Inquiry Bob Clark Experience..pretty negative so far

[krampvs]

I purchased a male banana ball from Bob Clark's website yesterday, 1/29, around 11:30am. I did not receive an email confirmation, receipt, or anything of the like. I tried calling him through the number listed on his website with no answer multiple times.
I sent him an email after that, and over 24 hours later no reply.
Yesterday, a shipping label was created stating that Bob was shipping the snake 1/29 and it would arrive to me by 10:30am today, 1/30.
There was no shipment today at 10:30am, in fact nothing was actually shipped at all. So I took the morning off from work for nothing.
The only thing I did notice was that the snake I had purchased on his website was no longer available to purchase, but that could be a automated thing.

So far, I have sent him $325 with 0 communication regarding shipping or the snake. I am wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and everything turned out fine in the end?

I reached out to multiple breeders looking for the snake I wanted and every single one got back to me within hours... unfortunately, Bob just had the best looking snake in the age range I wanted.

Just looking for thoughts, past experiences.. I did scour this board with Bob Clark opinions but didn't see anything recent or comparable to my experience.

 

[hotlips]

Personally, while I'd be suspicious & on edge too, maybe he's ill at the moment? or had an accident? There might be some unforeseen circumstances, I hope so anyway.

 

[Dennis Hultman]

I purchased a male banana ball from Bob Clark's website yesterday, 1/29, around 11:30am. I did not receive an email confirmation, receipt, or anything of the like. I tried calling him through the number listed on his website with no answer multiple times.
I sent him an email after that, and over 24 hours later no reply.
Yesterday, a shipping label was created stating that Bob was shipping the snake 1/29 and it would arrive to me by 10:30am today, 1/30.
There was no shipment today at 10:30am, in fact nothing was actually shipped at all. So I took the morning off from work for nothing.
The only thing I did notice was that the snake I had purchased on his website was no longer available to purchase, but that could be a automated thing.

So far, I have sent him $325 with 0 communication regarding shipping or the snake. I am wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and everything turned out fine in the end?

I reached out to multiple breeders looking for the snake I wanted and every single one got back to me within hours... unfortunately, Bob just had the best looking snake in the age range I wanted.

Just looking for thoughts, past experiences.. I did scour this board with Bob Clark opinions but didn't see anything recent or comparable to my experience.

Just to clarify,

Point One-
You ordered on a automated website yesterday. Yesterday.

Point Two- You received zero confirmation. No email. No receipt, nothing of the kind since yesterday.

But- Somehow you know a shipping label was created WITH "Yesterday, a shipping label was created stating that Bob was shipping the snake 1/29 and it would arrive to me by 10:30am today,"

So I'm a little confused. Somehow you were notified yesterday that Bob was shipping that day (The day you ordered) and it would be there at 10:30 today
but there is zero communication that your order was placed and you received nothing.

First point- It is a automated system. He may have not been in house yesterday.

Second Point- It was yesterday.

Third point- If the website automatically generated a shipping label and the data sent to you stated it has shipped or a email that stated it would be shipped and didn't show or ship that would be frustrating.

Fourth point- It was yesterday that you ordered of a automated website.

Have just a tiny bit of patience.

 

[krampvs]

Just to clarify,

Point One-
You ordered on a automated website yesterday. Yesterday.

Point Two- You received zero confirmation. No email. No receipt, nothing of the kind since yesterday.

But- Somehow you know a shipping label was created WITH "Yesterday, a shipping label was created stating that Bob was shipping the snake 1/29 and it would arrive to me by 10:30am today,"

So I'm a little confused. Somehow you were notified yesterday that Bob was shipping that day (The day you ordered) and it would be there at 10:30 today
but there is zero communication that your order was placed and you received nothing.

First point- It is a automated system. He may have not been in house yesterday.

Second Point- It was yesterday.

Third point- If the website automatically generated a shipping label and the data sent to you stated it has shipped or a email that stated it would be shipped and didn't show or ship that would be frustrating.

Fourth point- It was yesterday that you ordered of a automated website.

Have just a tiny bit of patience.

Hello, I wasn't looking for a rude response.. just some insight as to whether this has happened to anyone else before. I am not expecting lightening fast delivery or superhuman speed.. just a receipt or some confirmation that I paid for my order instead of a weird shipping label where nothing was actually shipped. I called both the NEX shipping customer service (third party) and FedEx with no clarification.. just that they had not received any shipment even though the delivery date was today at 10:30am.

It's not patience I lack. I have concerns about spending a good amount of money on the internet with nothing to show for it; but thank you for your response.

My MAIN concern here was the snake.. thinking it had been shipped and lost in shipment in 20 degree weather.. upon finding out the snake was not shipped, my secondary concern is money.

 

[Tim Cole]

Dennis's comments pointed out the inconsistency in your post.

Nothing about it was "rude".

Bob is quite often out of town doing shows so he may not even be in the country.

I know this doesn't explain your shipping e-mail but maybe it's an automated thing.

 

[krampvs]

Dennis's comments pointed out the inconsistency in your post.

Nothing about it was "rude".

Bob is quite often out of town doing shows so he may not even be in the country.

I know this doesn't explain your shipping e-mail but maybe it's an automated thing.

Any inconsistencies in my post come from my experience. I laid out a pretty simple timeline of activities. I see that I am not going to get any insight as to whether this has occurred to anyone else which was my goal on this posting.

 

[krampvs]

Personally, while I'd be suspicious & on edge too, maybe he's ill at the moment? or had an accident? There might be some unforeseen circumstances, I hope so anyway.

I know he must be extremely busy.. but any kind of confirmation, even automatic would be better than nothing

 

[hotlips]

I know he must be extremely busy.. but any kind of confirmation, even automatic would be better than nothing

I was thinking he might not be home also, as someone else said, might also be out of the country. Anyway, don't "assume the worst"- no one seems to have had "issues" with him...a little patience & I bet you hear back within a couple days. Automated replies can be very frustrating...that's the world we're in though.

 

[WebSlave]

Heck, I dunno, but I am incredulous that any shipper of live reptiles, in January no less, would ship without first receiving confirmation that the recipient would be home and available to take delivery of that live animal.

What am I missing here?

 

[hotlips]

....My MAIN concern here was the snake.. thinking it had been shipped and lost in shipment in 20 degree weather.. upon finding out the snake was not shipped, my secondary concern is money.

That would be my concern as well. Stuff like that does happen.

 

[krampvs]

I was thinking he might not be home also, as someone else said, might also be out of the country. Anyway, don't "assume the worst"- no one seems to have had "issues" with him...a little patience & I bet you hear back within a couple days. Automated replies can be very frustrating...that's the world we're in though.

I thought he had a retail store but I might be mistaken, so I figured at least calling would get a response but perhaps the number listed is his personal. I have read some excellent things about Bob and more importantly his snakes (I turned to Bob after have a nasty run in with CV exotics from NH). I will keep my fingers crossed!

 

[krampvs]

Heck, I dunno, but I am incredulous that any shipper of live reptiles, in January no less, would ship without first receiving confirmation that the recipient would be home and available to take delivery of that live animal.

What am I missing here?

That is why I called and emailed him - I even stayed home from work this morning thinking it was shipped. Luckily I don't believe so as the tracking indicates nothing. The temps are in the 20s here

 

[Big Time Reptiles]

I thought he had a retail store but I might be mistaken, so I figured at least calling would get a response but perhaps the number listed is his personal. I have read some excellent things about Bob and more importantly his snakes (I turned to Bob after have a nasty run in with CV exotics from NH). I will keep my fingers crossed!

Rachel,
Bob doesn't have a retail store, although he is a mega breeder of pythons, and other reptiles.

I've known Bob for over 25 years, you'll be taken care of, be patient, he maybe out of the country, or just busy...

Rest assured, Bob is definitely a good guy!

Lynn Peterson
Big Time Reptiles

 

[krampvs]

Rachel,
Bob doesn't have a retail store, although he is a mega breeder of pythons, and other reptiles.

I've known Bob for over 25 years, you'll be taken care of, be patient, he maybe out of the country, or just busy...

Rest assured, Bob is definitely a good guy!

Lynn Peterson
Big Time Reptiles

Hi Lynn,
Thank you for your response - I actually just got another one of those weird shipping labels so I honestly think they are just automated. I'm not going to worry - until I receive an actual shipment notification from FedEx I'll assume he won't ship without contacting me. I just want to make sure i can be available - I know it happens all the time but I've never ordered a live reptile online so the whole process is new to me. Thank you again

 

[bcr229]

Thank you for your response - I actually just got another one of those weird shipping labels so I honestly think they are just automated. I'm not going to worry - until I receive an actual shipment notification from FedEx I'll assume he won't ship without contacting me. I just want to make sure i can be available - I know it happens all the time but I've never ordered a live reptile online so the whole process is new to me. Thank you again

It can be stressful but this time of year in particular you have to be patient. The seller has to track the weather has his location, at your location, and at the midpoint FedEx hub (usually Memphis TN) to determine if it's safe to ship or not.

I usually have my incoming critters sent to my local hub for pick up. That way if one does come in unexpectedly it's not sitting on my doorstep.

Fortunately my boss is also understanding about having to take off work with little or no notice due to unexpected life events. Come to think of it, he does that more often that I do.

 

[krampvs]

It can be stressful but this time of year in particular you have to be patient. The seller has to track the weather has his location, at your location, and at the midpoint FedEx hub (usually Memphis TN) to determine if it's safe to ship or not.

I usually have my incoming critters sent to my local hub for pick up. That way if one does come in unexpectedly it's not sitting on my doorstep.

Fortunately my boss is also understanding about having to take off work with little or no notice due to unexpected life events. Come to think of it, he does that more often that I do.

I just received shipping confirmation without communication.. I am a little concerned because Bob never got into contact with me but there is a FedEx hub right next to my work so I was able to get it sorted out..

 

[Ed Clark]

Is not shipping confirmation a communication?

 

[krampvs]

Is not shipping confirmation a communication?

I was hoping for a reply to my email(s) not a shipping confirmation from FedEx. If I was unable to hold him at a FedEx location he would have been sitting out in 20 degree weather when I got home, since I had no contact with the seller to work out a shipping time. I was under the impression that a seller would contact you to ensure you would be available for the receipt of your animal... perhaps I am mistaken here.

It is very well possible I had unrealistic expectations of the online ordering process..although I don't think communication is really that unfathomable. Apparently I am wrong.

 

[Skinker]

Is not shipping confirmation a communication?

Without some kind of back and forth, feels more like an ultimatum than communication. I'm not sure how these automated websites work but I can understand the buyer's trepidation. I can say I've bought from Bob Clark in the past and was a satisfied customer. This was before the shopping cart style website though so we had established a dialogue and agreed upon a shipping date.

 

[Ed Clark]

Not a good idea to ship a live reptile in 20* weather.