Neotropical Rattlesnakes 120/240
1.0 Northern Pacific Rattlesnake 45.00 Each
0.1 Southern Pacific Rattlesnake 45.00 Each
0.0.2 03 Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes 45.00 Each

the heatpacks used in the boxes that heatpacks were present. Also, hear is a pic of the insulation used for shipping. Keep in mind the lows were around 40F across the USA.
Kevin Smith

notice how thin it is...
Kevin smith

notice how thin this stuff is
Kevin Smith

here is the pic...

notice the last email makes entirely no sense, since if you scroll down, you will see where Kenneth emailed me when he recieved the first part of the money which was paid to him in two different payments.
Kevin Smith


From Kenneth:
i am sorry you sent me 2 letters stating that you were interested in purchasing the snakes animals and then i needed to get rid of my snakes so i shipped them to you, i do not see where any would be missing since i shipped them to you for free only to get rid of them
please explain this email
thank you
lawsuit for a shipment of snakes to you??
-------Original Message-------

From: Kevin Smith
Date: 12/15/2003 9:43:18 PM
To: kenneth13@charter.net
Subject: So what do you want you do????

YOu have a couple a couple of choices here, YOU EITHER CONTACT ONE OF US
AND REFUND THE MONEY FOR THE SNAKES MISSING AND DEAD or I WILL FILE A
LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU FOR FRAUD AND WILL GET MY MONEY. You had better think
whether you want to lose a lawsuit. LET ME KNOW.
Kevin


>received 2200
>thank you
>
>-------Original Message-------
>
>From: Kevin Smith
>Date: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 12:58:34 AM
>To: kenneth13@charter.net
>Subject: Re: Message about: CLEARANCE SALE-HIGH Quality LOW Prices 4350.00
>OBO
>
>No problem, I will get it done.
>Thanks
>Kevin
>
>
> >if you would please make money order or cashiers check out to kenneth
>yates
> >thank you
> >
> >-------Original Message-------
> >
> >From: Kevin Smith
> >Date: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 1:07:47 AM
> >To: kenneth13@charter.net
> >Subject: Re: Message about: CLEARANCE SALE-HIGH Quality LOW Prices
>4350.00
> >OBO
> >
> >Hey,
> >Here is my shipping address:
> >
> >Kevin Smith
> >34601 SE Colorado Road
> >Sandy, Oregon 97080
> >Portland PDX
> >
> >
> > >864-979-1548
> > >ken yates
> > >42 montgomery st
> > >greenville sc 29609
> > >
> > >-------Original Message-------
> > >
> > >From: Kevin Smith
> > >Date: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 12:18:14 AM
> > >To: kenneth13@charter.net
> > >Subject: Re: Message about: CLEARANCE SALE-HIGH Quality LOW Prices
> >4350.00
> > >OBO
> > >
> > >Give me a number and I will call you asap.
> > >Thanks
> > >Kevin
> > >
> > >
> > > >i need at least 3650.00 plus delta dash shipping
> > > >
> > > >-------Original Message-------
> > > >
> > > >From: oreganus@hotmail.com
> > > >Date: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 12:00:02 AM
> > > >To: kenneth13@CHARTER.NET
> > > >Subject: Message about: CLEARANCE SALE-HIGH Quality LOW Prices
>4350.00
> > >OBO
> > > >
> > > >I will give you $3500 cash for them, I will next day the cash to you.
> >Let
> > > >me
> > > >know.
> > > >Thanks
> > > >Kevin
> > > >
> > > >----------------------------------------------
> > > >Click on (or cut and paste into you browser's
> > > >location window) the URL below to view the ad that
> > > >this message is in response to.
> > > >
> > > >http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?de=170253&cat=40
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >----------------------------------------------
> > > >This message was sent by an unregistered or non logged in user.
> > > >
> > > >Sent 10:59 PM, Dec 01st, 2003

I am sorry to hear this has happened to you but not surprised. There is another thread on fauna about Kenneth Yates aka Elite Exotics. I also recently posted about his ongoing problems with the law in the SOUND OFF section of this forum if you would like to read that as well. Perhaps with the siding business he is now in trouble for and this as well, the BBB can add you to the list of people has ripped off. Perhaps you can write or call the reporter who did the report on him, I believe his name is stated in the sound off forum thread as well.
I do have some other information on this man if you would like to email me I will try and fill you in as much as I can.
Again, so sorry this happened to you.

Kevin, sorry to hear about this. Hope you can get it all cleared up. Let me know if there is anything I could do to help.

I have a question~
I understand why Ken Yates address was sent~ so you could send payment. But why did you send your shipping addy to him? Venomous must be shipped by airline~ these were NOT overnighted to your door were they? If they were.....good luck sueing anyone. If not, well then I guess I misunderstood the reason you would send your shipping address.

Originally posted by Cheryl Marchek AKA JM
I have a question~
I understand why Ken Yates address was sent~ so you could send payment. But why did you send your shipping addy to him? Venomous must be shipped by airline~ these were NOT overnighted to your door were they? If they were.....good luck sueing anyone. If not, well then I guess I misunderstood the reason you would send your shipping address.

I was confused about this as well. Delta Dash was mentioned in an email, and the airlines are the only legal way to send venomous. I thought that Delta Dash shipments have a controlled temp environment (??)

Paul Weaver