Hello Everyone -
I have thought long and hard about posting this on here because I was hoping that he would eventually come through, but it does not seem this will be the case and I'm very dissapointed in this situation.
There were alot of emails back and forth between Justyn and I so I will give a brief outline and if emails are necessary I have them backed up.
This is all in regards to an ad Justyn placed for a Congo shipment which included Black and Red Atheris squamigera which is what I was intrested in........
3/22 - I sent $1,000 to Justyn via Paypal for a deposit on a total of 6 Black and 8 Red Atheris squamigera 50% of the total has he required.
4/19 - Snakes allegedly arrived at his facility.
4/21 - Advised he would be ready to ship on 4/24.
4/24 - Advised he could not ship that day and would ship on 4/26.
4/24 - Informed of alleged bite by Echis coloratus (I will elaborate more on this at the end)
4/25 - Advised he will take pictures after I requested numerous times and would look up cargo bookings to ship snakes.
4/26 - Could not take pics because he did not have enough time. (Snakes have been in now for 6 days) advised he would take pics 4/27.
5/1 - Said he would email pics same day, never did.
5/1 - Said he was packing venomous snakes that night and should be able to get to mine that night since it was not a large order.
5/2 - Advised shipment did not go out.
5/2 - Can't pack snakes because of bad T-Storms in the area.
5/2 - Sent blury pics from a cell phone of some squams but not black or reds.
5/3 - Informed me order again did not go out.
5/6 - I requested animals go out within 2 days or he refund my deposit. (Snakes have now been in 16 days)
5/8 - Advised he would send refund.
5/8 - Advised he could not send refund via Paypal because of no funds and would have to send a Money Order and would take care of the refund next day.
5/9 - Confirmed he would take care of refund same day.
5/10 - Informed me that he can not send refund due to financial situation and because he had another shipment from Peru come in and until everyone finished paying on that one he will be low in cash. (In the beginning he advised deposits were kept completely seperate from other money).
Expects to ship large venomous order on 5/14 but still can not ship squams.
5/11 - Said he considered deposits his when the animals arrived but never provided any proof of animals arriving such as pictures or shipping the animals.
(Snakes have now been in 21 days)
Now here I am 21 days after the snakes allegedly arrived and 51 days after I sent in a deposit with no snakes and no refund.
Many people have always doubted he would bring these animals in.
I, myself import animals and know very well the difficulties in getting things done but I don't think there is anyone that can come forward and say I kept them waiting or did not come through with their animals.
I also have heard first and second hand that I am not the only one dealing with this situation.
Regarding the Echis bite. Anyone that knows anything about the potential severity of an Echis bite knows you do NOT take chances. If you even think you have been envenomated you go to the hospital immediately. He said he had symptoms and swelling and tenderness in the arm yet did not go to the hospital.
Last year I was bitten by a neonate Echis carinatus which can curl up on a quarter. I got one fang in my thumb while force feeding it. I knew because of the local pain I had been envenomated and left right away for the hospital while arranging the Anti-Venom along the way (a 10 minute ride)
I was in ICU for 48 hours and recieved 2 vials of Anti-Venom, my blood was taking a very long time to clot, as if I was on a very high dose of blood thinner but otherwise I had no swelling or pain anywhere.
I know many people who work very closely with snake envenomations and they agree that it is very unlikely that this was really a bite.
So I'd like to hear what everyone has to say. I know Justyn has not had any negative comments previously but perhaps this time he bit off more than he could chew and is trying to keep from looking bad.
Best Regards,
Eric Marquette
Northshore Reptiles, LLC
