Bad Guy Beware:Colin Smith of F-One or F1 Snakes

[ScottJ]

Posted by: F1sucks at Sun Sep 22 01:54:54 2013 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by F1sucks ] [ Follow this user in Connect ]
Share on kingsnake.com Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email Share on tumblr

I am writing this post to share my very disappointing experience in dealing with Colin Smith of F-One or F1 Snakes. After a long break from snake ownership, I am returning to the hobby that I once loved very much. In the past month I have purchased six snakes from various breeders around the country (from ads listed here) with great success and am very happy with with all of my purchases, until dealing with Colin Smith.

I sent Colin an email about a month ago requesting to purchase a pair of bright orange blairs phase gray banded kingsnakes when they would become available. I specifically requested them to look like the female from his highway 277 clutch and he replied said "There are about 4 or 5 other guys with the same request. Since you could come get them you can have first pick. They should be out in a few days", since we close to each other.

Then, I replied "Awesome! I really appreciate it. You say the word, and I'll be there... I am really looking forward to getting a nice pair of locality snakes with some nice orange."

All excited, six days later I replied "Did that highway 277 clutch hatch yet? The mother, (I think with the larger orange bands) is exactly what I am lookin for. She is stunning! If you have any pair that look like her, I'd be really stoked..."

The Colin replied, "Hey Scott, Ill be away for a few days. Ill send a pic of the clutch sat as they haven't all hatched yet"

A couple days later Colin sends me a pic of two females, one gorgeous, the other nothing special, and I replied "I like the one on the left but kinda want to see what's still coming. Do I have to choose now or can I wait till the others are out?"

Colin responds "Yeah you can wait."

This morning I heard back from him and he wrote "I know I said I'd give you first pick but other obligations came first. Sorry. These are all females. There are 2 males from the first clutch with nice orange. The Blair's in this pic is a nice one."

The one he was referring to was the one that was nothing special that I had no interest in previously. So instead of getting first pick, I was left with a choice of three remaining snakes from the clutch, two of which hardly have any orange banding. And, he sold the female that I was interested in to someone else even though he said I could wait till the rest hatched before I had to make my final choice. Instead, he tried to bait-and switch me for a less attractive looking snake!

So much for Colin keeping his word which means I will never do business with Colin of F1 Snakes in the future. This also makes me highly doubt the authenticity of the locality of his snakes. I sure wouldn't trust the guy ever again after this experience. After weeks of back and forth and passing on other opportunities to purchase from other, more honest breeders, I am back to square one trying to find a pair of locality blairs phase gray bandeds. I strongly urge people to avoid Colin Smith of F1 Snakes to prevent a disappointing experience.

 

[hhmoore]

I understand your disappointment; but, unless I missed something, he never stated that he would hold that female for you. You said you liked her, but you wanted to wait to see the others. He said you can wait...you assumed that meant he wouldn't sell any until you were ready. I don't know Colin - never heard of him, in fact - but (unless there is more to the story) this seems like a mismatch in communication and expectations.
The basic rule is money talks...the guy who pays, wins.

 

[MikeRusso]

Sorry, but I have to agree with Harald on this one.. This may have been a "disappointing experience" for you, but it's really nothing more than that.. And, it certainly does not warrant a "Bad Guy" post for Colin!

My advice would be to find another alterna breeder with some blairs phase babies and move on..

~ Mike Russo

 

[MikeRusso]

Posted by: F1sucks at Sun Sep 22 01:54:54 2013 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by F1sucks ] [ Follow this user in Connect ]
Share on kingsnake.com Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email Share on tumblr


And, from the looks of this, you already took to Facebook to blast Colin.. I think that would have need enough..

~ Mike Russo

 

[ScottJ]

I understand your disappointment; but, unless I missed something, he never stated that he would hold that female for you. You said you liked her, but you wanted to wait to see the others. He said you can wait...you assumed that meant he wouldn't sell any until you were ready. I don't know Colin - never heard of him, in fact - but (unless there is more to the story) this seems like a mismatch in communication and expectations.
The basic rule is money talks...the guy who pays, wins.

I completely disagree! Here are the facts...

I requested a male + female pair with bright orange bands, the original pic he sent me was of two females, the males hadn't hatched yet. Couldn't pull the trigger yet...

When he said I could wait, yes, I can assume he wasn't going to sell the snake I specifically said I was interested in. Remember, he said I could have "pick of the litter" for a PAIR, not one. With locality gray banded kingsnakes, this is key, if you plan to breed them.

Also, when I said "you say the word, and I'll be there..." that meant I would drop everything, jump in my car and come over to purchase them immediately (cash in hand). And I would have. The other people who were interested were not even locals who he would have had to ship to, risking the possibility of them perishing along the way.

I don't see how this could be a miscommunication when I clearly told him what I was looking for and when he had it I would be right over to pick it up in person. He said I could have pick of the litter, yet he sold most of the litter before I even had a chance to see it. When I asked him if I could wait, I thought I was covering myself. Had he said he "no" then I would have had to make up my mind right then as to whether I would take the one snake instead of the pair, which I would have done.

I was pretty much emailing him every couple of days to check in with him asking "are they out yet". The only thing else I could have done better would have been to camp out in front of his house, I guess.

I get it that "money talks" but if someone else was interested in a snake that I was interested in and I was first in line, then I feel like I should have been given the option to buy it before them, instead of having it sold out from under me. I couldn't have made it more clear that I was a serious buyer.

There was one more detail that I forgot to add and that was this late statement from Colin, "Like I said there were people who had paid for snakes already. They said they had picked ones from other clutches but then changed their minds." How come the "other people" got to see pictures of the rest of the clutch and I didn't? So, the people who bought the snakes from the other clutches who weren't even originally interested in the clutch that I was requesting to pick from for a month got first dibs? Just because they changed their minds (probably because Colin sent them pics of the WHOLE clutch before sending them to me, and they were exceptional looking).

Bottom line is I never got "pick of the litter", like I was promised, since I only saw a fraction of the litter before it was sold. Instead, I got leftovers, which were different color variations from what I was hoping to get.

 

[Nivea987]

You do realized a less attractive snake WILL produce attractive young. All the babies are NOT evet going to be replicas of the parents. They are extremely variable in colors and patterens. Also if you paid no deposits then this man owes you nothing. Word or not in some instances cash is king. If an emergency came up probably needed funds fast. You never know.

 

[Nivea987]

Ever*

 

[GMTIRRILL]

I also agree with herald on this but I going to go one step farther. 1 if you liked the female you should of put money down to hold her, then if he sold her to someone else you would have a reason for a BOI thread.

 

[ScottJ]

Sorry, but I have to agree with Harald on this one.. This may have been a "disappointing experience" for you, but it's really nothing more than that.. And, it certainly does not warrant a "Bad Guy" post for Colin!

My advice would be to find another alterna breeder with some blairs phase babies and move on..

~ Mike Russo

Mike-you know from doing business with you that I am a "straight shooter" and that I am a serious buyer. There are more details to this that what I took the time to post. I have been looking every day for the last month to find that pair without any luck. I approached him even before I purchased the two snakes from you. I even would have given him a deposit if he asked for one, but again I assumed he would keep his word.

Oh well, I guess I just have better business ethics than most others. Had it have been me, I would have sent pictures of the whole clutch to all interested parties and would have given first dibs to the one who I said could have "pick of the litter".

 

[ScottJ]

You do realized a less attractive snake WILL produce attractive young. All the babies are NOT evet going to be replicas of the parents. They are extremely variable in colors and patterens. Also if you paid no deposits then this man owes you nothing. Word or not in some instances cash is king. If an emergency came up probably needed funds fast. You never know.

I know this, however, I am not interested in the less attractive snake. I wanted the more attractive snake for the same reasons as the person who actually purchased it, apparently.

 

[ScottJ]

I also agree with herald on this but I going to go one step farther. 1 if you liked the female you should of put money down to hold her, then if he sold her to someone else you would have a reason for a BOI thread.

I would have, in fact I would have paid for the whole damn thing via PayPal, had I know he wasn't going to keep his word. In another email, he told me that he was going out of town for a couple of days and that he would send the pics of rest of the rest of the clutch when he got back, which he didn't. If you are going out of town, how can you sell off a clutch of snakes, when you are not even near them? His story just doesn't add up.

 

[ScottJ]

Posted by: F1sucks at Sun Sep 22 01:54:54 2013 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by F1sucks ] [ Follow this user in Connect ]
Share on kingsnake.com Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email Share on tumblr


And, from the looks of this, you already took to Facebook to blast Colin.. I think that would have need enough..

~ Mike Russo

I never posted anything on Facebook about this.

 

[ScottJ]

People can think what they want. I am just sharing MY experience with Colin and I don't think he is a "bad guy" or anything. I am stating facts supported by actual quotes from emails. I am sure some of you are buddies of his, and would defend him whether he is right or wrong. I am sure he has a lot of satisfied customers, but I am not one of them, unfortunately. I also feel disappointed with this deal because I was told one thing and got the other, and rightfully so. I own two corporations myself and didn't become successful with poor business ethics. I would have even held the snake without a deposit, but that is just how I "roll".

 

[East_Coast]

Impossible to please customer who never sent any money and is now upset because someone with real nice stuff and a list if people waiting to buy as long as his (Colin's) arm didn't cow-tow to a bunch of vague requests.

Next...

 

[wyldwurm]

I am just sharing MY experience with Colin and I don't think he is a "bad guy" or anything. .

Yet, there sits a big red X stating exactly the opposite. A big red X that cannot be removed.
Regardless of what you perceived to be an "arrangement" the fact remains that no money exchanged hands and this thread, this permanent thread, does not belong here.

I am tired of seeing people abuse the BOI like this. This is a great tool when used properly. Unfortunately, people let anger get the better of them and hurt others in the process.

 

[ScottJ]

Impossible to please customer who never sent any money and is now upset because someone with real nice stuff and a list if people waiting to buy as long as his (Colin's) arm didn't cow-tow to a bunch of vague requests.

Next...

Really?! Did you miss the part where I told him I would come over to his house and pick them up in person as soon as they were available? Had I or anyone sent a deposit via PayPal it would have taken three days to clear. I was willing to go one step further and drop everything and come to him with cash, but he said he was leaving town. I even sent him and email of examples of pictures I gathered from the internet with exactly the coloring and pattern I was looking for, as well as requested the pair to look just like the mother of the breeding pair he has posted on his website. I couldn't have been any less vague...

 

[ScottJ]

Yet, there sits a big red X stating exactly the opposite. A big red X that cannot be removed.
Regardless of what you perceived to be an "arrangement" the fact remains that no money exchanged hands and this thread, this permanent thread, does not belong here.

I am tired of seeing people abuse the BOI like this. This is a great tool when used properly. Unfortunately, people let anger get the better of them and hurt others in the process.

How is stating facts, abuse of this thread? I never said I am angry about it, just very disappointed. People can use their own judgement as to whether they want to do business with the guy or not. He produces some nice gray bandeds, no doubt, I just would never attempt to do business with him in the future, based on my experience. And I would have liked to have known if he was a man of his word before I took him seriously. Like I said before I purchased six snakes in the last month from various breeders and have been very pleased up to this point. I just have a problem with dishonesty.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. This happens to be mine and I am sticking to it.

BTW-money doesn't need to exchange hands for a deal to go sour...

 

[wyldwurm]

How is stating facts, abuse of this thread? I never said I am angry about it, just very disappointed. People can use their own judgement as to whether they want to do business with the guy or not. He produces some nice gray bandeds, no doubt, I just would never attempt to do business with him in the future, based on my experience. And I would have liked to have known if he was a man of his word before I took him seriously. Like I said before I purchased six snakes in the last month from various breeders and have been very pleased up to this point. I just have a problem with dishonesty.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. This happens to be mine and I am sticking to it.

BTW-money doesn't need to exchange hands for a deal to go sour...

Actually, the only thing you stated was your rendition of what happened. You provided zero proof so there are no facts here.
I am sorry you had a bad experience but being labeled a "Bad Guy" is pretty serious. You let your anger get the better of you and instead of reading the posting guidelines of the site, you jumped the gun and posted a BG thread when an info thread was more than sufficient.
What part of that don't you get?

From the looks of this thread, you are just another one of those customers that think people need to bend over backward to suit their needs. When things don't go your way, you throw a hissy fit and damage someones reputation. Way to go. I am sure you have made a few "do not sell/buy lists".

 

[Lucille]

Had I or anyone sent a deposit via PayPal it would have taken three days to clear.

I don't understand this. It might take 3 days for them to move the money from their Paypal account to their checking account, but they have the deposit in their Paypal account in seconds.

Can you post the actual emails you sent and received?

 

[ScottJ]

Actually, the only thing you stated was your rendition of what happened. You provided zero proof so there are no facts here.
I am sorry you had a bad experience but being labeled a "Bad Guy" is pretty serious. You let your anger get the better of you and instead of reading the posting guidelines of the site, you jumped the gun and posted a BG thread when an info thread was more than sufficient.
What part of that don't you get?

From the looks of this thread, you are just another one of those customers that think people need to bend over backward to suit their needs. When things don't go your way, you throw a hissy fit and damage someones reputation. Way to go. I am sure you have made a few "do not sell/buy lists".

Everything I put in quotations was cut and pasted from my email and is verbatim, so yes, they are facts and not hearsay.

I never asked Colin to bend over backwards for me. I just wanted a couple of snakes.

As for your comment about the "do not sell/buy list", you couldn't be any more wrong. I purchased two snakes from Mike Russo (who is a part of this thread in fact) in early September and after I got them I sent him a text saying "I love my new girls! Great animals, thanks again! Really likin the breeder. She's a wonderful snake! Great personality."

Mike replied "I am glad you are happy with them. It was a pleasure working with you."

I have never been banned or put on any lists and I do not understand why you are attacking me. YOU are the one with the anger issues because you are arguing with emotion, not logic!

Am I wrong for being disappointed in a person who cannot keep his word?

BTW- I am re-entering this hobby because my five year old daughter has really taken a liking to snakes lately and when she and I were looking at Colin's website, she is the one who pointed to the female breeder and really wanted that snake. That is why I wanted to get a M+F from her clutch. So my daughter and I could breed them and hopefully produce some cool offspring with them. After Colin sold the snakes I had to explain to her that we are not going to be getting those anymore, unless I could find a replacement. She was very disappointed...

I have plenty of other gorgeous snakes, but my daughter really liked the orange bands that those had, and I wanted her to have them.