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Bad Guy Jeff Benfer (Gartersnakemorph.com) Buyer Beware

"She will take a small mouse once a week..." , gets her back and feeds her an earthworm lol. Great heads up getting her back ASAP. I bet you would have been SOL if she died.
 
Michael Brown said:
"She will take a small mouse once a week..." , gets her back and feeds her an earthworm lol. Great heads up getting her back ASAP. I bet you would have been SOL if she died.
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i was going to point that out but its very clear haha he went into a big story how a few died in transit on his terms lol
 
His Legalese is such BS, IF he directly or even indirectly lead to harm of one of the snakes he's selling he needs to accept responsibility for it. He simply doesn't want to be able to be held accountable for his actions.

Tommy, I'm sorry that you had to deal with this
 
After inquiring about two ball pythons Jeff had for sale and how they were listed well below market value, my conscience said to come here. After reading this I was hesitant to buy his snakes. When I emailed him and said I was no longer interested in the pair, never mentioned the BOI review, he blocked my email! LMAO. Is this guy for real? I think he's spending too much time in his rodent room without proper ventilation.
 
Glad you bumped this cause I was looking at some of his stuff and thought.... too good a deal?? Hit the BOI....
 
Sad to hear this. I have dealt with him on one occasion which was last year. I purchased what was supposed to have been a proven 100% het clown female from him last year. I offered him a lower than advertised price and he agreed. After receiving her, she was in good condition, alert and healthy. I saw this post sometime later and started doubting that she would even prove out. Well I bred her to my visual clown male and got a clutch of 7 healthy, fertile eggs. They hatched yesterday and I'm happy to say, I got 5 visual clowns out of 7 eggs. Sorry things went the way they went for you, but I really can't complain.

Milo Garcia
 
I also had an incredible experience with Jeff and if you search the BOI for his name so have others. I wish Jeff would address these charges, it is a bummer to see him lose business over a single incident.
 
Originally posted by MesoCorney
it is a bummer to see him lose business over a single incident.
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.

There is an old saying that it only takes one "Aww shucks" to undo ten "Atta boys." Basically, it is how a seller (or buyer) handles the deals that go poorly that determines their character. Anyone can be great to work with when a transaction goes smoothly.
 
Will0W783 said:
Originally posted by MesoCorney .

There is an old saying that it only takes one "Aww shucks" to undo ten "Atta boys." Basically, it is how a seller (or buyer) handles the deals that go poorly that determines their character. Anyone can be great to work with when a transaction goes smoothly.
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I had an issue with the animal he sent me that had nothing to do with him and was still helpful and generous.

BornToHerp said:
It's not a single incident. There's a few different people who posted in this thread.
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There are? I must be missing them.
 
I doubt he is losing business over this. It was an old retired breeder and I was mislead on her health. Not saying I wouldn't consider buying a baby from him just won't buy an adult cause there is no telling how old they it is and what kind of health its in until it arrives. He produces some awesome stuff btw
 
I took the snake back and refunded his money. Not sure what more any business would do differently, then he posted all this crap anyway. All this transpired in a couple days. I have sold literally thousands of garter snakes to people over the years with satisfied customers and have published in several magazines contributed to forums and was interviewed 2 on Reptile Radio, helping people for years, long before Tommy T radix Hamiloton came along. I contributed greatly to the hobby which is a lot more than "Tommy T Radix" Hamilton has ever done productive. He was an upcoming breeder and wanted me out of the competition. Well he succeeded because this damaged my good reputation so much that "Garter Snake Morph" after almost 10 years had to shut down business. Now, I don't really care that much about that because it was just a hobby business, but this public bashing is damaging as I have career. Great job BOI, great job Tommy T radix Hamilton, you did it, your really did something important, great job.
 
jeff benfer said:
Now, I don't really care that much about that because it was just a hobby business, but this public bashing is damaging as I have career. .
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Jeff, you are hanging your own self right now by saying you really didn't care about the business. Which is it, you didn't care about your customers, or you didn't care about the poor snakes? Or both? The damage has come not from others, who recounted what happened during a deal with you, but from your own poor responses both then and now.
 
I have never heard of a breeder not offering a health guarantee upon arrival or full satisfaction. If you’re business practice is take it or leave it and only get a partial refund then I’ll never buy from you. :NoNo:
 
I was offered to speak on reptile radio but turned it down and was asked by the European garter snake association to write an article for their magazine but again turned it down. I speak at my local scales and tails 4 times a year and again at the 4h fair. I don't go around trying to publicize my accomplishments or bash other breeders. There is no competition if its just a hobby.
I posted my experience with you. It could have been an ok transaction if you would have treated me with respect. I've had a few deals go bad but always treated them respectfully and rectified the situation as soon as possible with a solution they were more than happy with. I'm sorry 1 bad review damaged you so badly but it shows the type of person you really are. Its easy to be the good guy when things run smooth.
 
Lucille said:
Jeff, you are hanging your own self right now by saying you really didn't care about the business. Which is it, you didn't care about your customers, or you didn't care about the poor snakes? Or both? The damage has come not from others, who recounted what happened during a deal with you, but from your own poor responses both then and now.
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Lucile, i meant that I didn't care about making money, so don't put words into my mouth. I cared about the snakes and the customers and the many friends that I made over the years.
You said "damage has come from others", what others? There is only Tommy to my knowledge. I had hundreds of satisfied customers over the course of almost 10 years.
 
jeff benfer said:
I took the snake back and refunded his money. Not sure what more any business would do differently, then he posted all this crap anyway. All this transpired in a couple days. I have sold literally thousands of garter snakes to people over the years with satisfied customers and have published in several magazines contributed to forums and was interviewed 2 on Reptile Radio, helping people for years, long before Tommy T radix Hamiloton came along. I contributed greatly to the hobby which is a lot more than "Tommy T Radix" Hamilton has ever done productive. He was an upcoming breeder and wanted me out of the competition. Well he succeeded because this damaged my good reputation so much that "Garter Snake Morph" after almost 10 years had to shut down business. Now, I don't really care that much about that because it was just a hobby business, but this public bashing is damaging as I have career. Great job BOI, great job Tommy T radix Hamilton, you did it, your really did something important, great job.
Click to expand...

Jeff you say you refunded the money for the sick and dying snake you shipped to Tommy. did you refund the money in full plus the return shipping cost?

You say Tommy posted this thread just to put you out of business, dont you think that shipping out the sick garter like you did played a role in your business failing?

I am wondering how many others received less than healthy snakes from you and did not come forward?

As far as you bragging about this that and the other maybe you should be spending more time maintaining your herps.
 
Will0W783 said:
Originally posted by MesoCorney .

There is an old saying that it only takes one "Aww shucks" to undo ten "Atta boys." Basically, it is how a seller (or buyer) handles the deals that go poorly that determines their character. Anyone can be great to work with when a transaction goes smoothly.
Click to expand...

:iagree:
 
Killer Dragons said:
Jeff you say you refunded the money for the sick and dying snake you shipped to Tommy. did you refund the money in full plus the return shipping cost?

You say Tommy posted this thread just to put you out of business, dont you think that shipping out the sick garter like you did played a role in your business failing?

I am wondering how many others received less than healthy snakes from you and did not come forward?

As far as you bragging about this that and the other maybe you should be spending more time maintaining your herps.
Click to expand...

Ed the snake wasn't sick and she was eating, she did have unfertilized eggs, which happens with garters, but that didn't make her worthless or certain death, sometimes the jellies pass sometimes they don't. Probably half of the adults that I ever bought from Scott Felzer were that way and some panned out to be good breeders and some didn't, I never smeared him publicly over it either way. Garters are not as reliable breeders as ball pythons, corns, or dragons, nor as long lived.
 
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