Rafael Mendoza-the Reptile Dungeon

ArkValRep · Oct 31, 2003

I was curious as to whether or not anyone has had trouble receiving orders from Rafael Mendoza at the Reptile Dungeon? I ordered a Ranco thermostat from him on 10/20/03 and have not heard from him since. The day that I ordered it, I e-mailed him twice before ordering it with some questions about compatability and he replied immediately. However, ever since I sent him the money via Pay Pal, I have not been able to get him to respond to my multiple inquiries about my order and I still don't have the product. Is this normal for him? Thanks.

Marc-ARKANSAS VALLEY REPTILES 719-207-0774

dwedeking · Oct 31, 2003

I don't know Rafael, but the area he lives in is the area that the fires in So Cal started. He MAY be having issues relating to the fires (ie no phone service, no power, evacuations etc)

herphobbyist · Oct 31, 2003

Rafael Mendoza

Rafael is a good guy. He lives in San Bernadino, CA. where the fires are so I'm sure he's having problems like everyone else there. I'm sure he'll contact you when he can. I've done some deals with him and he's always been above board. On a side note if Ralph is having problems my thoughts are with him. Ron Radloff "The Crawl Space"

snakeyes · Oct 31, 2003

I did a trade

with rafael at the beginning of the month if you could call it that at this point. i sent him 3 yearling knoblochi and he was supposed to send me 2 of the snake skeletons he was offering on KS. well he received the animals on 10/9. i waited a week and half and after i didn't receive any info from him i emailed and asked when/if they had been shipped. i received a 4 word reply that "they were on the way". it is now 10/31 and no skeletons and no contact. i sympathise with the difficulties he may be experiencing with the fire and all but this deal should have been completed way before they started. i'm not saying that i've been ripped off. what i am saying is at the least it's bad business practice and at the worst a hosing. i am going to email him again this weekend and i will post the results of this transaction as they unfold.

Russ Mercado
Snakeyes Herpetoculture

The Reptile Dungeon · Nov 6, 2003

Hello All,
I would like to say right off the bat. I am very sorry for the delays. I have no really good excuse other than bad timing on alot of levels. The fire very near my house being a part of it.
Both of you will have what you are expecting very very soon.
I in no way intend to cut and run with your Money or your Snakes.
Thanks,
Rafael
T.R.D.

P.S. Here is a pic I took a little over a block from my house when the fires were passing by me.

The Reptile Dungeon · Nov 6, 2003

Heres another

.

TheVipersHouse · Nov 6, 2003

hang in there Raf

hey i have done business with Rafael
in the past and hes nuthing short of a great guy
and the fact that you people doing business with him would even think to have thoughts of getting hosed or being ripped off are outrageous all you have to do is a search and his name will come up with nuhting but great reviews ... personally knowing from your own admission about the fires where he lives and then posting what u have already i would say your being a bit unkind arent you ... i mean i know your probably anxious about getting what u either paid for or traded for but i think his delays are justified none the less due to the fact his whole life and welfare are at risk due to the massive fires ... i havent known rafael to not complete a deal , so just sit back and relax and bare with him his times are a bit more difficult then yours right now .....

ArkValRep · Dec 4, 2003

Still Waiting...

I understand that Mr. Mendoza was very near the recent fires in California. For this reason I waited a month before I sent him another e-mail asking why I haven't yet heard from him. However, the money I sent him for a Ranco thermostat was in October. It is now December. I don't think it is unfair, mean, or insensitive to question why he has not returned ANY of my recent multiple e-mails. I find it hard to believe that he has not checked his e-mail. After all, he, like many of us, has a business to run. I have e-mailed him with my telephone number and my address. Does anyone out there have his telephone number?
Marc Morris-Arkansas Valley Reptiles 719-207-0774

ArkValRep · Dec 22, 2003

Update on Rafael Mendoza-Reptile Dungeon

Just a quick update on the order I placed in October and still don't have from Mr. Mendoza. Right after my last post on the BOI he sent an e-mail stating he was going to get the thermostat sent. It hasn't arrived as of 12/21/03.

urbanjungles · Dec 22, 2003

Similar experience...

Marc,

Just FYI, I had the same thing happen to me. I completed a trade with Rafael several months ago where I sent him some Amazon tree boas in trade for some skulls and articulations. After sending the snakes I recieved only part of the trade as i was told the other pieces were broken in transit. Completion of the deal was a long process.

It took a couple of months and many unanswered emails and phone calls before the deal was finally completed. I rememeber getting a bit frustrated at times... Rafael sent me some extra "freebies" to make up for the delay but in hindsight I think I'd rather have completed the deal in a timely fashion because I was relying on the articulations for an upcoming lecture.

Good luck geting your thermostat.

ArkValRep · Jan 7, 2004

Where is my Thermostat Mr. Mendoza?

Okay, this is getting old. Its 01/07/04. I continue to wait for the Ranco Thermostat that I PAID for in October! I had to buy thermostats elsewhere, but I could still use this one. If there is something physically wrong with Mr. Mendoza I could understand, but since I receive no replies to my e-mails or a simple phone call, I can only believe that I have been ripped off! Does anyone out there know a phone number I can reach him at? Any help would be appreciated.

snakeyes · Jan 7, 2004

i wish i had better news...

but when i started this thread i said i would update as things progressed. as of today a deal that was started on 10/9/03 (the day he received my snakes) has yet to be completed. first,they got lost in the mail. second(4 weeks later) it was the fires in cali. third he was still waiting for the replacement skeletons. then his wife/girlfreind e-mailed me to say he was in the hospital with pneumonia and she would be shipping my box. finally 3 weeks later no word or skels. can you guess what i've been thinking about this deal? if this turns out for the best i will update everyone again. 'til' then consider this a heads up.
Russ Mercado

Steve M. · Jan 10, 2004

I answered Rafael's ad for trades for skeletons last year on Kingsnake. I proposed a trade of some possible het. for alb. boa's I was expecting, we came to an agreement and I was to contact him when the boa's arrived. Well when they did and had eaten a few times ( a period of about 5-6 weeks ) I tried to contact him through e-mails but never heard from him. Of course I did not send the snakes I kept them for myself ( cause I had picked the nicest females in the litter for the trade ) I don't know what problem's Mr Mendoza's dealing with and I'm sorry for him if there legit but he seems to be developing a bad name for himself

snakeyes · Jul 11, 2004

This is Done

This will probably be my last update on this mess. for those who haven't read the whole thread this started in 10/03. the deal, 3 knoblochi yearlings for 2 of Mr. Mendozas snake skeletons. well after about 7 months of reasons why he couldn't ship i did finally receive 1 skeleton. when i contacted him about the second one he said it was in the box, not... after a couple of months he emailed to say he was going to send it out. as of today he doesn't answer my emails nor does he ship whats rightfully mine. i posted this now because i see he's posting items for sale/trade again on this site as well as KS. this has been my experience with him and this post is really just a heads up for anyone contemplating doing business with the reptile dungeon.
Russ Mercado
Snakeyes Herpetoculture

gmherps · Jul 11, 2004

That's a dang shame Russ. I hope someday you get what you traded for.

SPJ · Jul 11, 2004

I hope you get what you traded for especially since he has an ad on KS today. Obviouly he has access to a computer in order to be able to post his ads so he should be able to contact you with an explanation.

The Reptile Dungeon · Jul 13, 2004

Hello,
A friend of mine called me and told me this thread was still being used. From about the time of the fires last year I have not been on the internet all that much until recently. It has been about the worst year possible. From Fires to a dirt bike accident, to being shot a few times. Life in general has been really tough. I am back on my feet and starting buis. again.

Russ...
Your replacement venomous skeleton is on order. As soon as I get it I will send it out.

Marc...
Your thermostat was sent out after the deal was done. I was not aware that you still never received it after I sent it. I have another unit on hand. Send an e-mail to [email protected] with your address and I will send you another one.

I am not out to rip anyone off. Up until my bad year I have always tried to make sure that every customer is happy with the deal that has been made.
I am sorry for the inconvienence placed on you both.
Rafael Mendoza

Otter_23 · Jul 31, 2007

Any updates or outcomes to these situations?

Keith Northrop · Jul 31, 2007

Rafael....Its a sign from above........

You're House burned down......You got shot a couple of times......Your dog
died........Straighten up......Many more sour deals and your life force will extinguish.....Pooff! :dgrin:

Slithering Serpents · Aug 17, 2007

Raphael Mendoza bad seller post

Please be sure to read my post in the current thread above this one, about how Raphael mendoza wasted my time, gave me a lot of the same BS excuses, and in the final analysis ripped me off.

Don't do business with Raphael Mendoza aka Ralph Mendoza aka the Reptile Dungeon

Caden Chapman
[email protected]
slitheringserpents.com

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