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N.E.R.D.

Could Jas be right? He's only "impolite" to the people that he dislikes? This would make it a "personal" interaction experience and not a "customer service" experience...(however, because of the setting of the alleged incidents...the lines are blurred).

Hopefully this makes sense to someone other than myself. :)
 
deborahbroadus said:
Could Jas be right? Kevin of NERD is only "impolite" to the people that he dislikes? Wouldn't this would make it a "personal" interaction experience and not a "customer service" experience...(however, because of the setting of the alleged incidents...the lines are blurred)?

Hopefully this makes sense to someone other than myself. :)
Click to expand...

Corrections :eek:
 
jasballs said:
Still need to make more!! :yesnod:
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Ahhh, it was just an idea that came to me anyway.

With quite a few people saying that his customer service is good, and a few saying it stinks. I thought maybe it was personal, but only Kevin can answer that.

As far as I can surmise, it's either personal..he actually was too busy, or his customer service wasn't up to par in some instances (but no one is perfect).
 
Here is something for you all.

A few years back some pics came up from Nerd. The ones that know about it will know what I am talking about. the ones that do not know..... Do not worry about it.

But I had some very choice words about kevin and said how I felt about it.

But sense then I have talked to Kara many times. Kevin not so much but that is becuase I talk to Kara via a forum. we have basicly started over and I have to say they both have been very cool with me. and I have never made a purchase. NEVER.

I willbe stopping by their Tinley booth this year to talk a bit and have my book signed. I have all my books signed if I can. It is something I do lol. When I asked if they would do that they were all about it.

Everyone in the hobby has their ways. everyone in the hobby has their opinion.

Would I buy off NERD....... If they had something I could use in a project and the time was right. Sure would.

hey and this is coming from a person that at one time said I would never give NERD a dime. guess what. People change........ things change........ And it sometimes is better to stop yelling and just talk. More gets worked out.

Kara and Kevin. if you are reading this...... you will see me in Tinley. If you have time we will chat. I will be hanging out at BHB table and picking on Trav. or at one of many other friends tables. Kara thanks for the talks on BP.net. I still have to email you some pics of some certain snakes huh? lol
 
I would like to thank Kevin and Kara for their hours and hours of selflessness they have spent with me on the phone and email. They have helped improve our products in countless ways without wanting or needing anything in return. Their sense of humor and free spirits truly helps my attitude and outlook on life. These are the experiences I have had with them and I just want to say thanks.

Thanks Guys

Mark Mertens
 
Kara and Kevin are two of the most genuine people I have ever had the honor to know and call friends. I started in this hobby a little over three years ago.

I had the pleasure of meeting Kara first, and she promptly took me under her wing and has been a wonderful mentor and friend. Through Kara, I had the opportunity to also meet and get to know Kevin, and he has been nothing but kind and patient with me.

I've had the distinct pleasure of traveling to NERD twice in the past two years and spent a week with them both times. During both trips, I got to work "hands on" in their breeding facility - from cleaning the rodent room, to feeding the baby balls to the adults (as those are the species I am personally interested in).

When I've called Kara and Kevin has answered the phone, he always asks me how my little three clutch season is going, asking me if I have any questions or concerns, even personally showed me a few tips with eggs when I last visited.

In all that time, I NEVER spent a dime with them. And yet, they still treated me like the most important person at the moment that I called.

I am very pleased to be making my first purchase with them (the enchi in my avatar and another female). The transaction has gone smoothly, and when I had an unexpected car repair come up that ate one of my payments, they were accomodating with me and worked with me to delay my payments until the car was repaired and the repairs paid for.

I would not hesitate to purchase from them, and if one takes the time to get to know either or both of them, I'm certain they'll come away with the same positive experiences that I have.

Thank you Kevin and Kara for your friendship, your mentorship, and your great business transaction! You guys are alright with me!!! :D :yesnod:
 
Over 3 years ago I purchased a proven breeding pair of NERD line Het High Contrast Albinos from Justin Wiseheart. I wasn't familiar with Justin & called Kevin at NERD to verify... Kevin verified that Justin had bought the animals from him, had nice things to say about both him & the snakes.

The het pair has been one of the best purchases I've done- beautiful, fantastic animals! I got a wonderful pair of High Contrast Albinos in '06... again an awesome Albino boy this year. I've interacted with Kevin, Kara & Andy in various forums & respect them. I've not purchased directly from NERD, but expect to in the future.
 
I don't have a bone to pick!! :)

I was just wondering why some people seemed to have a problem with his service. I, personally, have nothing to complain about. I purchased 3 snakes; a Het Axanthic male and a Het Clown? pair (need to check my records). Kara has always been nice, polite and extremely patient with me.
 
deborahbroadus said:
I don't have a bone to pick!! :)

I was just wondering why some people seemed to have a problem with his service. I, personally, have nothing to complain about. I purchased 3 snakes; a Het Axanthic male and a Het Clown? pair (need to check my records). Kara has always been nice, polite and extremely patient with me.
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Not everything will make sence to you.

Some people will like you & others.... who knows why? Sometimes it is what it is, Deb. Now if folks want to buy from Kevin they will & if not... not. I think you can be good & still not please everyone. As this thread shows- folks for the most part have had good dealings & some aren't impressed. We look at the reasons... IMHO some folk's impression has guided their decision, so be it.
 
the reason you guys have no problems is because you spend decent amounts of money. for the small guys like us, $3,000 dollars is alot, and we cant just spend it on a few snakes and think nothing of it!

i only deal with local breeders because for me customer service is just as important as quality.
 
redskinsdude said:
the reason you guys have no problems is because you spend decent amounts of money. for the small guys like us, $3,000 dollars is alot, and we cant just spend it on a few snakes and think nothing of it!

i only deal with local breeders because for me customer service is just as important as quality.
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I've not spent one thin dime with NERD, but all my with interaction has been good. If yours was not then I understand why you'd be inclined to feel differently about them than I do.

There are several favorable posts in this thread from people who've spent very little $$ or even none at all... enough that "They are all about the dollar." theory just doesn't hold water IMHO.

I don't know them well, yet they've always been straight shooters with me... more important than the way they've treated me is the fact they DON'T know me. For what it's worth.
 
redskinsdude said:
the reason you guys have no problems is because you spend decent amounts of money. for the small guys like us, $3,000 dollars is alot, and we cant just spend it on a few snakes and think nothing of it!

i only deal with local breeders because for me customer service is just as important as quality.
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I visited the store with intention of buying nothing and was treated like I was spending over $50,000. I got the full tour of the store/ and breeding rooms etc... by Andy who I failed to mention earlier is just as nice as Kara and Kevin. In the end I did buy a snake that day but I didn't spend over $200 either. I think your judgement on just the big spenders have no problems is wrong on this one.

I will agree for us small guys as myself $3000 is a lot atleast for me it is.
 
redskinsdude said:
the reason you guys have no problems is because you spend decent amounts of money. for the small guys like us, $3,000 dollars is alot, and we cant just spend it on a few snakes and think nothing of it!

i only deal with local breeders because for me customer service is just as important as quality.
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While I understand your frustration, I must take slight offense at your thinking that any of us spend our money lightly. I put just as much thought into spending $3.00 as $3000.00 and if you don't have it, either amount can hurt.

I have been poor. I have stood in line waiting for food when my kids were little and I worked my butt off at a job to keep a roof over their heads and still not have enough money to feed them like I wanted to. I went to school and bettered myself so I didn't have to do that any more.

I now have the ways and means to get some of the things that I want and, by golly, if that offends anyone, well, cry me a river.

I betcha if you tried NERD's services either for the first time, or again, the results would be pleasant. Not every snake they sell is "high-dollar", I don't know where that idea came from. They have hets and morph siblings and such they would like to sell just like everyone else.

Try it and try it with an open mind and I bet you might even come out of it with a new attitude and, perhaps, a new snake! :)
 
redskinsdude said:
the reason you guys have no problems is because you spend decent amounts of money. for the small guys like us, $3,000 dollars is alot, and we cant just spend it on a few snakes and think nothing of it!

i only deal with local breeders because for me customer service is just as important as quality.
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I haven't spent anything close to that with them, and had not spent any money with them prior to May 2008, after knowing them, and them mentoring me for close to three years. Not once did they ever approach me to try to make a sale - they were there to support me as a new hobbiest.

The mentoring that I have received three years before I made any purchase, and the customer service currently while in the midst of the deal has been top notch with constant communication with status updates on my animals.

I agree with supporting small local breeders as well, but I'm not going to dismiss working with a large breeder also, especially since my personal experience with NERD in particular has been nothing but stellar.
 
No offense, but when did it become necessary for vendors to become best friends with their customers? You give them your hard earned money, they give you a quality product. They do it when they say they will, how they say they will, and the animal is healthy and happy. What more do you want, gift wrapped? Of course the guy is rushed, he runs a pretty large business. Unlike small time breeders who get the privilege of getting to know their customers, Kevin just doesn't have the time to. You think he's being rude, but being blunt and to the point is not rude, it's good business. Especially when you have to answer hundreds of emails a day, make sure your employees are doing their job and not stealing from you, clean god knows how many cages, feed hundreds of snakes, deal with local politicians who want to shut you down because they fear snakes, and the fifty thousand other things he does in a day.

For those who haven't already, I highly recommend you watch some of Brian Barczyk's snakebytes tv episodes. It's a great way to see how much work goes into operating such a large breeding facility and how much time it takes. Just think, NERD does that and operates a retail store on top of it.

Kevin and all at NERD provide a great product at a good price (albeit not always the lowest) and in my experiences with them, have always made good on their word which is much more than I can say of many companies out there.
 
redskinsdude said:
the reason you guys have no problems is because you spend decent amounts of money. for the small guys like us, $3,000 dollars is alot, and we cant just spend it on a few snakes and think nothing of it!

i only deal with local breeders because for me customer service is just as important as quality.
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Sorry Tyler but I'd have to disagree with you quite strongly on this point. I've picked up the phone without thought and called places like N.E.R.D. or 8 Ball Pythons or Bailey & Bailey Reptiles when I had a concern during this, our first breeding season. Nobody made fun of my newbie breeding fears or treated me as a bother. Nobody seemed to care I wasn't flashing big cash at them. Across the board I've been given respect, support, encouragement and common sense advice.

I think part of that is though that I don't demand or expect these very busy breeders to cater to me. I'm very appreciative when they take the time to help me by phone because I know that time is being taken away from something else. I understand if they don't have the time right then to speak with me at length. These people have hundreds, heck in some cases, thousands of reptiles to tend & a business to run. They have families to spend time with. They have lives to live just like I do.

I've also had the pleasure of visiting Brian at BHB and was given an amazing tour of his facilities. I do not know how in the world they manage to get done what needs done every day.

Oh and before you think I'm some big roller with tons of money to spend with these companies - think again. My husband and I think very hard about every dollar we spend. We don't waste our valuable time, however, having hurt feelings because somebody didn't sweet talk us enough at a show. :rolleyes:
 
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