Exotic Herps 28 (Just a friendy BUYER BEWARE)

Sorry this is so long...it contains ALL our email conversations.

This was my first and last ReptiBid deal...yes I know not everyone on there is like this,however the stories I've read about ReptiBid sellers have been about the same.
Alexander Dooley of Exotic Herps 28 was/is advertising large adult female ball pythons cheap on ReptiBid. I emailed him asking for pics and weights of the females. After hearing back from him he told me the females are 3lbs-10lbs a piece and the pics looked decent. Alright so I figured big WC females...
I decided to give it a try and purchased 3 females with the idea that I was getting 3lb-10lb females...even asked for large females several times.

When the time came to ship he said he had to order heat packs so we waited a week to ship. Monday (11/1) they went out... Tuesday came and no snakes...I emailed him and he said my package got mixed up with someone elses(this is true) and my snakes ended up in Alaska of all states.

So he said he fixed the shipment(for $77),had them start shipping MY snakes from AK to my place in Illinois and they'd be here early Wednesday(11/3).

I got them this morning,opened the box, and all three of the snakes were loose(with 3 empty deli containers nothing to hold them closed). They had been packed in an UNinsulated cardboard box with one slightly warm heat pack,some styro peanuts and some newspaper...they were ice cold! And to top it off the largest female in there was 740grams. All three snakes are skinny,drank like crazy(by the way after the 740g stopped drinking she weighed in at 770g),and one of them had quite explosive diharrea. They are far away from my current small collection!



Below is our entire conversation and down at the bottom is the rest of what I have to say.




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Here's our email conversation. I'm sure you can figure out how it reads..
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Fri, 15 Oct 2004 10:15:55 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Angela Dean" <aviansinoil@yahoo.com>
Subject: Your auction - Ball Pythons
To: Info@Exoticherps28.com

I was wondering how much the female adult balls weigh(about) and if you have any pics of them?
Thanks

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Date: Sat, 16 Oct 2004 10:15:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Angela Dean" <aviansinoil@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Ball Pythons
To: ExoticHerps28@aol.com

Ok couple more questions! I'd be wanting your biggest females(do I sound like everyone?) Are they WC or CB? How much would shipping be for 3 of your biggest females? And do I need to go through the auction? If so that's fine..I'll create an account.
Thanks
~Angela

ExoticHerps28@aol.com wrote:
Here are a few PICS<<Pics wouldn't work for copying and pasting>> of our adult female Ball Pythons, they weigh roughly 3-10 Pounds. Thank you for your interest & please let us know if we can help you with anything else.
Exotic Herps 28 Inc.
Enoc Alexander Dooley
President
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Date: Sun, 17 Oct 2004 09:53:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Angela Dean" <aviansinoil@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Ball Pythons
To: ExoticHerps28@aol.com

I appreciate that! What will the shipping be on these girls? I'll go to the auction ASAP!

ExoticHerps28@aol.com wrote:
OK not a problem we will put three of our largest females on hold for you. Yes, since they are on ReptiBid we would prefer you purchase through the auction & after you purchase we will add the discount to the price. All of our Ball Pythons are Captive Bred & are guaranteed 100% parasite free. Let us know if you have any other questions prior to purchasing.
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Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 19:23:59 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Angela Dean" <aviansinoil@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Ball Pythons
To: ExoticHerps28@aol.com

You happen to get a total yet?


ExoticHerps28@aol.com wrote:
Tomorrow we will have a total for you. We need to weigh the package at our warehouse, yes we do accept PayPal Payments. I will let you know your total ASAP.
Thank You Enoc Alexander Dooley
For Choosing
Exotic Herps 28 INC. President
Your Trusted Source For
Quality Captive Bred
Reptiles & Amphibians
143 London Fog Way
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Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 12:42:34 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Angela Dean" <aviansinoil@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Ball Pythons
To: ExoticHerps28@aol.com

Thanks! I figured something had happened, no need to apologize. I would like to pay via paypal if it's ok. I think I had asked before but can I get your three biggest girls? What are you feeding them and how often?
Is this your Paypal address? We'll try to get that payment to you later on this afternoon
Any day that's safe to ship for you is fine with me(please use a heat pack it's getting cold here in chicago!)..I'm home all the time. Just let me know what day you do ship.
Thanks again
~Angela Dean

ExoticHerps28@aol.com wrote:
Hi, IM sorry it took so long to get back to you with your total, but our computers went down & we are just now beginning to answer E-mails again. OK so you purchased three adult female ball pythons I believe the original price is $50.00 each but we offer discounts on quantity orders so your total on the Ball pythons is $90.00 at $30.00 each a total savings of $60.00 on the snakes & FedEx Overnight will be $66.52 which brings your total to $156.52. Will you be paying by PayPal? Let us know if we can help you with anything else.
Thank You Enoc Alexander Dooley
For Choosing
Exotic Herps 28 INC. President
Your Trusted Source For
Quality Captive Bred
Reptiles & Amphibians
143 London Fog Way
Sanford FL 32771
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Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 14:16:57 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Angela Dean" <aviansinoil@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Ball Pythons
To: ExoticHerps28@aol.com

Hey there, we sent the payment via paypal for the 3 big(please) female ball pythons, the shipping address on there is correct. They will definitely need a heat pack...the temps here have been in the upper 50's/low 60's and dropping down to low 40's at night. I'll be looking forward to getting them and I'll leave feedback for you on Reptibid.
Thanks!
Angela Dean
Please call if there are any problems - 815-651-XXXX

ExoticHerps28@aol.com wrote:
OK these ball pythons are currently feeding on young rats, I really don't know how often every single one eats they are offered food every week we get new ones in all the time & then they get sold most really only eat for us three times before they are sold. Our
E-mail address for payments is Sales@Exoticherps28.com you may send the payment when you can we really don't have a time limit so. Our shipments go out every Monday on routine FedEx pick up. If there is anything else we can do for you just let us know.
Thank you & have a great day.
Enoc Alexander Dooley
President of
Exotic Herps 28 INC.
Your Trusted Source For
Quality Captive Bred
Reptiles & Amphibians
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Date: Sun, 24 Oct 2004 20:32:49 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Angela Dean" <aviansinoil@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Shipping Info
To: ExoticHerps28@aol.com

Alright thanks

ExoticHerps28@aol.com wrote:
OK I looked all over to find heat packs for your order but I could not find any so we have placed an order for heat packs and they should arrive by Wednesday. I will let you know ASAP your order should be shipped by Thursday.
Enoc Alexander Dooley
President of
Exotic Herps 28 Inc.
Your Trusted Source For
Quality Captive Bred
Reptiles & Amphibians
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Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2004 10:17:08 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Angela Dean" <aviansinoil@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Shipping Info
To: ExoticHerps28@aol.com

Did you receive the heat packs yet?

(Replying to the same email above)
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(I did not reply to this one)


From: ExoticHerps28@aol.com
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2004 16:24:50 EDT
Subject: Re: Shipping Info
To: aviansinoil@yahoo.com


We have just received them today, your order will go out on Monday, November 1, 2004. We will let you know your FedEx tracking # ASAP. Thank you for your business & if there is anything else we can do for you please let us know.
Enoc Alexander Dooley
President of
Exotic Herps 28 Inc.
Your Trusted Source For
Quality Captive Bred
Reptiles & Amphibians
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Date: Tue, 2 Nov 2004 09:15:39 -0800 (PST)
From: "Angela Dean" <aviansinoil@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Shipment
To: ExoticHerps28@aol.com

I just hope the snakes make it through ok...how long of a heat pack did you put in there? It is freezing cold here.


(the package really did get mixed up...my box of ball pythons went to Alaska...yes Alaska.)


ExoticHerps28@aol.com wrote:
OK I am sorry to say, but your package got mixed up with another due to technical problems. I have corrected the problem with FedEx & they are now going to have to be rerouted to you. You will receive by tomorrow morning. (We have taken care of all extra costs of the shipment) I am sorry for the inconvenience this might have caused you. If there is anything wrong with the condition of your shipment please do not hesitate to notify us.
Enoc Alexander Dooley
President of
Exotic Herps 28 Inc.
Your Source For
Quality Captive Bred
Reptiles & Amphibians
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Date: Tue, 2 Nov 2004 17:58:59 -0800 (PST)
From: "Angela Dean" <aviansinoil@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Shipment
To: ExoticHerps28@aol.com

If it's the same tracking number then it's going to keep tracking the package that isn't mine...


ExoticHerps28@aol.com wrote:
The tracking number remains the same & the heat packs were 40 hours. We went ahead & made some changes in the service to assure live arrival, now they will be there tomorrow in the AM hours. I hope everything makes it there OK, I will check in with you in the morning to make sure you received everything in good health.
Enoc Alexander Dooley
President of
Exotic Herps 28 Inc.
Your Trusted Source For
Quality Captive Bred
Reptiles & Amphibians
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Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 08:31:28 -0800 (PST)
From: "Angela Dean" <aviansinoil@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Shipment
To: ExoticHerps28@aol.com

Well they arrived..all of them were loose in the box, freezing cold, and the biggest female you gave me was 740 grams. You told me you had 3-10lb females and were going to send me three of your largest. What happened there? No offense, but you can hardly call these adult..I have two juvenille ball pythons that are in the 800-900 gram range. I was hoping to get females that could possibly be bred this year and 3-10lb females could...but not these.

ExoticHerps28@aol.com wrote:
OK I am sorry (busy day), your new tracking number is: 848926248825 www.FedEx.com This is for your package, they mixed your package yesterday with one of our other shipments. It was delivered & rejected in AK, so it is on the way to you right now. As soon as you receive them please let us know how they made it.
Enoc Alexander Dooley
President of
Exotic Herps 28 Inc.
Your Trusted Source For
Quality Captive Bred
Reptiles & Amphibians
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Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 09:37:47 -0800 (PST)
From: "Angela Dean" <aviansinoil@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Shipment
To: ExoticHerps28@aol.com

I honestly don't know what to do about this. If I send them back to you I'll need to get heatpacks and a styro box(i am not sending them back in the uninsulated box you shipped them in). That's another $10 (and waiting a week for it to get here)on top of whatever it costs to ship them back. And it cost us $62 to have you ship 3lbs of snake to us. This is just a hobby for us and we don't have the money to throw away on stuff like this. So like I said...i don't know what to do.
~Angela

ExoticHerps28@aol.com wrote:
Oh No! I can't believe this. Well, the shipping mishap must have caused the unsafe arrival of your new pets. I do remember putting three of our largest on hold though, let me see what happened there. We are willing to work this out with you in any way possible & we are terribly sorry for the inconvenience this should not have happened. Please give us a response ASAP & please let us know how you would like us to fix the problem. Once again we are sorry for what has happened & we look forward to working with you ASAP.
Enoc Alexander Dooley
President of
Exotic Herps 28 INC.
Your Trusted Source For
Quality Captive Bred
Reptiles & Amphibians
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From: ExoticHerps28@aol.com
Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 13:54:09 EST
Subject: Re: Shipment
To: aviansinoil@yahoo.com

OK well nothing like this has ever happened before, that's why we were open to suggestions from you on how you would have liked us to handle it..... I don't know if you would want to send them back or not, (Stress on the animals) & yes it would end up costing someone quite a bit more money, I mean we already covered the extra costs to get the package rerouted to you Priority Overnight instead of standard that was an extra $77.00. I not quite sure how to handle this situation, but we have to do something for you. We can either exchange for what you were supposed to receive in the first place. Normally we do not give refunds only store credit, but in this situation I do not know what else to do the best we can do is have you ship them back & we can refund the costs of the snakes only. Your quick response is necessary for us to clear this situation. Thank you.
Enoc Alexander Dooley
President of
Exotic Herps 28 Inc.
Your Trusted Source For
Quality Captive Bred
Reptiles & Amphibians
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(At this point I emailed asking for a phone number because the number on the shipping box and their website were both disconnected)
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Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 13:52:19 -0800 (PST)
From: "Angela Dean" <aviansinoil@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Shipment
To: ExoticHerps28@aol.com

If you are unable to get any larger snakes why did you offer to ship larger females to us? What happened to the 3 large females you were holding for us? And why are you still offering adults on repti bid? 700 gram ball pythons are not adults...they were also severely dehydrated..the one 740gram ball put on 30 grams after drinking like a horse.
We'll call later to talk about this.


ExoticHerps28@aol.com wrote:
OK unfortunately we are unable to obtain any larger snakes at this time, so what we can do for you if you really do not want these snakes is you can return them to us under our FedEx account number at no extra costs to you & we will refund your $90.00, the only thing is a lot of money will be wasted by doing this (what you paid to ship, what we paid to fix the shipping problem & what we will now have to pay as well if you choose to return them.) Let us know what you plan on doing before you decide. If you would like you can call the Vice President of the company at home after 5:00 @ (407)-324-XXXX

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From: ExoticHerps28@aol.com FPRIVATE "TYPE=PICT;ALT=Add to Address Book" Add to Address Book
Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 17:13:16 EST
Subject: Re: Shipment
To: aviansinoil@yahoo.com

OK we are still selling these on ReptiBid because they are considered adult Ball Pythons, (we breed them at this size as well, right now we have three females the same size that are gravid). I was looking through all of our transactions that went through on the week of your purchase & we now know what happened, the ones that we were going to put on hold for you weighed about 7 1/2 pounds, but they were already sold as breeders at our location here in FL, I was not in the warehouse that day & I had know way of knowing that the last biggest girls I had were just sold. I would not have promised these snakes to you if I had known they were sold, & when we packed your order I must have forgotten all about just how large you did want. There is no reason why they would have been dehydrated though, I don't know what that is about. We provide a constant supply of water & food to all of our animals. Once again we are sorry for the inconvenience this has caused, & we are willing to do whatever it takes to satisfy you.
Enoc Alexander Dooley
President of
Exotic Herps 28 Inc.
Your Trusted Source For
Quality Captive Bred
Reptiles & Amphibians
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After this my boyfriend called about 8 times and finally got through to....his mother(suprise!) She explained that this was new for him, he had just started this business and had never shipped to a cold climate,being they are in Florida. And that all the ball pythons are captive bred..he bred them himself(uh huh).

After explaining that we wanted our money back and will ship the snakes back at their expense she agreed. We even explained to her HOW to ship reptiles.
As of now they're overnighting us a heatpack and supposedly refunding the money including shipping. So if he makes good on this,great(i will update this)...but I think he has a lot to learn in the reptile business. Just a heads up...we all have to start somewhere...he just picked a bad spot to start at.


I understand that I didn't pay a lot for these snakes and some of you might jump on me for that("You get what you pay for" and "If it sounds too good to be true"). But I did pay for them and wasn't sent what was advertised.

What did I learn from all of this? ReptiBid is scary, and no you don't always get what you paid for.