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Info My experience with Reptile Basics / Cold Blood Novelties

I have dealt with both Rich and Frank, and was very satisfied with customer service, price, and quality of both snakes and equipment purchased. I've never found either of these men to be arrogant in the least, although in today's society some folks confuse busy and short with rudeness.

I agree with Mike Russo insofar that it seems a reasonable offer has been made, despite alleged unnecessary rudeness, language, and threats from the buyer. If I had been spoken to by a customer in the manner described, I don't know if I could have been as gracious. Furthermore, if I did agree to a refund, I assure you that I would not cover return shipping.
 
Hey Rich,

This is Shaun, I have bought a couple of racks from you as well as you helping me with the heat tape. (Which I really appreciate and was able to get installed). Rich has been nothing but help to me and I would and will use him in the future....

Now to the post at hand......

I know Wes, he hangs out with us alot and I know all about this situation.
As for the tail kink....I took the picture and I hope Rich would not call me a lier but I know that is the snake that was sent.....

As for the other snake, it is very skinny and some what dehydrated, the skin is folding on itself alot all over it. I have had bulls in the past and I know that they are supposed to be round not shaped like a Woma Python.

I am not trying to say anything bad about anyone, like I said rich is a good guy to work with. At the same time I am going to at least stand up enough prevent Wes from looking like the bad guy completely.

I know that we all have our own opinions, I am just giving mine.

In everyones defense,
Shaun
 
Nothing wrong with posting your account here, Shaun. This place is all about posting experiences and proof. There is nothing wrong with you backing up Wes' story.

Now, on the other hand, did Wes mention how he talked to and/or threatened Rich and Frank? Did he mention that he was offered a full refund? Did he give any reason as to why he is not willing to accept an offer to resolve this matter?
 
Yes he did, and I can't say that he was in the right, but at the same time I can't blame him. I know that anytime I pay money for a product from someone who is supposed to be reputable breeder I would expect a good snake regardless of pictures.

The kink would have been really hard to miss, you can tell just by looking at the pictures. I think the situation was handled poorly, I would have expected him to at least let Wes know that it had a kink.

I would had to agree with wes in that the snakes were way too skinny to ship with out the potential of killing them overnight. I just hope that neither suffers any longer in this nonsense.
 
sheffernan13 said:
Yes he did, and I can't say that he was in the right, but at the same time I can't blame him. I know that anytime I pay money for a product from someone who is supposed to be reputable breeder I would expect a good snake regardless of pictures.

The kink would have been really hard to miss, you can tell just by looking at the pictures. I think the situation was handled poorly, I would have expected him to at least let Wes know that it had a kink.

I would had to agree with wes in that the snakes were way too skinny to ship with out the potential of killing them overnight. I just hope that neither suffers any longer in this nonsense.
Click to expand...

..you would be surprised if you saw some of the conditions that imported animals arrive ALIVE (I'm talking about WC imported animals)..not in good condition but they are alive...I'm sure the snakes pictured would have no problem being shipped back..it's just a lame excuse..just my 2 cents
 
I'm sorry, but I'm just going to come out and say it. Too many similarities in writing style, and it's known to happen when someone needs "backing up" around here. IP check?
 
hi again,
i used the term arrogant....not confusing it with busy or short.....Frank posted the animals i was inquiring about the same day i called him, he was too busy at a show to sell me the snakes i wanted to purchase and pay for that moment. i called him after the show as he asked me to do, then told me he was too busy to look for the snakes "that he posted for sale"......i was told to wait until he showed up at the columbus ohio show to see what he had available. it is only a 2 hour drive to columbus, just to see if he has the animals i am trying to purchase.
i would compare this to a store advertising a sale/item with a limited quantity available at a specific price.....and the day they advertise, they close their store for a week or two. when you get in touch with them their response is.....i do not have time ......check later (by driving 2 hours) and then i may or may not have what you want.
Can any of Franks "defense" explain this in a manner that makes sense????? Why advertise something that you do not have time to sell???
Thanks to "Frank and friends/followers" in advance for enlightening me on this situation, please type slowly, i am not the brightest bulb in the basement.
mike
 
whimpyguns said:
hi again,
i used the term arrogant....not confusing it with busy or short.....Frank posted the animals i was inquiring about the same day i called him, he was too busy at a show to sell me the snakes i wanted to purchase and pay for that moment. i called him after the show as he asked me to do, then told me he was too busy to look for the snakes "that he posted for sale"......i was told to wait until he showed up at the columbus ohio show to see what he had available. it is only a 2 hour drive to columbus, just to see if he has the animals i am trying to purchase.
i would compare this to a store advertising a sale/item with a limited quantity available at a specific price.....and the day they advertise, they close their store for a week or two. when you get in touch with them their response is.....i do not have time ......check later (by driving 2 hours) and then i may or may not have what you want.
Can any of Franks "defense" explain this in a manner that makes sense????? Why advertise something that you do not have time to sell???
Thanks to "Frank and friends/followers" in advance for enlightening me on this situation, please type slowly, i am not the brightest bulb in the basement.
mike
Click to expand...

Hmmm... maybe he was busy? :shrug01: I don't imagine most reptile breeders are "store fronts" so it's not exactly a good analogy. You did get a snake from him, yes? So obviously he had something you wanted, and I'm assuming you looked elsewhere in the meantime during your wait? So it's not like you were horribly put out, from what I can see. Sounds to me like you just wanted to chime in because he wasn't kowtowing to you as soon as his phone rang. I'm sure he had other customers and worries at the time, don't you think?

If you want to use the store front analogy, if you walk into say... Best Buy? Is every employee supposed to rush the door, and follow you around at your beck-and-call til the moment you walk out? Are they supposed ignore the other customer that was getting their question answered before you walked in? Is the stock boy in the back supposed to stop unloading that truck and come run up front to wait on you hand and foot? Because using YOUR analogy, that's kinda what I'd see. Running his own business he's doing all that at once, and you're not the only person in the store. Kinda get my drift a little? Maybe? :eek:
 
sorry richard, i do not get your drift....HE advertised the animals, maybe i did not explain clearly enough that i called him days apart....after he returned home from the show, in the middle of the week....this was my second call to attempt to purchase the animals. he still had no time to address the snakes he advertised.....what is reasonable???? should i have waited weeks or months? i was not impatient, i did not call him the same day or anything like that. i was only seeking ball pythons.....not something that was available only from him.

as for the lame best buy analogy....i was quite patient, waiting several days, i did not expect any "special service" as you imply........

Nice try but you have failed......anyone else care to help me with this?????/
mike
 
I'm sorry, but the way you're carrying on about him being "arrogant" it sounds to me like you DID expect special service. As I said, I'm sure he had more on his plate than just you. Just because you advertise an animal, doesn't mean you're waiting by the phone for someone to call and buy it. Some people bump up their ads to keep their names in people's minds as well. And it sounds like he intended to sell the snake, so I see no false advertising. Did his ad sale "READY TO SHIP, CALL NOW!"?

Also, were you not planning to go to the Columbus show? Did he tell you that was the only way you'd be able to purchase a snake from him? It sounds like you were already planning to attend, and he in fact saved you some shipping costs? Doesn't sound like a bad guy to me.

For the record, calling my best buy analogy lame? Maybe you're right... maybe you AREN'T the brightest bulb in the basement. :)
 
I'll try to help, and I'll type slowly.

If my local widget store has a bunch of different widgets advertised, and I call them only to find that they are too busy to give me specifics on the exact widgets available because of the high volume of customers in the store, I can't really blame them. If they tell me they are too busy, and that I'll need to come down to pick them out, I can either choose another store, or take my chances. Again, sounds like he was busy, not arrogant.
 
I think this is getting outta hand....

I think that all the accusations are completely not neccessary. If you want to you can check the IP address and you will see that the posts are coming from different computers and different people.

I already stated that I personally do not have any problem with rich at Reptile Basics, I do have a problem with someone that is selling snakes that are imperfect. I know that if anyone on here bought a snake that was supposed to be specific color or sex and not kinked tailed, and it arrived as such you would be just as angry and dissapointed.

I understand that all of you that have bought from Frank and had good experiences are all going to back him. As well as those that did not are going to put such. I think that all of us trying to battle that the situation should have gone one way or the other has no purpose.

I feel that in order to promote good business, especially in the reptile industry, you should always attempt to provide the best product as possible. If they are kinked, reveal that they are as such, if you say they are good quality animals provide such. I know that in this economy each and everyone that is in the reptile business is having a little difficulty, lets just try to provide the best quality in order to continue the hobby.

Just trying to help,
Shaun
 
sheffernan13 said:
I think this is getting outta hand....

I think that all the accusations are completely not neccessary. If you want to you can check the IP address and you will see that the posts are coming from different computers and different people.

I already stated that I personally do not have any problem with rich at Reptile Basics, I do have a problem with someone that is selling snakes that are imperfect. I know that if anyone on here bought a snake that was supposed to be specific color or sex and not kinked tailed, and it arrived as such you would be just as angry and dissapointed.

I understand that all of you that have bought from Frank and had good experiences are all going to back him. As well as those that did not are going to put such. I think that all of us trying to battle that the situation should have gone one way or the other has no purpose.

I feel that in order to promote good business, especially in the reptile industry, you should always attempt to provide the best product as possible. If they are kinked, reveal that they are as such, if you say they are good quality animals provide such. I know that in this economy each and everyone that is in the reptile business is having a little difficulty, lets just try to provide the best quality in order to continue the hobby.

Just trying to help,
Shaun
Click to expand...

I agree Shaun, and for the record I've never bought anything from Frank. However, in order to know that this is what happened, it will take more than a blurry pic of the "malnourished" snake on death's door, and a kinked tail from who knows what snake, to convince me. Call me a skeptic. Even if I were to take the OP at his word and the two pics provided, given that Frank offered a full refund if he wasn't happy, he still sounds like an okay seller on the up and up. The OP is trying to extort a "discount" out of Frank because he's not satisfied, by way of demanding money back and keeping the snakes. It's really very simple. If you don't like the snakes, ship them back and get your money back. If they weren't up to my standards, I know I would. If he feels he has a "moral obligation" to keep the snakes to keep them safe and alive, then do so without attempting to extort money from the seller. Accept the monetary loss and stay on that high road.
 
rich,
again i am slow, how long should i expect to wait to be able to purchase animals advertised on KS? Lets forget the columbus show because i wanted to pay shipping and get the animals without making the drive. that is what i offered. i have purchased quite a few snakes online, but again, your help and insight would be greatly appreciated.....
is it typical for the seller to put off customers for weeks? months? how long should i wait between calls?
again, i am slow, and you seem to be quite sharp.....as a marble.
thanks for your wisdom.
 
whimpyguns said:
rich,
again i am slow, how long should i expect to wait to be able to purchase animals advertised on KS? Lets forget the columbus show because i wanted to pay shipping and get the animals without making the drive. that is what i offered. i have purchased quite a few snakes online, but again, your help and insight would be greatly appreciated.....
is it typical for the seller to put off customers for weeks? months? how long should i wait between calls?
again, i am slow, and you seem to be quite sharp.....as a marble.
thanks for your wisdom.
Click to expand...

I'd say, as long as you're willing to wait. If you want his animals, and he's too busy to wait on you... you either wait, take your business elsewhere, or don't buy anything. I don't see many other choices. You bought the animal, and then come on here calling him arrogant, simply because he was too busy to jump up and push you to the front of his priority list. If he was "arrogant" why buy the animal? I can't even see why the sour grapes, much less what would make someone thing Frank is a "bad guy" from your story.

*rolls along the floor, looking for other marbles to bump into*
 
i must apologize, i never meant for any of this to get personal. i had one dealing with frank, i wanted to purchase multiple animals that he advertised. "in my opinion" his customer service, at least in my opinion, was horrible. i am fully aware that anyone that does a large volume of business can have issues. i felt as though i responded to his request to contact him after the show, waiting several days, but still unable to purchase the animals i wanted was not good service. the animal that i did purchase was the same species, but not of breeder size (what i was trying to purchase). his animals seemed comprable to those offered at shows. again, i cannot, and have not, remarked negatively to any of his animals, only the customer service, or lack thereof, that i recieved.
anytime i see a post about someone i have dealt with, i will post my dealings with that individual. obviously some people will not agree, i am not here to please the "followers or friends"
i hope i did not offend anyone, even though this has turned out to be quite entertaining, i only want people to see my dealings with this person.
mike
 
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