Bad Guy Ty Park I Think We should Reconsider his Rep

[Manny]

I have dealt with Ty on numerous occasions for $1000s and have never had a problem with him. He is an honest business man and I will continue to deal with him. Ty, unfortunately you weren't born an alka-setzer to make everyone feel good.

 

[stolenheron]

I've been to ty's farm personally and have walked the grounds twice now. Ty's animals are well cared for and i've honestly never seen a breeder with such compassion for his individual animals. Ty is a top notch guy, I would not have GIVEN him a few of my own personal ctenosaura if I did not believe they would be well cared for.

 

[Rob_Carmichael]

Ty is a good guy

This is the problem with the BOI...many good folks like Ty get blasted by irrational people complaining for no reason. Ty said he would take the tortoise back and give you a full refund. Anyone getting a Russian Tortoise should know that they are most likely getting a wild caught animal and that means you should expect some veterinary care even if it comes from a great source where it was given great care. Bottom line is that the seller did exactly what he was supposed to do and you as a buyer should have thanked him for his willingness to make it right with you. I've seen his facilities and I commend Ty for going far beyond what most breeders do to give their animals the best in care. I wouldn't hesitate to get an animal from Ty and hope others will chime in too.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center

 

[TeguBuzz]

Dan Flemming, you're quite the character. One that not many people appear to be too fond of. The OP has yet to post any evidence of this supposed mouth rot.

 

[kytuan]

i agree with Ty Park , he gave you an offer to ship back then refund in full refund , that's a fair way for both seller and buyer . i have deal with Ty sometime , and i know him who is always having responsibility with any deal , onnce time i deal with him some elongate tortoises but the tortoises get sick after 10 days and passed away then i told him just asking about the tortoise , im not talking about refund but he said he will send me another one as long as i have paid $30 shipping cost.
i will deal with him more and more .

 

[Really]

I am sitting here reading this thread with my mouth hanging open. First of all, the phrase "bad guy Ty Park" is an oxymoron. Of all of the breeders in the hobby, Ty is probably the most compassionate and passionate about all animals. The idea that any single animal is an "item" or just a commodity to Ty is beyond the imagination. Ty not only takes incredible care of every single animal on his farm, but reaches out to rescues and conservation organizations with donations and personal assistance. He is generous with his time when it comes to helping novice keepers learn how to take proper care of his animals. He has a vet on staff and would never allow an animal to suffer. No animal is "too cheap" to be cared for by Ty because I know from our conversations that he has compassion for every living creature.

Ty does not spend all of his time at the farm. He could have said that if a mistake was made it was made by staff and placed blame somewhere. If you notice, he didn't do that. Instead he said that if a mistake was made he would arrange for the animal to be picked up at the OP's house, taken back to the farm, treated by a vet and that he would refund the OP person her money. The OP did nothing but complain and did not offer any type of evidence that the tortoise was sick. I understand the idea of instantly falling in love with an animal and not wanting to give it up, even if it was sick. But, if that was the case, a different approach could have been taken and proof provided that the animal was sick and seen by a vet. Instead, the OP seemed to just want to complain, to demand her money back while expecting everyone to simply believe the animal was sick.

And, did I understand she decided, in the end, not to take the tortoise to a vet? That she wanted her money back but refused to return the tortoise because she claimed that Ty would not seek proper veterinary treatment (which is simply not true) while she, herself, chose not to do the very thing?

IMHO, the OP has no credibility.


So, if you are reading this and wondering for a minute if you should order an animal from Ty, do not hesitate. He is a breeder with unquestionable integrity and honor. This is a rare thing in today's world and he should be celebrated for it, not attacked with untruths about his character.

 

[LauraB]

Yes, I also agree Ty was perfectly reasonable. (I am not a customer nor a friend of Ty's.)

The OP goes on and on, very dramatically, about how gravely ill this tortoise is, with "extensive mouth rot", likely parasites and possibly other issues, and doesn't even know if it will survive.

She mentions vet visits numerous times & actually states, "I am taking the tortoise to my vet this morning", asking him to pay for vet visits with no photo documentation. Then she plays the "pay up and you never hear from me again" card. That doesn't work she uses the "pay up and I give you an excellent rating on the BOI" card.

She keeps talking about apologies, reimbursement, vet visits & antibiotics, and more money ... and back peddles when Ty doesn't blindly accept her claims, agree to either pay bogus vet visits and/or reimburse her $90.00, and he wants the tort shipped back.

She goes so far as to then use guilt; her compassion, and what she perceives as Ty's apparent lack of; her age and experience (which really is not the ruler by which intellect, common sense and ethics should always be measured) and a BOI post extortion to get some cash back.

And then she treats this "gravely" ill, possible terminal animal with betadine and Jump-Start and claims it may not need a vet visit after all? Just a couple weeks of swabbing? Yeah.

Ms. Thomas, you are not a phantom on the web. You do love animals, you are impassioned to protect your Alaska environment, you do love torts, and you do make some nice jewelry. You did, in fact breed some Sri Lankans (I saw their photos). All admirable. However, without one shred of evidence or proof of your claims, you are absolutely not credible.

Just out of curiosity, I didn't read about you and your husband/BF Glenn P. in several editions of the online Homer News cops-courts reports, did I?

 

[llcoollaslo]

Ty has always been good to deal with for me

Ty has always been helpful and friendly in my experiences, and has always treated me like my small purchases matter to him, which I appreciate as a hobbyist, not making any of my living in the Reptile World!

If there was an issue, which can happen, it sure appears that he tried to make it right. I have dealt with others that always want to fault the buyer.

Mistakes happen, but how we handle it from there is what shows what kind of person we are!

I will get another tortoise from Ty soon with no worries.

 

[evansnakes]

I have know Ty for probably close to 15 or 20 years now. I have sold him large groups of animals and I have bought many from him and I do not have any complaints being on either side of those transactions. He is a nice guy always paid me and everyone I saw him buy from immediately in cash at herp shows.

As for this thread I was having him ship me some of the same group of tortoises this week.

 

[laurarfl]

I have also visited Ty's farm and purchased two star tortoises from him. The animals are well kept, he does keep a vet on retainer (as verified by my personal exotics vet), plus Ty has been generous in his support for reptile rescue and conservation.

I'm sorry for the situation of the OP, but I believe hundreds of people have had positive transactions with Ty. As English is not his native language, texts and emails can seem to have a different tone than we expect at times. He is a pleasant, hard-working person who does care about the animals he keeps.

 

[CrazyLizardLady]

I have as well had many dealings with Ty. I have visited his farm on multiple occasions and every time I have been fascinated with his set ups and how he cares for his reptiles on the farm. He has gone above and beyond what 99% of other breeders I have ever seen do for their reptiles. Especially for some who are kept in indoor/outdoor enclosures, etc.....amazing guy with great attitude towards people in general and someone who truly loves the industry and everything about it and willing to lend a hand for anyone..... I believe he tried to do the right thing...and well the OP in this situation was in the wrong for this thread......Keep up the good work Ty.... nothing to worry about here

 

[Matthew T. Schaefer]

I have had one transaction with Ty and was extremely pleased with our deal and Ty's generosity to me. I do look forward to future transactions with Ty. I have asked him many questions about Cyclura and Ctenosaura and he has always been willing to take time to respond, which he does quite quickly, or chat when he is available. He has provided excellent advice as well. In a hobby and business where there are many questionable individuals and dealings, especially with Ctenosaura and Cyclura, Ty is very trustworthy, reliable, and has the best of interest of others in mind. He is constantly advancing and supporting the care of herpetofauna in captivity and the wild.

From Dennis', Susan's, other postings, and the emails, it is quite apparent that Ty was willing to remedy the problem in a manner few people would though there is no evidence that the tortoise is as described.

If you are considering purchasing from Ty, here are three personal interchanges I have had with Ty that attest to his good character and concern for the well-being of animals and customers (I do have transcripts for all these exchanges in my Facebook account):

1. Ty, at one point, would not sell me some Ctenosaura quinquecarinata as they were in poor condition when they came in, though I was eager to acquire them. I had previously purchased a group elsewhere and that group was in extremely poor shape and did not survive very long. Many dealers sell Ctenosaura in poor condition.
2. He advised me not to purchase a male Ctenosaura conspicuosa he had for sale, though I was extremely interested. He told me the male was too large for females and was too rough with them. His exact words, "You would not want this one." I thanked him for his honesty.
3. Before I acquired my true banana C. pectinata, he had some young males that he brought in. After inquiring, he would not sell me a male as he was waiting to find out if they were true bananas at maturity. Many other individuals will sell wild-caught Florida animals or any pectinata with a hint of yellow as bananas, but Ty will not do that.

You can really trust him that he will follow up with what he says he will do and help you navigate a transaction. I would encourage you to consider all the positive feedback he has and the contributions he is making to Cyclura/ Ctenosaura/ and others in captivity and the wild. He has also been extremely gracious to many customers, including me.

 

[pat brown]

All I can say is nobody else seems to have a problem except her.I have bought and will continue to purchase from Ty as my experience was a very satisfying one as 1. I got what I paid for. 2. it was healthy 3. it was delivered professionally and prompt 4. Ty actually had customer service with me by answering questions I had. I have been in the reptile community for over 25 years and dealt with some animal turn over artist that didn't care if they lived or died just wanted a buck to put in their pockets.Ty isn't like that .I think you are in the wrong .He has shown nothing but integrity in solving your issue with him.Why were no photos taken .I always take pics of new arrivals..He stated he would like to resolve this by using said tortoise as a training tool for his employees so that this does not happen again..so by you not letting him resolve this issue are making it possible for this to happen again.sometimes you have to put emotions aside for well being so send it back and you can solve this matter.

 

[HerpVenue]

Offers refund to include shipping.
Has farm where animal can live happily with "no Kill" policy
has vet that would take care of the animals.

Where was the part where he was uncaring?
Oh I see. He did not offer a refund while letting you keep the animal. In other words.... You were not able to get a free animal. Gosh he is so uncaring.

I don't send out free animals either. I guess I am uncaring too.

 

[TeguBuzz]

Offers refund to include shipping.
Has farm where animal can live happily with "no Kill" policy
has vet that would take care of the animals.

Where was the part where he was uncaring?
Oh I see. He did not offer a refund while letting you keep the animal. In other words.... You were not able to get a free animal. Gosh he is so uncaring.

I don't send out free animals either. I guess I am uncaring too.

Well put.

 

[paulhale]

My father once told me that if I stay truthful and follow the right pass, I will alway attract criticism from unscrupulous people....I guess I am facing that now.

Smart man, your father.

From Jasmine88's own "evidence", it seems that Ty has gone WAY above and beyond the call of duty in this situation. Without any real proof on OP's end, Ty has offered to refund the money for the animal and have it picked up by the shipper to avoid OP having to drive it anywhere. He has gone further to say that he will inspect it and have it treated by his vet if needed, and will train his staff accordingly if it needs to be done. If anything, that sounds like a man standing behind his business 110% percent. I have no idea how Jasmine88 can expect anything more than that from him.

Ty Park is an amazing man and I am proud to know him. He has personally given me advice on several occasions regarding my Cyclura cornuta on his own time, even though I did not buy the animal from him and he owed me absolutely nothing. He spends countless hours of his own time and tens of thousands of dollars of his own money on a yearly basis attempting to further the reptile-keeping hobby as well as providing a substantial conservation oasis for Cyclura and Ctenosaura iguanas at his farm in Florida. He is a selfless person. He is wonderful with children, and he is caring and compassionate with his animals. There are few people I have met in my 31 short years of life on this earth that I would consider to be excellent roll-models. Ty is one of them, hands-down.

Jasmine88, I understand the misgivings that you have expressed regarding the animal not being taken care of if you return it to Ty. I have met some shady bastards in this business who would rather bleed your wallet dry than make you a satisfied customer and care for you properly. Please let me assure you, Ty Park is NOT one of them. Please allow him to refund your purchase price and take the animal back. If it is indeed sick, it WILL be treated and properly cared for. I have met, talked to extensively, and received vet services from the veterinarian that Ty has on retainer. He is a good guy and very knowledgeable with reptiles. Please reconsider these accusations and work with Ty to get the animal handled properly. Thank you.

 

[typherp]

I want to thanks everyone for chiming in. At times like this, I feel blessed to know so many good people I was able to touched and get to know. As emails show below, Deb and I have come to an understanding.

On Jul 11, 2013, at 12:49 AM, Deb Thomas @yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hi Ty, thank you for being nice about it, I didn't think you were before, but I know I do things differently than other people sometimes, it doesn't necessarily mean I'm right. Honestly, sometimes I think I'm an idiot, but if I come across a sick animal, I get attached to it right away, I feel like it needs me. Last night I couldn't stop thinking about the possibility that he might be euthanized for something I can fix. (I think) I jumped on you from the get-go. I was very upset because I know mouth rot is painful and he showed no interest in food after all his time in the box. I was just shocked to see the condition of his mouth. But things happen, that's the sad part of dealing with animals. I had a lot of success removing the yellow globs in his mouth and that made me really happy. It's the first time I've ever had to pry a tortoises mouth open and I'm very relieved that it went so well. I was able to get every bit of it that was visible and no bleeding, I'm giving him Jumpstart with electrolyte in it and I think he'll get through this. It means a lot to me that you do care, I can see that you are a good person and I misjudged you. I like to know that people who are dealing with animals are caring people. Thank you. Don't worry about making it right, I want to keep him and I'm satisfied with you keeping the $90. If for some reason he doesn't make it, it will be my own failing, because I've decided to treat him. If you're worried about whether or not he really has mouth rot, because of your other animals, maybe you'd consider spending what you would have spent on shipping towards a culture at the vet. I'm hoping I won't have to take him, they're so expensive in Homer, AK. But I'd definitely do it if having the test done is necessary to you and I'd pay the balance. (above and beyond the shipping amount). But please don't ask me to send him back, I can't do that. He's such a good little guy, he lets me handle him without fighting at all, or getting stressed, for a wild caught animal, it's kind of strange.
> I do believe you now when you say you'd care for him, just so you know.
>
>
> Deb T
> From: Ty Park <@aol.com>
> To: Deb Thomas <@yahoo.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 4:00 PM
> Subject: Re: Deborah Thomas sent you 90.00 USD
>
> Deb,
>
> Let make this right. Please return him at my cost and I will refund you the money. I see that you are upset and I promise you that the tortoise will be taken care of beyond your expectation. Please let me know what you decide as I am trying to do the right thing without being treated unfairly. It is up to you.
>
> Ty
>
> Sent from my iPad

 

[Drew R]

The O.P. needs to first post a picture of the so called "mouth rot"(which I doubt exists). Over the years I have had many transactions with Ty all have been flawless. I recently purchased a group of Russians from Ty out of this same group and they are fantastic,heavy ,clear eyes and noses all the things a nice imported tort should be. I do not believe that Ty's knowledgable staff would purposely ship a tort with a mouth issue. Ty is a great guy who definately puts his money where his mouth is to support the reptile industry! He doesn't need this persons $90.00 shipping the tortoise back at his expense is already going to make the transaction a loss. The O.P. threatens to post a negative review if there is no refund she wants Ty to cower and give her a free tortoise.

 

[kouneli]

One of the few "Bad Guy" threads that has made me WANT to buy from the seller listed as the "Bad Guy".

I have not yet made any contact or deals with Ty Park, yet after reading this thread, I will certainly keep him in mind if I'm looking for another reptile to purchase. I do believe that he had tried his best to make the buyer happy. If anything, I will be sure to steer clear of the OP, and at least one other poster in this thread.

 

[jtrux]

I've been in contact with Ty lately about purchasing a tegu from him and after all this, i'm convinced he will be receiving my money.

I don't have to meet him or go to his farm to know he's a good guy, the proof is in this thread.