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Boaphile Plastics

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xpensivegecko

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Just a quick note, this is the 2nd time in the past 6 months that I have tried to call and order cages from this place.  Just recently, I called up Jeff Ronne and asked him about pricing for two 4 ft cages.  He actually answered the phone and quoted me almost 900 dollars, pricey, but I felt the cages were worth it.  The next day I called for an exact price so I could get a check out to him. No response.  I called later that day and left another message.  Still no response.  Called him up 2 days later, and , you guessed it, no response.  The only conclusions that i can come to is that hes either Out of Business or he doesnt need any new customers.  Either way its fine, we wont be buying from or recommending him in the future.  This is the 2nd time in the past 6 months that Ive tried to get in contact with him.  Last time he left some lame response about how his helper now has soccer practice in the afternoons and cant help him so hes falling behind.  This is not good business practice.  You have a decent product that people want and you're blowing them off and providing excuses that are NOT THE CUSTOMER'S PROBLEM.

Normally I would not have even posted anything but I just dont understand how I'm willing to pay somebody almost a thousand dollars and they just blow me off.  Just had to get that off my chest haha.
 
Jeff lost his only employee and was going to press his son into service when he came home. At least, this is the answer I got a week or so ago. I have 4 racks ordered, and he seems to always respond to email, so try that. Also realize that this is hatchling season, and he prolly has a bunch of girls dropping. Jeff has been around a LONG time and produces great stuff...have a little patience.
 
I know he does have great stuff, but my patience ran out 6 months ago when i tried to give him money the first time.  I'm actually not mad, just a lil annoyed.  I do know that the guys over at precision caging, vision, and neodisha ALWAYS get back to me within an hour or two, and they are companies that DON'T NEED ME AS A CUSTOMER.  Yet they always respond quickly and professionally.  This BS about his employee leaving and trying to get his son working for him is NOT THE CUSTOMER'S PROBLEM.  What if i called up DELL and I wanted to order a computer, would the Dell guy tell me he lost his only employee and I cant have my computer? No, he would find a way to make it happen.  In an industry where customer satisfaction is everything, these excuses seem lame.
 
Jeff makes fantastic cages, and because of this there is a great demand for them.  Since he has just lost his only employee, he has fallen behind.  He is definitely one of the good guys so try to cut him some slack - he works very hard and tries his best to make everyone happy.
 
I am slightly hesitant to reply to this since I cannot verify that "Chris Eaton" has ever made any effort to contact me but will anyhow:

I have done a search for a "Eaton" in my inbox. Doesn't exist. I have done a search for "Eaton" in my sent folder. Doesn't exist. I have checked my deleted folder and there is no "Eaton" in that folder either. I have checked my address books, both email and physical addresses and "Eaton" does not exist in either of them. I probably have corresponded with Chris Eaton but am unable to determine who he is or find any email address for him. I don't understand why many people do not sign their emails either. Just a side point but makes life a lot more complicated, for people like me who get about 40-50 emails and phone calls every day, when people do not sign email. I do not have any phone messages from anyone named "Chris Eaton" either. Now I do not mean to say that Chris hasn't called. He says he did and I have no reason to doubt him. I get about two phone messages a week that are unintelligible. The caller whispers the message or says the phone number so fast it is impossible to figure out what was said. It is possible that one of these messages was from Chris. Sorry about that.

Did you think about a post asking if anyone has a suggestion about how to get in contact with Jeff Ronne? It certainly would have been far friendlier and not potentially damaging to someone's hard earned good reputation. I don't understand how someone could be so vindictive as to attack someone they had not been able to contact. Negative posts or complaints are something that should be carefully thought through and responsibly made not shot from the hip as I think this post was.

I certainly think it is an over reaction to post this sort of complaint here on the BOI. This isn't a complaint about being ripped off. This is not a complaint about animals being misrepresented. This is a complaint about not being able to contact someone. It could have been that I was out of town. I wasn't but it could have been. If I have been on vacation for two weeks and obviously could not answer calls wouldn't it have been an overreaction to post negative feedback about someone here without knowing any of the facts? Of course it would. I think this was either a overreaction on Chris' part.

Nathan has worked for me for about two years. He has primarily cleaned and fed rats for me. He did cut back his hours of availability during soccer season. When Nathan isn't here to do his regular duties I have to do it. This is real life. This and the other reasons are not just some "lame response" or fabricated excuses. Of course this is not "NOT THE CUSTOMER'S PROBLEM". It is mine and means I am a little limited as far as how much I can complete. However, I still do not have any messages or emails from anyone named "Chris Eaton".

Now, the reality of life is I am the busiest man I know anywhere. I run my Boa and cage businesses from home. The shop is here at the house as well. This means that I must be careful who I hire to work near my home around my two small girls and my wife. I am more than just a little protective and want more than anything to protect my girls and wife from harm. For this reason I don't hire just anyone. I am exploring options at this point and hope to have something worked out soon so I can begin building more product. I am not doing any advertising at this point to avoid orders which already have me working about 100 hours per week. Fact is if I had gotten a message from Chris I may not have called him back yet. The fact is that I haven't gotten any message from him though. Being too busy is definitely a problem for me though. If the only complaint anyone ever has about doing business with me is that I am hard to get a hold of I am OK with that. I certainly wish that weren't the case and am working on it but the fact is I am hard to get a hold of. That is a fact. A pain I'm sure sometimes for people trying to contact me. Sorry about that.

By the way... Thanks Lady Chaos and Dr. Leary for the positive feedback!
 
Jeff,

Sounds like you need to write a business plan and come up with a solution to the contact situation. As it sounds like you have a great product and the demand will only increase if you can resolve the communication issue. There are probably 20 Eatons out there that aren't posting to this website but are buying cages from other people because they can't get a hold of you. There are many companies out there that have great products but fail because they are not prepared for the growth (not saying you are failing, going to fail or that I want you to fail. Just saying you are taking a risk of that happening). Find a local high school kid or a relative to come in for a few hours a day and answer emails/phone messages. In business I've found failure is easy to handle (you just go do something else), success is way more complicated <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>
 
Well...I'm pretty sure Jeff is ALREADY successful from what I can see.

I have purchased animals from Jeff in the past and while I couldn't just call him and have him answer the phone like a pet store, he has ALWAYS gotten back to my e-mail or phone message within a few days.

To me, waiting for good quality is NOT a problem. I would much rather be patient and know that when I complete a transaction with Jeff, I will get healthy, well represented animals or solid, well constructed caging. I KNOW this is what I will get even if I have to wait. I am definitely NOT a patient man.....but I believe certain things are worth waiting for.

I understand where you are coming from Chris, but I think you would find it worth the wait.

You know how it goes.......you can BUY a Mustang right off the lot......but you gotta ORDER a Ferrari!

Good luck with whomever you choose as your cage supplier.

Peace - Tom Chambers
TC Reptile <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>
 
Well said Tom!    <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>
 
Ok, I feel that this thread has run its course and I don't want to spend time mud slinging on people who apparently have a good reputation so I will just say, that Jeff, I left 3 messages on your machine 2 weeks ago.  I WANTED TO GIVE YOU MONEY, so i have nothing to lie about.  The point is that you cannot keep up with the demand that you're getting, and that can sometimes be a good thing.  In this case it's not.  Precision Caging is also a "start up" company who's doing very well from operating out of their house, yet everytime I called, I got a live person, ordered my cages, and got them within 4 days.  The bottom line is that you're losing customers due to a poorly put together business plan.  If you're happy doing what you do and do not wish to grow, thats understandable.  But I stand by my statement that your excuses are not the customers problem, and because of those excuses, I ordered cages from somewhere else.  Jeff, your cages look KILLER and I bet they're practical as hell, but the bottom line is that you can have the best product around, but if you can't supply them to the people that want them, it's all pretty pointless.  Thank you to all the readers of the BOI that saw my point and please understand that this is not mud slinging, it was about an unsatisfied future customer
 
No, I don't think it has run it's course. You say you called me three times two weeks ago. I say I never received any calls from anyone named Chris Eaton two weeks ago. Maybe you called the wrong number. The good people who read this forum will have to decide for themselves if I am a liar or if perhaps you may have dialed the wrong number. Lets look at the facts:

1. You never posted asking people how to get in touch with me at all. If you were trying to get in touch with me you could have asked for help on this forum or on my own forum or on the kingsnake forums. This might have been the approach a reasonable person would have used if he were really seeking to contact with me.

2. You never emailed me seeking to speak with me. The first approach I would have used if I couldn't get someone on the phone. Call me wacky. I guess that's just me. This might have been productive if you had been looking to get in contact with me. You didn't do this. I didn't get any email from you.

3. If you in fact called but didn't get a return call, wouldn't it be reasonable to attempt to find out if you were dialing the correct number or not? An email to me asking for clarification of the phone number and or posts looking for someone else's help certainly would have been productive for you.

4. Why wouldn't I contact someone wanting to spend money with me? That would simply be stupid. Simple I may be... stupid no.

5. You say you don't want to "spend time mud slinging on people who apparently have a good reputation" but you continue to do so. Your obvious motivation is to damage my reputation if you possibly can.

Finally, the people who read this thread will have to decide if I am a liar or not. I am a simple man with a few Boas, some tools and piles of plastic. I have to get back to work.

Later guys and gals!

Jeff

PS I appreciate the constructive criticism offered by Daniel Wedeking. Daniel Wedeking's response is appreciated! Good points all. Thanks Daniel. The business is going very well. We haven't borrowed a penny to start up and won't do so. My 21 year old son is home from college now and we are working like madmen to build the stuff people can't seem to get enough of. I am working this Summer on a more long term solution to my ever increasing orders and lines of cages and racks. I have arboreal cages ready as well but can't offer them just yet. I have to get this labor/production thing in hand first. I'm working on it...
 
ok, the simple man act is getting a little lame, just like every other excuse you give.  I tried to end this thing professionally but the fact is, less than 3 months ago you had a ton of people on one of the kingsnake forums describing how they couldnt get in touch with you either, so do me a favor and cut the crap. admit you cant keep up with demand, thats all.  I notice how you didnt respond to the fact that other plastic cage companies always had someone available.  Look, dont be p**sed off cause someone is just pointing out an obvious shortcoming of your business.  Believe me, I dialed the right number, i was ready to buy your cages, i read your web site inside and out, and you're too busy patting yourself on the back about how great you are and how fantastic your ideas are that you didnt do the most basic thing.  answer a customer.  You may think this is no big thing, and like i said, thats fine, but dont be surprised to see these other companies taking away your customers.
 
also, you said how i never tried to ask people on the boi how i could get in touch with you. HELLO, I had your phone number.  When i want to buy something, I want it and i want it now, why would i ask people on the bOI how to get in touch with you when YOUR PHONE NUMBER IS RIGHT ON YOUR PAGE.  Does anyone else see my point here?
 
Thanks Chris. Thank you for your "professional" response. I couldn't have written a more delightful answer than you did! I think you have made it abundantly clear and patently obvious what you have been trying to accomplish. I have to leave now. I took time out from patting myself on the back to answer this latest post. Man, is my arm tired! LOL
 
Chris...this is and obvious attakc now.
What is the matter....the baby did not get the cage he wants?
You said you were albe to get a hold of precision cages.  You said you can get cages in four days......THEN GO FOR IT!!!!!
Why bother posting this crap?  If you don't want to order...don't order.  
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I notice how you didnt respond to the fact that other plastic cage companies always had someone available.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Let's see...do those other plastic companies have tons of snakes and a Rat business too?

Someone mentioned mustangs and ferraris...................don't be upset because you had money for a Ferrari....but got stuck with a mustang because you were impatient.

You like the other companies so much...then order from them.
I order from the other companies too.....but I will not bash the guy because he supposedly did not get back to me.

Have you tried e-mailing him?
Jeff Ronne has not seen a Penny from me.  He probably won't because I can't afford anything he has....But does he take the time to answer my e-mails?  Yes he does.

If he can take the time to answer an e-mail from someone who won't give him a penny.....don't you think he would make the time to answer someone who will send hundreds of dollars to him.
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Look, dont be p**sed off cause someone is just pointing out an obvious shortcoming of your business.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
who is pissed?  I thought the guy who needlessly started this thread is the one who is pissed.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">you're too busy patting yourself on the back about how great you are and how fantastic your ideas are</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Chris?  Are you Jealous?

If you read his whole website...and you thought he has a big head......then why do you insist on sending him money?
Did you get your little itty bitty feelings hurt that you could not get a boaphile cage?

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">When i want to buy something, I want it and i want it now</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Is this the id syndrome......poor baby
 
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I know he does have great stuff, but my patience ran out 6 months ago when i tried to give him money the first time</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

let me get the timeline straight.
1. 6 months ago you tried sending money
2. could not get a hold of jeff
3. you got mad and held a grudge
4. contacted other companies.
5. bought from another company
6. you decided to FINALLY let your anger out and post this crap.

Did I miss something?

This board is for bad guy good guy posts.....
NOT I am a whiny baby and did not get to buy the things I want
 
wow, normally im a fan of ritchie luna, but that just bit the dust.  

Is this a joke??

Im continuoulsy amazed at how no one here is getting the point.  There are posts ALL OVER the boi about bad customer service, so yes i decided to post here.  Let's all live in the Boaphile fantasy world for a second ok ... lets pretend that everything has to be put on hold cause a supplier cant provide to their customer THEIR PRODUCTS THAT THEY SAY THEY CAN.  Hmm, kinda sux doesnt it.  

So ritchie asks if im jealous of jeff ronne, hmm lets see, no probably not cause in my business, we do what we advertise.  So ritchie, before you jump on anything try and see the point in it all.. In your one post, you insulted Precision Caging, saying I got STUCK with those cages, you made yourself look like a total A$$ kisser to Boaphile plastics and you just defended a guy with horrible customer service.  Like i said, normally i agree with a lot of what ritchie says but he just stepped in sh*t here cause theres NO WAY you can defend someone with horrible customer service. So contiue begging for your free boaphile cage by kissing A$$, who knows, maybe when jeff has another employee, can do what he actually advertises, and gets a lil business plan together, you might get one
 
I wasn't going to reply to this thread but I have to. I contacted Jeff a couple months ago about selling his cages and racks. I placed an order for over 40 cages and racks. Some are here and the rest have been shipped and will be here this coming week. All within a couple months. I would say Jeff is keeping up with demand just fine. And I know another guy that is also picking up Jeff's line of racks too. Jeff is in fact a busy guy but he has always answered my questions and returned my calls. And everything I have received from Jeff has been just great. Cages, racks and boas are all the best!
 
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">you insulted Precision Caging, saying I got STUCK with those cages</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

sorry but I have precision cages.

I say you got "stuck" with them...because that is how you are acting.
I am proud of my precision cages...I am also proud of my Barrs cages.... I do not need to bad mouth someone because I could not get my precious boaphile cages.
I do not kiss his butt.....

Okay...he can have better customer service i will give you that.  now look at it from his point of view.
YOU have come upn something everyone wants.  You and one employee are working to provide it to people.  your one employee is no longer available....What happens......you hire joe shmoe off the street?  Sorry but if it were me.....my family comes first.  The rest of the world can f@(k off because my family comes first.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">There are posts ALL OVER the boi about bad customer service, so yes i decided to post here. </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'> Yup people who have actually sent money to the company.

Okay you are right...you can call me ass kisser if you want to.

but what about you?
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">When i want to buy something, I want it and i want it now</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Whiny spoiled crying baby --  lets show a little maturity

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">you're too busy patting yourself on the back about how great you are and how fantastic your ideas are</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Jealpusy rears its ugly head

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Look, dont be p**sed off cause someone is just pointing out an obvious shortcoming of your business.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>  Hides the fact that it is YOU who are pissed

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">ok, the simple man act is getting a little lame</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>first you basically tell him to quit acting so great......then now you tell him to quit acting simple....make up your mind

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Normally I would not have even posted anything but I just dont understand how I'm willing to pay somebody almost a thousand dollars and they just blow me off.  Just had to get that off my chest haha.
</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>  ha ha?-- hey little kid...this board is not for youngsters who are just looking to have fun

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I know he does have great stuff, but my patience ran out 6 months ago when i tried to give him money the first time. </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'> if your patience supposedly ran out six months ago....why did you not post then?
If your patience ran out six months ago....why did you try to send him money again?  Sounds more like a vendetta to me.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I do know that the guys over at precision caging, vision, and neodisha ALWAYS get back to me within an hour or two, and they are companies that DON'T NEED ME AS A CUSTOMER.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>  Qutie frankly.....if you are not able to get a hold of me....then I found posts on the BOI just because of it.......Well I do not want you as a customer either.


Just goes to show you......you can't please everyone.
Some people you send things to....and no matter what you do....they won't be happy.
Some people.....you do not have any dealings with.....and they are STILL not happy.


Did you try e-mailing the guy?
If you look....everyone here gets a response through his e-mail.  WE HAVE ALL GOTTEN A RESPONSE THROUGH E-MAIL.
Have you e-mailed him?  or are you gonna ignore that question?
 
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">So ritchie asks if im jealous of jeff ronne, hmm lets see, no probably not cause in my business, we do what we advertise.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Did Jeff Ronne advertise that he will get back to you?
Okay he advertised......What exactly is it that he did not do?
Show me on the advertisment....I want to see it.


Yes you have a point....he needs to answer his phone or get the number off his site.
But everything else I see in your post is an attack.
Did he steal money?  Did he lie? Did he cheat you?
 
Geez ritchie it seems like the more you type, the more and more you're agreeing with my points.  Also i know how you love to leave long posts but you just repeated everything you said 2 posts ago.  I guess ya realized how bad your points were and figured what the hell, you'll repeat em again and maybe theyll sound better.  The post is here cause of BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE.  ok, ill leave this question for ya, HOW MANY TIMES would you have to call and leave messages for something that you wanted before being pissed off due to no response.  Just curious.
 
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