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boaphile plastics is starting to piss me off....

I have never purchased from Boaphile. At one time I wanted to, but they did not return my email AND two phone calls. So, I had to assume they did not want and/or need my business.

I operate my business with the following in mind: You only have ONE chance to make a good FIRST impression. Boaphile evidently does not operate the same way.

Thank you.

David Rivers
 
I purchased five 221D enclosures(with lights and heat tape installed), a twenty tub shoebox rhinoraxx, and a ten tub sweaterbox rhinoraxx from boaphile and got really nice products. On all three purchases I ordered them off of their website and had the cages in less than three weeks. If you do searches on the BOI for boaphile it appears that it is hit or miss on how they get back to you. I can say that I am happy with the quality and service. For me it was worth waiting.

Regards,

Terry
 
I am going to say it again...
Nature's Spirit is the best rack company in the business! Both times I have ordered from them, I received my racks in under 1 week time, from the time he received payment.
Casey and Darla Hulse are the best going, not too pricey either, very easy to work with, and they have incredible customer service.
Also, willing to custom any order you want.
 
well i definately am not going with boaphile for my racks so i think ill just build my own racks from now on.
Thanks and ill try out the visions for my retics in the future.
Eric
 
Ive ordered racks from Boaphile and it took about 4 1/2 weeks to get to my place. I think thats too long of a wait especially if you have the cash to purchase it on the spot. 1-2 weeks sounds better. Give Animal Plastics a try , I saw their racks at the daytona show. They look real nice , i think they use heat cable instead of flexwatt. Anyways good luck. I hope you find what youre looking for.

spencer tedesco
 
Just so you know---AP is also backed up right now. Four to Six Weeks--however, if you want, they won't charge you until they are ready to start production, at which point its +/- 10 days.
I've had good experiences with boaphiles, and am in the process of having a good one with AP.
What I really, really wish though, no offense to any cagemakers, was that Bush Herp Neodeshas were still around. Still all around my favorite enclosures.
 
a lot not understood

First of all, I want to say that I've never met Jeff (the Boaphile) and probably wouldn't know him if I saw him on the street or he was to call until he identified himself. However, I think he's catching a lot of grief here over business issues for which I'm not sure some people have a real grasp of after reading some of the responses.

I apologize for not taking note of who wrote what in previous posts, but I've been trying to catch up here after a long day at work.

1. Hiring a bunch of kids for minimum wage will wind up costing in the long run. I'd rather wait a little longer once than to wait twice because some dimwitted kid who's probably working at his first paying job besides mowing the parent's lawn can't follow directions. If he's got to hire help for custom caging, then he's going to have to pay for it. If memory serves me correctly, Jeff's located in the Mid-West (Minnesota or nearby) and he's probably going to have to pay close to double the minimum wage to get semi-skilled individuals to work for him that won't screw your orders up worse than the delay time.

2. Lead times in manufacturing fluctuate at different times of the year due to customer demand. The most obvious time for down times are probably during the winter months when few offspring are available on the market.

3. Hiring more employees assumes that the space is available to accomodate them in their current location. The same is true of pre-building more basic models to have on hand. Warehousing of any product takes space and depending upon liquidity of the business can produce accounting nightmares which reflect negatively in the business is attempting to secure financing for expansion.

4. A lot of people have talked like like they have an intimate knowledge of Jeff's business and or business accounting in small industrial settings. Still, I haven't seen any straight talk from a purely "business" standpoint along these lines, just personal/group desires stated as if they are the only way things can/should happen.

5. 1 vital piece of equipment not operating correctly can throw things off significantly.

It's not that I think Jeff is in the "right" by not disclosing that he's currently experiencing onger lead times than expected or desired. Customer service is a vital part of this type of business and enen though the customer might now personally like what they're being told, they do deserve some sort of explanation for delays or longer lead times.

I have to wonder, has anybody contaced Jeff to notify him of this thread so that he can address it? If not, I'd be fine with directing him here as, to be quite honest, I'm interested in hearing the response.

David
 
u can direct him if u'd like i cant use my long distance lol. I too would like too hear a response from him but i have a feeling that he's "too busy to respond to some stupid kids thread" i mean seriously whats one cage going to cost him. Oh well i might be wrong.
Eric
 
"Double "D" Reptiles" I believe people reading this post will agree with your comments. I'm sure some people reading this have a basic understanding of the time, commitment, and sweat needed to run a small business. I think most people here would agree that Jeff works hard, and running a small business is tough work.

I don't think the issue focuses on hiring a work force, and lead/lag time of the cage/rack production. It's simply he's lack of communication. Hence the lack of customer service. Not returning emails/phone calls after an order is late (and paid for) is highly unprofessional. They should offer the person a refund.

I too would like too hear a response from him but i have a feeling that he's "too busy to respond to some stupid kids thread" i mean seriously whats one cage going to cost him. Oh well i might be wrong.
Click to expand...

I hope you're being sarcastic with this comment. If not, that in itself is a "stupid" comment. That one cage leads to another and another, and telling of friends. OR IT CAN LEAD TO A POST LIKE THIS WITH OVER 1800 HITS. After reading this I wouldn't put myself through it...funny how one little rack can lose someone so MUCH POTENTIAL BUSINESS.

Peter Fromme
 
I've read a different thread, where Ronne screwed up so bad, and was destroyed on the BOI over that 1 rack, he gave the buyer a rack double the size of the order free.
I think he has a lot of business right now, as the holidays are coming, and people want their orders in now.
He probably responds to 50+ minimum emails a day. How easy it must be to overlook 1 or 2 here and there.
He also probably missed the phone call because he wasnt sitting around answering phones, he was working.
I doubt he was slacking off doing nothing all day.
Anyhow, the only reason I dont buy from big names, unless they have very very short lead time, is because I have recieved great quality, speed, and service elsehwere, and I have become a diehard fan of that particular product.
I only shop elsewhere if my needs cannot be met, because of certain details.
At any rate, I would also be glad to hear from Jeff about this. Not all big names in the business are bad at customer service though. I have an on-going conversation with Ralph Davis, and he knows I'm not even interested in an animal, just conversation.
Some people in the business are just naturally very good people persons, or very good work persons. Hard to find a healthy balance I guess.
-Mike Fortier.
 
Reptiledude said:
That is why I went with Animal Plastics. Great Customer Service!!!
Click to expand...

What's the website for Animal Plastics? I take it they have racks with built in heat tape also.
 
I ordered two five drawer blanket box RhinoRaXX on 10/17/04 and received them on 11/8/04. They are very nice looking racks and were very well packaged. I will definitely be ordering more in the near future. Thanks Jeff!

Louis Kirkland
 
by the way..... just for clarification purposes.... My post was directed at ALLLLL cage manufacturers. So those wishing to "back up" Jeff are waisting their breath. I ordered from Jeff a few weeks ago, was fully aware of the wait time, and did not mind in the least. If it goes past the 2-4 weeks I was quoted however, then things may change.

;)
 
clarification

I hope you're being sarcastic with this comment. If not, that in itself is a "stupid" comment. That one cage leads to another and another, and telling of friends. OR IT CAN LEAD TO A POST LIKE THIS WITH OVER 1800 HITS. After reading this I wouldn't put myself through it...funny how one little rack can lose someone so MUCH POTENTIAL BUSINESS.

Peter Fromme [/B][/QUOTE]

I would like to point out (check page 6 if you need) that I wasn't the one who made the comment that was pointed to in the end of Peter's statement. It came from a follow-up post by Eric W. Without clarification some people would assume that I had made the remark and would be wrong. Thanks.

David
 
Well, I hate waiting.
I usually dont know I need a rack until something suddenly arises. Thats when I like having been directed to my current rack supplier.
I get them before deadlines. I received the last one the day he said he would be shipping. Neadless to say I was once again quite pleased.
Anyhow I am looking at Animal Plastics, to buy a big ole hatchling rack from.
But otherwise, my business goes to my current supplier who kicks a$$.
 
I ordered a 6' cage from Boaphile a few weeks ago. Joel told me it would be shipped on 11/10 and just as he promised, I received my tracking numbers yesterday.
I'm sure this cage will be the same awesome quality as the other cages I've received from Boaphile.

I ordered an Animal Plastics rack this year and I experienced the same wait time (3-4 weeks) as I do from Boaphile. I was very happy with the quality of my AP rack as well.

Just my opinion but I don't mind waiting a little longer for companies that provide superior quality.
 
The funny thing is he didnt even send me a tracking number ALTHOUGH i emailed him asking for it. URRRGHHHHHHHH
 
My experience

I have ordered 3 racks from jeff and joel. Jeff does the snakes, joel does the racks (mainly). I have found that I have had to call twice to get a response, or wait a day or two. I'm fine with that. Their racks are well built and at a good price. IF you try to call them, their answering machine (which they seem to update the message fairly often) tells the wait time on orders!

Too many people here are really emphasizing what the world sees us as...impatient Americans. We want it now, perfect, and cheap. I have noticed this attitude both in Americans here, and in American tourists abroad. Settle down, plan ahead and you will have fewer troubles in life....not to mention lower blood pressure.


My last rack had a crack due to poor shipping (it looked like they dropped it off a 2 story building or something). I contacted Jeff and recieved prompt replies to adress the problem, which was resolved quickly. I have also had to cancel an order from them due to a personal financial issue...they refunded my money within 2 days! That, in my opinion, is the test of customer service....how a company responds to problems. Call them up, leave a few messages. I don't know about you, but I will be more willing to deal with someone if they approach me with a friendly or at least decent way.
 
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