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Fred Albury... BUYER BEWARE!!! BAD GUY!!!

Couple things

First, yes, please move the off topic stuff to another forum, I got tired of reading the off topic stuff long ago, but had to weed through it to get to the end where I could post on-topic. (Guess I'm cranky today, but it really is annoying)

Mr. Skipper~ Please forgive me if I have missed an update to your situation, but the last 5 pages I just skimmed through and did not read most of the posts. As I understand it you are still waiting to get your boa's, and you are willing to pay shipping again? Do I understand correctly?

Can you have one of the shipping companies show up at his door to pick up a package? Just tell him what date the shipping company will be there, and tell him to have the box ready to go.

OR~ it looks like Mr. Albury attends most of the West Coast IRBA shows on a regular basis. There is another one coming up in San Deigo on July 12-13. How about one of the board members who plan to attend this show pick up the boa's for you, put them in a box and drop them off at Airborne Express? (I think Airborne will do the reciever pay shipping right?)

Hopefully someone who has shipped a reptile before will volunteer. However, if not, I will volunteer as I plan to attend the show. HOWEVER~ I have never shipped a reptile before so you would have to talk me through it like I was a 3 year old learning to tie her shoe's. So~ Hopefully someone else will volunteer. (Please, someone who knows how to ship volunteer!)

But it would be easist Mr. Albury if you would just ship the snakes!
 
Great idea Cheryl. We'll be at the next IRBA show in San Diego. It's no problem for us to ship the snakes out if all parties agree.
 
In response to Cheryl and Daniel on the subject of Fred Albury

Cheryl and Daniel,
Thank you for your suggestions for alternate shipping options and your offer to intervene to get
the Argentine boas sent to me.
The purpose of my posting my experience with Fred Albury on this forum was to show example
of his poor business practices and hopefully keep others from getting ripped off.
I sent Fred almost $600 a year ago for a pair of snakes that I believed were exceptional looking,
healthy animals based on the information that he provided at that time. After weeks of
unsuccessfully trying to set up a shipping date he finally contacted me supposedly ready to ship
the animals only to mention that one of them was now regurgitating. I let him know that this
was unacceptable and asked for a refund which he agreed to give. When it became obvious
that I would never see my money again I agreed to accept the potentially sick animals as a last
resort because I figured it was better than nothing. Then, when he still couldn’t manage to send
them for one reason or another I said “okay, I’ll call your bluff, I’ll send you another money
order to pay for the shipping again since you’ve long since spent my $600 and all you have to do
is stick them in a box and send them while you’re sending out other stuff.”
Since that conversation, about 3 months ago, I have not heard a thing from him and I can’t seem
to get in touch with him again.
Something is VERY wrong with this picture.
You may not agree with me but I find this situation UNACCEPTABLE and I do not feel that a
solution should require anymore of my time and energy nor should it have to involve any other
parties except perhaps law enforcement.
Most sincerely,
John Skipper
www.jsreptiles.com
 
I do agree with you that the situation is unacceptable Mr. Skipper. We (Me, and I beleive dwedeking as well) We were just offering an alternative to sending any more money to Mr. Albury. I suspect sending any more money to him would simply be a matter of throwing good money after bad.

I do think Law enforcement may be your best route now (Don't forget that postal money order makes this postal fraud which I beleive is a federal offence). However, if you were still looking to obtain the snakes you attempted to purchase, we were just making a freindly offer to help out. ~ I would want someone to offer to help me, so I offered to help you if I could. Thats all.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out
 
John,

If you have ever shipped with Airborne Express you have an account with them. If you do, you don't even need to send money. Just set-up the pick-up date and time (provided you can get a hold of Fred) and have the shipping charged to you.

Regards,

Daniel
 
If you do file charges of postal fraud, I'm curious as to how it turns out. We're frequently told that postal money orders help protect the buyer b/c of the possibility of federal charges, but offhand I can't think of hearing of a case of this being applied.

In any event, good luck.
 
Cheryl GREAT IDEA!!!!! I would truley hate to see John send more money just to get a bunch of excuses as to how the money was spent. But answer your question no John hasnt heard from Fred at all. If youll pick up the animals for John and ship them to him I will send you all the materials you need along with instructions. There really isnt much to it. So if thats a go shot me an email and Ill get everything you need out to ya this week.

Now as far as the aruguement that has been brought by Chris and Al(maybe a little harsh, whatever, lets please get past that and see the validity of there posts) I for one think it is valid and should be checked into a little further. Per years of seeing Fred online I wouldnt put it past him at all to capitalize off someones death. Between his "mid life crisis sales"(anyone else rember those all winter long?) and everything else I have seen him to do make people feel sorry for him it wouldnt shock me at all. Personally I believe he did use that tragic event(that has nothing to do with him) to delay shipments. That is absolutly sick. Id like to see what his comments are toward this however doubt he will post here again.

Im happy to hear that the first two got or sorta got what they had wanted. But theres still John and YES there are others(more then one not invovled in this thread. Per the TOS I will not say anymore and make a third party post but when they are ready they will be here to tell their sides. Unless of course by some chance Freds steps up to the plate and does what he should do, like yesterday not next month. But I doubt that will happen. One last thing I have to ask is where is Sal?
 
If my prior post confuses anyone I guess I should have checked for new postings. I typed it like 3hrs ago and got busy with something else then just hit the send key and all the new posts popped up and mine looks a little out of pleace. Sorry about that.
 
Reply to Daniel in regards to shipping

I apologize if I sound abrupt Daniel and any hostility I may feel or project is not directed to you or anyone else on this forum, I do appreciate the suggestions in regards to the shipping . I have stated all of the facts and included all of the email correspondence between Fred and myself. After taking all of the events into consideration that have accured over the past year I will not accept anything less from Fred Albury than a full refund for the money that he owes me. He said he was going to return (read the email between the two of us) my money when he informed me the one snake was regurgitating. As a last resort I agreed to accept the animals but only when given the choice of that or nothing. I gave Fred every oppurtunity to ship the potentially sick snakes and asked him numerous times over the past several months when he wanted me to send him a money order to pay for the shipping (that I had already paid for once) and he never replied. This tells me that something is wrong, I do not trust him and given the facts have no reason to. I am not going to discuss the issue of shipping any futher than this because it is not an option. I do not care to get involved in anyone’s personal life or problems. I’ve got plenty of my own.
The solution to my problem is simple......
No more stories, no more excuses, SHOW ME MY MONEY.
I greatly appreciate everyones help on this matter and I apologize if I sound rude. I have wasted to much of my time on this matter already and need to get on with my life. I will post again if and when I ever here from Fred and or receive a refund.
Sincerely,
John Skipper
www.jsreptiles.com
 
Jason..............................................

Regarding the validity of my claim (and Chris Kennard's) that Fred lied to Landon about the plane crash was understandably not readily accepted because of the overbearing way that I came onto this thread, and the fact that we (Chis and I haven't presented an "air-tight" case. I was too busy with confrontation (Seamus's tone was contagious) to explain things better.

I just want to clarify a few things here. At the time of Fred's post to Landon the Charlotte plane crash was the hot topic in the news. It was fresh in my mind how sad it was for anyone who knew the victims. Under normal circumstances, I would never challenge anyone who said they were related to someone in the midst of grieving on that level. However, I'd been on the KS website the day of the crash (1/8) as well as on many of the following days. I couldn't help but notice Fred's cry for attention type posts. He was jabbering back and forth with other forum members like he usually did. There was no mention of the crash until about a week later. That's when he attempted (and succeeded) in embarassing Landon on the KS forum by telling him that he was sorry for not responding to Landon's emails due to the death of his brother, and that he had to go plan for a funeral. My first reaction was an overwhelming sympathy for Fred. But then I asked myself why a high-drama guy like him (he injectshis personal life in his posts, wherever possibl) wouldn't mention it in his posts on the day of the crash and/or the several days that followed. I then wondered how he could be posting at all, under those circumstances. I then hopped on the web and researched the crash and found out facts that convinced me 100% that he was, in fact, lying. My stomach turned at the though and I went on KS and Challenged him on it. I was attacted for being insensitive, and Fred was defended unconditionally by those who viewed him as a good guy. At that point, Fred realized that his reputation was being protected by his defenders so, in his mind, he didn't have to worry about Landon. Fred was percieved as a "good guy". Shortly thereafter I remember John Skipper's post on KS where he attempted to raise Fred. I didn't need my imagination to figure that one out. When Chris Kennard told me that Landon posted here, I couldn't wait to put my two cents in. At the time I entered this thread, Fred had just apologized and the attitude towards him was one of "let's wait and see what he does by the end of the week before judging him". I knew that I had more info than the posters who felt that way and I wanted to chang their minds in a big way. I want about it the wrong way but the truth about Fred prevailed anyway. I hope this explanation gives my claim some credibility.

Albert Applebaum

PA Landon, for some reason, left the KS post out of his communications with Fred that he posted here, although in his initial post he mentions "a death in the family" as being one of Fred's delay sympathy/tactics.
 
Sorry for all the mispellings, also.......

After I challenged Fred on KS he changed his story from having his "brother" die to "stepbrother" apparently adjusting his story to the obvious fact that he is African-American and the victims were not. In addition, he failed to mention that three Albury's were on that plane (TWO brothers and a neice). He obviously didn't expect to be challenged on his story. One final observation I'd like to mention is the fact that Fred could at any time make me look like the world's biggest creep and fool by backing up his claim. You've all seen the pictures of the true victims posted in this thread. I'd like to see some family pictures submitted by Fred of him with any one of those victims. The fact that Fred continues to come up short in this instance has only solidified my claim that he is lying through his teeth.

Albert Applebaum
 
To Dan and Cheryl,
Your courtesy of helping John Skipper to get his animals shipped is greatly appreciated. However, I would NOT recommend any of you do it. From John's e-mail, we already knew that one of the Argentine regurged. There must be a reason that Fred still has not shipped them out, either they are sold, or they are really sick. If either Dan or Cheryl shipped the animals (if they're still available, and if you guys can get it from Mr. Albury) and the animals don't arrive in a healthy, or live condition, do you think Fred will be responsible for them? In the end, Fred still need to come out and fix his deals with John and Ann, and he shall do it himself.
In regard of the excuse that his vehicle was towed, IRBA show was on Saturday and Sunday, so I don't know why his vehicle was towed on Friday night. Again, I really wish if there is any vendor, who attended the IRBA last October and awared of the incident, can come here and post it. I just feel that Fred just made up another excuse to give John Skipper a run-around.

P/s:I plan to attend the show in San Diego this coming July, so I'll see you there Dan. Thanks again for your other post. It was my pleasure to meet and know you.
 
John I can totally understand and respect your position. After saying that I thought about it and were probally better off not getting involved(shipping them) because those were "special" argintines. Max pinks worth $600 I could just see Fred handing Cheryl a pair of "normal" $200 argintines(not the ones you bought) and then once you received them claiming Cheryl had switched them. So please do let us know if you hear anything. Best of luck man!

Al I totally agree with you. For Fred its a simple solution to make yourself, Chris and me look like idiots. And like I said I have watched all his "mid life crisis"(feel sorry for me) sales. Seen him in the forums and know how he is. It blew me way reading that in the classifieds this past winter "mid life crisis sale" that was the header of his for sale ad, seriously. Any time he would get into it on the forums he always played that pity me I am the victim act, then Sal would come to save the day for Fred(where is Sal?). I just hope for the sake of those involved he steps up to the plate. He still has some left that havnt even been addressed here.
 
Jason.........................................

Unfortunately, Fred's presence on the forums was not as innocuous as it may seem at first glance. His good-natured style, his comments about Jesus, Chistianity and morality were designed to project the image of a harmless good guy. His alignment with the most respected members on those forums gave him an unchallenged credibility, and his respectable level of knowledge about snakes afforded him the opportunity to deceive quite a few people into thinking that he was a reputable breeder. I believe that his appeal to self-pity further disarmed his victims to an extent, as clearly seen in his emails. His personable demeanor and self-effacing anectdotes served to break down barriers and concerns of potential buyers, and I seriously suspect that his primary motive for posting in those forums was to lure the unsuspecting to his classified ads. You've mentioned that there are more victims that eventually will come forward. I agree, due to the systematic and creepy treatment of Landon, Ann, and John. Right now, Fred is doing what he's always done when challenged - he's disappeared from the forum. But that hasn't stopped him from privately emailing those who at some point in this thread shown a segree of sympathy for him. He has a habit of letting other people defend him. I think that it's time Fred came out in the open to either defend himself or come clean. "The truth will set you free" Fred.

Albert Applebaum
 
I agree dude trust me you not saying anything at all here that I havnt already said. He hides behind religon but doesnt even live up to the morals he preaches. Why? Simple because he knows people will get upset if you question his religous veiws which I have done many times and got slammed for many times because people didnt realize it was him I was attacking and the way he used religon, NOT religon itself. I am not religous myself but have nothing against it, if it makes you happy or there is something there you connect with by all means feel free. Ill never tell you that your wrong, but dont preach it at me then violate your own "beliefs", which he was very fond of doing. He is very good at letting other do his dirty work which is why once again Ill ask WHERE IS SAL?

My favorite thing was how he would always bash brokers, to him they were the antichrist and he slammed them every chance he got. However then he would buy animals and turn around and sell them at a profit. Those mad ground boas he was selling that everyone kept hammering me about for calling him out about. The male wasnt eating on its own at all. It never fed once for him! He force feed it several times but it never volutarilly ate for him. That I know as fact this I know as rumor, supposidly the male puked some of those meals back up as well. He slammed brokers in some of those ads for the mads ground boas he even had negative remarks about brokers. He bought those off a broker who gave him the male for free. He paid $1200 for the pair or somewhere there about. If I rember correctly they were 2yr old animals, I know they were atleast yearlings. He sold them or at least had them listed at $1800 for the female and $500 for the male if my memory serves me right? Somehwere in that range. Well that a $1100 profit. Now considering they were bought and resold at a nice profit would that classify him as a broker? So we have him buiying and reselling and also selling the male as a problem feeder when it was not. It didnt eat at all on its own. Well I guess you could call it a problem eater but considering it didnt eat at all thats a little missleading dont ya think? I dunno I just hope these people get there money.

Hey Fred were almost at 10,000 veiws man your getting cloose to the Joa P statis here, tons of veiws, posts etc. I know I am not the only one who intends to keep this thread on the front page till you do right. SO GET JOHN AND EVERYONE ELSE THEIR MONEY!!!!!!!
 
If Fred is unable to come up with the money in a lump sum, maybe he could make payments to John.
If I were John I would want it in one lump sum. Considering Freds track record I think it would be more a hassle to take payments then its worth. Fred would send one or two small meaningless payments then offer months of excuses till he annied up and sent any more. I think it would be more a headache then its worth. Also if John accepted payments it would drag out any legal procedings that could possibly force Fred to pay up.

Everyone says that ripping someone off who paid with a postal money order is a federal offense. I hope John makes an example out of Fred for that to be true. MAybe when Fred is backed in a corner facing jail time he will pay up.

Fred rember this, if this is a federal offense you have commited and if? you can be sent to jail for it think about your daughter. Do you really want your visitation(if the x-wife allowed any at all) to be from the other side of a glass wall? Do you really want her seeing you like that? Do you really want to lie to her and tell her daddy is on a long vacation and cant see her? This can all be avoided if you PAY UP, NOW! the ball is in your court Fred so play it.
 
Honestly, I think I would let go of the idea of recouping any money from Fred. It appears that he has done all he intends to do on this, as far as financial considerations are concerned. He has lied to us all on multiple levels, and cannot be trusted to do anything that he would promise anyway, so I think you'd just be spinning your wheels on any deal at which you might arrive with him.

So, I would suggest doing the next best thing. See if you can get him prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law at any and every level of government available to you. It won't line your pockets much, but you'll sleep better knowing you helping put away a real bad guy.
 
Reply to Jason and Ann

I did send him a postal money order, I kept the receipt from that along with the FedEx receipt. I also have the receipt that he cashed it. All of this info and the events that have happened have been turned over to the FBI as well as the Post Master General. I have received word back from the postal service and Fred should have been contacted as well by now. I understand that he has moved and I have fowarded that info to them. I am not going to get into any details beyond this but he has been given a time frame by the postal service and I have been given a form to fill out and send back if withen that time frame Fred does not contact me and do what he is supposed to. Beyond that I honestly don't know what happens, but I do think that at this point Freds reputation should be the last thing he should be worried about.
Sincerely
John Skipper
 
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