• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Bad Guy Snakes at sunset deceptive advertising

TXTeguChick said:
called to confirm before placing the order and was reassured it was a juvenile and not a hatchling
Click to expand...


I see a lot of people commenting on the fact that Snakes at Sunset uses stock photos. I don't think that was ever in contention. What I think is in contention is the fact that the OP called Snakes at Sunset and was led to believe she was receiving a juvenile around the size of the animal depicted in the picture, versus one the size of what she received.

You said their response is it's a generic picture. Did you contact them by phone or by email? Did you alert them that you had called prior to making the purchase? And/or did make the purchase over the website or the phone?

If you called them to verify the size, I'd assume you would be making the purchase over the phone. But their website says right on the front page that if you text them, they can send you up to date pictures, presumably of the exact animal you wish to purchase. Did you take advantage of this at all?

Lastly, have you alerted them to this thread? I'd like to hear their side of the story. I understand generic photos, and that is typical of a website like theirs. What is confusing me is that if you called and 100% verified that the animal would be larger, why didn't you text and ask for photos of the exact animal you'd be receiving? And/or why wasn't the sizing issue explained on the phone?

I feel like something is missing from this story.
 

Attachments

  • texts.jpg
    texts.jpg
    65.7 KB · Views: 457
Anyone doing much volume tends to use stock photos. I still get price lists from a couple places that are just names and prices not even a stock photo :p As far as I know, snakes at sunset has a pretty good reputation. Did you contact them and let them know the item shipped didn't match your expectation? Generally, it is best to always try to resolve privately first IMO.
 
caffeinecynic said:
I see a lot of people commenting on the fact that Snakes at Sunset uses stock photos. I don't think that was ever in contention. What I think is in contention is the fact that the OP called Snakes at Sunset and was led to believe she was receiving a juvenile around the size of the animal depicted in the picture, versus one the size of what she received.

You said their response is it's a generic picture. Did you contact them by phone or by email? Did you alert them that you had called prior to making the purchase? And/or did make the purchase over the website or the phone?

If you called them to verify the size, I'd assume you would be making the purchase over the phone. But their website says right on the front page that if you text them, they can send you up to date pictures, presumably of the exact animal you wish to purchase. Did you take advantage of this at all?

Lastly, have you alerted them to this thread? I'd like to hear their side of the story. I understand generic photos, and that is typical of a website like theirs. What is confusing me is that if you called and 100% verified that the animal would be larger, why didn't you text and ask for photos of the exact animal you'd be receiving? And/or why wasn't the sizing issue explained on the phone?

I feel like something is missing from this story.
Click to expand...

If I called someone and they assured me that I was getting something I don't know that I would feel the need to request pictures. I guess I have been in this hobby long enough to know I should but I tend to have a very trusting nature.

Of course it possible the person the OP talked to didn't have a clue as to which photo the he was referring to so when asked if the animals were like the picture he/she may have just assumed the picture was of a younger animal. Miscommunication may be the real culprit here although if the ad states well started babies I'd probably expect something from 2-4 months old not a few weeks. It wouldn't matter if it was a lizard or a snake, IMO 2 -3 weeks is still a hatchling.
 
She ordered a Juvenile but, received a hatchling. She ordered from the picture (stock or not) it shows a juvenile but, she did not receive one. She also confirmed with a phone call They had a separate picture/listing of a hatchling and she could have ordered that one but didnt. Pretty cut and dry imo. Snakes of sunset should offer to have it returned at their cost and, the correct size resent or full refund.
 
What is the cost difference between a hatchling and juvenile, roughly?

If the OP had just read the ad online and ordered without further research, I would probably say they should call or email next time to be sure..... since they DID call and verify the size and still got a smaller animal I think it's fair to take issue with that.

It would be nice if Snakes at Sunset refunded some of the cost, to whatever a hatchling normally costs (assuming the size complaint is legitimate - I know nothing about tegus).

Even if the seller is in the wrong, it still would have been nice for the OP to try to work with them before posting a BOI, in my opinion. This isn't a scammer situation or an animal that was grossly misrepresented.
 
tlmoon said:
What is the cost difference between a hatchling and juvenile, roughly?

If the OP had just read the ad online and ordered without further research, I would probably say they should call or email next time to be sure..... since they DID call and verify the size and still got a smaller animal I think it's fair to take issue with that.

It would be nice if Snakes at Sunset refunded some of the cost, to whatever a hatchling normally costs (assuming the size complaint is legitimate - I know nothing about tegus).

Even if the seller is in the wrong, it still would have been nice for the OP to try to work with them before posting a BOI, in my opinion. This isn't a scammer situation or an animal that was grossly misrepresented.
Click to expand...

I believe in an earlier posting she mentioned trying to work with them but, received a canned response. Not surprising coming from them.
 
TXTeguChick said:
He's already here and they're a retailer so they probably won't offer any resolution at all. I would just hope that in their future as they more accurately depict what the customer is getting. I will probably sell this one and continue looking for a larger red.
Click to expand...

This is what I saw, didn't sound like she tried? Maybe I'm missing that somewhere. I would have at least given them a shot at fixing it. But I can see being frustrated after verifying the size and getting a smaller one for the price of a larger one.
 
Sorry guys I've been really busy today and haven't had a chance to get back. The only thing I was concerned with was gender and size so before I checked out on the website I called to confirm, I wasn't really concerned with individual pictures, my fault for not being more thorough. I did email their customer service and was offered a refund if I shipped him back,but after eating freight to and from it's not worth it. I should have investigated more before purchasing. Lesson learned.
 
predators said:
They had a separate picture/listing of a hatchling and she could have ordered that one but didnt.
Click to expand...
These are the 8 tegu listings I see on their site. Curious, which one of these other listings shows a Chacoan Red Tegu hatchling she could have ordered but didn't?
 

Attachments

  • Untitled-1.jpg
    Untitled-1.jpg
    374.3 KB · Views: 536
sschind said:
If I called someone and they assured me that I was getting something I don't know that I would feel the need to request pictures. I guess I have been in this hobby long enough to know I should but I tend to have a very trusting nature.

Of course it possible the person the OP talked to didn't have a clue as to which photo the he was referring to so when asked if the animals were like the picture he/she may have just assumed the picture was of a younger animal. Miscommunication may be the real culprit here although if the ad states well started babies I'd probably expect something from 2-4 months old not a few weeks. It wouldn't matter if it was a lizard or a snake, IMO 2 -3 weeks is still a hatchling.
Click to expand...

predators said:
I believe in an earlier posting she mentioned trying to work with them but, received a canned response. Not surprising coming from them.
Click to expand...
I contacted by phone and told them that I expected a larger animal based on their photos, and that I had called to confirm size prior to ordering,and then was told it was a generic photo. I was under the assumption originally that they had just made a mistake in shipping and sent the wrong tegu.
 
Here is my email to them and their response.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20180621-230204_Gmail.jpg
    Screenshot_20180621-230204_Gmail.jpg
    208.7 KB · Views: 526
  • Screenshot_20180621-230151_Gmail.jpg
    Screenshot_20180621-230151_Gmail.jpg
    264.1 KB · Views: 531
TXTeguChick said:
I contacted by phone and told them that I expected a larger animal based on their photos, and that I had called to confirm size prior to ordering,and then was told it was a generic photo.
Click to expand...

Curious... after they said it was a "generic photo", then what was the conversation after that? How did the conversation end? Did you ask for a resolution at that time?
 
Robert Walker said:
Curious... after they said it was a "generic photo", then what was the conversation after that? How did the conversation end? Did you ask for a resolution at that time?
Click to expand...
The gentleman at the store was very short with me and pretty much told me I got what was listed so I emailed them hoping to get someone with more authority and posted here.
 
TXTeguChick said:
I should have investigated more before purchasing. Lesson learned.
Click to expand...
I would agree with this. ^^^
In the future, a simple request for a photo of the "exact" animal you are about to purchase can eliminate any ambiguity related to size. It sounds like SAS are willing to text exact pictures if individuals simply request them.

To avoid further/future headaches, if I were SAS, I would place the "generic photo" disclaimer under each picture to avoid any question. While they do have the disclaimer on their site, putting it under the photos may help to further reduce any confusion by customers.
 
sschind said:
If I called someone and they assured me that I was getting something I don't know that I would feel the need to request pictures. I guess I have been in this hobby long enough to know I should but I tend to have a very trusting nature.

Of course it possible the person the OP talked to didn't have a clue as to which photo the he was referring to so when asked if the animals were like the picture he/she may have just assumed the picture was of a younger animal. Miscommunication may be the real culprit here although if the ad states well started babies I'd probably expect something from 2-4 months old not a few weeks. It wouldn't matter if it was a lizard or a snake, IMO 2 -3 weeks is still a hatchling.
Click to expand...

I likely would not have either. I was just wondering what all steps were taken and if the OP had anything other than a phone conversation by which she could present the owner of Snakes at Sunset to prove that she had been misled.

I don't disagree at all that if you call someone on the phone and they tell you "it will be the size of the animal in the photo," and then it is so dramatically smaller, that is deceptive advertising. My goal was merely for more information.
 
We will gladly take it back and reimburse her.
I am guessing the miscommunication was based on definitions of age.
Hatchling to us, is 1-2 weeks old, barely eating yet, just starting to develop, etc.
Juvenile to us, is a stronger animal, already grown, usually 2x since hatching, and thriving BUT still a baby.
The animal she got is a phenomenal feeder, healthy, thriving juvie, that will be the size of the stock photo in a mere few months.
I will post later today when we open a photo of a week old "hatchling" and a sibling to hers that we consider a juvie.
 
Snakesatsunset said:
We will gladly take it back and reimburse her.
I am guessing the miscommunication was based on definitions of age.
Hatchling to us, is 1-2 weeks old, barely eating yet, just starting to develop, etc.
Juvenile to us, is a stronger animal, already grown, usually 2x since hatching, and thriving BUT still a baby.
The animal she got is a phenomenal feeder, healthy, thriving juvie, that will be the size of the stock photo in a mere few months.
I will post later today when we open a photo of a week old "hatchling" and a sibling to hers that we consider a juvie.
Click to expand...

Here's your resolution Jamie.

The man stepped up to try to make you happy after what may have been a miscommunication or maybe a misunderstanding.

Whatever happened Mike B. is doing the right thing.so as much as you don't want the hatchling here is your way out.
 
caffeinecynic said:
I likely would not have either. I was just wondering what all steps were taken and if the OP had anything other than a phone conversation by which she could present the owner of Snakes at Sunset to prove that she had been misled.

I don't disagree at all that if you call someone on the phone and they tell you "it will be the size of the animal in the photo," and then it is so dramatically smaller, that is deceptive advertising. My goal was merely for more information.
Click to expand...

I see, thanks for clearing it up. I thought you were suggesting that the OP should have contacted them and asked for pictures.
 
Back
Top