Melvin Efres, selling as "Mel" on KS.com classifieds -- Bad Guy: Lied in Ad.

[East_Coast]

Melvin Efres, selling as "Mel" on KS.com classifieds -- Bad Guy: Lied in Ad.

I bought a female 'Aru' locale Green Tree Python from Melvin Efrese last week. He sent me a male 'Biak' or 'Biak-mutt' locale Green Tree Python which I received yesterday.

This post will be in three parts -

1. Synopsis of what happened.
2. Photographic proof.
3. The entire chronological email and payment train.

PART 1. --- Synopsis
Last week 'Mel' put up an ad on KS.com for 3 Green Tree Pythons. One of these was a female Aru. I contacted him via email and then made payment. He shipped the snake to me on Tuesday 3/20/07 and I received the snake on 3/21/07. Immediately noticed it was not an Aru. Looked at its tail and saw hemipene bulges and large spurs. Probed it to confirm. Sperm Plugs came out with the probe on each side.
Contacted Mel and he told me that his only guarantee was live arrival and that he thought I was trying to scam him.
Filed complaint with Paypal and they closed it in his favor.
NOTE: The picture he posted on the KS.com ad was the size of a postage stamp and it was hard to determine locality or gender from the photo.

Part 2. --- Photographic proof

Pic 1 - clearly not an Aru locale

Pic 2 - profile

Pic 3 - long hind spur

Pic 4 - probing right side

Pic 5 - probing left side

Pic 6 - pic to show full length of probe. notice length past "taper" of probe.

Pic 7 - pic of pointed tail tip (Aru's have blunt tail tips) and another shot of probe DEEP in the snake

Pic 8 - another shot of the very long and pointed tail

Pic 9 - close up of head to show yellow blotches and dull olive (un-Aru-like) coloration

Pic 10 - sperm plugs that came out with initial probings

Part 3 - Email documentation.

1st email, sent to him to inquire about purchase:
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 07:07:49 -0500 (CDT)
To: [email protected]
Subject: Message about: Chondro Trio.
From: [email protected] Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Below is a copy of the mesage you sent to Mel

Mel,

I will buy the Aru female.

Please email me your paypal account and I will send funds immediately.

Thanks,

Peter Jolles
301-748-6572


2nd email, his response
From: [email protected] Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:07:57 EDT
Subject: Re: Message about: Chondro Trio.
To: [email protected]
[email protected] IS MY PAYPAL ADDRESS....
I could ship Monday over night....Is it ok to use UPS or who
do you prefer? I need your address to determine if heat packs are needed.
Thanks

Mel


3rd email, My payment to him via Paypal
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:32:08 -0700
Subject: Your Payment Has Been Sent
To: "East Coast Colubrids" <[email protected]>
From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Yahoo! DomainKeys has confirmed that this message was sent by paypal.com. Learn more

Dear East Coast Colubrids,


Your payment for $350.00 USD to [email protected] has been sent.





-----------------------------------
Payment Details
-----------------------------------


Amount: $350.00 USD

Transaction ID: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Subject: Payment from Peter Jolles for female Aru

Message:
Hi Mel,

My shipping address is:

Peter Jolles
XXX XXXXXX Drive
Frederick, MD XXXX
(XXX) XXX-XXXX

Shipping Monday night for Tuesday delivery is fine.

Can you give me any info on this girl? I assume she is totally healthy
and eats.

What is her approximate weight?
Was she CB 2002?
Who was the breeder?

Please, if you have those answers, I would appreciate them.

Thanks!

Peter Jolles

He called me and left a message that (3/17/07) night saying he would find the name of the breeder. He still has not given me that information.

[U]4th email - from me to him.[/U]
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 02:29:35 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Peter S Jolles" <[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Re: Message about: Chondro Trio.
To: [email protected]
Mel,

I got your message last night - Thanks!

Yes, if you do not mind - I would really appreciate to know where (which breeder) that Aru came from. Not for any other reason than just for my own records.

By the way --- UPS is fine as long as you use a styrofoam box. Please email me tracking info on Monday after you ship.

Thanks!

- Peter Jolles

5th email - me asking him if he shipped that Monday, as promised
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:08:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Peter S Jolles" <[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Re: Message about: Chondro Trio.
To: [email protected]
Mel,

Did you ship today?????

Can I have tracking information?

Thanks,
Peter


6th email - from him to me.
From: [email protected] Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:00:26 EDT
Subject: Re: Message about: Chondro Trio.
To: [email protected]
Hey Peter....
I was not able to ship today. The UPS pick up guy did not come by as scheduled.
When I called UPS they told me that if I still needed to ship today I would
have to go to the UPS store. I could not make the pick up times for any of the UPS stores
in my area. I will have her on her way tomorrow by 12-12:30pm eastern time. I will
personally take her to the UPS store.
I am sorry for the delay. I had her scheduled for a 4pm pick up but they never showed.

Mel


7th email - from me to him
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:15:41 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Peter S Jolles" <[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Re: Message about: Chondro Trio.
To: [email protected]
Mel,

That's cool - no worries.

Please, if you can, --- please email me tracking info tomorrow.

Thanks,

Peter

8th email and 9th emails - back and forth over the tracking number
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 16:43:59 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Peter S Jolles" <[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Re: Message about: Chondro Trio.
To: [email protected]
Hi Mel,

Thanks for this - I just tried to track it but it is not recognized in the UPS system. I guess you just dropped it off? I will try again in a little bit.

Thanks - I will let you know when she arrives.

Thanks,

Peter Jolles

[email protected] wrote:
Hey Peter...
Tracking number is :1Z4E06A50100000357

Mel

10th and 11th emails - he sends me an email about how great the snake is and I send him the email confronting his mistake.
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 06:30:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Peter S Jolles" <[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Re: Message about: Chondro Trio.
To: [email protected]
Mel,

I received the snake and HE is fine. Further, this is not what I would consider to be an "Aru" type. Clearly has a long and very pointed tail tip and mutiple yellow blotches. If I had to guess - I would say it is an Aru/ Biak cross. This was not determinable from the picture you posted in your KS.com ad but you clearly stated that she was an Aru type snake.

I do not need an extra male and would not have bought him. I would like to receive a full refund and a UPS ticket to ship him back to you.

I can provide pictures of very deep probes if need be. Also, I have both sperm plugs that retracted with the probe I just used on each side of his vent.

Please let me know how you want to proceed. I do not want this snake - I want a full refund. That is where I am at.

Thanks,

Peter Jolles

[email protected] wrote:
Oh ok, I will also check myself, maybe I missed a number or letter in the ones I gave you.
Oh BTW I noticed today that this female has been developing blue scales...something
I had not noticed before, since I only handle my animals on a need to basis....
If I had noticed before the price would have been higher....lol.

Mel

12th email - Mel tells me to shove it.
From: [email protected] Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 22:23:28 EDT
Subject: Re: Message about: Biak Adult Male.Nice coloring!
To: [email protected]
Let me sum it up for you....
1. A snake was sold and delivered.....ups confirmation to prove it to paypal or visa or both.
2. NOTHING was guaranteed except live delivery... done, you stated that yourself.
3. I had the snake check by 2 local breeders, they both agree it's a female.
4. I do not know if you are trying to pull a scam and switch snakes or what.
5. You can not prove that is not an Aru, and that it is a mix without actual genetic testing
It was sold to me as an Aru, I am no expert but the coloring is very similar to other Aru's I
have seen online and in books. I believe it to be an Aru and sold it as such.
6. There will be NO refund due to (again) the only guarantee was live arrival.
If it had arrived dead or damage then you would get a refund.



We went back and forth a few times and Paypal closed the dispute in his favor within 12 hours of me opening it. Thanks Paypal.

Please beware of this guy. I heard his voice and he sounds young - so he will probably be back at some point and selling snakes. He took me for $350 and then shoved it in my face.

That's ok - I'm a big boy. I would like him to be "outed" for the dishonest person that he is though...

- Peter Jolles

 

[East_Coast]

His name is Melvin Efrece and NOT Melvin Efres or Efrese.

Sorry for the confusion.

Peter Jolles

 

[Jim O]

Peter,

I agree that you've been had on the animal, at least on the sex, but there is always the old adage of "if it sounds too good...". $350 for a true locality specific CBB GTP of that size sounds a little low from what I recall the last time I was in the market for chondros.


I have a few questions. To the best of your knowledge, did he send the snake in photo in the ad? Did you ask for a better photo? Did he have posted terms anywhere or did you inquire? If the answer to the first question is yes and to the last is no (and no) then he is within his rights not to do anything. That said, he still should take the snake back and pay shipping in both directions.

 

[East_Coast]

Jim,

I do not think that he posted terms in his ad. He has no website.

He did post a picture - but it was literally the size of a stamp. The locality issue bothers me - however, the fact that the snake is male and not female is reason enough for him to refund the money.

Let me ask you - if all he "guaranteed" was live arrival - then why would he have to even send me a green tree python that was alive? The fact that he sent me a male instead of a female is the same as him sending me a live corn snake instead of the advertised female green tree python.

No matter how you slice it - he "sold" me a female Aru green tree python and he sent me a male snake.

Peter Jolles

 

[bcherps]

It definately is disappointing when you get your package and it holds a suprise. You should get a refund becuase it was missexed but that only works if the seller is honest and reputable.

I second the "if its too good to be true....."


I definately try to avoid using paypal, no matter what you report to them, as soon as they find out the transaction was for an animal you are automatically denied your claim since they do not cover the sale of live animals. I discovered it is in thier TOS a couple of years ago when I was talking to them about a problem I was having at the time.

Good Luck
ben cole

 

[Jim O]

Jim,

I do not think that he posted terms in his ad. He has no website.

He did post a picture - but it was literally the size of a stamp. The locality issue bothers me - however, the fact that the snake is male and not female is reason enough for him to refund the money.

Let me ask you - if all he "guaranteed" was live arrival - then why would he have to even send me a green tree python that was alive? The fact that he sent me a male instead of a female is the same as him sending me a live corn snake instead of the advertised female green tree python.

No matter how you slice it - he "sold" me a female Aru green tree python and he sent me a male snake.

Peter Jolles

Yes and no. The photo in the ad was insifficient for an identification. There was no lineage or breeding info. For all you know this is a LTC. You had the option to ask for better pics and more info regarding the animal's lineage before sending money. That you did not was your choice, no one else's. You also could have (and should have) inquired as to his terms. Most sellers will guarantee correct sex and live arrival, but unless you have that in writing you have no "legal" leg to stand on. Had he sent you photos of the head and the tail then you would not have bought the snake. The only issue is the gender as far as I see. And again, if it's not guaranteed, then he's technically within his rights. That does not make him right as I pointed out.

And actually, as far as PayPal is concerned, he could have sent you a corn snake and they would have found in his favor.

 

[ravensgait]

Well Peter that does suck,,, The local thing is neither here nor there as you can't prove what local it is or isn't.. Mis sexing is a real problem in these guys as everone wants a female chondro well except me lol... The way I see it is if the animal is listed as a female it should be female those are the terms the seller made, if it's not a female replace or refund.

As far as spurs and that well i have proven females with spurs that would put that boys to shame lol...Randy

 

[jsrocket]

Well Peter that does suck,,, The local thing is neither here nor there as you can't prove what local it is or isn't.. Mis sexing is a real problem in these guys as everone wants a female chondro well except me lol... The way I see it is if the animal is listed as a female it should be female those are the terms the seller made, if it's not a female replace or refund.

As far as spurs and that well i have proven females with spurs that would put that boys to shame lol...Randy

Randy, with all due respect, why was that post needed? It really said nothing of any substance. Peter obviously got screwed on this deal. Your semi - coherent ramblings should be regarded as such.

BTW, do not take this post as some indication that I don't like you, because, generally, I do. But, that was just unnecessary.

 

[ravensgait]

LMAO gee Jim tell me how you really feel.. I find it funny that you had to make that post..

Hey was just adding the opinion of someone who has dealt with a whole bunch of Chondro's and bought many of them online, the guy sold the snake as a female and Peter at the very least should have received a female. The rest of the complaint of it not being an Aru or having long spurs ETC make little difference though from the photo I'd say it's not an Aru looks like a cross..

Can't say as I've ever heard of this seller and am glad Peter posted this so others can avoid him. Would be interesting to have him come post here.....Randy

 

[East_Coast]

REDDAWG43

Can't say as I've ever heard of this seller and am glad Peter posted this so others can avoid him. Would be interesting to have him come post here.....Randy

Melvin Efrece's handle in here is REDDAWG43.

 

[East_Coast]

My last email to him
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 08:03:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Peter S Jolles" <[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Re: Message about: Biak Adult Male.Nice coloring!
To: [email protected]
Mel,

Yeah, I guess the most important thing is that you got your money, right?

Personally I would not want to be known as a dishonest, unethical, stealing scumbag - but that is up to you.

Still waiting for the contact info for the two breeders that verified the gender of the snake as a female...

Peter Jolles

His last email to me[/B]
From: [email protected] Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 10:32:20 EDT
Subject: Re: Message about: Biak Adult Male.Nice coloring!
To: [email protected]
lol....last 2 snakes posted were sold and the snakes and cages get picked up tonight.
So ahh Good luck with that...

Precipitated by this email from me to a lot of friends (cc'd Efrece on it)
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 04:48:33 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Peter S Jolles" <[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Fwd: Re: Message about: Biak Adult Male.Nice coloring!
To: [email protected]
Guys,

Beware of this guy - Melvin Efrece. He sold me a female "Aru" locale green tree python. He sent me a male "Biak" locale green tree python.

Refuses to make it right.

Posts as "Mel" in the kingsnake.com classifieds. This will be posted the the BOI tonight with clear photographic proof; including the two sperm plugs that came out of the snake when I probed it.

Also, this guy is going to get his own web page on my site (www.heat-pits.com). He is not going to get a mention in my blog --- he is getting his own page.

Hope you guys are all well and your snakes are locking up!

- Peter Jolles

He sent me this email before the above that I rolled out to everyone
From: [email protected] Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 06:30:07 EDT
Subject: Re: Message about: Biak Adult Male.Nice coloring!
To: [email protected]
I am out of the snake buisness....
Post on the BOI all you want.


I responded with
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 04:42:19 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Peter S Jolles" <[email protected]> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Re: Message about: Biak Adult Male.Nice coloring!
To: [email protected]
Ok. Please --- it will be up tonight. I will send you the link. It will be titled:

Beware of Melvin Efrece ([email protected] selling as "Mel" on kingsnake.com): Fraudulent seller, classic "bait and switch" scam artist --- BAD GUY!

Next, the post itself will have our entire email correspondence. Following that will be photographs of the snake and proof that it is a male. Please see my website --- www.heat-pits.com. That will give you a taste of the detail and clearness of my photography.

It is too bad --- you are clearly in the wrong here and could have made this right. Instead you choose to take the money and run, leaving me to hold the bag. Shows a lot about your character as a man.

I hope you enjoy your $350.00 Mel. Personally, I would not feel right about shafting someone --- but then I am not a scumbag like you.

Finally, I am still waiting for the contact information for the two breeders that confirmed the gender of the snake in question.

Peter Jolles


I have spent too much time and effort on this guy already. Just be warned about him --- he is not going anywhere and obviously this guy only cares about one person: Melvin Efrece. He says he is out of the snake business... whatever.

I hope he comes to Daytona this summer. I would love to chat with him face to face. Would appreciate any S2 that anyone has on him.

 

[East_Coast]

Guarantee / Shmaurantee

Yes and no. The photo in the ad was insifficient for an identification. There was no lineage or breeding info. For all you know this is a LTC. You had the option to ask for better pics and more info regarding the animal's lineage before sending money. That you did not was your choice, no one else's. You also could have (and should have) inquired as to his terms. Most sellers will guarantee correct sex and live arrival, but unless you have that in writing you have no "legal" leg to stand on. Had he sent you photos of the head and the tail then you would not have bought the snake. The only issue is the gender as far as I see. And again, if it's not guaranteed, then he's technically within his rights. That does not make him right as I pointed out.

And actually, as far as PayPal is concerned, he could have sent you a corn snake and they would have found in his favor.

Jim, not to be difficult --- BUT, I don't play the namby pamby-semantic guarantee game with people. I have been too lax with sellers in the past and it finally bit me. This only cost me $350 - I am more PO'd about his attitude.

I understand that you are playing devil's advocate in this thread and you are correct - but I acted like a man who trusts people at their word and he acted like a thieving piece of garbage.

My fault for not exercising due-diligence to make sure my $350 was spent properly.

Anyway, thanks for reading the post and I hope he shows his face in this BOI. I suspect he won't because he has no leg to stand on and he is a crook.

 

[norsmis]

Peter, you live and you learn buddy! And I am sure this guy will be back in the hobby before long.... I am just glad you got his name out for the world to see he is a worthless piece of garbage.

 

[Lucille]

An express warranty need not be in writing and it does not have to be labelled a warranty "An express warranty can be made orally, in writing and without the intent of the seller to actually create the warranty"

A warranty can arise by operation of law simply based on the seller's description. Here, the snake was allegedly described by the seller as female.

 

[Jim O]

...I acted like a man who trusts people at their word and he acted like a thieving piece of garbage.

Very true about you, a little strong about him. At least he sent you what appears to be a healthy snake. You really didn't get taken for $350 as the market value for that snake may in fact be somewhere near to that number. A "thieving piece of garbage" would have sent you nothing, or perhaps an empty box. To me he sounds more like a middle man who took someone's word for something and embellished it and maybe spent your money and doesn't care about his "good name" because as PT Barnum didn't really say "there's a sucker born every minute".

...I hope he shows his face in this BOI. I suspect he won't because he has no leg to stand on and he is a crook.

Did you let him know about this thread?

Also, you should report him to the owners of Kingsnake.com.

 

[A_Mc]

Peter...
I would have to agree that it has the phenotypical characteristics of a Biak locale animal. I'm not saying that he's not a Biak/Aru, but he definitely has the physical characteristics of a Biak. I would also concede 'male' as the hemipenal bulges and sperm plugs are pretty hard to dispute (as is a well performed probing). I, like Randy have several females with honkin' spurs, so I don't consider that a reliable indicator of gender.

If he was advertised as a she, you are entitled to a refund. Sorry, but the 'I'm out of snakes' comment makes me think that you won't be getting one any time soon...Another name to add to the list.

Unfortunately, there were pics up (small as they were)...If I couldn't see the pic, I would ask for another before the money was sent.

350 for an ADULT FEMALE CBB should have sent off some bells....I know you will quarrantine him far away from your collection.

On the flip side, if you were to take some time with him, de-parasitize him, get him on a feeding schedule etc etc etc, you could probably sell him for more than you paid. I know, a lot of work for a bum deal, but it seems you're stuck with him now.

As an aside, I have a sweet adult female Aru I may consider parting with..If that's what you need. I will warn you, she will go for a bit more than 350......

Thanks for the warning!!!

 

[thomas davis]

well

i find it funny as $#it that the OP blackballer wants to dog/rag on the BOI and its members on his site, but when he has a problem he comes here and post it CLASSIC,,,,,,,,,,thomas davis...blackballed by ecc as an anklebiter

 

[East_Coast]

Angela and Jim_O --- you are right. As I have noted to myself: at least the snake is a nice and healthy animal. As a matter of fact - he's perfect.

HOWEVER: that does not matter as I purchased a female and he sent me a male.

Anyway --- not the end of the world; $350 won't kill me. Wanted to get this out there.

 

[East_Coast]

Thomas, You can lead a horse to water...

i find it funny as $#it that the OP blackballer wants to dog/rag on the BOI and its members on his site, but when he has a problem he comes here and post it CLASSIC,,,,,,,,,,thomas davis...blackballed by ecc as an anklebiter

One of the reasons I posted this thread was to show what (I have always thought that) the BOI is SUPPOSED TO BE. The initial thread laid out the facts and did not dive into paragraph after paragraph of hurt feelings.

I also did not liberally use commas and other punctuation marks in anapproriate places to make the post hard to read. Think about that Thomas.

Thomas, also, please - unless you have something to say about this incident - go rant somewhere else.

 

[tomsey]

i find it funny as $#it that the OP blackballer wants to dog/rag on the BOI and its members on his site, but when he has a problem he comes here and post it CLASSIC,,,,,,,,,,thomas davis...blackballed by ecc as an anklebiter

Hey Thomas,
Peter did not post this here to get help from anyone.......he can handle his problems himself. Comprende??? I think he posted it to give a heads-up to everyone to watch out for this piece of garbage scumbag........(oh, and that's what that guy is, so I will call him that). So, take Peter's advice and use it well or just keep your childish comments to yourself please. There is no need to post what you did in this thread. Whatever happened between you and Peter in a previous thread is done. Let it go man.....just let it goooo....LMAO.

Tomsey Bitago