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Bad Guy Beware of Backwater Reptiles

esperanza13

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I just wanted to share my experience with this particular business to warn others. I resorted to using them because the company I usually use was out of the live silkworms I typically get for my son's bearded dragon.

The first time I ordered from the company, the order was placed and did not arrive on time despite my paying an exhorbitant flat fee for 2-day shipping. I could only e-mail them since there is no phone number listed and I do not have a fax at home. They responded that they would ship it out as soon as possible. A week later, I received the silkworms...they looked ok, but not very many in the container...less than what was promised.

Thinking I had just had bad luck the first time, I again resorted to using them since the only other company I know that ships them was out again.

This time, I placed the order on Aug. 20th, a Tuesday, which should have meant I got them by the end of the week at the latest, if I added extra days for "processing"/for them to actually ship the order. Friday came and went and I sent an e-mail to the company. A person named Abbey responded saying she would get it straightened out and that I "should have received them by Saturday at the latest" and would get me a tracking number. Neither happened. Saturday came and went and no silkworms. This time, the response to another e-mail was from someone named Sam who said they shipped Monday (Aug. 26th..nearly a week after I first placed my order). I'm thinking they would rush the order out seeing as how I'd waited so long already. This did not happen. On August 27th, I requested a refund...this was not worth it to wait this long, especially with beardie hungry and only eating certain foods. An unsigned response said that they were already in transit and that a refund could not be issued.

I again explained that this situation was not satisfactory and was told no money would be given back to me and that my order should be received by August 29th or 30th!

On the evening of August 30th, the worms finally arrived! I was told in subsequent e-mail that I could have a $8 credit if I chose to order from them again! NINE days for a 2-day order...in the space of that time, my usual source for silkworms had them in stock again, though only the tiny ones. I ordered 4 pods and they arrived 3 days before the Backwater ones ever came!

NEVER AGAIN! I never got an apology, never an admission of fault on their part that a 2-Day order took 9 days!

I have since read numerous reports that these folks are less than decent to deal with...I add my voice to theirs...use at your own risk...better not to use them at all!
 
Backwater Reptiles

its always best to study a seller before you become a buyer.
many people are out to make fast cash but some are doing it
the honest way just from now on study your seller.



Thanks
East Coast Constrictors,:)
 
New member, no proof, mhmm I'm skeptical here. I'd like to see something backing up your claim here. I've had several friends purchase from them with no issues at all.
 
In response to EastCoastConstrictors: Yep, I have learned the hard way. If I hadn't been so desperate, I probably would have done more searching, but they and CoastalSilkworms have been the only ones to come up in an online search and unfortunately, local petstores here don't really cater to herps, so silkworms are hard to come by.

In response to tbgnc22: Everyone has to be a new member sometime and this seemed like the most appropriate place to respond. I'm just passing along my experience so that others are aware...everyone is free to make up their own mind. I may be new to online herp boards, but I felt strong enough about this experience (especially after seeing so many negative posts about them in reptile forums and other places online) to share. I will attempt to post my e-mails here in just a sec. I haven't done that before so hang on...
 
Here is a copy of the e-mail exchange:



Move to Inbox More

when will my order from 8.20 ship?


Hope DuBois <[email protected]>
Aug 25 (9 days ago)

to Backwater
Just checking to see when I can expect to receive my order of live silkworms?


Thanks

Hope DuBois

Invoice Number: 0000021156
Description: Backwater Reptiles Order
Sales Tax: $0.00
Discount: $0.00
Shipping: $0.00
Grand Total: $32.99


[email protected]
Aug 26 (8 days ago)

to me
Hi Hope,

You should have received your Silkworms on Saturday at the latest. Let me contact our Silkworm supplier and request a tracking number. We'll get this figured out.

Thank you,

Abbey


Hope DuBois <[email protected]>
Aug 26 (8 days ago)

to Backwater
This happened last time too...my dragon is so hungry!


[email protected]
Aug 27 (7 days ago)

to me
Shipped Monday :)

Thanks,

Sam


Hope DuBois <[email protected]>
Aug 27 (7 days ago)

to Backwater
I am wondering why I pay such a high price for shipping and it takes over a week for it to get to me?

This is the second time this has happened; so frustrating!


Hope DuBois <[email protected]>
Aug 27 (7 days ago)

to Backwater
I have not received my order.

I am requesting a full refund, please!

Thank you,

Hope DuBois
505-690-7460


[email protected]
Aug 27 (7 days ago)

to me
Hi Hope,

They are in transit, so we cannot cancel an order that has already shipped, sorry.


Hope DuBois <[email protected]>
Aug 27 (7 days ago)

to Backwater
I was told they'd be delivered by today...that hasn't happened.
I think I'm due my money back if I paid for something that wasn't delivered and is already over a week late!


Hope DuBois <[email protected]>
Aug 28 (6 days ago)

to Backwater
Well,

It's Wednesday evening and no silkworms have arrived.
I have now waited 8 days for a 2-day shipping order.

And no response from my request for my money back...this is no way to treat a customer who gave you guys a second chance!

I am very dissatisfied and plan to let all my herp contacts know about it!


[email protected]
Aug 28 (6 days ago)

to me
Hi Hope,

As I mentioned, we already shipped, so we can't refund an order that's in transit. Prior to shipment, cancellations are easily accomplished. Your order will arrive in full by Thu/Fri. If not, let me know.


Hope DuBois <[email protected]>
Aug 29 (5 days ago)

to Backwater
I just find it ridiculous that a 2-day shipping order for which I paid an exorbitant amount for, that I was told shipped Monday will take 3 to 4 days!

You don't see this as a problem?


Hope DuBois <[email protected]>
Aug 29 (5 days ago)

to Backwater
The even more ridiculous thing is that I was told it shipped over a week ago and then you discovered there was a problem and perhaps it was never shipped and the 2nd ship date was this Monday instead of last week!


[email protected]
Aug 29 (5 days ago)

to me
Hi Hope,

If you choose to order from us again, you will have an $8.00 credit towards your next purchase. Just let me know if you place an order and I will issue the credit the same day.


Hope DuBois <[email protected]>
Aug 30 (4 days ago)

to Backwater
Hello Sam or Abbey (the only names that ever appeared on my e-mail correspondence with your company):

My 2-day order for live silkworms placed on August 20th, 2013 finally arrived NINE days after it was placed, last night on August 29th, 2013.

Rest assured I will never order from your company again...what a waste of time and money.

You should give me an FULL refund on shipping at least, for the hassle of having to wait and order from another company in the meantime. Your offer of $8 credit "should I choose to order from (you) again" is ridiculous.

I will advise everyone I know to beware if they order anything from you...you do so at your own risk and 2-day shipping does not apparently mean 2-day shipping in the people of Backwater Reptiles' minds--it means whenever they want to ship it and no apologies are ever made.


Sincerely,
Hope DuBois


Click here to Reply or Forward
 
I went to a site Backwaterreptiles.com, is this the business you purchased from?
Here is some info on their silkworm shipping:


Shipping Your Silkworms
USPS 2-3 day shipping is free, regardless of the number of silkworms you buy. Please peruse our shipping information page before ordering. Feeder orders placed Monday ship on Tuesday, and orders placed Tuesday through Sunday ship the following Monday for the safety of the insects. Sorry, we do not ship internationally (U.S. only).

If you ordered on Tuesday it appears that they do not even ship until the next Monday on silkworms.
If these guys are following their own shipping policies which are on their site, I can't fault them for that. You said you paid for two day shipping though, did you make special arrangements?
 
It appears that they only ship on Monday. If you order on Monday more than likely they wont ship until following Mon. You would be better off finding a company that ships Mon thru Wen. They should have explained that in email though when you first asked about it.
 
It appears that they only ship on Monday. If you order on Monday more than likely they wont ship until following Mon. You would be better off finding a company that ships Mon thru Wen. They should have explained that in email though when you first asked about it.

The shipping schedule for silkworms seems different than their other feeders. As it says in the excerpt, Monday silkworm orders ship Tuesday, and orders after that ship the next Monday.

Shipping for their other feeders from an excerpt on their site:

All roach, ant, earthworm, hornworm, mealworm, waxworm, and fruit fly orders are sent via USPS priority 2-3 day delivery. Feeder orders placed after 1pm PST on Wednesday will be shipped the following Monday (to ensure the insects do not sit in a facility over the weekend).

I'm still curious about the shipping fee that the buyer characterizes as exorbitant, because the excerpt says that the silkworm shipping is free. Did she also have an order of other merchandise or critters? I'd like to hear more.
 
From the email the OP posted, it would appear she didn't actually pay anything for shipping.
Invoice Number: 0000021156
Description: Backwater Reptiles Order
Sales Tax: $0.00
Discount: $0.00
Shipping: $0.00
Grand Total: $32.99
 
I know Lucille posted the shipping schedule, but it's worth mentioning that the exact schedule of when silkworms will ship is on the very page you place your order for silkworms!

OP just needed to read.
 
I placed the order on Aug. 20th, a Tuesday, which should have meant I got them by the end of the week at the latest

and there you have it folks. If the order is placed on a tuesday there terms clearly say they ship out the following monday. Allowing 2-3 days for priority mail, that equals 9 days. I find it hard to believe in all the emails to Backwater they didnt mention or remind you of there shipping schedule on silk worms. I believe a small apology to backwater in this particular thread is warranted..
 
I believe a small apology to backwater in this particular thread is warranted.
Absolutely!

The OP couldn't bother to take the 60 seconds it took the rest of us to read the shipping schedule for silkworms, even though she's ordered twice ... and still came here to post a "Bad Guy" thread because she didn't comprehend a shipping schedule?

Yeah, I think an apology is in order ... for now :)
 
First off, Read Shipping terms and conditions BEFORE placing orders with any company.

Second, you should order food before you're running out.

Third, I don't know of any company to deliver packages on a Saturday, unless they were shipping via USPS...

All around, this is on you OP, not the company. You should have done your research before ordering from the company.
 
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