| Author | Subject: Opinions on this story |
| David Tracer | Posted At 13:35:07 07/21/2001
A little over a week ago I called up a herp dealer to buy some animals of a particular phase advertised on their web site. I was told they had 0.0.2 of them left. Before buying them I said I have a couple of questions: a) were both parents of that phase (since the genetics of the phase are not known at present) b) were the 0.0.2 healthy and feeding well? They told me that the guy who bought them from the breeder and who takes care of them there at the dealers wasn't there and would call me back that day. Well he didn't. I called back every day for 5 days and was told that guy wasn't there and would call me back that day. He never did. Finally last Tuesday there was only 0.0.1 of the animals left so I said the heck with my questions, I'll buy it. They took my credit card # and we arranged for Thursday shipping and arrival on Friday. I emailed them Thursday afternoon and asked for the tracking number and received this email in return Thursday evening: >Hi David, we did not process your order. We oversold them. Needless to say, I was not only bummed that they never returned my calls, but now I would not receive the animals anyway and to add insult to the whole thing, I also took off from work on Friday to be home to receive them. Clearly the dealer could have emailed me Late Tuesday or Wed or Thursday to let me know they were not shipping. And had I not emailed them on Thursday evening, I'm certain they never would have let me know (just as they never returned my phone calls). I called Thursday evening and they said there was a chance they could get more of them on Friday and if so, they'd ship one out to me for Saturday arrival (today). They said they'd call late Friday to let me know either way. Did they call? You guessed it. By the way, these animals are still listed on their web site as available and as of today can still be ordered on-line. But of course, you won't receive anything if you do. In the final analysis they didn't charge my credit card and have offered to give me an unspecified "discount" on the purchase of this animal in the future but frankly given their horrendous customer service and lack of communication I have no desire to ever do business with them. Any opinions? |
| Michael Gearino |
Re: Opinions on this story
6158.html Posted At 14:30:16 07/21/2001 In my opinion, communication skills and customer service are just as important as the quality of the animals. I don't care if some breeder has exactly what i am looking for, but doesn't return my phone calls or emails, and has no customer service skills what-so-ever, i will not buy from him unless the breeder has some really good reason for not returning my calls or emails. I think you shouldn't do business with them. If other people have this problem but still buy from them, then it is not hurting them and most likely they won't change. Just like when you see a W.C. reptile in a pet store. You want to buy it to help it but then you are encouraging the pet store to order more W.C. animals and who knows how many of them will still be alive in the future. -just my thoughts |
| Troy Cromwell |
Re: Opinions on this story
6159.html Posted At 14:43:49 07/21/2001 After buying & selling off the internet for quite some time now, I've found that sometimes things happen...especially when you're dealing w/ larger dealers w/ many people (employees) working with not only the sales part of it, but cleaning enclosures, answering the phones, and even packing/shipping the animals in their facility, so sometimes things might get a little crazy. Understandable...BUT my feelings are, as soon as they accepted your order by credit card the animal was yours. No excuses, they may have not had the animal(s) in-stock in the first place. My personal opinion (and that's all it is) is if they "ducked" around answering questions on genetics,etc...you may be better off. |
| Brian Oakley |
Re: Opinions on this story
6162.html Posted At 15:38:27 07/21/2001 Well, I can say a couple things about this one. First, you said you took Friday off to be home to receive the snakes. You also said you received an email back Thursday night saying he had oversold. If that was the case, what were you staying home for? I can see your frustration and I suppose it is fair to say the breeder (seller) should keep better track of his numbers. As far as the website still saying they are available......I know people that have not updated their website in 5 YEARS! That is why I call people and ONLY use their website to see what they breed...NOT to see what is available. Just my thoughts! Brian Oakley |
| David Tracer |
Re: Opinions on this story
6163.html Posted At 15:58:28 07/21/2001 Brian, Let me explain the "work" part of the story. I asked for Thursday shipping because I knew I could get off Friday to receive it. I could have arranged to work Friday if they let me know on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday during the day that they wouldn't be shipping. But they let me know after my business hours on Thursday and I could not rearrange the schedule with that little notice. The bottom line is that they knew well in advance that the animal did not exist - they should have notified me. As for not updating their website - they updated theirs today and it still says the animals I ordered are there and can be ordered on their on-line form using a credit card. I also breed and sell lots of herps myself, and overall I've come to the conclusion that they have very poor business practices. |
| Brian Oakley |
Re: Opinions on this story
6164.html Posted At 16:13:16 07/21/2001 It is unfortunate for you, but at the same time it seems that they DID tell you. They never charged your card either. I cannot say that they knew they did not have them. I think if they were going to screw you they would of charged your card. In my humble opinion (and I do not know you and obviously do not know the seller), you are getting upset over this when you could be out looking for the animals that you want. DO NOT GET ME WRONG.....I can see how you would be discouraged, but what are you going to do? Brian OAkley |
| Michael Mastison |
Re: Opinions on this story
6168.html Posted At 17:17:46 07/21/2001 Let me guess, J.P. Pets.LOL |
| Troy Cromwell |
Re: Opinions on this story
6172.html Posted At 20:41:42 07/21/2001 J.P. Pets!! LOL!!! That one made me laugh out loud!! I wasn't aware they didn't charge the card...I agree w/ Brian as fas the Website thing goes, I still see 1999 price & availability lst on alot of them!! I do still think they didn't have the greatest communication skills, customer service is a MUST for return or future biz!! See ya friends! |
| JERRY TRESSER |
Re: Opinions on this story
6173.html Posted At 20:47:12 07/21/2001 Why did you even bother to continue to persue these people when you saw that they could not even provide the simplist of courteousies by getting back to you when you originally contacted them, and yet you continued to purchase from them. Dissapointment after dissapointment.Amazing!!! |
| Patrick |
Re: Opinions on this story
6179.html Posted At 02:10:20 07/22/2001 I believe I would have stopped here: "They told me that the guy who bought them from the breeder and who takes care of them there at the dealers wasn't there and would call me back that day. Well he didn't. I called back every day for 5 days and was told that guy wasn't there and would call me back that day. He never did." Patrick North Texas Reptiles |
| steve himes |
Re: Opinions on this story
6181.html Posted At 06:32:50 07/22/2001 Dave, I think you lucked out by not being able to buy from these people. If they've got poor customer service when they are trying to sell you the animal(s), wait until you get a shipment of dead animals and try to return it. This is a blessing in disguise. Steve Himes |
| jim scharphorn |
Re: Opinions on this story
6182.html Posted At 07:45:43 07/22/2001 yes it could have ben much worse you could have been dealing with MICHAEL MATISON the black plastic back ground shipping lizzard killer that seems to like to put his two cents in on these posts |
| james parks |
Re: Opinions on this story
6183.html Posted At 08:16:13 07/22/2001 i agree with you jim scharphorn |
| Troy Cromwell |
Re: Opinions on this story
6184.html Posted At 09:04:41 07/22/2001 Oh yeah, I remember reading about that guy, oops...and I laughed out loud at the J.P. Pets remark!! Coming from someone else, it might have been funny. |
| james parks |
Re: Opinions on this story
6186.html Posted At 11:15:03 07/22/2001 oh yeah ...to get back on track with this whole issue....i understand were your comming from david tracer i have had problems just like that an now if i dont a call back after say 2 tries i give up an figure there not worth my time or my money...but i agree thats bad business practices |
| Neil Gubitz |
Re: Opinions on this story
6193.html Posted At 18:03:13 07/22/2001 Dave...As far as I'm concerned..You were NUTS to call them back AFTER the second time they didn't call you when they said they would!! It's called TRUST!! If you can't trust somebody to do what THEY SAY they're going to do...what makes you think you can trust them for ANYTHING??? As for ME, when I tell you I'm going to call you at a certain time...YOU CAN SET YOUR WATCH BY IT! If I tell you I will meet you somewhere...I WILL BE THERE WAITING FOR YOU! And if I CAN'T make it (for some reason), you will get a call from ME, WAY BEFORE the set time! These people are ridiculous! I wouldn't deal with someone like that FOR ANY REASON! I run my business on TRUST and DOING WHAT YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO DO!! If they don't have enough RESPECT for the peace-of-mind of THEIR OWN CUSTOMER?, I wouldn't trust them as far as I could THROW THEM! (There's my NY attitude, again??) I would, however, LOVE to know who you're talking about, so we can ALL save some aggravation??? |
| james parks |
Re: Opinions on this story
6194.html Posted At 18:19:30 07/22/2001 i agree with neil on all acounts ...also please let us know who these people are so we know not to deal with them james parks |
| David Tracer |
Re: Opinions on this story
6226.html Posted At 17:37:39 07/23/2001 Thank you all for your opinions on the story. My conclusion: (1) they have lousy customer service and at best, misleading advertising and (2) I was crazy to try to keep dealing with them when they had blown me off for so long. Unfortunately, I think I really had the bug to get this particular phase of herp (can you say, h-e-r-p-a-h-o-l-i-c? :-) I'd rather close the issue here. If any one has any specific questions about the story, feel free to email me privately. -Dave |