mapleman
New member
I was hoping it would not come to this but since the sellers (Jackie/Terrel) won't respond to my email to rectify the situation, here is my story. Hopefully someone who may be thinking of purchasing an animal from them will see this and think twice.
Long story short, I purchased a pastel orange ghost ball python from these guys via an ad here on Fauna (the ad is since long gone). I made payments on the snake, and the final payment was made the week before Thanksgiving. I asked if the animal could be shipped the monday before Thanksgiving, to avoid any possible delays stemming from the Thanksgiving holidays. They informed me they could not ship on that monday, but how about shipping the next week on tuesday for a wednesday delivery. I replied that would be fine with me.
Here's where the problem comes in: Obviously in an effort to save a few bucks at the expense of my $800 snake the sellers shipped MONDAY for Wednesday delivery (2nd day air). The snake was placed in a regular cloth reptile bag and surrounded with crumpled newspaper, in a COMPLETELY UN-INSULATED BOX with what looked to me like a crappy little handwarmer that you would take to a football game. Not the 24 hour variety that your reputable breeders use, this thing was long cold when I opened the box. Did I mention the sellers live in Ohio and the animal shipped from Ohio to southern Mississippi on November 31st? In a cardboard box with no insulation?
The end result? Respiratory infection in the animal. Bubbly mucous coming from the corners of the mouth and a clicking-type noise when he breathes. I notified the seller on friday (2 days after receiving the animal) because I did not notice the breathing noises or mucous right away. I placed the snake in his own heated tub and basically left him be for 2 days to get settled in and calm down from the stress of shipping. When I checked on him friday is when I noticed the problems. I immediately emailed the seller asking to return the animal (at their expense) and have my $800 refunded. Since it has been a week and my request was ignored I have decided to expose these guys for what they are - incompetent shippers at the least.
Here are copies of the pertinent emails exchange between the seller and myself:
(me):
Jackie/Terrell,
I have sent the final payment for the POG male via paypal. Please get in touch so we can discuss shipping.
(them):
Ok thanks.
Once funds transfer and clear into my banking account then we can ship out some time next week.
(me):
Sounds good. Provided the funds clear do you think it would be possible to ship him out on Monday? Thursday of next week is Thanksgiving so I'm worried if he ships out too late and there's a glitch then he will be stuck in a warehouse somewhere over the holiday. Let me know what you think - I'm not trying to dictate when you ship I just want to avoid any potential problems
(them):
I am unable to ship on Mondays as I am at work all day. I do not want to ship this Tuesday for Wednesday in case something happens.
How does next Tuesday for Wednesday sound?
(me):
That's fine with me, I would rather be safe than sorry. Just keep me posted, you have my contact info in the event something changes.
(them):
Just as a reminder, the POG will arrive today. It would have been last Wednesday but we had Thanksgiving so close.
Hope you had a great holiday and talk to you soon.
(me, after I discovered the problems with the animal on Friday):
Hey Guys,
The animal did indeed arrive on Wednesday. I have pretty much left him alone since he arrived to get settled in. Tonight when I checked on him I noticed he is drooling/foaming at the mouth. I would assume this is some sort of respitory infection from being in an unheated/uninsulated box for two days.
Our last correspondence via email was that the snake would be shipped Tuesday to arrive Wednesday. The animal was shipped on Monday, not Tuesday. The box only contained crumpled newspaper and a small handwarmer. I don't know what the temps are in Ohio but they are pretty cold here. I guess my first question is what the heck were you thinking?
I would like to send the animal back to you at your expense and receive my $800 back. I don't have the time or the money to seek out a qualified vet for treatment.
Thanks for listening, and if you are on the fence about a purchase from these guys I hope you give it some long, hard thought.
Lee Hingle
Long story short, I purchased a pastel orange ghost ball python from these guys via an ad here on Fauna (the ad is since long gone). I made payments on the snake, and the final payment was made the week before Thanksgiving. I asked if the animal could be shipped the monday before Thanksgiving, to avoid any possible delays stemming from the Thanksgiving holidays. They informed me they could not ship on that monday, but how about shipping the next week on tuesday for a wednesday delivery. I replied that would be fine with me.
Here's where the problem comes in: Obviously in an effort to save a few bucks at the expense of my $800 snake the sellers shipped MONDAY for Wednesday delivery (2nd day air). The snake was placed in a regular cloth reptile bag and surrounded with crumpled newspaper, in a COMPLETELY UN-INSULATED BOX with what looked to me like a crappy little handwarmer that you would take to a football game. Not the 24 hour variety that your reputable breeders use, this thing was long cold when I opened the box. Did I mention the sellers live in Ohio and the animal shipped from Ohio to southern Mississippi on November 31st? In a cardboard box with no insulation?
The end result? Respiratory infection in the animal. Bubbly mucous coming from the corners of the mouth and a clicking-type noise when he breathes. I notified the seller on friday (2 days after receiving the animal) because I did not notice the breathing noises or mucous right away. I placed the snake in his own heated tub and basically left him be for 2 days to get settled in and calm down from the stress of shipping. When I checked on him friday is when I noticed the problems. I immediately emailed the seller asking to return the animal (at their expense) and have my $800 refunded. Since it has been a week and my request was ignored I have decided to expose these guys for what they are - incompetent shippers at the least.
Here are copies of the pertinent emails exchange between the seller and myself:
(me):
Jackie/Terrell,
I have sent the final payment for the POG male via paypal. Please get in touch so we can discuss shipping.
(them):
Ok thanks.
Once funds transfer and clear into my banking account then we can ship out some time next week.
(me):
Sounds good. Provided the funds clear do you think it would be possible to ship him out on Monday? Thursday of next week is Thanksgiving so I'm worried if he ships out too late and there's a glitch then he will be stuck in a warehouse somewhere over the holiday. Let me know what you think - I'm not trying to dictate when you ship I just want to avoid any potential problems
(them):
I am unable to ship on Mondays as I am at work all day. I do not want to ship this Tuesday for Wednesday in case something happens.
How does next Tuesday for Wednesday sound?
(me):
That's fine with me, I would rather be safe than sorry. Just keep me posted, you have my contact info in the event something changes.
(them):
Just as a reminder, the POG will arrive today. It would have been last Wednesday but we had Thanksgiving so close.
Hope you had a great holiday and talk to you soon.
(me, after I discovered the problems with the animal on Friday):
Hey Guys,
The animal did indeed arrive on Wednesday. I have pretty much left him alone since he arrived to get settled in. Tonight when I checked on him I noticed he is drooling/foaming at the mouth. I would assume this is some sort of respitory infection from being in an unheated/uninsulated box for two days.
Our last correspondence via email was that the snake would be shipped Tuesday to arrive Wednesday. The animal was shipped on Monday, not Tuesday. The box only contained crumpled newspaper and a small handwarmer. I don't know what the temps are in Ohio but they are pretty cold here. I guess my first question is what the heck were you thinking?
I would like to send the animal back to you at your expense and receive my $800 back. I don't have the time or the money to seek out a qualified vet for treatment.
Thanks for listening, and if you are on the fence about a purchase from these guys I hope you give it some long, hard thought.
Lee Hingle
