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Bad Taste from Boa Repulic, buyers beware!!!!

A

Alyx

Strange but True
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and I hope Alex at Boa Republic reads this too...
 several months back I bought a pair of het albino boas off Alex of Boa Republic... he reassures me that they are BOTH feeding (the female being a pig that would eat anything you put in front of her... and the male only wanting live food)
 Both counts were wrong.. the male is the one that devours everything but the kitchen sink, and after a month and a half trying dead, fresh kill, live, rats, mice, gerbils on the female, she would NOT eat anything of her own accord, so I started force feeding her fuzzy mice before she ended up getting starved beyond no return.
 Meanwhile I had emailed Alex several times telling him I was not satisfied with this situation, and all he did was say "give it time, she'll kick in and eat eventually"...   When I was asking for a replacement female..
 Well there was NO talk from him of being willing to replace her at No cost to me, and so I waited, and kept trying all forms of prey for her to willingly take, and emailing Alex every so often reinforcing that I wasn't happy, and forcefeeding this poor little female het. What he did say is that (even though I PAID FOR and DESERVED healthy animals once already) I could have another female at 50% off the $85... AND I would of course have to pay shipping BOTH ways in order to get a snake that actually EATS..
 There are probably a couple people gonna read this that I wrote to who were selling Het females that I was looking at buying... and have heard this story before.
 anyway, I got talked into writing him a "last chance" email (make me happy or I tell the world what you did) by one of the top breeders in the boa world today, and as promised, that got a reply out of Alex... a reply of "well I don't have enough money to ship you a new female and pay to have that one sent back here"...  Selling albino boas for over $1,000 each and numerous hets 100% and 66% , all also for good cash, and he can't afford to make one customer happy who's got a snake that would DIE if I didn't keep manually feeding her. And if anyone questions the authenticity of MY claims I can provide 2 witnesses who watched me try to feed this snake live, fresh killed, thawed, mice/rats/gerbils and saw this little snake refuse everything.
  I mean let's face it, if I follow HIS instructions on how to feed the snake and it still doesn't eat after 3 months or so (he did say to give it time), you'd think that's a sign that you really did send out a screwed up animal!!!
  So I think Alex didn't really care whether I was happy or not seeing as how he didn't do right by me and send me a snake that's healthy... I take non-feeding as being non-healthy... no reputable seller should let snakes like that go out the door..  even if it is just a $122.50 animal with shipping...   in a world of $1,000 high end ones that are more likely to get backed up if a customer isn't satisfied..
People still have the *resposibility* to sell good quality animals AND make customers happy with ALL legitimate complaints...  
 Alex failed to do so with me... so I"m letting everyone here know as a warning... buyer beware when dealing with Alex Barriero at Boa Republic...
take your money somewhere else before he pulls one on you too....and you end up looking like this...:angry: or this...:(
because nobody enjoys being burned!!

Craig Hulsey
Fairbanks Alaska
 
 that little female is now several inches shorter than the male because I don't want to "force" feed her too much...   so much for having a breeding pair now that the male is outgrowing her so fast.... anyone got a ladder-tail het albino female boa they wanna sell that's over 2 ft???
 
Craig...I do feel your pain! Been there, done that!
Two things...the first is that you SHOULD have gotten SOME kind of compensation for that problem! ...personally, I think it would be rediculous to ship the snake back and ship another one out for an $85 snake....I would have given you (probably) HALF your money back and let you KEEP the snake!

Secondly....Alex...What are you doing?? You're talking about LESS than $100<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'> Is that LITTLE money worth all this aggravation?? I've always known you for being very fair and professional....what happened?? Give Craig some money back so he can spend it on getting his snake better!

I have had the same problems in the past (as everyone else has)....some snakes are VERY nervous about moving locations....especially to completely different climates then they're used to! And Alaska is as different as you're gonna get! There's really not much more you can do for him at this point! Unfortunately...you're gonna have to force feed him until he decides to eat on his own...which usually DOES happen eventually! Good luck...Neil

ALEX...DO THE RIGHT THING!!
 
I have not made any deal with Alex yet.  However, from what I read from different people before, and the way he responsed when I asked questions regarding his animals, he seems very professional.  Besides, $85.00 or $122.50 with shipping for a Het Albino seems fishy here.  I hope that Alex could come here to clear this matter.
 
<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>  Alex  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>
hmm  well  that does sound a lil off  on his part and i hafta go with neil on this one  it does seem on such a small amount  that it wouldnt be that much to either refund 1/2 the amount of your money  in good faith on keeping you happy and his name off here ! but also the price for a hetalbino $85?? what % is the het 50% or 100% or is it a possible het? none the less  i guess that doesnt really matter. I have made one deal with Alex back in Jan on a pair of anerys that were just OUT OF THIS WORLD so  to see all this hit the fan over a $120 deal sounds bad ven if for some reason  he is outta funds at this point i think that offering  a new snake of the same quailty would be the right thing to do in this case  i mean if its only a $85 snake  thers no ra loss  there in giving  you that .
ok now as a hypotheical ? ( yeah neil i know im typo king lol )
would you be willing to pay shipping back on the non feeder if he was to offer you a replacement at no charge? and him pay shipping on the new snake ?   the way i look at it  that would be a fair assement on the deal you would only be out the cost of shipping the snake back to him ans stil get the same thing you wanted to start with .  thats  how i think i would handle the deal that would put you at having the same 2 snakes you wanted  and just one extra cost of shipping at worst case scenario  and him getting the problem feeder back to deal with as he sees fit and only putting shipping  out ?
 Alex if  when you read this  you know like the rest of us the BOI does alot of good and bad  for all who sell snakes and stuff  so  i would make things right to this person and you can still come out to the good by doing so and i think the customer would only be fair then to say you did RIGHT the ordeal
 
i have to agree with  Neil on this  he owes u something  if he sold it as no problem feeder and now its not eating   he owes you ...

------------------------------------------
now  as for Allan  
QUOTE:
ok now as a hypotheical ? ( yeah neil i know im typo king lol )
would you be willing to pay shipping back on the non feeder if he was to offer you a replacement at no charge? and him pay shipping on the new snake ?   the way i look at it  that would be a fair assement on the deal you would only be out the cost of shipping the snake back to him ans stil get the same thing you wanted to start with .

end QUOTE
------------------------------------------------
be serious  the guy has paid for shipping 1 time already   he shouldnt be made to pay for anykind of shipping  

hypotheical ?   i send you a snake  garunteed eating   and it dont eat  
and ends up dying  on you cause of it
now  i will send you a knew one  if you feel like shelling out another  what ( say $100  for  shipping )   and i will get you a new one  .... to replace the one  that i GARUNTEED  to be eating with no problems <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>???
come on Allan  i see you on here alot   and i havent seen anything  YET  that says  you actually  beleive what u just said  ...
lets get serious  

HE OWES  HIM A NEW snake    plain and simple  with NO EXTRA costs .... i wouldnt expect to pay again or extra for a defective  animal  that was GARUNTEED  to be eating and healthy   and i wouldnt   expect my customers either ....

just my thoughts  
shawn
 
Alex got lost when the BOI moved again, I have emailed him the address for this site. He will probably take a while to get registered, etc. before he can respond, so let's give him time.
sue frederick
 
Ignore the last post by me about Alex getting lost. It was a different person from the kingsnake.com boa forum. Sorry.
sue frederick
 
Shawn , take it easy ok , i dont have to worry about the scenaro played out above. i will gurantee ANYTHING i sale TO anyone ANYWHERE  as what i represented it to be .
now if i was to sale you a snake as "feeding  on aything" thats exactly what you will get and if you have problems on it  tell me and i will do whatever it takes to rectify the problem. be it a full refund and keep the snake  be it  i pay shipping back to me and send you a snake back . ok now here  is the difference .If i have a snake that looks to be a problem  to get eating ... well guess what im not going to sale that snake ? plain and simple because one i dont wont to have to put anyone through the hardship of getting a snake that they think will eat only to find out it doesnt eat and have them stress out on trying to get it to eat . Two  im not goin to sale that snake that looks to be a problem eater simply because if its giving me problems  on eating  what makes me think anyone else is goin to have better seccess on doing the same ?  and i personally wouldnt want to have to shell out $  from my pocket to fix something that should have never been sold to start with  and you are right after reading what i wrote above i saw how it looked  and was waiting for this reply to come , hey we all make mistakes i chaulk that up to proof im not perfect ( and unfortunately never will be ) whats the sad part is that Alex is causing hiself this greif over the price of a animal that is less then $100 !  sorry if i stepped on any toes  on my above post wasnt meant to come out that way  ok    thats what i have to say .
 
OK...The way I look at it is SIMPLE! The DEALER is responsible for an animal sold to a customer, to MAKE SURE the animal is what the DEALER says it is! IF IT IS NOT...it's up to the DEALER to make it right! If that means the DEALER LOSES money, then so be it! If the DEALER knew that he would HAVE TO pay for the return shipping and the shipping of the NEW snake to the customer....I bet there would be A LOT less unhealthy snakes being shipped!! That's the downside of being in BUSINESS!! If you want to TRY to get away with it....BAD MOVE!! Either make the customer aware of the animal's problems beforehand, (even if it means losing the sale), or PAY THE CONSEQUENCES!!
I told you it was SIMPLE!! STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT!! ....Neil
 
you guys are ignoring the problem here. No boa should ever have to be force fed. Its a matter of finding out what the snake wants to eat. Usually a little trick such as putting chick feathers on the head of a mouse or just offering a small frozen thawed chick will get them started. I've had babies born here that refused to eat for a long time but never had to force feed, it was just a matter of finding out what they wanted! So, should one persons lack of knowledge or experience cost another person money? hmm Mark Kennedy
 
Hmm.....
Well, this situation has obviously gotten out of hand. Someone had to tell me that this was even going on here....I normally don't have time to keep checking for complaints or praise on this BOI.
In any case, I've dealt with probably well over 100 people during my course of selling "high end" boas and other reptiles, and I'm sure that everyone but Craig has been happy with the outcome.
Before I go into what I'll do for compensation, I just want to point out a few things. At first when this problem surfaced, I certainty did try and give pointers and tips on how to solve this problem....just as would anyone else in the same situation. There are no snakes that I've sent out that were non-eaters. Why would I intentionally do that? Why would I lie about what I was sending also? After everything, my best explanation is basically in agreement with what Neil said....the change of environment may have been overly severe for this poor snake. I'd say there were about 2 emails passed between Craig and I about this situation, when he decided to take the advice of another large and highly known boa breeder to send me a rather rude and threatening email. After receiving that email, and not feeling like I deserved it at all, I replied back with a very professional and very non-confrontational reply. Craig did proceed to reply back apologizing, and stating that he normally wouldn't have done such a thing, but he was convinced by this "other breeder" that it's what I deserved.
Also, I'd like to say that there are some statements made here by Craig that have a bit of a "twist" to the truth. I won't really elaborate on this though, as there's no point in arguing further or pointing fingers.
I just ask that anyone that has already dealt with me, including those who have received 100% compensation for situations that have called for it, think twice about formulating a new perception of who I am and the business that I do and will continue to do.
(Neil, you if anyone should especially know this)

Ok, so just so that the world is happy again, I'll offer 1 of 2 things to Craig publicly.

#1 - a full cash refund for the female ($85.00)
#2 - the = amount in credit toward anything else I ever have up for sale.

Anyways, sorry this didn't get resolved earlier. I think the last email I got on this situation may have been around December of 2001. There must have just been a misunderstanding on my part as to what Craig's expectations of compensation were. I remember every email except for the  just saying "she's not eating still". I guess I should have taken a hint as to what he wanted me to do...but I do know, that if I bought a snake and was having the same problem, I probably would have called the seller personally before publicly bashing the selling after no communication with him for over 4 months.

So sorry to Craig that this has been such an unpleasant experience, and sorry to everyone that had to waist their time scratching their head wondering if this post was referring to the same "Alex" that they've successfully dealt with in the past.

Craig email me OFF the forum to complete this transaction.
 
To Mark Kennedy:

Perhaps you are the one that is ignoring the problem here. The issue here is not one of Craig's "experience" or "knowledge", it is an issue concerning the honest representation of the animal and a seller's responsibility to a buyer. If you read the post by Craig, the female boa was sold as "being a pig that would eat anything you put in front of her". The fact of the matter is that if what Craig says is true, he has attempted to feed her f/k, live, rats, mice, and gerbils. And yet the female still has not eaten on her own. Getting a well started animal to feed that has been represented as eating anything should not be a matter of "experience or knowledge" using techniques which have not been discussed with you as being necessary for the animal in question, such as chick feathers, whole chicks, braining and the like. It should be a straightforward, simple process.  Whether force-feeding was the right solution is another argument altogether, and not intrinsic to the issue at hand.

Take care,
Matt Holmes
 
I see good and bad points on both sides. IMO, both Alex and Craig presented their sides quite well, considering what we're all used to. What I am not used to is the target of a bad guy post, replying in his defense in a tactful manner. I liked the way Alex portrayed himself. Instead of a flame war, we have a dignified discussion going on. Right on!!! Myself, I am a stickler on two opposite points. First: Buyer Beware. Do the research, ask questions, use common sense. Second: A dealer needs to be held to the highest of standards. I'm not saying that the dealer needs to take it in the end. But rather, take care of the customer to the fullest extent. Obviously within reason, of course. Not EVERY customer is going to be happy EVERY time. We all know this. However, a great deal of effort needs to be made to ensure satisfaction. Although at the same time, the customer should not ask the dealer to compromise himself either.
 
Shipping can be stressful on snakes. And believe it or not snakes will sometimes change their eating habits from one place to another. Here's an example- I just bought a tiger retic from a reputable dealer and he told me it will only take hamsters. She is pounding rats here like there is no tomorrow! I have no doubt that this snake would only take hamsters before I got her. Geez, I guess I should return her according to this theory.
 
First of all...maybe I didn't explain myself too well before....Alex is one of the BEST in the industry! We have had MANY discussions and have done quite a lot of business together, and I have NEVER had a problem with Alex OR HIS SNAKES!!
But...NOW I have a problem with Craig! Is it TRUE that you haven't spoke to Alex in over FOUR MONTHS and then came here BEFORE YOU SPOKE TO HIM and typed this thread??? IF THIS IS TRUE.....that's WRONG!!! Communication, Craig!! All you had to do was pick up the PHONE and TALK to him....your problem would have been resolved A LONG TIME AGO!! ....Neil
 
Let me preface this post by saying that I have been reading this BOI on occasion for awhile, but never posted, so if I accidently break any rules or my name is in the wrong place, please bear with me.
    That being said, I just wanted to say that I think that it is really a shame that Alex wasn't exactly given the benefit of the doubt here regarding this situation.  I have never bought anything from Alex, but I have spoken with him through e-mails on several occasions, and he seems to be a straightforward guy who takes pride in the animals that he owns and sells.  I would never hesitate to buy an animal from him.  The bottom line is that when I read the first post by the person with a complaint, I immediately thought that this was probably nothing more than a misunderstanding.  Alex has some of the nicest, most expensive boas around, and I highly doubt that he would ever knowingly jeopardize his business over a what amounts to a $120 transaction.  That just seems obvious to me!  Unfortunately, it seems like most people immediately believed that Alex was holding out on this guy's $120 for some reason.  The fact of the matter is that this Alex isn't some random kid who sold this guy his boa, he is a well-respected breeder, and should have been given the benefit of the doubt in this case.  
   I only post this because I see that on a forum like this, situations like this seem to happen often.  The stories are often one-sided and in many cases, the person being accused of doing something wrong doesn't even know that there is a thread here about him, much less have a chance to respond before he has a lynch mob after him.  (I am not implying that the response was that severe in this case, but it that is a fairly accurate analogy for some past posts).  This BOI is useful in MANY ways, unfortunately this is what I would consider to be a huge downfall.  
Amanda Burke
 
Excellent point, Amanda. I think we can all agree that in some cases it got out of hand. However, I personally like how most of the people here come together to help one another out. To pitch in with a few words. Sometimes, some of us just go about it wrong. But for the most part, there are a lot of good people willing to help each other. I hope you see this.

Craig,
Communication is everything, bud. I've been burned before so I can relate. It doesn't matter the dollar amount involved. It's the principle. The trick is learning to decipher between a true burn and unfortunate circumstances. Every now and again, **** happens. Things we can't control. I can understand your frustration. Been there. Just be certain you are being burned before you take action. Truly, good luck with your snake. Hope it works out.

Alex,
Thumbs up on your candor. Right on for not starting a flame war.

Neil,
As usual, I'm lmao!!!  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>
 
I don't see your full name, Alex. Shame on you!!! Tsk, tsk!!!  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>
 
OK  

for starters  Allan  i wasnt attacking u just making apoint  from the way ur post was written ..i dont know u (other then rep) and have never done business with you  but i would  i have heard to many good things about you ..HOPE THERE ALL TRUE   !!  LMAO  jk

anyways i wasnt trying to pick fight with you like u said when u reread it it sounded like something different from  what u meant ..

and as far as alex  im not condeming him either    i hear way to many good   things  (but yet again i have NEVER done business with him )   but would gladly do so  with out thought ...

i was just stating my point that if the boa is not eating  regardless of what the reason   if it was sold AS FEEDING   then it should be .....sometimes things do happen i agree  and shipping is the 1 thing that would deffinitly make em stop eating
but if it has not  eaten  at all as of this date then it stand to reason  it may not be just shipping problems ...NOT POINTING ANY FINGERS  just speaking  my opinion ...

but the post i read from Boa Republic is that he is doing what needs to be done so that is the end of the disscusion  plain and simple

again  i have never done business with BoaRepublic   nor Hall Herps  but would gladly do   so without hesitation  due to their history  .....end of story  so alex  im not slamming you  in anyway shape or form    and Allan  i am taking it easy  lol   just pointing out what  i read    and NOONE IS PERFECT AND NEVER WILL BE  !!!!!!! lmao

shawn
 
I would just like to add to this that my comments were not directed at Alex specifically, but were directed at some points that Mark Kennedy made. If it was interpreted that I was any part of a so-called lynch mob then I sincerely apologize. I do not know Alex and was not attempting to make any sort of judgement about him whatsoever. Only Alex and Craig know the details and facts pertaining to this matter and are handling it accordingly as they see fit.

Thanks,
Matt Holmes
 
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