Against my better judgment I attempted to purchase the "10 ft. JUNGLE CARPET PYTHON HIGH YELLOW!!!" posted by "Scott" of Scotts Serpents on these Fauna Classifieds. Needless to say I never received the snake nor a refund.
I purchased the animal in question on January 20th and at that time agreed to ship a week from the next Monday. The day of arrival came and went with no package or snake. He informed me that he had encountered some bad weather and that is why he couldn’t ship. Normally, I would have been fine with waiting but with his shady rep I got nervous. We agreed to ship Thursday for Friday of the same week in spite of the poor shipping conditions. Again, I normally wouldn’t want to ship under unideal conditions but I did not trust him and I wanted to be certain if he was scamming me or not before pursuing avenues of retribution whether it is filing a claim with paypal, posting here on the BOI, or filing a police report. I took off work that Friday waiting for the package to arrive, it never did. At that point I was fairly sure I was had. After he refused to answer my e-mails or phone messages I filed a claim with paypal and my bank. I have avoided posting anything here because from my perspective it usually results in nothing but a he said she said situation that I can't imagine accomplishes much except entertainment for the reader and I flat hate drama. I understand that it also provides references to a would be buyer like myself as well but there is so much rubbish on the internet these days its hard to know who is telling the truth.
I did do a search on "Scott" here prior to purchase and came up with two red flags. This is when I should have walked away. One was a shipping dispute regarding Scott and sending an item through the USPS and the other was a pricing dispute where "Scott" supposedly wanted more for an item then what he had it listed for sale. I called "Scott" and spoke with him about both situations and he explained them in a manner that sounded fairly reasonable. The only thing that did not seem reasonable in his explanation about the two red flags I spoke of earlier was why he sent the animal using USPS, which might as well be a death sentence when shipping live animals. I asked if he would promise to ship Delta or FedEx for my snake and he agreed. Like I stated earlier, I should have just walked away as I still had a bad feeling about the deal but I really valued the animal in question and went for it.
Here is the reason why I had a change of heart regarding me posting this dispute on this BOI. First and foremost, he still has the item in question up for sale. When I informed the moderators of Fauna about this they were fairly brash in telling me that they had the BOI put into place for this very purpose and to post my problem there. I fully understand them not wanting to get involved, as I would be the same way. In addition, after filing a claim with paypal, Scott provided Paypal with a tracking number. He never e-mailed or called me with the tracking number, he simply provided paypal with it surely in an effort to avoid punishment by paypal. Well, when I received the tracking number from paypal I contacted my Post Office in the morning and asked them to provide me with any information possible about the package "Scott" had sent. They informed me it was sent priority mail and weighed 5 ounces. The snake I had purchased was around 9-10 feet so it certainly couldn't have been the snake. I held out hope it was a refund. Well when the package arrived today (my mailman knew I was expecting a package and the situation) I asked he mailman if I should open it in front of him so he could be a witness. He stated there wouldn't be anything he could do anyway but did mention he thought it was empty and asked if I wanted to refuse it. I said no because I thought it may indeed be a refund. So I took the box inside and opened it and of course it was empty except a crumbled piece of brown paper. I have been in the business a while now and have never been "took" before. I ignored my instincts and followed my greed and it bit me. I just thought since the item in question is still for sale I would post this so he doesn't scam anyone else with the same snake. Here are our e-mail correspondences. "Scotts" are in bold. Some of the early correspondence was done by phone before he quit answering or returning messages. I have made every effort to resolve this and did not want to post here as I do not want my business tied to any shady people or bad press but I feel an obligation at this time to make others aware of him and expose him as a crook, AGAIN, lol.
----- Original Message -----
From: Andrew Hare
To:
[email protected]
Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 5:59 PM
Subject: Jungle Carpet
Send me your paypal and health/arrival/sex guarntee.
Andrew
From: "Scott" <[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
To: "Andrew Hare" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Jungle Carpet
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:01:54 -0800
I will give a live arrival garr, on the 10ft Jungle Carpet.
Paypal ID# [email protected]
Thanks,
Scott
From: "Scott" <[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
To: "Andrew Hare" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Jungle Carpet
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:04:53 -0800
I will also give a perfect health garr. no IBD/RTI/Parasites/Infections etc.... on the 10ft Jungle Carpet.
Thanks,
Scott
----- Original Message -----
From: Andrew Hare
To: Scott
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 3:10 PM
Subject: Re: Jungle Carpet
I assume you received payment?
Andrew
From: "Scott" <[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
To: "Andrew Hare" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Jungle Carpet
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 15:44:43 -0800
yep, just recived it yesterday. Let me know when you want to ship? or if the weather is still a go for tues
After the snake did not show and he did not tell me why or return my phone calls I sent this.
----- Original Message -----
From: Andrew Hare
To: Scott
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 3:15 PM
Subject: Re: Jungle Carpet
I just left you a phone message, I am sure you will listen to it. It simply says the typical things that occur during a process of being scammed including me filing a police report with the Burbank Police Department, putting a lean on any and all your possessions possible, filing a claim with paypal, and with
www.ic3.gov. I doubt that you care, just thought I would let you know. I will give you two more days before doing these processes. If I hear from you in that time with a valid reason of why I have not received my snake or if you send me a refund during these next two days I will consider not pursueing these processes.
Andrew
From: "Scott" <[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
To: "Andrew Hare" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Jungle Carpet
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 17:54:13 -0800
Just got your E-mail sorry I did not write you sooner.The weather down here is very bad. It is raining and very cold like 40-50deg. I do not ship under these weather conditions as stated in my T&C so we are going to have to wait and see what the weather is like. Also dont threaten people!!! If you did call BPD as you said you did in the voice mail. I will call my buddy and see if you did and if so I will not be shipping you a snake at all !!! I will give you your money back - 20% Restocking fee !!!!
Thanks,
Scott
----- Original Message -----
From: Andrew Hare
To: Scott
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 3:24 PM
Subject: Re: Jungle Carpet
Scott, what have you decided, are you sending the snake out or the 80% refund? I normally wouldn't be worried about waiting until a later date to ship the snake but your poor communication and past track record have made me very nervous.
Andrew
From: "Scott" <[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
To: "Andrew Hare" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Jungle Carpet
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:28:12 -0800
I am shipping 1st thing tomorrow if the snake Dies I am not responsible because you could not wait till warmer weather.
Scott
This is where all correspondence on his end ceased.
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:43:55 -0800 (PST)
From: "Andrew Hare" <
[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Re: Jungle Carpet
To: "Scott" <
[email protected]>
As long as you ship in an insulated box with heat packs with overnight service it should be fine. I will let you know when it arrives. Thanks.
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2007 20:10:00 -0800 (PST)
From: "Andrew Hare" <
[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Re: Jungle Carpet
To: "Scott" <
[email protected]>
Please send me a tracking number with the Fed Ex shipment, if that is still who you plan on using.
Andrew
Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2007 16:29:50 -0800 (PST)
From: "Andrew Hare" <
[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Re: Jungle Carpet
To: "Scott" <
[email protected]>
Let me now what the tracking # is and the shipping company if you could, I took off work tomorrow morning to receive her.
Andrew
Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2007 16:59:53 -0800 (PST)
From: "Andrew Hare" <
[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Re: Jungle Carpet
To: "Scott" <
[email protected]>
Scott, I took off work today and no snake arrived. I am going to file a report tommorrow with the Burbank Police Department, file a claim with the internet fraud division, file a claim with paypal, and will attempt to put a lean on your house(if you own one) or your vechicle(if you own one) so that you will not be able to sell either until your debt to me is paid. I will certainly provide the Burbank County Police with all pertinent information including receipt of sale, e-mails, different aliases and your home address and telephone numbers(which I do have). I have been more then leniant during this transaction with you and I have never once been rude or malicious. I have given you plenty of oppurtunites to make right. Perhaps if you would have even made even a slight attempt at communication with me this could have been avoided. This will be my last correspondence with you.
Andrew
Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2007 18:24:20 -0800 (PST)
From: "Andrew Hare" <
[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Re: Jungle Carpet
To: "Scott" <
[email protected]>
Scott, whats the word. I have filed a claim with paypal and my bank assuming you are not going to send snake and also keep my money. If you sent the snake this week I would reverse both claims. I don't want to proceed with a Police Report if you were planning to send the snake but I highly doubt you are, so unless I hear from you I will file this week. I am trying to be positive but I am guessing your simply a petty thief. Any response?
Andrew
Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2007 18:24:20 -0800 (PST)
From: "Andrew Hare" <
[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Re: Jungle Carpet
To: "Scott" <
[email protected]>
Scott, whats the word. I have filed a claim with paypal and my bank assuming you are not going to send snake and also keep my money. If you sent the snake this week I would reverse both claims. I don't want to proceed with a Police Report if you were planning to send the snake but I highly doubt you are, so unless I hear from you I will file this week. I am trying to be positive but I am guessing your simply a petty thief. Any response?
Andrew
I was hoping not to respond to this post as I have already devoted enough time to this melee. That me know by private message or e-mail if any of you have any other suggestions on how to get my money back. Those are the facts.
Thanks, Andrew