• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Bad Guy MATT OAKLEY

kbsnakeyez said:
And let's not just totally bash Matt either..... Yeah his shipping method could do an about face upgrade!!!! And I also looked at the photos and seen no mites. :iagree: On the more pics needed of the snot bubbles....and vet bill's.... I have purchased from Matt in the past and have had noooo problems with any of my pythons. (2) 0.2 PASTELS (1)1.0 PASTEL, (1)0.1 LESSER AND (1)1.0 MOJAVE. ALL are eating like CHAMPS!!
Click to expand...

kbsnakeyez said:
:shrug01: I'm not choosing any one side here..... just giving a little info on the dealings I have had with Matt.... They have all been good so far.....
Click to expand...


Hmm how do you know Matt ! Your both from the same town ??
 
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm........ What is it a crime too live in the same state or (town) as someone??? Let me know something on that one!!!!!!!! And like I said in the above post..... I have bought from him on many occassions. He lives 45 minutes away from me.... You have too travel thru the tunnel to where his location is too mine........
 
kbsnakeyez said:
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm........ What is it a crime too live in the same state or (town) as someone??? Let me know something on that one!!!!!!!! And like I said in the above post..... I have bought from him on many occassions. He lives 45 minutes away from me.... You have too travel thru the tunnel to where his location is too mine........
Click to expand...


No banana box for one ! No flight ! There is a lot and for you to be upset for my statement makes wonder !
 
I try too mostly deal locally so this exact thing doesn't happen too me............... I am able too see my snake before i purchase and not have my finger's croosed everytime my snake is shipped!! Ie.... bad handling on way there too p*ss the snake off (by shipping company) or just bad packaging procedures.....
 
kbsnakeyez said:
And let's not just totally bash Matt either..... Yeah his shipping method could do an about face upgrade!!!! And I also looked at the photos and seen no mites. :iagree: On the more pics needed of the snot bubbles....and vet bill's.... I have purchased from Matt in the past and have had noooo problems with any of my pythons. (2) 0.2 PASTELS (1)1.0 PASTEL, (1)0.1 LESSER AND (1)1.0 MOJAVE. ALL are eating like CHAMPS!!
Click to expand...

Upgrade? Whats an upgrade to an uninsulated banana box? It needs to change period. That is animal abuse and neglect right there. That is cutting corners to save money. That is being greedy. That is being unprepared and taking extreme chances - with a living animal.

If that animal were shipped properly this would be a case of tough luck that just happen to occur two months down the road. I certainly couldn't look to Matt as the responsible party. Where it is now all stems from the shipping - from step one. I'm not denying the animal could have been fine through the disgusting shipping and developed something long after it was received - and/or outside the time line of Matt's own health guarantee. But to me its a higher probability that the snake developed poor health as result of Matt's shipping method. I think Trevor, in his excitement, may also very well have missed some signs of this animals developing poor health. I know if I received a snake in that sort of container I would have been monitoring it closely while in quarantine - probably even anticipating an illness to some extent and visiting a vet just to be sure. To me that's an honest and innocent mistake Trevor may have made. But that was no mistake the way that animal was shipped. No sir. Matt knows better and that was just a pure lack of caring.

I do agree that if Trevor wants a refund for vet expenses that he needs to provide paid vet bills which documents the diagnosis and courses of treatment.

I just think the quick way out of this for Matt would be to settle on a 50% refund on the snake and the entire cost of shipping. He should then vow to clean up his act and ship only above and beyond industry standards. But that's up to him. I know I currently wouldn't want anything in my collection from his. I wouldn't even purchase from someone if I knew something came out of his collection. And that right there affects you and you're probably a nice guy with an immaculate collection. But when you see crap like this who is going to take the chance? I line your pocket and maybe you'll be relining his pocket with another fantastic transaction. I don't come close to rewarding bad behavior. I don't support it and wont reward it - not even if it hurts a good person in the process. I'm not looking to piss you off, but think about that. Lots of folks think the same way here. If he doesn't make this right its not your fault but........
 
Haydenphoto said:
No banana box for one ! No flight ! There is a lot and for you to be upset for my statement makes wonder !
Click to expand...

Good answer Hayden. You have point there regarding the shipping. You're also expecting someone at your facility so it gives you a bit of time to make things appear cleaner and nicer.
 
just an fyi, i saw somewhere that matt works at a safeway grocery store in the baltimore md area. that could certainly be where the banana box came from. i don't know matt or critical bill and have no idea who is lying.

Dave
 
I rarely post here but seeing people with so little respect for the welfare of their animals really makes me sick.

Some days I really wonder what goes through one’s mind that they decide to ship a LIVE animal in a less then appropriate package (whether it is makeshift box put together or a box not designed to ship a live animal) – Boxes used in the shipping of lived animals are tested and designed to withstand a certain amount of pressure, altering a box or using a box not designed to that effect means jeopardizing the animal inside the box.

1# Are people that cheap? Hard to believe in this case that one would be when they brag about making $10000 in a little over a month.
pulled in a little more than $10k in just over one month between my 3 jobs
Click to expand...

2# Do they care so little that they have no issue jeopardizing the life of their animal(s) and jeopardizing the ability of the rest of us to be able to ship our animals?

3# Are they that clueless? Again hard to believe in this case
In over 5 years and almost 700 transactions
Click to expand...

There is ABSOLUTELY no excuse for an animal to be shipped in such a way, the box could have been easily crushed and lead to the animal’s death.

What is the animal had escaped from this inadequate package? (More bad press for reptile keepers, really what we need, don’t we)

Someone has a LOT to learn even though
I have also invested about 17 years of reading, owning, and learning everything I could about reptiles and animals in general.
Click to expand...
I guess you must have missed the chapter on proper shipping methods :rolleyes:

Next time when using SYR, how about watching the video and read the proper way to package a live reptile if you are that clueless. :confused:

Your shipping methods are not only inappropriate (even if you only do it once) and making you look bad they can affect the rest of us as well.

Would you have send this type of package to Fedex to be certified, you would have NEVER received a certification.
 
kbsnakeyez said:
And let's not just totally bash Matt either..... Yeah his shipping method could do an about face upgrade!!!!
Click to expand...

Maybe you would be singing a different tune if your snakes arrived in a banana box covered with mites?

Matt is like some others selling snakes that are willing to take a few hundred dollars from you for the snake but cares so little about the snakes they are are selling to spend $3.00-$4.00 for an insulated shipping box.

Its so sad that this abuse continues.:(
 
Wow, seems like his shipping methods are the same for reptiles as they are for frozen rodents that come from him. I have seen several bad guy threads regarding Matt up here as well as other sites and have personally seen how his rodents were shipped from friends. I would never do any business with him, not judging him just upon his bad guy threads, but by personal experience and also his customer service skills when he trys to stick up for himself. If this gentlemen contacted you right away letting you know he took this animal to the vet and that it had an RI, you should have fixed it right then and there. I understand that you refunded $100 for this, however the one vet visit alone probably cost way more than the $100.

Bad Customer Service = no return customers: just remember this
 
Ed Clark said:
Maybe you would be singing a different tune if your snakes arrived in a banana box covered with mites?

Matt is like some others selling snakes that are willing to take a few hundred dollars from you for the snake but cares so little about the snakes they are are selling to spend $3.00-$4.00 for an insulated shipping box.

Its so sad that this abuse continues.:(
Click to expand...

Hi Ed! On the mite issue.....you might actually be the one to get through to this kid, considering your similar past complaint of allegedly shipping a snake with mites and learning from that mistake. You did have the common sense and decency to send a can of prevent-o-mite (sp?) to your customer (if I'm not mistaken) to correct the problem.

You could be like....a big brother to Matt. Like the Ray Lewis of Reptiles! A Champion veteran! Of assorted mistakes. :thumbsup:

Anyway....you took care of it which is the most important thing and for that one time you did I give you credit.

Lets Go Ravens!!! Lets Go Ed Clark!!!
 
For those who were requesting this information here it is. The first three pages are the snake's history report. Beginning 6/30 and ending 9/9/09. The last three are paid receipts. If needed I will post the history report I'll get tonight when I drop the girl off at my vet to be "disposed" of. She was put to sleep last night via the freezer method. My vet and I discussed our options and he had no problem with me doing this. My fiance' actually had to move her to the freezer from the refrigerator because I couldn't handle it. My only other option was to have the vet inject her heart.

Sometimes bad things are going to happen, and mistakes are going to be made. Matt made a mistake, I gave him the chance to make it right. If none of this made sense to him and he did not believe me when I told her she was sick then he should of bought the snake back from me like I had suggested to him. He did not, and he did not offer to refund my money. This snake would of made more money for me than $500 so for him to say I just want the money is an inaccurate statement, and not appreciated at all.

He is correct. The snake was paid for $490 and he did refund me $100 when I called him the week I got her and told him she was blowing bubbles, had mites, and I was taking her to the vet. No questions asked I received $100 immediately. So she cost me $390 + all the above vet receipts ($117.40).

A person can be judged by their character and the way they react to situations. I question Matt's character, I question his business ethics. I am not out to shut anyone down which is why I waited so long to make this information public, and I fair warned him that if we didn't resolve the problem it would be put on the BOI. Which is to hopefully prevent this from happening again.

Through all of this. I have learned a valuable lesson, and what I will need to do for all future purchases/transactions. It was learned the hard way unfortunately.



1.jpg


2.jpg


3.jpg


4.jpg


5.jpg


6.jpg
 
I would like too be one of the first one's to apologize too Trevor for some things I wrote commenting on here. I wasn't trying too defend Matt.... At ALL.. wAS just saying my transaction's went well.... but like I mentioned before I am local too him.... So there for, no I wouldn't of had this type problm with him, And yes your probably correct about the time allocated too him before I get there too pick-up, things seem too look normal and clean. I'm truely sorry that you had too put her down Trevor. DEEPLY....... I hope my apology is acceptd. And let's hope that this shipping practice doesn't ever happen again. Again Trevor I'm sorry.
 
Trevor,
Take him to court if he doesn't refund your money, sending a snake packages that way is unacceptable.... sending a sick snake is VERY unacceptable. I looked on Matts myspace page and all of his snake looked nasty and their cages were very filthy. I think he needs to learn proper husbandry before he takes on any more animals. Everyone should stay away from Matt Oakley for the simple fact he is shipping live animals in produce boxes. He doesn't understand that he is dealing with a live animal that needs to be treated is care. Matt, do yourself a favor and refund his money, you wouldn't want someone to sell you a sick mite infested animal in a banana box.... when you buy animals from j stone or pete kahl do they come shipped that way? Trevor I'm sorry about your situation, you've spent a lot of money on pure garbage, Matt oakley should be ashamed on himself, as far as I am concerned he is now a liar and a thief. Matt Oakley should not be selling animals period, I will be contacting Jeff Barringer and telling him to ban him from kingsnake for selling sick unhealthy animals to unknowing customers, his care and shipping practices makes our hobby look very bad.
 
I've glanced at a few photos of his "facility" he posted on his myspace page. I don't know why some people insist on calling their home or apartment or bedroom a facility. It was absolutely disgusting looking at - but I don't actually know how old the photos are and if things may have changed. Right now the place looks like a three alarm fire waiting to happen, a death trap.

When you really look at the whole picture, from his "facility" pictures to his packing job, it doesn't really spell mistake. It spells neglect and all sorts of gross things that don't belong in this hobby. I think the only mistake was his thinking that he wasn't going to get called out on this sooner or later.

Well, Trevor may not get the refund he is completely and entirely entitled to but at least Matt is going to feel the pinch when he tries to sell something here or there.
 
Pictures of Matts "facility"

chondro4u

<a href="http://s741.photobucket.com/albums/xx55/chondro4u/?action=view&current=l_b0220fb9f0564218e5ecf32138be0ffb.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx55/chondro4u/l_b0220fb9f0564218e5ecf32138be0ffb.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s741.photobucket.com/albums/xx55/chondro4u/?action=view&current=l_b124063151673b446eb51e1259c398d3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx55/chondro4u/l_b124063151673b446eb51e1259c398d3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s741.photobucket.com/albums/xx55/chondro4u/?action=view&current=l_b915994904836ac74ec392e2e72657ca.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx55/chondro4u/l_b915994904836ac74ec392e2e72657ca.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s741.photobucket.com/albums/xx55/chondro4u/?action=view&current=l_e74b40cfb4a839b59cb13f985d1398ee.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx55/chondro4u/l_e74b40cfb4a839b59cb13f985d1398ee.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s741.photobucket.com/albums/xx55/chondro4u/?action=view&current=l_ec6d8916a75ff4eccd358386b151f31e.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx55/chondro4u/l_ec6d8916a75ff4eccd358386b151f31e.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s741.photobucket.com/albums/xx55/chondro4u/?action=view&current=l_f0638d3b28cc30cb89746330e2e4227b.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx55/chondro4u/l_f0638d3b28cc30cb89746330e2e4227b.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s741.photobucket.com/albums/xx55/chondro4u/?action=view&current=l_f3fd93a90b17f12193ac4331c8a45488.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx55/chondro4u/l_f3fd93a90b17f12193ac4331c8a45488.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s741.photobucket.com/albums/xx55/chondro4u/?action=view&current=l_fc4d03676f2c4331a37c35baec1455bb.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx55/chondro4u/l_fc4d03676f2c4331a37c35baec1455bb.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
Back
Top