CartelReptiles
New member
I've seen this posted before and read them all, but here is my story. I won an auction for a male fire ball python. I paid instantly as I always do. Got a pretty good deal on it - I think it was around 80$ or so, possibly less - so I was thrilled. I was talking to him about my address, phone number, yada yada via Facebook on his private account [Steven Vigo] and mentioned I was looking for females, specifically butters and mojaves. He said he had a few. I was thrilled again after another good deal I got - again, I'd have to check records but I think it came out to 350$ for the trio, 1.0 Fire, 0.1 Butter. 0.1 Mojave - so again I paid instantly to save on shipping and get my snakes.
Well, Monday came and I confirmed he shipped. He said yes. I took Tuesday morning off of work [I'm military so that isn't easy at all for me] and waited until 1300. Nothing. Called him. Nothing. Went to work in fear the snakes would arrive. I got back at around 1500 and no sticker, no letter, no nothing so I was somewhat relieved they didn't arrive and sitting at a hub. I got in contact with him at 1600 I believe - again, I'd have to really get specific with times via my message logs but they're not really important - and he said he would check the store and see if they were held back or forgot to be shipped. He got in contact with me later that night and said they ran out of heat packs so they'll be out that day.
Now it's Wednesday. I took the morning off AGAIN. Needless to say, my chain of command wasn't thrilled but because I was fresh home from deployment and was med-evac'd from being blown up, shot, all the fun stuff, they agreed. So, I sit around from 0730 to 1300 again. Same situation. Checked the door hourly to make sure maybe I was half asleep and missed the door bell ring or knock. Nothing. I contact Steven AGAIN. He said they might have forgotten to ship it. After hours of waiting, he indeed confirmed it wasn't shipped and it would be out first thing on Monday. At this point, I'm livid. I'm ready for a refund regardless of the deal I got. He offered to throw in a free orange ghost due to error so I calm down and agree even after still contemplating if I should just call it all off. This was the last shot. Someone would be home to get them so I wasn't worried I'd have to take another day off [I was going home for Thanksgiving to see my wife and 2-year-old son I haven't seen since pre-deployment and my parents; my dad isn't doing so well and was waiting on a surgery date] so I left my roommate instructions and went on my way.
I get a phone call Tuesday saying the box arrived. Three snakes inside, box flap was marked 1.0 Fire, 0.1 Butter, 0.1 Mojave. So, I got the three I actually bought. Wasn't overwhelmed with rage like I was before, but still pretty upset that the reason I left the deal on the table was the free snake. At that point, I was over it. I was ready to finish the deal and never talk to them again.
This is where it gets good. I get home, I probe and pop each animal to ensure the sex is correct as I do with every animal I get. They all looked fairly and ate a meal two days prior to me coming home so I knew there were no issues there. Sex and pop the fire and he is a confirmed male. Sex and pop the butter and I see what I don't want to. It's a male. My face was red and I'm sure I was swearing. I put him aside and move on to the butter. Same scenario. Male. I call him up INSTANTLY and tell him what's going on. He said verbatim, 'call me tomorrow at noon my time when I get to the shop.' I agreed after a very angry conversation and threw my phone.
So, today is the day I was supposed to call. I called about 5 times. No answer. Texted the numbers I have, left a message on their page, and waited. A little while later, he texts me but somehow it's not him. It's his business partner or something. Although I know it's a crock of bull, I explain the situation and give him a timeline before I contact my bank - USAA - and PayPal to get my money back.
And here we are. The waiting game. I just want you folks to know what I have been through. Granted there are tons of people that have not gotten ANYTHING so I'm not so pissed I have something to show for the money but at the same time, I don't even really have a use for these as males. It's just sad. Do your research before you buy and at this point, I'll never give a company a chance that even has a SLIGHTLY shady deal. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and this is where it landed me. Nearly 500$ forked over for 3 males. The deal didn't look so good after comparing pricing.
Well, Monday came and I confirmed he shipped. He said yes. I took Tuesday morning off of work [I'm military so that isn't easy at all for me] and waited until 1300. Nothing. Called him. Nothing. Went to work in fear the snakes would arrive. I got back at around 1500 and no sticker, no letter, no nothing so I was somewhat relieved they didn't arrive and sitting at a hub. I got in contact with him at 1600 I believe - again, I'd have to really get specific with times via my message logs but they're not really important - and he said he would check the store and see if they were held back or forgot to be shipped. He got in contact with me later that night and said they ran out of heat packs so they'll be out that day.
Now it's Wednesday. I took the morning off AGAIN. Needless to say, my chain of command wasn't thrilled but because I was fresh home from deployment and was med-evac'd from being blown up, shot, all the fun stuff, they agreed. So, I sit around from 0730 to 1300 again. Same situation. Checked the door hourly to make sure maybe I was half asleep and missed the door bell ring or knock. Nothing. I contact Steven AGAIN. He said they might have forgotten to ship it. After hours of waiting, he indeed confirmed it wasn't shipped and it would be out first thing on Monday. At this point, I'm livid. I'm ready for a refund regardless of the deal I got. He offered to throw in a free orange ghost due to error so I calm down and agree even after still contemplating if I should just call it all off. This was the last shot. Someone would be home to get them so I wasn't worried I'd have to take another day off [I was going home for Thanksgiving to see my wife and 2-year-old son I haven't seen since pre-deployment and my parents; my dad isn't doing so well and was waiting on a surgery date] so I left my roommate instructions and went on my way.
I get a phone call Tuesday saying the box arrived. Three snakes inside, box flap was marked 1.0 Fire, 0.1 Butter, 0.1 Mojave. So, I got the three I actually bought. Wasn't overwhelmed with rage like I was before, but still pretty upset that the reason I left the deal on the table was the free snake. At that point, I was over it. I was ready to finish the deal and never talk to them again.
This is where it gets good. I get home, I probe and pop each animal to ensure the sex is correct as I do with every animal I get. They all looked fairly and ate a meal two days prior to me coming home so I knew there were no issues there. Sex and pop the fire and he is a confirmed male. Sex and pop the butter and I see what I don't want to. It's a male. My face was red and I'm sure I was swearing. I put him aside and move on to the butter. Same scenario. Male. I call him up INSTANTLY and tell him what's going on. He said verbatim, 'call me tomorrow at noon my time when I get to the shop.' I agreed after a very angry conversation and threw my phone.
So, today is the day I was supposed to call. I called about 5 times. No answer. Texted the numbers I have, left a message on their page, and waited. A little while later, he texts me but somehow it's not him. It's his business partner or something. Although I know it's a crock of bull, I explain the situation and give him a timeline before I contact my bank - USAA - and PayPal to get my money back.
And here we are. The waiting game. I just want you folks to know what I have been through. Granted there are tons of people that have not gotten ANYTHING so I'm not so pissed I have something to show for the money but at the same time, I don't even really have a use for these as males. It's just sad. Do your research before you buy and at this point, I'll never give a company a chance that even has a SLIGHTLY shady deal. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and this is where it landed me. Nearly 500$ forked over for 3 males. The deal didn't look so good after comparing pricing.
