Carolina Reptile Exchange--Beware!

I ordered a venomous king cobra (O. Hannah) from Carolina Reptile Exchange, at 3312 Highway 21, Suite 114, Fort Mill, SC 29715, 803-548-8262. My order was clearly stated and called for an 8 foot, male, Malay phase "NON VENOMOID" O. Hannah. What I received was horrid.

Bruce, from Carolina Reptile Exchange, took four weeks before sending me my order. The excuses ranged from him being in Florida to him being sick. Finally, they called and said it was on the plane. In fact, it came in three days later and I only found out because I know the guy at Delta Dash. Carolina Reptile Exchange would not return any of my calls, which I estimate to be 150 over a 3 week period.

When I opened the box and released it from the bag, the cobra sluggishly went into the hide box. It remained there most of the time, and being a new snake, I didn't want to stress it out by forcing it out. Shortly after I received it, it died. When I examined it, I discovered two fresh wounds alongside the head, an obvious botched surgical procedure. I called right away and as told Bruce was on vacation in Florida. I emailed them and called many times. No one has returned my calls, but their email resposne was, "too bad."

Besides the issue of sending me a dying cobra due to a botched surgical procedure and failing to send me the snake I ordered, the possibility that they sent my venomous snake to someone expecting a venomoid is very likely.

Do not, under any circumstances, deal with this company. I have pictures of the mangled snake if anyone would like to see what they do to their animals. Animal cruelty should be involved and this company should be put out of business....

Edit to above

I'm not sure how to edit my post above, but I posted the thread. My name is Ralph "Hammer" Janus. If I failed to follow protocol, I'm sorry, I'll amend it to conform if need be.

The photo is posted in this thread: http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59066

Botch job doesn't even begin to describe it. This dead snake looks like Franken-King. Did they use dental floss to sew him up or what?

I posted my commentary on the procedure and some comparison photos of proper postoperative stitching on a cobra done by a real veterinarian.

Tanith-- Did you see my photo? It's gross butchery...

Complain to Kingsnake.com
They "supposedly" have a three strikes and your out rule.

I say supposedly because this would be like way more than three.
I say supposedly because if you have money............hey they can over look it.
I say supposedly because all you need is a personal letter from the president and have it delivered by Secret Service.... Then perhaps Kingsnake will do something about it.

Bruce is one prime example, that crooks can make a living in this hobby.
Harry (Bruce's dead father) is also another example of crooks making it into this hobby. But then again we all know that the Dead harry writing checks and doing business from his grave was really Bruce.

Nothing but a lowlife scum.

p.s. Thanks for the address....it will come in handy

I tried

Kingsnake deleted my post. My original thread created quite a few replies--all with bad news about Carolina Reptile Exchange. Kingsnake said my post was slanderous, even though it can't be slanderous if it's true. Truth is an absolute defense against any claim of misrepresentation. So Carolina Reptile Exchange continues to operate with impunity under the apparent support of Kingsnake.

no I did not say post it.....
they will erase it.
Kingsnake will cover their butts....even if it is the truth.

follow their procedures on making a complaint.
DO NOT post it.

Hammer sorry for what happened to you.

This is my responce to Kingsnake and to the Carolina reptile exchange and co-op.

To whom it may concern at The United States Fish and Wildlife, South Carolina Department of Natural Resourses, South Carolina District Attourney, Fort Mills South Carolina Police department, Fort Mills District Attourney and KINGSNAKE.COM. There was recently a King Cobra sold through Kingsnake.com's classifieds which died shortly after arrival to its buyer. He ordered a VENOMOUS King Cobra and received one that had obviously gone though the procedure to create a venomoid " surgically altered to remove its venom glands."

The Buyer made a post on Kingsnake.com's forums to inform the general public to this in so much as he feared that someone wanting a venomoid had received a venomous reptile by mistake. The staff at Kingsnake.com apparently deleted his post and as such may be contributing to the harm of a member of the general public. The seller was Carolina Reptile Exchange, at 3312 Highway 21, Suite 114, Fort Mill, SC 29715, 803-548-8262. I strongly urge Kingsnake.com to remove all the postings of Carolina Reptile Exchange, at 3312 Highway 21, Suite 114, Fort Mill, SC 29715, 803-548-8262. in The Kingsnake.com classified and that The United States Fish and Wildlife, South Carolina Department of Natural Resourses, South Carolina District Attourney, Fort Mills South Carolina Police department, Fort Mills District Attourney and KINGSNAKE.COM.conduct an investigation in to thier activities as it may have deadly ramifications on members of the general public had a mistake been made. A King Cobra is capable of killing numerous people with a bite and as such this has become a matter of public safety.

I beleive it is in the best interest of public safety for Kingsnake.com to repost the thread that was deleted. Without doing so you may be contributing to the harm or death of a person/person.

E-MAIL adress's Law Enforcement Division
Deputy Director, Colonel Alvin A. Taylor
[email protected]

United States Fish and Wildlife southeast region
Contacting the Office: Phone 803-765-5626; Fax 919-856-4837
Whom to Contact: Special Agent at numbers indicated above, or Resident Agent-in-Charge
Raleigh, NC, Phone: 919-856-4786

Fort Mills Police department
[email protected]

Hammer said:

Kingsnake deleted my post. My original thread created quite a few replies--all with bad news about Carolina Reptile Exchange. Kingsnake said my post was slanderous, even though it can't be slanderous if it's true. Truth is an absolute defense against any claim of misrepresentation. So Carolina Reptile Exchange continues to operate with impunity under the apparent support of Kingsnake.

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I saw that. I was involved in the thread on KS, and to my knowledge, no inflammatory or derogatory posts were made, strictly facts presented. I emailed Jeff B. to tell him that it is possible that someone recieved a HOT king cobra when they were expecting a venomoid one (due to mixups in shipments), and that the thread could possibly save their life if they browse KS (which a lot of people do). I don't believe he's put the post back up. Goes to show a lot for the good ole' boys at KS and what they really support and believe in...not the hobby or the joy of keeping snakes, but MONEY. CRE has no less than 6 or 7 ads on the classifieds now, and are constantly posting more, so they are a "cash cow" of sorts to Barringer and his cronies. We'll see what happens, personally I'd like to see Bruce jailed and CRE shut down...permanently...any ideas on how to make this a reality?

Well we know Bruce cried to the powers that be at Kingscam and they deleted the post to make Bruce happy. God help them if they lost that revenue of his advertizing dollars.... It would give Kingscam a bad name.

I have had a few people asking for permission to reproduce the letter I wrote to send to the agencies and Kingsnake. EVERYONE HAS MY PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE IT.

I called 803-765-5626 and spoke to Special Agent Erryl Wolgemuth for a while. He genuinely seemed concerned about the situation (though he said he hadn't heard anything about it before), and I gave him the the Fauna thread address...unfortunately, they can't accept email from outside sources, so I couldn't email him the direct link. He has my cell phone and said he will call me if he needs anymore information or has any information for me. If you guys call that number, you might want to ask for Agent Wolgemuth just so he knows we are serious and there is more than one person concerned.

That's terrible. That snake looks awful. Hopefully it gets resolved!

I'm still trying to understand how in heaven's name CRE still finds people willing to buy from them!

What is it going to take to make this...this....this.... PERSON go away?

ms_terese said:

What is it going to take to make this...this....this.... PERSON go away?

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It's going to take you and everyone else reading this thread to call 803-765-5626 and speak with Special Agent Erryl Wolgemuth and voice your concerns to him. I think if all of us speak to one or two agents, it'll help concentrate our complaints and concerns, as opposed to all of us speaking to different people and dilluting the effect. Let's get these guys out of the business for good! They've been mutilating animals for far too long!

I am very sorry you had to deal with these guys, but a giant I TOLD YOU SO keeps echoing in my head. Had you checked them out on this board before buying from them?? There are literally well over 100 pages posted proving they are thieves. I really can not understand what possesed you to buy from them, unless you did not know this site existed when you did it. If you did know about them, my only sympathy goes to the poor snake. If you take offense to this I apologize, but really, if you read about them and bought from them anyway, you kind of deserve what you got. Craig

I told you how I felt at another forum already, but again, I am very sorry you are having to go through this when all you wanted is a good healthy King. I know these guys will get whats coming to them. Good luck.

I am well beyond caring about posting anyting in regards to Bruce.

What amazes me, like one already said, I just cannot imagine how people still buy from this troll. Everyone and their mother knows about this site by now (the BOI). A good portion of the people in the Herp community have seen these posts that are made on Kingsnake (before they are deleted) and I know people talk about them............I still get emails regarding Bruce due to my involvement in the novel last year here on the BOI. I just do not see how word does not get around. I guess I should say that I know word gets around, I am just wondering why people take the chance. Looking to get screwed? Who knows, but you can assure yourself it just might happen.
There are so many quality people out there that people can buy from. If people buy from less than quality people just to save a buck, I do not feel sorry for them. I just don't. THis may not be the case here, but I just really wonder, if not to save a buck, what other reason could one possibly give that would make sense.
I could go on and on, but obviously the PAGES and PAGES of info on the site about Bruce has done no good. People make choices every day......then they have to live with them.
By the way, this is not to "flame" people that have dealt with him. I am just sharing my thoughts of being slightly perplexed.

i lived in charlotte nc, when bruce was the manager of pet pros there. he ran such a poor place and broke many county laws keeping venomous snakes in the store in addition to a giant alligator snapping turtle that was kept in a tub that was not 3 inches longer or wider than it was. he is a complete scum bag who has no regard for the well being of animals and is in it just to make money any way possible.

Brian Oakley said:

There are so many quality people out there that people can buy from. If people buy from less than quality people just to save a buck, I do not feel sorry for them. I just don't. THis may not be the case here, but I just really wonder, if not to save a buck, what other reason could one possibly give that would make sense.
I could go on and on, but obviously the PAGES and PAGES of info on the site about Bruce has done no good. People make choices every day......then they have to live with them.
By the way, this is not to "flame" people that have dealt with him. I am just sharing my thoughts of being slightly perplexed.

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My thoughts exactly. Very similar to the Bearded Pets situation where there were pages and pages of complaints, but when one of the posters who was actually following through with his complaints, checked into it, only one person had actually lodged an "official" complaint.

Just so many people who are either just completly numb with apathy or who think, "well the deal is so great, maybe this one time it won't happen to me"
Obviously I feel for the person who didn't find out about the BOI till after the fact, but if you meet the category above, I'm all out of empathy. The actuality is if more people would actually follow through with complaints, then it would get rid of these con-artist/fraudulent/unethical sellers, and the % of people who got ripped off because they didn't know about the BOI, would go down.
just my 2 cents