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Am I Being Too Harsh?

Labinnah

Labinnah

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Recently, I've been trying to sell off some of my leopard geckoes. It's not that I don't like them, I'm just moving on to do some other things. I care greatly for my animals and take many precautions when sending them off to new homes.

The other night I got this e-mail from a potential buyer:

I saw the thing on the net. My grandpa is in the area
alot and might be able to pick them up. What area do u
live in exactly. Do they come in a cage and if so
would they be able to survive in a semi truck for a
short period of maybe four to five days. I will try to
ask my grandpa to get them on his way back home. Are
the geckos good to breed? If not I will still take
them. I have experience with three leos, one of which
died after about 4 months to a disease. I cannot take
them if they do not have a cage becuz I have no way to
get the money to buy a cage.

Now, I got a lot of negative vibes while reading that. Died of disease? Four or five days in a truck?! Everything in my head said "NonononoNO." so I sent this e-mail, and honestly, I was trying to be nice as possible...

Hi there..
Which geckoes are you referring to, exactly? I have several for sale right now.
No, I do not have a cage to give you with them, and no, they would not be okay in a semi truck for several days. You say one of yours died because of disease? That's really, really not a good sign...
I'm sorry, I can't sell any animal to anyone under 18, and if you don't feel like you can afford to take care of some animals, please don't offer to buy them.

Hoping I wasn't being too harsh and that this would end things, I left it at that. Today I got an e-mail back:

I was referring to a lepard gecko you have for sale.
My gecko died a long time ago and my two I have now
are oing really well and are growing really good. I
am going to take them to a local store to have my
female weighed for the breeding season in the summer.
I have the time and money available to take care of
some leopard geckos. No other animal can get into my
room to disturb the geckos either. I might be able to
make a special trip into your area this summer to pick
them up when I am in Oklahoma. I live in Illinois so
it is kinda hard to find a ride to Texas.

I really don't want to sell my animals to this person, period. Does anyone lse think that this is reaonable? How do I tell this kid 'no' without being a total jackass?
 
You were not too harsh at all. I have never used the its already been sold only because if its still listed for sale for a week, 2 or a month later that makes me look like I lied (and I would be)

I had an email kinda like that last year and I just said "I have another buyer interested in the "reptile" right now if it falls threw I will contact other interested buyers in order of email received". Then the thanks for your interest etc.

Still may be a lie if you don't have others asking but to me sounds nice and without saying its sold and having it up for sale for a period of time after saying it was sold.
 
Just tell him you sold them to me. And give him my E-Mail if you need too, I don't mind.

He sounds prity sad to me. It is your choice where you would like YOUR animals to go. I am glad to see you care so much.

Even if you don't have any leo's don't leave the forums... :cool:
 
yoi would not say it is sold... i would say that (in a very nice way) that you have the right to refuse the sale of your animals and that if he can not afford a cage when how can you feed them or take them to a vet if needed and tell him you are sorry but your mind is made up.
 
robin s. said:
yoi would not say it is sold... i would say that (in a very nice way) that you have the right to refuse the sale of your animals and that if he can not afford a cage when how can you feed them or take them to a vet if needed and tell him you are sorry but your mind is made up.
Click to expand...

That is the best way, honesty

But I had so many of those type emails and was completely honest in my replies then got a ton of emails back with a ton of excuses and explanations and some screaming that I chose the easy way out without getitng tons of emails back lol
 
wait...you already said you have many geckos available. whats to stop this person from asking for another gecko instead than?

also you do SHIP your geckos right? why would this person need to pick it up from you? simply tell them..

"i do not offer a pick-up service. you must have a physical address for me to ship to as well as pay the cost of shipping."
 
I have received those e-mails as well. I have stated that I am sorry but I just do not sell to miners or a parent would have to be present when purchasing(well thats no in your case). I have also told people flat outright that I simply do not feel comfertable in selling my reptiles to them that I am really sorry but same with the other response if you do not have the proper means in housing, heat, substrait, etc. then they do not have the right to take in another reptile only for them to suffer till they get more money saved up. Don't feel bad at all, just tell them no. I would not lie either or say that it has been sold already that will only come back to bite you in the end. Good luck I know someone will give them a proper good home. Shanell.
 
The Reptile House said:
I have received those e-mails as well. I have stated that I am sorry but I just do not sell to miners or a parent would have to be present when purchasing(well thats no in your case). I have also told people flat outright that I simply do not feel comfertable in selling my reptiles to them that I am really sorry but same with the other response if you do not have the proper means in housing, heat, substrait, etc. then they do not have the right to take in another reptile only for them to suffer till they get more money saved up. Don't feel bad at all, just tell them no. I would not lie either or say that it has been sold already that will only come back to bite you in the end. Good luck I know someone will give them a proper good home. Shanell.
Click to expand...

What do you have against miners? :) Someone has to dig that coal out of the ground.... :rofl:
 
i said to someone ONE time something was sold when it wasnt... ONE time... i had noticed they had decreased eating even though it was in the cooler months but needless to say if you look on my trader rating i got a negative responce... and i never even sold anything to him... since then i have emailed him pictures of the gecko at my house with a date on them... he did not respond
 
Nothing against them at all. They have to have a parent consent for me to sell to them. Most of the time the parent does not even know about the sale. I made the mistake of not getting a parent concent once(internet sale) and the parent got all upset. In California you can not sell to miners under the age of 18 anything of a live animal anyways. If the aprent consents or comes with them to make a purchase then great I will sell to them no problem at all. I did not mean for it to sound like they should not be buying them. Shanell.
 
The Reptile House said:
Nothing against them at all. They have to have a parent consent for me to sell to them.
Click to expand...

What do you have against miners? Someone has to dig that coal out of the ground....
Click to expand...

Guess you missed it, he was making a joke, cause you used the wrong minor (miner).
 
diablohogs said:
wait...you already said you have many geckos available. whats to stop this person from asking for another gecko instead than?

also you do SHIP your geckos right? why would this person need to pick it up from you? simply tell them..

"i do not offer a pick-up service. you must have a physical address for me to ship to as well as pay the cost of shipping."
Click to expand...

In this situation you would probably get an email of OK here's my address, Ill send a money order today as soon as you give me a total with shipping, where do I send it and then you would have to either be truthful and say I don't want to sell to you or use another line.

What would it be easier to do?

A. Be honest - Im not selling to you due to the content of your email end of story thats my right (you will get in most cases quite a few to a ton of emails back with tons of reasons why you should sell to them)

B. Lie its sold, take it off of any for sale list for some time so that you are not made out to be a liar (most likely 1 to no emails back, if you do get 1 it will be thanks)

C. Lie others are interested, if they back out Ill let you know (still a lie but the wanting buyer does not know this, most likely 1 to no emails back, if you do get 1 it will be thanks)

D. Delete the email and do not reply (this seems to be the best option in this situation, but you may get repeated emails asking you to sell this reptile to them under the same or different email addys)

E. Try to be helpful, tell the person you cannot sell to them at this time and why then explain that you will be happy to sell to them once they are in a way that they can better care for the reptile (you cannot afford a cage, you appear to be underaged, how will you pay for food, vet bills etc., send them care sheets, food cost expectations, possible vet bill cost, caging cost, heating cost etc. offer all of the help you can BUT this can lead to them upgrading their email content to deceive you under a different email addy or another seller)
 
Labinnah said:
Hi there..
Which geckoes are you referring to, exactly? I have several for sale right now.
No, I do not have a cage to give you with them, and no, they would not be okay in a semi truck for several days. You say one of yours died because of disease? That's really, really not a good sign...
I'm sorry, I can't sell any animal to anyone under 18, and if you don't feel like you can afford to take care of some animals, please don't offer to buy them.
Click to expand...
Ok, you already told him NO here, and very clearly and politely stated why. You did good. Now the most you really need to do is politely reply to his email and decline to sell. Continue until he gets the point, or until you have to block his email addy :) And if you truly don't wish to lie, then

"I'm sorry, the gecko is not available." (repeat for each gecko asked about)
 
The part that scares me is that the kid is talking about breeding himself................. Has 0 money for caging, but wants to breed *shudders*
 
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