Bad Guy Boamaster (Mark Venhorst)

[Michael Brown]

Why on earth would you offer animals for sale that you know are sick They are in your care when they become sick, then instead of doing the right thing and getting vet care for your animals, you pawn them off on someone else at a "discounted" price. That sucks. In my opinion you are really no better than those people on craigslist that post ads in the pet section trying to pawn off their sick dogs. You know the ones that are worded kind of like this :
"Have to find a home for my English Bulldog today! He does have heartworm which is why I am offering him at a REDUCED REHOMING FEE of $500"
See any difference? I don't.

But, IMO he won't respond to this commnent as so many before keep asking "Why send sick animals"

Just blow's my mind

 

[Lucille]

i'm only going to respond to this once

That is unfortunate, because you won't respond back to some questionable statements such as:

swollen scent gland
which i called a vet and discussed that issue with said thats what he thought it was

I call bs, I do not think your vet diagnosed the nature of a lump over the phone, I question that you made the call.

and i try to do the right thing

You sent out sick snakes. How is that right? How is that going to reflect on your reputation?

 

[mxracer4life]

I call bs, I do not think your vet diagnosed the nature of a lump over the phone, I question that you made the call.

Same here. I have been in a situation before where it was late on a friday and I just wanted a vet to give me an idea on what could be going on, they wouldn't budge, nothing. Its like diagnosing a belly ache or a cough over the phone, they just don't want to be liable, especially if they misinform you.

 

[mxracer4life]

And to make sure my intentions here are correct. I am not saying Mark isn't in the wrong for selling the animals in a questionable state of health. My issue here is there really is NO PROOF that anything is sick, period. No pictures. No vet bill. I would just like to see more proof if this issue is true or not.

 

[apreske]

These are the vet papers and vet bills.

 

[apreske]

These are the bills.

 

[apreske]

Big Momma is the het albino by the way.

 

[Shiari]

As a registered veterinary technician, I call extra smelly BS on the vet diagnosing *anything* over the phone. What probably happened was you asked "could it be x?" and the response was along the lines of "It might be, but it might also be x, y, z, q, and b. The only way to find out is to bring the snake in for an exam." But methinks the brain shut down after the "it might be".

 

[RubberDuckey273]

reading over Mark Venhorst's terms and conditions on his website now --rather than backtracking and looking at what was posted earlier, although i believe they're the same-- it says "You have time of inspection if picking up or I’ll give you 24 hrs if shipped to check,for any problems with your animal."

my understanding is that if you have any problems at all with the animal, then it can be either replaced or returned, Mark's choice which. sounds to me like the animals were not acceptable by the buyer, and based on Marks terms they should definitely either have been refunded or exchanged.

i'd be more convinced if the op had pictures that were taken when the animals arrived to show their condition though.

 

[Slipmattic]

From what i have read, it sounds like the OP saw snakes that were at a discounted rate because of what was wrong with them. Im not saying Mark was right in selling them, but also the buyer just went for them because of the deal they were supposed to be getting. You knowingly bought sick animals, and now your crying because you had to pay vet bills? That's like adopting a dog that has heartworms, theres a chance the dog may live.. however their is very many visits to come ($$). Mark stated that the animals were derformed or sick in some way obviousley, which once again is not wrong. I think this thread was pretty much pointless. Your crying because you had to take animals to the vet, that YOU knowingly purchased as sickly. Grow up, and quit attacking people because you had to fork over money. Im not saying big breeders should not have bad marks against them, which their is bound to be errors made, and wrong doings. But also remember, we as people learn by our mistakes. If you don't, then it's not a mistake its abundantley clear that is the way you are. Mark has probabley thousands of good transactions that will by far outweigh this one.

 

[scaledverts]

From what i have read, it sounds like the OP saw snakes that were at a discounted rate because of what was wrong with them. Im not saying Mark was right in selling them, but also the buyer just went for them because of the deal they were supposed to be getting. You knowingly bought sick animals, and now your crying because you had to pay vet bills? That's like adopting a dog that has heartworms, theres a chance the dog may live.. however their is very many visits to come ($$). Mark stated that the animals were derformed or sick in some way obviousley, which once again is not wrong. I think this thread was pretty much pointless. Your crying because you had to take animals to the vet, that YOU knowingly purchased as sickly. Grow up, and quit attacking people because you had to fork over money. Im not saying big breeders should not have bad marks against them, which their is bound to be errors made, and wrong doings. But also remember, we as people learn by our mistakes. If you don't, then it's not a mistake its abundantley clear that is the way you are. Mark has probabley thousands of good transactions that will by far outweigh this one.

So you vote to absolve Mark of all blame because he told the buyer one was thin and the other had a swollen scent gland? BS! He should not have been selling the snakes period. He sold them knowing that they needed to go to the vet but didn't want to fork out the money to take them prior to selling them so he "gave them a good deal" took the money and went on his merry way!

Oh and as has been said previously in this thread. It's not how you handle the good transactions that determines your business ethics but how you handle the bad situations that might arise. Based on Mark's one post he did not handle this situation correctly. For me poorly handled bad transactions "far outweigh" ALL of the good transactions a seller has had. In my opinion, he knowingly sold sick snakes to avoid having to pay to take them to the vet.

 

[bullies&balls]

From what i have read, it sounds like the OP saw snakes that were at a discounted rate because of what was wrong with them. Im not saying Mark was right in selling them, but also the buyer just went for them because of the deal they were supposed to be getting. You knowingly bought sick animals, and now your crying because you had to pay vet bills? That's like adopting a dog that has heartworms, theres a chance the dog may live.. however their is very many visits to come ($$). Mark stated that the animals were derformed or sick in some way obviousley, which once again is not wrong. I think this thread was pretty much pointless. Your crying because you had to take animals to the vet, that YOU knowingly purchased as sickly. Grow up, and quit attacking people because you had to fork over money. Im not saying big breeders should not have bad marks against them, which their is bound to be errors made, and wrong doings. But also remember, we as people learn by our mistakes. If you don't, then it's not a mistake its abundantley clear that is the way you are. Mark has probabley thousands of good transactions that will by far outweigh this one.

Does you r head hurt ???? He told them (not a vet) a swollen scent gland over the phone. Not that it was a SEPTIC CYST. Also, all he has done here is say "blah.blah blah". Where is any of the demanded evidence from him ? Op has done more then prove her case. that you a very FEW others have been barking show proof. Errors , ha, you are acting like he made a WHOOPSY and not a known decision on their health.

 

[Firebill]

The OP should be reimbursed for the dead snake/s and vet bills!

 

[deborahbroadus]

This is the kind of thread I HATE to see. I have purchased BoaMaster cages from the owner and was completely satisfied with them (those suckers are heavy).

This is the kind of thread that challenges us to be fair to the OP and not allow our own experiences with Mark to color our opinions.

Reading all the information, imo, Mark owes the OP a refund and Vet fees (unless they come to some other arrangement) and the sooner this is done, the less his reputation will have to suffer.


Good luck to both the parties!

 

[mxracer4life]

To the OP: What are the exact time lines that this all came about? It looks to me that you received the snakes May 20th, 2011, correct?

 

[ShadowAceD]

This is the kind of thread I HATE to see. I have purchased BoaMaster cages from the owner and was completely satisfied with them (those suckers are heavy).

This is the kind of thread that challenges us to be fair to the OP and not allow our own experiences with Mark to color our opinions.

Reading all the information, imo, Mark owes the OP a refund and Vet fees (unless they come to some other arrangement) and the sooner this is done, the less his reputation will have to suffer.


Good luck to both the parties!

I agree and disagree.

Mark is in the wrong. Yes. It's a given.

But the OP knowingly purchased animals in less than perfect condition.

I am still having some issues in understanding the time line here. The e-mail on 20 May 2011 states that they are happy with the Hypo, but not the Jungle and the Het. Albino. Okay, got that. However, eventually, the Hypo gets sick and is brought to the vet. with the Het. Albino on 15 June 2011. That is nearly a month since recieving those animals. I am not attempting to take sides, just clarify. It took the Hypo and entire month to show symptoms of being sick after he was recieved? You waited an entire month to take the Het. Albino to the vet. when you were concerned for its health from the get go?

You claim inexperience, but you also claim to have thirty snakes, so I am a bit confused as to how this makes you inexperienced.


This is the way I see this situation. The buyer saw and wanted the cheapest, quickest deal they could get. They figured the problems with the animals were minimal enough they could handle on their own and did not have enough foresight to figure it was a bad idea to take animals with disclosed health issues. The seller had animals that were not 100% that he did not want to waste time with bringing back to health or getting vet. care for, so he sold them at a discounted rate with disclosed health concerns, possibly making them seem less than they were, but this is all speculative since it happened over the phone and not via e-mail where it can be tracked with logs.

If the buyer is entitled to any refund, it is with the Hypo only, but I am not even 100% on that because of how long it took for the animal to show symptoms of being sick. I am also having a hard time finding it logical that they waited so long to bring any of the animals to the vet. when they were so concerned about their health from the get go.

The way I see it, there are wrongs on both sides and lessons to be learned on both. Who is going to learn those lessons, I do not know.

Still think pictures of these animals need to be posted as well.

 

[weird_science04]

I really like Mark. I have spoken to him quite a few times and almost purchased some jungles from him; however, my husbands car broke down and that was a costly experience and put purchasing snakes on hold. (I do own a boamaster's cage from him also).

However, I wanted to point out that the OP states she got a "hypo", "jungle", and a "het albino", which I have to assume is a normal for over $740. I don't seen how this price shows these animals are sick. Some of Marks jungles are priced higher but most are very, very affordable. I wanted to buy some of his jungles because they were very nice and hot and priced very reasonable. Not saying the $740 wasn't a discounted price for adults but it just doesn't seem like the OP should be taking heat for the "should have known something was up because the price was too low" when she did pay quite a lot for 3 snakes that are not even high end morphs.

Star

 

[ShadowAceD]

I really like Mark. I have spoken to him quite a few times and almost purchased some jungles from him; however, my husbands car broke down and that was a costly experience and put purchasing snakes on hold. (I do own a boamaster's cage from him also).

However, I wanted to point out that the OP states she got a "hypo", "jungle", and a "het albino", which I have to assume is a normal for over $740. I don't seen how this price shows these animals are sick. Some of Marks jungles are priced higher but most are very, very affordable. I wanted to buy some of his jungles because they were very nice and hot and priced very reasonable. Not saying the $740 wasn't a discounted price for adults but it just doesn't seem like the OP should be taking heat for the "should have known something was up because the price was too low" when she did pay quite a lot for 3 snakes that are not even high end morphs.

Star

Star, they paid 100.00 for a breedable Jungle female.

That should have said something.

 

[mxracer4life]

My issue with this whole deal is the fact there really is no proof of anything. I am getting tired of seeing all of these "Bad guy" threads started and all they end up being is a he sad she said scenario. There are no pictures to prove the animals arrived in this condition, there are no vet records indicating the OP took these animals in when she received them. At this point the emails and vet bills being posted only proves that she had the animals in her care long enough a problem could have started. The only real proof of anything here is they did in fact purchase 3 boas from Mark AKA Boamaster. Am I the only one that feels this way?

 

[weird_science04]

Yes, $100 for a breedable jungle female is very low, especially when his babies were selling for more than $100. So they spent $640 on a hypo and a normal that was het albino. I hope that hypo was a smoking looking hypo because $640 does not sound like a discounted price for those 2 snakes. However, I will agree with you that $100 for a breedable jungle is a red flag.

Star