jp pets?

I just have not heard/read anything about joe lately, wondering if he changed his ways

Hi,

Joe is the same as he has been for a while.  Has not changed a bit. I have bought many animals from him but only when I Personally HAND PICK them.  Hope this helps you.

Hahahahahahha, changed their ways.  That was funny.  I thought they changed their ways a year after they screwed me.  Some guy emailed me and said that they were going to give me credit for 5 red eyes.  (Although they screwed me out of about a thousand dollars, I figured it was a start).  The guy said to call him and place an order and he would credit me.  He would never be there when I called and would never call me back, I called about 5 times.  The secretary told me to place the order with her, but that she didn't have the authority to give me credit.  That old gag! I would have placed the order and paid full price.  I said screw it and went about my business....

Ciro Spina

I have had several dealings with Joe and I have ALWAYS walked away happy and his staff has always treated me with respect.I do not know about his past but Then as long as a person is honest and up front with me I do not really care about his past.

Ha!  I dealt with them a few years ago, 75% of everything I ordered (several thousands of dollars worth) came in dead.  the rest was so bad I just gave it away.  Back in Dec., my boss Keith Northrop went on vacation in Northern texas near Armadillo, he said a small pet srtore just received a shipment from Jp Pets and was horrified at their condition.  Why are these people still in business?  why does Reptile still allow them to advertise in theri magazine!

I'm w/ Dave and Rob.  Joe has some of the best stuff on the planet.  He also has some stuff that I wouldn't bring into my collection if he paid me to do it.  JPPets is an importer/wholesaler he is NOT a pet store or any type of retailer.  If you are looking for that type of animal, go talk to Ben Siegal.  You'll pay twice as much but you'll be happy, and that's what Ben specializes in (that was meant in a good way, I hope it came out as such).  If you are willing and able to understand the fact that when you order from JP you will get untreated imported animals at times, and you are set up to deal w/ that fact, you won't be disappointed.  NO ONE has better prices than JP, he guarantees that!  His terms are on the pricelist and he does issue credit on your next order.

Now let me post this before anyone thinks there is a conflict of interest.  My name is Brian Conley and I work for JP 3 weekends a year.  This practice started last year w/ the Easter Expo.  And will continue through this year.  I have been buying and selling animals from/to JP for over 7 years.  If anyone thinks I'm not telling the truth about JP perhaps you should take another look at my third sentence.  JP is strictly wholesale, even when I do shows for them, animals are sold as is/where is, and I let people know that.  If an animal is imported I tell them.  I couldn't even count how many people I talked out of buying $10 ball pythons at the Tampa show.  Because, neither JP or I benenfit in the long run by selling an imported adult ball python to a kid (who doesn't know how to care for it).  But, here's the thing,  I bet I was the only person there telling people the truth (adult imports) about the snakes.  There were other people selling the exact same snakes as JP, but not for $10, for $45(!!!!&#33<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>, (I know because I delivered them or watched vendors buying them for the show the day before the show) and probably not saying a word.
 If you are not educated enough about what you are buying to know what you're getting yourself into, keep walking.  Great example c.b. ball pythons.  What does that c.b. really mean; captive born IN AFRICA!  How many of your customers really understand that?  The import business has been around for years and will be around for many more.  People that understand how it works can make good use of it.  People who don't usually get burnt and end up blaming others.
Just my opinion,  Brian

not sure if this is the same JP pets that was just shut down in Sanford???  This week's herp digest has an article about Joe and JP Pets being shut down and forced to move due to complaints from neighboring businesses--you know how some people feel about lots of reptiles living next door and escapees attacking cats, lol.  you might want to check it out.  
Dana

It is the same, however, they have not been shut down only told to move.  It's really sad, I wish everyone could see the "pristine" business district Sanford is trying to protect.  Oh well, at least the crack whores will be safe from the rabid iguanas <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

Brian, Your killing me with the "crack whore" and "rabid Iguana" stuff, great stuff!  I live an hour away from Sanford and its not all that bad.  Im just curious but is this the same Brian Conley we vendor with at the Melborne and WPB shows?  If so thanks for the great Barking Tree Frogs!  They haven't shut up since we got them home, they croak so loud We can hear them through the walls at night!  Any how take it easy...Mike

Yep, that's me <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>   Those crappy frogs came from JP so blame him <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

Well, I wasn't going to reproduce what Joe did, but I don't want any other people who have to get the animals shipped to get burned.  If you notice a similarity between all the people that had "good" experiences with Joe, they all picked their animals out.  Joe sent me half dying animals, animals I didn't order, B-grade animals when he charged me for normal animals, and to top it off the packers used old and damaged containers, which allowed animals to escape in the box.  This would have been fine, but the packers put 5 inch holes in the boxes which allowed the animals to escape in the UPS truck.  I was lied to and given the run around for months.   I received less than half my order and the animals I did receive were junk, nothing that I could resell.  His excuse for not caring was that I was not a pet store.  This showed me what a piece of garbage Joe is and forever will be.  (I do own a pet store).  A year later some guy emailed me and said he would make good on 6 red eyes if I placed an order and that the company changed, etc.   Well, I called a bunch of times and the guy was never there, he couldn't come to the phone, he was glueing tails on fat tail geckos, etc.  The secretary said she would take my order and "see" about the credit because she couldn't authorize a credit.  Whatever.  Joe, his company and his animals are garbage.  

Don't get taken in by people saying he is a wholesaler/importer and that is the reason you are going to get garbage.  There are tons of importers that only send out healthy animals, i.e. Bushmaster, Burgundy Reptiles and Wild Thing Exotics to name a few.   Further, if the animals are b-grade, they tell you, they don't sell them as normal animals like Joe does.

Ciro Spina

Brian,
   Thanks for all the info on JP, but that still doesn't explain the condition of the animals they sell to people. It's ok to sell imported animals as long as you've made sure that they are healthy. It really trips me out just how many people are willing to sell a sick animal to anyone who flashes money. Just blaming it on the fact that a large part of your animals are imported, and that if a customer knows this going into the deal he gets what he deserves (basically) is a load of crap! About 2 years ago I bought 10 baby boas from, and they showed up tick, and mite infested, and with respitory infections. five of them died within the first 2 weeks-2 more died within another 2 weeks, and the other 3 I

Brian,
   Thanks for all the info on JP, but that still doesn't explain the condition of the animals they sell to people. It's ok to sell imported animals as long as you've made sure that they are healthy. It really trips me out just how many people are willing to sell a sick animal to anyone who flashes money. Just blaming it on the fact that a large part of your animals are imported, and that if a customer knows this going into the deal he gets what he deserves (basically) is a load of crap! About 2 years ago I bought 10 baby boas from them, and they showed up tick, and mite infested, with respitory infections, and with every kind of parasite known to man. Five of them died within the first 2 weeks-2 more died within another 2 weeks, and the other 3 I was able to nurse back to health. Brian, I've seen your name on this board before, and I can't believe that you would even want to let people know that you were in any way associated with JP.  OK-maybe they are mainly an importer-broker-or whatever, but the fact is still this-THEY SELL SICK ANIMALS TO THE PUBLIC!!! Nothing anyone can say about them can justify this. NOTHING!!! I realize that some people still might not agree with my opinion, but it is just that-MY OPINION. If you plan on doing business with these guys my advice to you ( based on my experience) is to make a vet appointment in advance because it will be much needed. Thank you, and have a great day!

Ken/Ciro, I guess we're just comparing apples to oranges.  You are both right that I have never had anything shipped to me from JP.  I pick everything out myself.  But, if the stuff you got was that bad why didn't you just return it?  Ciro I remember your story about the frogs running around the UPS truck (I guess those would have been a little hard to return), but otherwise send it back then all you're out is the shipping.  I think you guys just had some really crappy luck.  I know JP is busier than hell everytime I go in there, and there can't be that many new pet shops opening every month.
I can tell you this JP's stuff is the same stuff everybody else around the state has.  It has to be they all order from the same exporters.  JP does set the animals up w/ food and water just as well as everyone else I have seen.  Oh well, I don't think I'll be able to change your minds, so good luck in the future.  
One other thing you might want to think about, I've heard that many people you use wholesalers like JP and Strickly's, etc. get to know the guys who pack the boxes and actually tip them to ensure they take a little extra care w/ the packaging.  I know when I go down to Strickly's if a person stays w/ me to answer questions and help me out I usually throw them a couple of bucks.  You might try that sometime, maybe it would help.  Brian

Brian ,
 i know nothing other then whats been posted , but let me ask you this . If you were running a buisness thats sales/shipps liveanimals would you not wantthe people working for you to take the same care as you would ? i know tha is somtimes to much to ask of some employees , but do you realluy think a customer should have to tip a employee ofthe store hes buying animals from to get the service he deserves for the price he/shes paying? i do agree on the point you made of "getting to know the packers" but if you are states away its hard to get to know a employee as usally they  dont come to the phone other then to answer it . Then saying that do you think they will really have the good sense to make good on the phone with someone they dont know from adam as long they sell the product? Now if you could go into the store to make a personall relationship withthenm then theres no need to worry about packing them up . . Dont take this post wrong but i think its to much to ask to hafta pay a employee for what they should practice regardless to make "a better standing" with a customer just my .02s

Ok, I admit, I have been in lurker mode trying to learn about suppliers.  I am newly starting out in the business with supplies and thinking about adding animals, just trying to figure out from the BOI who to order from.  

So I'm reading this thread and discover I now have to grease the pockets of the packagers as well as pay for the animal and shipping?  I don't think that is how a business should be run.  If I pay a price for and animal and shipping it should be done right without having to pay the packer as well.  I would think that good packing was all part of good customer service.  Especially if I didn't want a huge return rate on dead animals.

Someone correct me if I am wrong and I will not venture into the live animal end of this business.  Thanks,


Michele Beverly
Chameleon Crossing

OK, maybe that came out wrong, I don't think you should have to tip, but I do think it would help.  Let's face it guys when you're ordering from a wholesaler it's usually a minimum wage employee packaging your order.  It works like this, I spent several years working my way through college waiting tables, and when people tip well you remember them, period.  Severs used to fight over the "good tippers."  There was one guy who used to tip like crazy, we practically tasted his food for him, whatever he was drinking NEVER got below half full.  So it's like I said before, if you want pristine animals you'll have to pay for them one way or the other.  You could use an "upper level" dealer like Ben, or Pro Exotics and pay $25 for animal A, or you can use a JP or a Strickly and pay $5-10 for the same type animal (there's nothing wrong w/ either choice).  If you want to save the money you have to make some choices, spend the time and money to go pick it out yourself, or order it and take your chances.  If you order it, wouldn't it be worth and extra $10-15 bucks on a $500 order to have someone on the inside looking out for you?  That's what I meant.  For me it's better to buy the animals from JP because I can just go pick them out.  And he really does get the same stuff as everyone else.  Hell, a lot of people that post here buy from him, so he can't be all that bad.

Brian,

That is hogwash.

Ciro Spina

Ciro, wow intelligent reply!  Care to explain which part or are just so pissed you can't type straight <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

I have never ordered from JP pets, but I have tried mail order from a couple of other large scale wholesalers.  Enough to say never again.  Yeah, the crappy stuff I got was guaranteed, but only as a credit on the next order.  I just got junk, what makes them think I will order again.  luckily I live close enough to a wholesaler that I can pick out the few WC animals that I do want to carry (not many).  I pay a bit more, and I have to drive to get them but at least when I picked up my three baby savanahs today I knew the ones I got looked fat and healthy.  Not all looked that way mind you, and I am sure that someone will end up with a few sickly looking monitors that will probably not make it.  I've visited a few wholesalers, and I would be willing to bet that most of them operate the same way.  if you are lucky enough to be able to hand pick your own animals any wholesaler can have good stock.

I don't have to pay extra for good packing either as I do it myself.

Steve Schindler