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Info Paul Buckley of NY - questionable shipping practices

Shadera

Wayward Python Wet Nurse
Joined
Aug 8, 2008
Messages
3,272
Reaction score
481
Points
0
Location
Charleston, WV
I recently purchased an animal from Mr. Buckley. He had a couple positive feedback here so I had no qualms about going through with the deal. The transaction went fine until the animals were received. For what they're worth, I'll post all our emails back and forth starting from the beginning. Then I'll go into detail about the shipping and post a few pictures.

_______________
fromBuckley, Paul <[email protected]>
[email protected]

dateMon, Jun 29, 2009 at 2:25 PM
subjectRe: Message about: 66% HET FOR PIED 08 FEMALE

hide details Jun 29 (9 days ago) Reply





sure thing shadera. my paypal is: [email protected]

I'll get you a shipping quote in a minute.

-paul


> From: <[email protected]>
> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:23:30 -0500 (CDT)
> To: <[email protected]>
> Subject: Message about: 66% HET FOR PIED 08 FEMALE
>
> *************
> NOTE: This message was sent to you via the Kingsnake.com Classifieds. If
> you feel this message is fraudulent or abusive please forward it to
> [email protected].
> NOTE: DO NOT flag this message as SPAM/JUNK as your ability to receive
> legitimate messages from Kingsnake.com Classifieds may be compromised
> *************
>
> Hi Paul,
>
> I just wrote to you about buying the het albino, but I would like to purchase
> this girl as well. Thanks!
>
> Shadera
>
> ----------------------------------------------
> Click on (or cut and paste into you browser's
> location window) the URL below to view the ad that
> this message is in response to.
>
> http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?de=693685&cat=32
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------
> This message was sent by an unregistered or non logged in user.
> This person may or may not be who they say they are.
> The return address they provide may or may not be their correct address.
>
> Sent 01:23 PM, Jun 29th, 2009 from I.P. Address
> 98.157.75.46/cpe-98-157-75-46.ma.res.rr.com
>
_______________

fromShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>
to"Buckley, Paul" <[email protected]>

dateMon, Jun 29, 2009 at 2:29 PM
subjectRe: Message about: 66% HET FOR PIED 08 FEMALE
mailed-bygmail.com

hide details Jun 29 (9 days ago) Reply



Excellent Paul, thank you!

Shadera

_______________

fromBuckley, Paul <[email protected]>
[email protected]

dateMon, Jun 29, 2009 at 2:28 PM
subjectRe: Message about: 66% HET FOR PIED 08 FEMALE

hide details Jun 29 (9 days ago) Reply





shadera, shipping both snakes in one box to clarksburg will be $59.

_______________

fromShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>
to"Buckley, Paul" <[email protected]>

dateMon, Jun 29, 2009 at 2:32 PM
subjectRe: Message about: 66% HET FOR PIED 08 FEMALE
mailed-bygmail.com

hide details Jun 29 (9 days ago) Reply



I'll send that right over, let me know if there are any problems.

Shadera

_______________

fromShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>
to"Buckley, Paul" <[email protected]>

dateMon, Jun 29, 2009 at 2:36 PM
subjectRe: Message about: 66% HET FOR PIED 08 FEMALE
mailed-bygmail.com

hide details Jun 29 (9 days ago) Reply



The full shipping address is:
Shadera Lorrain
<edited out my address>


Ship at your leisure. =) Thanks so much, I was waiting for a couple girls like these to pop up for sale!

Shadera

_______________

fromBuckley, Paul <[email protected]>
toShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>

dateMon, Jun 29, 2009 at 3:04 PM
subjectRe: Message about: 66% HET FOR PIED 08 FEMALE

hide details Jun 29 (9 days ago) Reply





sure thing shadera. I feed on sundays, so after I leave the office today, I need to go home and see of they actually ate for me last night. if not I can ship them this week.

also - if you need a male, I had bought from dan wolfe a 100% het for pied / 66% het for albino male 2 years back. last year I bred him to a bunch of my females that are poss for both albino and pied. he sired pied offspring but no albinos – meaning he does not carry the alb gene or those females did not or I need to try a second year as getting skunked on round one with only a few females tried is not uncommon. but I’m not going to try him again as I bought another male from dan that is 100% for both and he was my guy for those gals this past season. he is an adult over 1500 grams (I’ve not officially weighed him or put him up on kingsnake as I’m waiting for him to shed)... if you wanted him I’d give you a good price. he is an aggressive breeder. he eats thawed rats.

_______________

fromBuckley, Paul <[email protected]>
toShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>

dateMon, Jun 29, 2009 at 3:21 PM
subjectRe: Message about: 66% HET FOR PIED 08 FEMALE

hide details Jun 29 (9 days ago) Reply





mistake: he’s a 100% het for pied / 50% het for albino male... sorry bout that.

_______________

fromShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>
to"Buckley, Paul" <[email protected]>

dateMon, Jun 29, 2009 at 3:24 PM
subjectRe: Message about: 66% HET FOR PIED 08 FEMALE
mailed-bygmail.com

hide details Jun 29 (9 days ago) Reply



I appreciate the offer, but I already have a male 100% het for both.

Shadera

_______________

fromBuckley, Paul <[email protected]>
toShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>

dateTue, Jun 30, 2009 at 3:49 PM
subjectRe: Message about: 66% HET FOR PIED 08 FEMALE

hide details Jun 30 (8 days ago) Reply





hi shadera,

they did eat, so I’ll ship them this coming mon... you’ll get them tues.

is that ok?

_______________

fromShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>
to"Buckley, Paul" <[email protected]>

dateTue, Jun 30, 2009 at 5:13 PM
subjectRe: Message about: 66% HET FOR PIED 08 FEMALE
mailed-bygmail.com

hide details Jun 30 (7 days ago) Reply



That's fine with me. Thank you!

Shadera

_______________

fromBuckley, Paul <[email protected]>
toShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>

dateMon, Jul 6, 2009 at 11:42 AM
subjectyour snakes

hide details Jul 6 (2 days ago) Reply




hi shadera, I was packing up your girls this morning and noticed a discrepancy. the gal I listed as 225 grams is actually 165 grams – in grabbing her weight for my ad, I mistakenly referred to the chart I have on the gal next to her.

I feel bad (and stupid) about this as that is a major weight difference, so I’d like to offer you two options – the first being I cut the total price (with shipping) to $275, and refund you via paypal $75... the second option you have is to just not take her and I’ll refund yr money to you.

one bit of good news is the other gal listed at 495 grams is now 575 grams empty.

anyway, I fell bad about this mistake, so please let me know how you’d like to handle. thanks shadera.

-paul

_____________

fromShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>
to"Buckley, Paul" <[email protected]>

dateMon, Jul 6, 2009 at 11:48 AM
subjectRe: your snakes
mailed-bygmail.com

hide details Jul 6 (2 days ago) Reply



Hi Paul,

Which one is the smaller one?

Shadera

_______________

fromBuckley, Paul <[email protected]>
toShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>

dateMon, Jul 6, 2009 at 11:49 AM
subjectRe: your snakes

hide details Jul 6 (2 days ago) Reply






08... eating thawed small rats. she was hatched out 09 / 08 and is 225 grams empty. she is healthy and flawless in every way.

she is a 66% het pied, and also has a small chance of being het for albino.

she is the result of a 100% het pied/50% het albino male bred to a 100% het pied female. i am happy to provide visual paperwork guaranteeing the genetics of my snakes. there were three in the clutch... this gal and two visual pieds... her sister is in one of my other ads currently running.

------------------------------------

$100. no trades. pls see my other ads.

------------------------------------

thanks for looking. paul

The following was added on 06/16/09
book-keeping note for self: F

_______________

fromShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>
to"Buckley, Paul" <[email protected]>

dateMon, Jul 6, 2009 at 11:51 AM
subjectRe: your snakes
mailed-bygmail.com

hide details Jul 6 (2 days ago) Reply



I think I'll have to pass on her if she's that small and was born in September. I definitely want the albino possible het pied, though.

Shadera

_______________

fromShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>
to"Buckley, Paul" <[email protected]>

dateMon, Jul 6, 2009 at 11:56 AM
subjectRe: your snakes
mailed-bygmail.com

hide details Jul 6 (2 days ago) Reply



Sorry, meant to say 100% het albino possible het pied..

_______________

fromBuckley, Paul <[email protected]>
toShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>

dateMon, Jul 6, 2009 at 12:04 PM
subjectRe: your snakes

hide details Jul 6 (2 days ago) Reply





ok. would you like the other gal for free? she is healthy and plump, but short.

_______________

fromShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>
to"Buckley, Paul" <[email protected]>

dateMon, Jul 6, 2009 at 12:56 PM
subjectRe: your snakes
mailed-bygmail.com

hide details Jul 6 (2 days ago) Reply



I just hate to cost you a sale, you should be able to sell her to someone I'm sure. If you want to toss her in I certainly won't tell you no. I know that helped a lot. LOL

Thank you for the refund. I hope there's no hard feelings.

Shadera

_______________

fromBuckley, Paul <[email protected]>
toShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>

dateMon, Jul 6, 2009 at 12:58 PM
subjectRe: your snakes

hide details Jul 6 (2 days ago) Reply





I’ll toss her in shadera. and of course no hard feelings – my screw up, so I like to make good when I make a mistake.

_______________

fromBuckley, Paul <[email protected]>
toShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>

dateMon, Jul 6, 2009 at 2:28 PM
subjectyour snakes are shipped

hide details Jul 6 (2 days ago) Reply





the big gal is in mid shed... and it’s always good to give shipped snakes a re-hydrating soak, but especially so for this one.

please email me when you get them to lemme know all is ok.

your fedex tracking number: 8599 3864 7350

thanks!

-p

_______________

fromShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>
to"Buckley, Paul" <[email protected]>

dateMon, Jul 6, 2009 at 2:51 PM
subjectRe: your snakes are shipped
mailed-bygmail.com

hide details Jul 6 (2 days ago) Reply



Wow, that's very kind and completely unexpected of you! I'll be sure to pay it forward when I'm in a position to do so. Especially if she eventually proves out as het for either.

I'll let you know when they get here, and will update you as they settle in. Thanks!

Shadera

_______________

fromShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>
to"Buckley, Paul" <[email protected]>

dateTue, Jul 7, 2009 at 3:04 PM
subjectRe: your snakes are shipped
mailed-bygmail.com

hide details 3:04 PM (4 hours ago) Reply



Well, they're here. they're alive, but I'm not sure what damage there may be from the heat they sat in for hours. I must say, I'm very disappointed in the way they were packaged, and that they were sent regular overnight on top of that. It gets VERY hot in those delivery vehicles, I know first hand because I used to drive 18s and sweated it out many an hour unloading freight out of my trailer.

If you are just new to the hobby, please read up on proper shipping technique for the safety of these animals. They deserve that much from us. Here's where I get my shipping supplies, and have never had an issue shipping live animals with these boxes.
http://www.shipyourreptiles.com/shop/insulated_shipping_boxes/product
They keep the temps more stable, and a cool back in these summer months is a good idea as well.
If you did know better, then shame on you..

Both girls are in their quarantine tubs, and I really hope they make it. Even after unboxing them and the few minutes it took to fumble them into their tubs, their external temps still measured ninety degrees with an infrared temp gun. Next thing I'll be doing is making them an appointment with my herp vet to see if there are any neurological issues from the sustained heat they endured. I expect nothing from you, but I do hope you will strive to do better in the future. A good reputation in this hobby is hard work, but a bad one will haunt you forever and it's not worth it.

Shadera

_______________

fromBuckley, Paul <[email protected]>
toShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>

dateTue, Jul 7, 2009 at 3:43 PM
subjectRe: your snakes are shipped

hide details 3:43 PM (3 hours ago) Reply





shadera, I have sent hundreds of snakes regular overnight – you are the first to complain about that and my packing skills. there are many ways to skin a cat, and styrofoam boxes are but one shipping method, and one I do use when I deem it necessary. I actually think the other way I pack snakes to give more protection, and absorption, and climate control. but you know what you know and think that the only way. you go on to lecture me... a complete stranger to you, actually using the words “shame on you” - I’m sorry, I’ll not interact with you on that level.

feel free to ship the snakes back to me. I’ll reimburse you.

_______________
*************




And that was all of those. I originally agreed to buy two females. One 100% albino possible het pied and one 66% het pied possible het albino. The 66% het pied turned out to be smaller than the original ad stated so when he offered to let me out of that purchase I took it fearing a problem feeder if she's that old and that small. He refunded the price of her no problems at all. And when he offered to add her in for free anyways I thought that was a very kind gesture. Up till that point I had no reason to think anything bad of him. Then I got the box today.

Now for the pictures.

Regular ol' used cardboard box.
ship1.jpg


Two padded envelopes lying on top.
ship2.jpg


What was under the "climate control".
ship3.jpg


Another view, you can see the "protection" there in the bottom, folded cardboard bits. I'm pretty sure this is either a cell phone or a camera box. The snakes were inside.
ship4.jpg


Opening the inner box to check the snakes.
ship5.jpg


From there I put the camera down and got to work getting them out of there and into some proper housing. Both animals were very visibly stressed and external temps even after pulling them out of the box upstairs and then running down two flights of stairs to get them into the quarantine rack were still around 90 with an infrared temp gun. I misted them and gave them water and hides, and left them to relax. I contacted the seller to let him know they arrived, and received the reply above. There doesn't appear to be any major issues with them (checked in a little while ago), but that's not to say nothing will pop up. They'll be seeing my vet on Thursday, with fecal samples or not. Given his response to his shipping method, I wouldn't be surprised if these turned out to be 100% het for nothing.

Here's a screenshot of the routing from FedEx so people can see just how much time these snakes spent in the back of a hot delivery truck. They were shipped Regular Overnight.

ship6.jpg


As always, I am happy if need be to forward any emails to a neutral party for authenticity to be checked.

Shadera Lorrain
 
Horrendous packaging and inexcusable to ship them standard overnight rather than priority. This seller leaves a lot to be desired. I hope they are ok Shadera.
 
shadera, I have sent hundreds of snakes regular overnight – you are the first to complain about that and my packing skills. there are many ways to skin a cat, and styrofoam boxes are but one shipping method, and one I do use when I deem it necessary. I actually think the other way I pack snakes to give more protection, and absorption, and climate control. but you know what you know and think that the only way. you go on to lecture me... a complete stranger to you, actually using the words “shame on you” - I’m sorry, I’ll not interact with you on that level

Man, what a chump. On what level? The accountability level?
 
I see he never commented on the heat factor. Sure, there are many ways to ship, and that can be debatable to some degree.

But what reason is there to not ship overnight to be delivered by 10:30 am?? YOUR paying shipping, so can't really say its too pricey.

I would be interested to see a reply regarding the shipping time issue.

Good luck on your new babies Shadera
 
I see he never commented on the heat factor. Sure, there are many ways to ship, and that can be debatable to some degree.

But what reason is there to not ship overnight to be delivered by 10:30 am?? YOUR paying shipping, so can't really say its too pricey.

I would be interested to see a reply regarding the shipping time issue.

Good luck on your new babies Shadera

Here are the standard FedEx rates from NYC to Shadera. This is without any discounts that a shipper who does any volume might get:

Wed Jul 8, 2009 10:30 AM FedEx Priority Overnight® 52.89
Wed Jul 8, 2009 3:00 PM FedEx Standard Overnight® 48.69

He saved $4. Bravo!
 
I emailed him to let him know this is here.

I went back over his feedback, and it appears he's been in business quite some time. I should have looked deeper though. Sexing mistakes, animals dying... He always made good though. But odd that no one else mentions shipping issues. I will probe these guys later at the risk of having my hand taken off to see if I have two girls.
 
And his response:

fromBuckley, Paul <[email protected]>
toShadera Lorrain <[email protected]>

dateTue, Jul 7, 2009 at 8:42 PM
subjectRe: your snakes are shipped

hide details 8:42 PM (27 minutes ago) Reply





shadera,

for the simple reason of posting an incorrect weight, I went very far out of my way to give you a free snake... my good will towards you and your business was quite genuine.

you then disagree with how I ship and email me a “you do not care for your animals” style of lecture that would turn anyone off to giving you the sort of reply you obviously hoped for... and then you go very far out of your way to truly hurt me, my hobby, my reputation – and in this hobby, it only takes one angry person to tear down another.

mostly I think the good outweighs the bad on the boi and it serves a smart and needed function for us all, but this is simply mean spirited.

I hope you find the drama worth it.

-paul

_______________


What reply was I hoping for, Paul? I said that I expect nothing of you, but that I hope you'll try to do better in the future. It's not as if I made this up, the pictures are right there. You can HONESTLY look at those and say, 'yep, that's an okay way to ship'?!? Mean spirited? The only meanness here is what you did to those poor animals that depended on you to assure their safety. For goodness' sake, if you'd have just asked I'd have shipped you one of my insulated boxes to send them in if you needed one! If you run out of small appliance boxes, what do you use then?

I just found out a pal had a negative shipping experience with him over the winter, and I sure hope he posts it.
 
was the shipping

by the carrier for priority overnight ever discussed, or was this left up to the shipper ? I never , ever request anything other then next morning delivery, and as a matter of fact, I usually prefer to a "phone and hold at the FedEx facility" as it usually gets there early in the morning before it gets on that truck..... Let me know...
 
Given the price, I assumed it was priority overnight, as 99.9% of my other snakes shipped to me have been. Yeah, I coulda asked and made sure, but how does that excuse the way he packed the snakes, which is what this is about? How does that make this MY fault?
 
The way the pythons were shipped

is another story altogether, and its beyond me that he could have easily gone to a pet shop and picked up a styrofoam box, got some cool packs and provided the buyer with an appropriate box... However, to assume

that the shipper would send it priority overnight apparently was the wrong assumption ! You have to train your seller to apply not only the how you want the animals packed, but how you want them shipped, who you want them shipped by and the time of arrival.. This should have been worked out before you sent this guy a penny... This is your obligation.... Granted,

he was stupid, and you may be lucky, but assumptions on what other shippers do is probably the worst guidline for your transaction with this moron..

As you can see, from what I have read, he very easily justified his method of shipping.. So when you pay, use your own TOS as to how you want the sale transacted.. Hope things work out for you...
 
I don't feel that standard next day shipping is an acceptable shipping practice (unless of course their is a pickup at the FedEx hub). I'm not sure why anyone would think otherwise and use the excuse that the buyer didn't tell him how to ship appropriately? That in my opinion is the responsibility of the shipper. The shipper should know how to ship properly otherwise they have no business doing it at all. Am I wrong?
 
I have to agree, standard next day is absolutely not an acceptable method and should never even be an option to begin with. The only options should be priority and just how early the shipment can arrive as, from what I've read, some places offer even earlier than 10:30 am delivery.
 
I don't feel that standard next day shipping is an acceptable shipping practice (unless of course their is a pickup at the FedEx hub). I'm not sure why anyone would think otherwise and use the excuse that the buyer didn't tell him how to ship appropriately? That in my opinion is the responsibility of the shipper. The shipper should know how to ship properly otherwise they have no business doing it at all. Am I wrong?

Agreed. In my opinion this doesn't fall on Shadera. She did everything right as a buyer. He took a shortcut to save $4. I don't know ANY reptile breeder that ships standard overnight.
 
Priority overnight should not have to be discussed because one, it is the industry standard and two, if he is a verified shipper with Fed Ex then his contract states he has to ship priority overnight. If he is not verified with Fed Ex he has no business shipping with them and should be using SYR.
 
Priority overnight should not have to be discussed because one, it is the industry standard and two, if he is a verified shipper with Fed Ex then his contract states he has to ship priority overnight. If he is not verified with Fed Ex he has no business shipping with them and should be using SYR.

Excellent point. But let's not forget that he is breeding Ball Pythons where they are illegal (as far as I can tell). So I would guess that following laws and such aren't high on the agenda.
 
The more I ponder this atrocity of stupidity the more I notice and find disturbing. He had the snakes PICKED UP by FedEx at 1:55PM on 7/6. Who knows how long they were in the back of the truck on a hot NYC day. They then spent all night in transit and then close to 6 hours in the back of a FedEx truck. This guy should stick to his day job as a VP at Penguin Books.
 
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