• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Bad Guy Not happy with Tom Carlton at Cypress Creek Reptiles

The sock aside.. the fact that he tried shipping 2 day air and playing dumb coupled with him calling me the customer a Fing Prick is the real issue.
So now people should know it does not matter how big the breeder is know who you are dealing with first before you order anything from them.
He has cut off communication to Luis and myself since his email and has not refunded any of the shipping money he told Luis he was going to.
 
I have to say if I got shipped a snake in a sock, I would probably not buy from that person again. To me, it shows a lack of class, lack of preparation and shows that the person might be a cheap a$$. Whether or not a snake can be shipped in a sock successfully really does not matter to me, I just like to project a certain image, and shipping in a sock is not the image I would want to portray.
 
Has he been made aware of this thread? I guess Im just surprised he has yet to step in and add ANYTHING to this...
 
One of the largest breeders of boa constrictors uses brand new, never used tube socks to ship neonate and juvenile boas. Many other breeders had adopted the practice as well. There is nothing wrong with shipping a snake in a clean, unused sock with proper packaging.

I do not know why people keep throwing fits over this.

As for the two day shipping, I would be interested to see proof that the OP paid for overnight as well. While two day is never acceptable, if you did not pay for overnight, you are owed nothing.

I would just like to say THANK YOU! I thought I was losing my mind after reading some recents posts over this... brand new tube socks are a wonderful thing for smaller snakes. They keep the snake snug and they're breathable, and easy to tie securely. There's nothing unprofessional about it... look at all of the other objects we use that are not made for use with reptiles... sterilite bins, for example. Now if it was a used sock.... well, that's just plain gross.

I hope you get your refund and that the snake doesn't develop any issues!
 
I am fairly new to this forum but it amazes me how many threads I have read about people complaining about a breeder and have the breeder respond that it wasn't his fault but an incompetent employee. A lot of times over a 2 day shipping. Either you are an uncreative liar that can not take responsibility for your dishonest way of doing business or you should get references for the people you hire to help you. it's not like we are buying sweaters. These are animals and I know for some that it's just a means to make money so the animals are viewed as nothing more than a product. It's sickening. To talk to someone like that when you have been called out for being shady just shows how unprofessional he is. An employee did it? It's fed exs fault? I call bullshit. Sorry for the rant but it makes me angry how often i have been reading these stories. I guess i was raised different. I hope everything works out for you and your new baby turns out healthy.
 
Poor Service

I was curious did he put a heat pack in there? Based on his response to your e-mail (Which shows his true character :NoNo:) I would be shocked if you saw a refund on shipping. Just another Breeder to add to the Do Not Buy From List.


Thank-you,
Bill Black
 
I was curious did he put a heat pack in there? Based on his response to your e-mail (Which shows his true character :NoNo:) I would be shocked if you saw a refund on shipping. Just another Breeder to add to the Do Not Buy From List.


Thank-you,
Bill Black

The heat pack was just thrown in and not taped to the top.
 
This is my side of what happened.

Here's my side of the story. Back in April I sold a pied to Luis Huaman. When it came time to ship, I filled out the air bill, and sent one of my guys to drop it off at FedEx. Turns out I didn't check the box designating priority overnight. The FedEx guy checked next day. So away it goes. The snake shows up a day late.
First I hear from Louis. I'm thinking FedEx screwed up and thinking it's going to be a refund situation, I told him I'll refund his money when they refund me. A day later I see that the air bill was checked next day. Now realizing that there will not be a refund I tell Luis that I'm going to refund him his shipping cost.
Now here's where things get crazy. Next thing I know I get a call from Luis' business partner Anthony Canzonieri. Right away I can tell that this kid's a hot head. No problem there, some people get overly upset over small matters. All I want to do is make this situation right. But this guy's got a really hateful tone of voice. He starts threatening me saying if his buddy doesn't have every penny by the end of the day that he will go on the Fauna BOI and trash my reputation. Wow, I'm starting to really not like this guy. But still at this point in the conversation I'm still of the mind that a mistake was made, Luis paid for next day but got 2nd day and should be reimbursed. I tell Anthony what happened at FedEx. He tells me in a down right rude tone of voice (yelling) that I'm lying, and that I made up this whole story just to beat his partner out of $23.00! OK, here is where I blow up. I can understand some one being upset, but when you cross the line and accuse me of being a liar and a thief well we are done. My feeling was at that time, that if I refunded the money now, I would be buckling under to a threat. I do not respond well to threats. The email calling Anthony a _ucking prick was later in the day responding to Anthony, not Luis who is my customer here.
I still feel at some level that Luis should have been refunded. I bothers me the way this thing played out. It's the first time I haven't refunded someone when they had it coming.
I've been in this business now for 20 years. If I made a habit of ripping my customers off on their shipping cost I'm sure that you would have heard of it on this forum long before now. I would also like to add that over the years I've sold and shipped thousands of snakes. But here on this forum you rarely hear from all those satisfied customers. If it was like eBay where feedback is required with every transaction you would see the true balance of satisfied customers vs dissatisfied customers. In fact you would see a major eclipse of thousands of positive reviews next to one or two bad ones over a career of 20 years service to the reptile community.
I'm looking foreword to hearing some feedback from Fauna forum readers to see if anyone out there can understand my side of this situation.

thnx
Tom Carlton
Cypress Creek Reptiles
813-982-9467
 
I forgot to mention anything about the sock that is stirring up such a fuss. I don't use a clean sock as a shipping bag as a first choice. I had just gone through a box of shipping bags and was waiting for my replacement box to arrive. It came time to ship so in a pinch I used a clean sock. A clean sock is nothing more than a small cloth bag, or so I used to think. After reading your replys I don't beleive I'll ever use a sock again. I'm sure the folks over a Superior Supply will be happy to hear this.

thnx
Tom Carlton
Cypress Creek Reptiles
813-982-9467
 
When it came time to ship, I filled out the air bill, and sent one of my guys to drop it off at FedEx. Turns out I didn't check the box designating priority overnight. The FedEx guy checked next day.
Why didn't Fedex call you to see how you wanted the box shipped? With your account with them, surely they could see that your account history doesn't have next day. Does it? Is Fedex default for unmarked boxes next day, (I don't know) or was the FedEx guy's action because you did not label the box 'live animals'? How did you label this box ?

I still feel at some level that Luis should have been refunded.
I think so too. Perhaps you should do that now.
 
Some folks have agreed that a sock is an acceptable method of shipping smaller snakes. The key word they used was *NEW*. A quick trip to Wal-Mart to buy a package of new socks would have made that a non issue. No matter if the sock was freshly laundered, getting a sock that has been on someone's foot is a little bit gross.
 
I think so too. Perhaps you should do that now.

I would agree. Issue the refund and move on. In the future I would advise double checking to make sure that the appropriate (ALWAYS Priority overnight) shipping method is checked.

Please remember that this isn't a bottle of shampoo or some dry goods that will be ok if a delay or something happens. These are lives you are putting in that box.
 
Here's my side of the story. Back in April I sold a pied to Luis Huaman. When it came time to ship, I filled out the air bill, and sent one of my guys to drop it off at FedEx. Turns out I didn't check the box designating priority overnight. The FedEx guy checked next day. So away it goes. The snake shows up a day late.
First I hear from Louis. I'm thinking FedEx screwed up and thinking it's going to be a refund situation, I told him I'll refund his money when they refund me. A day later I see that the air bill was checked next day. Now realizing that there will not be a refund I tell Luis that I'm going to refund him his shipping cost.
Now here's where things get crazy. Next thing I know I get a call from Luis' business partner Anthony Canzonieri. Right away I can tell that this kid's a hot head. No problem there, some people get overly upset over small matters. All I want to do is make this situation right. But this guy's got a really hateful tone of voice. He starts threatening me saying if his buddy doesn't have every penny by the end of the day that he will go on the Fauna BOI and trash my reputation. Wow, I'm starting to really not like this guy. But still at this point in the conversation I'm still of the mind that a mistake was made, Luis paid for next day but got 2nd day and should be reimbursed. I tell Anthony what happened at FedEx. He tells me in a down right rude tone of voice (yelling) that I'm lying, and that I made up this whole story just to beat his partner out of $23.00! OK, here is where I blow up. I can understand some one being upset, but when you cross the line and accuse me of being a liar and a thief well we are done. My feeling was at that time, that if I refunded the money now, I would be buckling under to a threat. I do not respond well to threats. The email calling Anthony a _ucking prick was later in the day responding to Anthony, not Luis who is my customer here.
I still feel at some level that Luis should have been refunded. I bothers me the way this thing played out. It's the first time I haven't refunded someone when they had it coming.
I've been in this business now for 20 years. If I made a habit of ripping my customers off on their shipping cost I'm sure that you would have heard of it on this forum long before now. I would also like to add that over the years I've sold and shipped thousands of snakes. But here on this forum you rarely hear from all those satisfied customers. If it was like eBay where feedback is required with every transaction you would see the true balance of satisfied customers vs dissatisfied customers. In fact you would see a major eclipse of thousands of positive reviews next to one or two bad ones over a career of 20 years service to the reptile community.
I'm looking foreword to hearing some feedback from Fauna forum readers to see if anyone out there can understand my side of this situation.

thnx
Tom Carlton
Cypress Creek Reptiles
813-982-9467

I think an ebay like feedback process would be good here and on Kingsnake. You are right that high volume businesses can't please everyone. (I do think that a little thicker skin on your part could have avoided this thread, though.) A feedback system would help noobs that don't know of the BOI to avoid the problem dealers, too. It would never happen at Kingsnake, though, because many of the worst offenders are, also, some supporters of the sight and Jeff never likes to open himself to lawsuits.
 
my question would be if you didnt print the label online and went into the fedex location to purchase it what refund would be coming to you
they wouldnt of charged you for overnight shipping your totals are calculated by what goes in the computer not by what you fill out on the label
if your looking for the difference in cost of shipping I would suggest asking the person you sent to drop it off
 
"He tells me in a down right rude tone of voice (yelling) that I'm lying, and that I made up this whole story just to beat his partner out of $23.00! OK, here is where I blow up. I can understand some one being upset, but when you cross the line and accuse me of being a liar and a thief well we are done. My feeling was at that time, that if I refunded the money now, I would be buckling under to a threat. I do not respond well to threats."


This whole part is a lie. Anyone that knows me knows I am the furthest thing from a hot head. I am not gonna to threaten someone over that.

What is done is done. We were all over it back in April.
 
Why does it not surprise me that you are a lair as well? So what "I just, out of the blue decide not to refund a pitally $23.00!" Wrong! there was a Damn good reason for that.

I have an email in my sent box saying that you guys are going to get your refund dated before you threatened me. As soon as I can figure out how to transfer it to this forum I will post it to show what my true intentions were in this matter.

Tom Carlton
Cypress Creek Reptiles


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Anthony Canzonieri [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2013 3:44 PM
To: [email protected]; Luis Huaman
Subject: Re: Male Pied Shipment ERROR!??





Tom Carlton
Cypress Creek Rreptiles
 
Why does it not surprise me that you are a lair as well? So what "I just, out of the blue decide not to refund a pitally $23.00!" Wrong! there was a Damn good reason for that.

I have an email in my sent box saying that you guys are going to get your refund dated before you threatened me. As soon as I can figure out how to transfer it to this forum I will post it to show what my true intentions were in this matter.

Tom Carlton
Cypress Creek Reptiles


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Anthony Canzonieri [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2013 3:44 PM
To: [email protected]; Luis Huaman
Subject: Re: Male Pied Shipment ERROR!??





Tom Carlton
Cypress Creek Rreptiles
Whatever Tom.
I just didn't want a friend new to the industry to get ripped off.
He emailed you afterwards several times days later for a refund and got nothing back.

You can still refund him. Even though its $23. it would show everyone else you did the right thing.
 
Back
Top