Bad Guy Scammed and done dirty by Travis Johnson(MrTPlush)

[ShadoDragon]

It was the worst transactions, with late responds and paid full price for what he asked $450. I got the pair of condas on April 11, 2017 and on April 16, 2017 she laid a slug. He told me he never breed her and she didn't ovulate and recently woke up. I cant get full refund now but atleast I can warn you guys avoid this scumbag MrTPlush (Travis Johnson). Last week the female went into shed and just today May 8,2017 she laid another slug and looks really plum and egg bound forsure. This guy is a liar and flipping ill snakes to make quick cash avoid this guy I was exited to get in the hobby and this left worst taste.

 

[ShadoDragon]

May 8, 2017 pic of the female

this is her

 

[Chris Kennard]

This has "extenuating circumstances" written all over it.

 

[DavidBeard]

When you're asking this guy for breeding advice, I doubt your ability to tell if that snake is egg bound or not. Have you taken it to a vet? Had any X-rays or Ultrasound done?

 

[ShadoDragon]

It was to see his response

I asked to see what his response would be I can post the whole conversation if that helps? I have no choice but to go to vet

 

[Andy_G]

Many colubrid species will in fact lay infertile eggs without ever being with a male. I've had it happen or seen it happen in pituophis, pantherophis, heterodon (many times), as well as lampropeltis species, especially if they were brumated and cycled. Saying all of that, I can't weigh in on the validity of either party's side of the story.

 

[DavidBeard]

I had an adult female Honduran Milksnake do this many years ago....she was bromated but I did not obtain a male to breed her with (purchased her from a breeder who downsized), after a month of being out of brumation she laid one single infertile egg and was fine afterwards.

Sounds like the OP lacks an understanding of colubrid biology and is trying to buy their way into a breeding project and wants to pin their ignorance on someone else.

 

[MrTPlush]

The snakes did not breed and the slug supports that. This gentleman obviously does not have much experience which is fine. I explained to him that hognoses will lay slugs whether they have been bred or not. It is perfectly normal and not much of a medical concern. I have a hognose that does it every year no problems. I thought I explained it pretty well to him, but Simon didn't really care what I said and acted like the snake was teetering with poor near death health. He had no patience in the situtation even after telling him a snake will lay slugs over a longer period of time than fertile eggs. Sometimes there will only be a slug or two because they will absorb any other inferlite follicles. His inexperience was wanting him to immediately take it to the vet which in my opinion was uneccessary.


I did not knowingly ship him the snake knowing it had a slug(s). He was upset that he wasn't going to be able to breed the snakes this year, but due to his inexperience he wasn't even going to breed them correctly anyway. He was going to wait months before actually pairing them well after their breeding season. Still I felt bad for what had happened regardless and offered a $50 partial refund which he happily took(weeks ago). He said after getting the partial refund the snakes would be his "problem" and anything that happened after that was his responsibility.

I actually think I replied to this gentleman quite fast throughout the ordeal. I replied as fast as possible if it wasn't 2am, not working, and not taking care of my child. Actually I think it usually took him longer to reply than me. He makes it seem like I took days to reply and that is flat out false. Not only that, but after the partial refund which in his words made them "his problem" I was still fast to reply to provide help/insight.

In the end he texted me once again last Sunday claiming "You know you weren't right" and saying "yea I was right to be concerned" just because the snake didn't lay another slug. Sick of him acting like he was an experienced reptile vet know it all it was clear he was going to be upset forever so I refused to reply to him.

Saying I flip ill snakes is flat out false also. Because #1 the snakes arent ill and #2 I lost money on these snakes from what I orginally paid.

 

[Melanie1996]

I've had colubrids who I have never bred drop slugs before. I don't see the problem? OP sounds like he doesn't know much about snakes and shouldn't even be attempting to breed them. Needs to do a lot more research.

 

[DavidBeard]

Hmmm, OP left out the fact that you refunded him any money. Looks like another case of a sensitive noob shooting themselves in the foot with a hasty BOI thread that is completely unwarranted.

Congratulations Mr. Gamboa, you have done exactly the opposite of what you intended and people will avoid YOU like the plague from here on out....not Mr. Johnson.

 

[D4saken1]

At least these BOIs show their worth, weed out both sides of the bad spectrum.

 

[MrTPlush]

Here are some snapshots from our conversations(attempting from my phone, fingers crossed).

The first shows his willingness/want for either a partial refund or discount on another snake.


The second one shows that he was perfectly fine with his partial refund and was totally accepting that it put all future responsibility on him. Those were terms he made himself and at one point said a partial refund would be best.

The last one is the last message he sent to me that I ignored. Which keep in mind was weeks after he took his partial refund and took all responsibility. At which point he wasn't looking for help and was just venting at me.

At no point did he ever request the possibility of returning the snakes. So him acting like he can't get a full refund is head scratching at best. Seeing as he never approached me about it, he was the one so concerned about the snakes health, and made terms for a partial refund which put the future responsibility on himself.

 

[filenamex5100]

Simon,
1) what was your intentions of your original post?
2) ....how did that work out for you?
3) did you expect the other party not to get involved?
4) ....how did that work out for you?

if what Travis says is true about the partial refund and your reply to it that they are now your problem, that pretty much makes it a done deal.
is this buyers remorse or what? you have chosen the wrong forum to come in and blow smoke and/or leave out facts. a person will get torn apart here if they are in the wrong.

 

[filenamex5100]

perhaps also a screen shot of the partial refund ?

 

[AllisonLeigh]

I'm not very experienced in different snake species (and by not very, I mean not at all... unless it's a ball python or a corn snake I know nothing) but since the OP is convinced the snake is egg bound (whether or not that is in fact likely) I would expect that he brought her to the vet by now right? Unless he's not as convinced as he leads us and the seller to believe.
OP, what was the Vet's conclusion? Can you post the paperwork?

 

[Pasodama]

If there is nothing further, to what has already been posted, I do not see a case of having been scammed here.

As has been pointed out, sometimes snakes lay slugs without having been bred.
Even an entire clutch, of slugs, can be laid without the female having been bred.

A memorable example was a virgin female cornsnake I once had.
Had her for many years.
Never did breed her.
Regardless, each year, she would lay a clutch of slugs. Never missed a year. Once, she even double clutched.

It happens.

~~~~

 

[MrTPlush]

 

[Lucille]

Travis you handled the situation admirably. I am hoping that the added publicity will help your sales in the future, as people see how you go above and beyond to cope with transaction issues.

However, unless the OP comes up with a suitable apology, I can foresee future sellers not being so eager to do business with him.

 

[Andy_G]

Wow...this backfired. There's nothing like a naive trigger happy newbie trying to make a quick buck off breeding making a fool of themselves...

 

[JButera]

What's ironic is the emoji the op chose to begin his BOI, sorta' prophetic..