OK am I a bad guy?

Alright, I've given my opinions on plenty of your deals so now it's time for a little turn-about.  This will take a while so please stick w/ me.

Did a show Saturday.  Shortly after the show opened a young couple inquired about a baby Brazilian Rainbow boa I had for sale.  Asked me to tell them about the snake.  I replied that I had the snake on consignment, I had just picked it up the day before, and I doubted it had eaten yet.  I also informed them that when I picked up the snake it was being housed improperly.  It was being kept on sand.  So I was not exactly extolled the virtures of this particular animal.

The women said she was familiar w/ juvenile snakes and had done scenting and "braining" before.  She made it sound like she knew a lot about young snakes and their care.  Me, desperately wanting to find this snake a better home, offered her the animal for $150, $25 off my original asking price, and what I believed at the time to be $20 more than what I had to pay for the animal.  I told them exactly what I was making on the animal and why I was selling it so cheap.  They handled the snake for about 15 to 20 minutes and finally decided to purchase it.  They left a $100 deposit and went to the ATM for the rest.

About 30-45 minutes later (plenty of time to consider this purchase w/o the animal in hand) the man returned, cash in hand and asked for the snake and one of my cards, "in case we have any problems."  I immediately froze, looked him directly in the eye and said, "no problem, but you understand there is NO guarantee on this animal."  I told him I would more than happy to answer any questions they had, but the animal was sold "as is."  He said ok and handed me the remaining $50, took his snake and left.

This morning, Monday, around 11<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>0 a.m., I get a call from the woman stating that the snake died on their way home about 5 hours after they left the show, and that she wanted her money back. &nbsp;I thought to myself oh boy here we go! &nbsp;One of my first questions was, well if it died Saturday afternoon, why are just now calling me? &nbsp;Her reply, I don't have a cell phone and it was raining so I wasn't getting out of the car. &nbsp;Nothing was said about the entire day of Sunday. &nbsp;I believe the snake is dead, she offered to return it today, but I'm not sure I buy the died on the way home story. &nbsp;She had both my cell, and home phone numbers, as well as, my email. &nbsp;First contact this morning.

I told her I was sorry, about the snake and offered her the $20 I had actually made on the sale (it was really $25, but I was unaware of that during our conversation). &nbsp;I also offered to try and find her another one and sell it to her at cost. &nbsp;She of course wanted all her money back and nothing else.

I asked her, did she not understand what NO GUARANTEE meant when she bought the snake? &nbsp;Dead silence. &nbsp;I asked her, was I not honest w/ you about how the snake was being kept and the fact that it was young and had probably not fed. &nbsp;Her reply yes, but you should still replace it. &nbsp;She of course threatened to follow me around the state and tell everyone about my business practices. &nbsp;I told her, ma'am, I told YOU about my business practices before you bought the snake and you still couldn't wait to get your hands on it. &nbsp;I tell everyone, everything they want to know about, (and a lot they don't) my stuff, before they buy an animal from me. &nbsp;In fact, I don't think I've ever done a show w/o talking at least one customer out of a purchase.

I know it's absolutley horrible that this couple is out this money. &nbsp;It's horrible the snake is dead. &nbsp;But what do the words, "NO GUARANTEE" mean. <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

I don't think you owe this woman anything....although getting it in writting next time never hurts. &nbsp;You correctly represented the animal as far as I can tell, and made it clear that there was no guarantee. &nbsp;Don't worry about it too much, you'll run into a lot more people like her, and some really great people too.

Brian...you don't need our help on this??? You did everything you "could" do, short of "not" selling her the snake! No Guarantees mean No Guarantees!! They knew the risks, they "desperately" wanted the snake, they had plenty of time to think about it and talk about it, they came back and gave you the $50, they heard the "No Guarantees" statement, they left with the snake, they had it all weekend, they call you Monday to tell you the snake died on Saturday....Am I missing something??? You're under no obligation whatsoever! What, if anything, you "do" do for them...will be totally above and beyond the "call of duty"!! You owe them nothing! ...Neil

I agree with Neil and Tegan.
What else can you do? &nbsp;Give them your left ----? &nbsp;.....nevermind

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I replied that I had the snake on consignment, I had just picked it up the day before, and I doubted it had eaten yet. &nbsp;I also informed them that when I picked up the snake it was being housed improperly. &nbsp;It was being kept on sand. &nbsp;So I was not exactly extolled the virtures of this particular animal.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Brian,

Bear in mind this is just my opinion and I am not a judge of character. From my perspective there are two issues at hand.

1. You told them right up-front about the problems with that snake. They knew what they were getting into but they still went ahead and bought it. I agree with you that they should have called before and that probably the snake did not die on the trip back.

2. But honestly, why would you risk selling a snake that you knew was probably not going to make it unless it fell in "expert" hands? Why risking to have a problem just to make a meager $20? To find a nice home for that snake? You could have told the person who gave you the snake "no thanks, take her to a reptile rescue" or you could have taken the risk of nursing her to health yourself .

Do they deserve a refund? No if you told them up-front of all these problems as you said. Was it worth it to put your name at the stake by selling that snake and make $20-25? From my perspective absolutely not.

Just my opinion.

Best regards, &nbsp;<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

Brain,
I don't think your responsible for returning the money, you explained the health of animal.Im just wondering why you would sell an animal who's health is uncertain, especially knowing it probably wasn't being kept in high humidity which baby rainbows need to survive.I will never sell a snake I haven't fed at least 3 or 4 times, If it doesn't eat for them you'll never know if they weren't doing something right or if it was weak from the start. To me it wouldn't be worth my damaging my reputation to make $20 knowing that even though you explained the health, not fed yet no guarantee factor they aren't going to admit you told them that when they are at the next show telling people you sold them sick snake even though you were up front with them.
Just my thoughts
Chris Pearson

Thanks for the replies everyone. &nbsp;The snake's health was not all that questionable, it's history was. &nbsp;The snake looked great, as evidenced by their desire to purchase it, and my willingness to bring it and put it on my table. &nbsp;I don't put out animals I know are having problems. &nbsp;I had two stunning chondros I wanted to bring but they both had minor mite problems so I left them in quarantine.

As for the reputation I am trying to build, all I want people to say about me is that I'm 100% upfront and honest about every animal I sell. &nbsp;I don't come to the shows to make a million dollars, or be the "King of blahbidy-blah." &nbsp;I do the shows to help pay for my hobby. &nbsp;I bring consignment animals to help pay for the cost of doing the shows and to increase the profit margin on my own breeding projects. &nbsp;$2 bucks here $20 bucks there it all adds up to help pay the $112.50 rat/mouse order I picked up this morning. &nbsp;Those of you in this know what I mean.

Thanks again, Brian

Brian...you really shouldn't do this to yourself....I realize you're trying to make a good name for yourself in this business, but, you can't do it by making every single customer happy....as in all industries, you are going to have unreasonable people, you've just got to learn how to deal with them on their terms....if you're honest (which I have no doubt you are), you "know" what's right and what's wrong....you've got to use your own set of morals, ethics, and fair play....even then, you won't please everybody....just keep doing what you "know" is right, and you'll very rarely have a problem....it's good you've gotten this kind of experience early in your "career"....remember it, and learn from it....you did nothing wrong and everything right, in this situation....Neil

In answering to your initial question: "Okay am I a bad guy"? My answer is: absolutely not.

Here is what you said in your last post:

</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>The snake's health was not all that questionable, it's history was.</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">

Here is what you said in your previous post:

</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>I immediately froze, looked him directly in the eye and said, "no problem, but you understand there is NO guarantee on this animal." &nbsp;I told him I would more than happy to answer any questions they had, but the animal was sold "as is."</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">

Through your posts in the BOI you have demonstrated to be an honest and up-front guy. That point is beyond discussion in here. But Brian, in this case your were not even willing to give a "one day guarantee" although the snake's health "was unquestionable"!

My question still remains, was it worth it? I understand what you go through trying to make ends meet. But just a couple of unsatisfied customers can throw overboard months of hard work.

It's cheap to give advice, I know, but if I were you I would at least try to keep the animals you bring in consignment for a while until I know they are "problem free". This will probably save you a lot of future headaches. With this sale you did not make $20 towards your next rodent purchase, you bought a couple of very expensive unsatisfied customers. &nbsp;

I hope you take this as a constructive suggestion as it was meant to be.

Have a good one! &nbsp;<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

Sorry, don't know what happened to the 2 quotes. Here they are:



</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>The snake's health was not all that questionable, it's history was</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">

</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>.I immediately froze, looked him directly in the eye and said, "no problem, but you understand there is NO guarantee on this animal." &nbsp;I told him I would more than happy to answer any questions they had, but the animal was sold "as is." &nbsp;He said ok and handed me the remaining $50, took his snake and left.</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">