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MI Reptiles, Ingrid/Mel Efrese -Frusterations

Shai Gurl

Po-Dunk Gal
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Howdy there, been a long while since I've used the BOI but I reckon I should before the filter between my brain and mouth malfunctions and I say something that'd reflect terribly on every party involved. So, I'll try to keep this short and as accurate in all details as I can... My friend Dave had purchased a pair of BCIs (Central American) from MI Reptiles at a reasonable price. He'd sent the money and Mel received it - Only he had a little mix up and failed to send the snakes on the agreed upon time. Dave had to call Mel to see what had happened since the boas never arrived and no e-mail nor call had been made on the subject. Mel apologized and sent the snakes the next week. Unfortunately there was another SNAFU - The snakes were sent in a small box marked "glass" with no heat packs, only insulation. One was foaming at the mouth when it arrived and both were half frozen to death, (we're at a very high altitude rural town in Wyoming). The snakes stayed with me (Sara) and thankfully warmed up nicely - The foam cleared away and both are really nice looking snakes. Ones a great tan/peach color and the other a steely gray with a great tail, both tame as requested. Love 'em! However, theres more to the story... Mel had felt bad about the SNAFU on shipping and offered another Central American boa shipped at no extra charge (Tame as he could find since that was the number one thing we were looking for and asked about). A few weeks went by and Dave got hold of Mel again via phone - Mel again apologized about the inconvenience and offered to throw in another boa with the first free one at no extra charge due to the length of time it had been. Soon thereafter there was another era of time where we couldn't get hold of Mel. Ingrid answered one of my letters stating that Mel was called up on service with minimal heads up on it- Something I feel is a very acceptable excuse. She then offered a pair of as-tame-as-she-can-find pair of boas and asked what the deal we'd made with Mel had been. I sent her the letter on the 19th, this is a cut and copy minus the mailing address:

Wellp (this is Sara), I sure hope Mel is doing OK wherever he is, always good to do one's duty. Anywho, far as the deal we made with Mel: was going to ship the snake free of charge (UPS or FedEX, USPS stinks up here and the closest Airborne station is 230 miles away). If you can ship this week (asap) I can receive the boas personally for Dave up to Thursday this week (Friday and the rest of the weekend I'm gone). Anywho, let me know when/if you can ship like that (Daves going to be so delighted when I chat with him next). The address for this week up until Wed (for a Thursday delivery) will be as follows:

I'd figured she wanted to get the deal done and it was early in the week when she'd asked for the info... No snakes, no reply... However I know it was read on the 19th, we (the Efreses and myself) have AOL accounts-Theres a way to check the status of the e-mails down to the min it was read. I was also able to see when she was online (spotting the reddawg43 screen name relatively often). I E-mailed her again with the same info and again no reply although the e-mail was read. So I sent another letter on the 27th (wasn't opened) and then again on the 1st with the same letter only I changed the subject heading to "INGRID / MEL Efrese.. " The e-mail went as follows:

Howdy there, got a letter then dead space for a while. Everything ok? I checked the e-mails (FINALLY figured out that function) and saw that you've read them; did I offend you in some way in one of the two? Some communication would much be appreciated, just let me know whats going on (eg: gotta talk to Mel first? Got a different shipment in and are sorting through them? Got a sexing probe behind your ear and can't find your pencil???). Please drop a line!

Ok, so maybe I was being very rude in doing that... I don't know, I thought I was trying to lighten the mood and friendliness. Ya know, a joke? It was sent at 6:35PM and opened at 6:57Pm the same day (the letter on the 27th was opened at that time as well). This is the response I was given:

Ms. Sara...
I have not been online lately, mostly on my personal email address not Mel's.
This is how it goes This deal was between you and Mel, not me and you. So your smart ass comment to me in not appreciated "Got a sexing probe behind your ear and can't find your pencil?" I dealing with many things, ever since Mel was called up unexpectedly with little prep time.
Anyway the 2 boas are here. Like I said before in situations like this we'd ship the snakes. The snakes are free but shipping is usually paid by the receiver. If you say the story different with deal you made with Mel, than I have to speak to him first. Also we ship to the original address. So were would to ship to a Dave's address. So when I hear from Mel you'll from me. INGRID


That was today... And I'm having a few mixed feelings on the subject... Should I really be hacked off? Should Dave be hacked off? Offended? Or did I say something in a letter that I still can't see? I can be absent minded about some jokes, was it inappropriate? I'm at my whit's end, as is Dave who shouldn't have to sit about wondering about the snakes coming in... After all, yeah they're free, great deal I think... But blah! Its turning into a mentally costly headache! We welcome any critiques or suggestions to this situation - Always best to bounce these sort of things off of the reptile community.

Regards;
Sara Eyre
Dave Winder
 
Forgot one detail...

Another AOL feature is the ability to see if a person is online or not... The Reddawg43 screen name has been online on a regular basis for good long periods of time. I know this isn't the most eloquent of side blurbs, but it should probably be mentioned in order to rebut any confusion.

Sara Eyre
 
My advice to you is take two aspirin for the headache and pay the shipping for the FREE snakes which i think i would be grateful to mel for offering them to me if i were you.

Thank You Mel for protecting our freedom. Tim Stockton
 
Daves gone with paying...

But thus far our attempts to contact them, (Ingrid, Mel is probably still off serving), have failed. I sent a letter asking how much the shipping would be via FedEx/UPS on the 6th (which was read the next day). I sent another letter about the same subject today... And I can attach the letters if anyone's interested (Don't know why, maybe I said another rude thing somewhere in there?). I'll keep whats going on posted soon as I know.

-Sara Eyre
 
No nothing... Nothing at all..

Wellp, shes either stopped checking e-mails all together or just stopped opening mine... I sent a letter just over 2 weeks ago asking how much shipping would be via FedEx or UPS. Shes not opened the letters nor made any other attempts to contact me nor Dave...... So I guess thats that.

I'll end it here until anything gets changed as this: I would not do business again with Ingrid alone, I'm sorry but she seemed quite rude. I could be wrong, she could be an absolute sweet heart in person but as presented in this situation just no (MI Reptiles, I assume that means Mel & Ingrid Reptiles - She should be able to at least keep up half of the bargain as a business person).

Mel, I'd do business with again. He was quite nice to work with, (despite an oopsie and a bit of a delay in communication), he presented himself in a very professional and polite manner. I really hope hes doing good wherever he is.


-Sara Eyre
 
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