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Todd Smith (Deal Gone South)

a persons real character comes out when faced with adversity.
lets say in some cages a person real LACK of character.
 
Rozann

[Why should Greg only get a 75% refund? Todd will be getting 100% of the snake back. ]

Good point!!

Meryl Lechner
 
Well first I have to say that Greg has a great deal of character and I don't believe he is lying about the condition of the animal in question. Second I don't know Todd and I have nothing against him personally, but if you sell an animal you sell a healthy animal or YOU DON'T SELL THAT ANIMAL PERIOD !!! So for that alone I believe Greg is due a full refund. Then you throw in the whole paperwork confirming the het status of that animal and the fact that Jeremy Stone won't verify that animal ( I think everyone here knows that Jeremy is trustworthy ) also mean that Greg is due a full refund. Greg had a problem with the transaction where he didn't recieve proper documentation and he recieved a sick animal that was not feeding .......... Sounds to me like he was taken advantage of, and now instead of making things right Todd is threatning Greg who informed him of the thread so he could respond with his side and be heard equally ( which he has chosen not to do for whatever reason ) . Where did Greg go wrong ? Why doesn't he deserve a full refund ? And another thing ..... If I bought an animal from someone and they told me to use flagyl to get it to eat I would tell them point blank right then and there I wanted a refund and I would never deal with that person again ! I have heard that Todd is a good guy but I have never dealt with him and I don't know him and I surely don't understand why he is not responding to this thread and trying to make things right if he is a " Good Guy ". It is always possible for something to occur in shipment, but he really should take the high road if that is the case and issue Greg a 100% refund and do it with a smile ! And the medicine issue ..... it was never intended as an appetite stimulant but will have that after effect and while some people use it as such in my opinion it's not good for the animal and proper steps need to be taken to find out why that animal won't eat and then take steps to correct it. In my opinion I believe Greg is being very patient and quite nice about the whole thing. I can say that I would not have been as nice in all honesty if I were in Greg's shoes. With all the nice things said about Todd here in this thread it sounds like he very well could be a good guy , but he really needs to make this right .
 
Yes, if Todd is really a good guy and someone to deal with, he will make this right, you can only be a good guy if you are good on BOTH ends of a deal. Meaning a good deal or a deal gone bad. It is times like this that makes people not want to deal with someone just in case something bad happens.
After people find out a good guy isn't so good on both sides of the coin, they don't want to spend their money to take a chance.
And lets face it, internet sales are a risk, you have to trust to some extent. I for one do not want to trust on a risk if that risk is also hampered by what side of the coin the animal falls on.
Wow, did you all get that? LOL
 
Very good point ! A really good dealer will also be nice and treat you the same way even when a problem with a transaction arises. Internet sales are a risk and when you deal with a high end animal you really want to know who you are dealing with and that even if a problems pops up that you are in good hands and if I am not mistaken there is an insurance company that made millions off that practice .....:D ( my poor attempt at humor ....... )
 
I am sure there are a lot of insurance companies, as well as other companies that do that, lots are out of business too.;)
Glad you understood what I wrote, I wasn't sure I did:)
Getting late..
 
Hey all, Greg deserves a refund because of the genetic issue. I am in total agreement with everyone on that. I guess that really seals this case up, one way or another he deserves a refund and until Todd gives him that refund or provides the needed paperwork he can be labeled a "bad guy."

As far as the health issue goes and the 75% refund those are policy issues that we (the public) may or may not like. But just because we don't like Todd's policy doesn't make him a bad guy. He has to break those policies before we label him as such. As an example, I don't eat at Chickfilet, because I have a problem with one of their policies, (all restaurants closed on Sundays), that policy doesn't make them a bad restaurant, but it does make them lose my business. Also, I try not to shop at Walmart because of their policies of forcing artists to censor their music and because of their pharmacys not stocking certain drugs because of religous reasons. Unfortunately, sometimes Walmart is the only option available in certain towns so I am forced to shop there. If you don't like someone's policies don't spend your money there, but I think the purpose of this board should be to weed out dishonest people, not bash people for their policies.

The point I was trying to make, was that Greg was comfortable enough with Todd's policies to send him $1450. I doubt Greg will ever make that mistake again, he's learning the expensive way. And the fact of the matter is, even if Greg HAD discussed all this stuff of front he still could have been screwed. Internet transactions are just extremely risky for both the buyer AND THE SELLER. I feel the seller has the right to make policies like 75% refund if they want and not get bashed because we don't like it. Why should the seller be entitled to keep 25%? Well, think of all the time it took to package, transport, ship, confirm receipt of, answer questions about that animal. Then also consider that the entire time the seller pulls that animal off the market he/she may be losing another sale of that very animal. 75% refund (or something similar) would be one way of keeping people from getting buyers remorse and just generally yanking people's chains.

I also feel the buyer is entitled to everything their are promised. Not everything they THINK they were promised but everything that was actually covered in the presale discussions. And I'm sorry, but I do feel it is the buyer's responsiblity to cover their own butts when it comes to this stuff. Whether you agree with that or not, if you really think about it, that is the way it ends up.
 
Brian,
Maybe you have read something that I have not. I don't recall the 75% being a policy. I read it as just what he offered back for the snake.
 
Right, according to Greg, Todd gave him two options: 75% refund or return the snake to him, he would get it feeding and then return it to Greg. It wasn't a stated policy before the deal it was just what Todd offered as a remedy for the situation. So it wasn't like he said "screw you, go away" right off the bat. Greg has never posted anything about Todd's actual polices (if there even are any), and since Todd ain't talking (or typing as the case may be), we can only go on the info we have.
 
Very Simply Put

Brian,

Why do I get the feeling Todd's standing behind you typing on the keyboard over your shoulder? I think it's about time you look at the big picture here. In my first inquiry on this pair of animals I asked Todd specifically about their health and if they were feeding on F/T. He replied, "Yes, they are feeding on frozen/thawed, tame, and in excellent health (neither one has ever been sick)."
That reply was on 3/07 and I received the animals twelve days later on 3/19. Now, somewhere during that time frame the male hypo lost a rediculous amount of weight and stopped eating yet this animal was billed as FEEDING and being in "EXCELLENT HEALTH".
Now, maybe it's your policy to send out skinny ass snakes as a rule and your definition of feeding is feeding on flagyl but that's not what I was told and certainly not what I paid for.
You think that because Todd agreed to take the animal back and get him feeding that that's enough. First of all, when I spend this kind of money on an animal I expect it to be in proper condition to begin with. If I had simply sent the animal back to him how was I supposed to feel comfortable with his definition of "feeding". After all, I'd already been told it was feeding in the first place not to mention I'd already witnessed firsthand his definition of healthy. Bare in mind I'd just invested $1,000 in an animal that was ultra thin, not eating, and spending way to much time looking up at the sky. I suspected these were symptoms of IBD and told Todd this. Contrary to one of your earlier posts I never said it HAD IBD, just the symptoms. Now I don't know about you but when I receive a snake that I feel may have IBD it's not something I want to send back to the seller to EVER be returned back to me.
Now let's talk about warranty since you, or is it Todd, seem to keep falling back on this subject. At what point does one draw the line and feel secure that they've asked enough questions? Is Todd absolved from any responsibility just because I didn't ask, "if the animal is delivered and the license plate of the truck contains the letter A in it and the box is placed in my hands while standing facing south, is it still under warranty?"
The fact is after I asked about whether or not both animals were feeding on f/t I was told this animal was. I don't understand why you're having such a hard time comprehending that fact.
I was never told that the hypo had been used for an entire season as a breeder and was off feed. I also was not told there'd be no proper identification to prove genetics after I requested this either, but that's a whole other story.
As for your thinking that Todd had every right to discount the animal $250 I don't agree with that at all either. I bought an animal that was blatantly misrepresented. Why should I be expected to lose anything here except possibly the cost to ship it back?
There was another situation here not long ago regarding a $10,000 blind snow boa. The seller in that case had sense enogh to realize there was a problem and took care of it. Todd has chosen to stick his head in the sand thinking this will all just simply go away. The fact is this thread exists even though Todd has chosen to ignore it. I know for a fact Todd has already lost the sale of another animal he's posted at Kingsnake due to this thread. Anyone doing a search here will certainly find it, see the issue was not resolved properly, and run the other way. Sounds pretty damned stupid to me but that's what I'm up against.
 
greg

i would not even bother to continue to argue with a person that doesnt comprehend the situation..duh
im totally 100 percent behind you and feel you have been BURNED....no ifs and and butts about it.
geesh..
what does it take to get it i wonder..
no papers..skinny snake..lack of info ...feeding? ha! you want a feeding snake too?
:eek: :eek: :eek:
my lord..your asking for alot greg..what you have are todds leftovers..the snake and sadly you are cast to the wind..
dont think the rest of us arent seeing this because its as obvious as the sun in the summer..
 
Greg,

I am with you all the way too, what I find interesting is that I have seen other threads where some people here seem to move heaven and earth for justice. Unfortuanely, I have also seen other threads that because someone knows someone or has done business with them, they do not move H & E for justice. It seems this is one of those cases.:(
At least it is on BOI and people can see it for themselves and not buy or at least think twice before buying from him.
That is little comfort on out of pocket expense. Hope Todd sees the light. This is so totally wrong. Do you have a pic of the snake now that you can post? The more people see maybe the less they would want to buy.
 
btw..brian..do you want to buy a hypo het for whatever rather with papers ill include for you for 1000.00...
it doesnt feed and blah blah but hey..its some deal..
email me ok?
lets put our money where our mouth is on this..right?
 
ok check this out.
i inquired about the straub line male for sale..
to make a long story short he tells me he is proven..ready to go etc.
anyhow..im sitting here thinking..so i ask..how do you know he is proven..do you have pics of the babies???
he tells me..he being todd that the snake has been breeding for a while and he has the gravid females to prove it.
there i sit..humm..breeding for a while huh with gravid females over there..so what am i getting then???
well..basically im getting a cheap version of what greg got..
ive seen first hand how a breeding male looks at the end of the season ...how? cuz i have some here already..
now..for 350 do i REALLY want a male thats been banging for god knows how long..been with god knows what females and been exposed to who knows and add to that shipped???
hell no..

pass..

now..had i have not asked what i did do you think this todd bothered to tell me any of these pieces of info??

ask yourself again anyone reading..

what do you think now???
 
Thanks Kim. I was beginning to think I was missing something here.....like possibly my sanity?
.

Greg I'm sure you have quite a few of us on your side. Todd's guarantee isn't what is being disputed here, what is being disputed is his misrepresentation of the animal. Again I'll ask why wasn't the honest description given to you by Todd. 'Male het without paper work (but lets forget that part for now) very thin from breeding season, not currently feeding but has in the PAST fed on F/T'. If this was the description you received and you accepted only THEN would you have been obligated IMO to accept Todd's return policy. As it happened THE ANIMAL WAS MISREPRESENTED TO GREG. He deserves a full refund, not an offer to get the animal feeding again or an offer to lose $250.00. Greg I think you're handling this ordeal extremely well. I don't know if I'd be able to sustain your level of composure if faced with the same situation.

Meryl Lechner
 
I've stayed out of this one as for the most part (I know you're all shocked!), but from what I can see from all of the evidence, it seems to me that Todd owes Greg a full and complete refund. Pick your reason why:

No proof of genetics

or

Misrepresentation of the animal


It really doesn't matter, does it? Todd may well believe that Greg has handled this all wrong, but he still ought to give Greg a full refund for the animal which is not what Greg wanted.

Todd, you, as the seller, did not deliver what was ordered. Give Greg back his money, save whatever face you can from this, and move on. This isn't going to get any better for you until you refund him, but it can get a whole lot worse if you won't.
 
Greg, I wouldn't know Todd if he slapped me in the face. So please don't think I'm writing on his behalf. I too think you should recieve a full refund, I just didn't agree with how you were trying to go about it. If he said the snake "IS feeding," then you are entitled on those grounds. If he said, "WAS feeding," that's a little different.

I know I'm nit-picking here folks, but I'm doing so to illustrate how particular a buyer needs to be when dealing over the net. Greg and Kim I would NEVER send someone $1000 for an animal. In fact, the only animals I purchase over the net are inexpensive gopher snakes that are hard to find here in FL. Even then I'm extremely cautious. If there was a $1000 dollar snake somewhere out there I was interested in, I would simply drive or fly to it and check it out before I bought it. Lets face it, $1000 DH boas are "investment" type animals, if you're going to work w/ that type animal another $200-400 bucks for a plane ticket is a good investment. Or spend a little extra and buy from people you've heard of.

Greg, does Todd have a website? Does he have posted terms either on the site or in his adds? Can you post his emails where he describes the snakes? I know you have posted the one about the genetics guarantee and I was quick to be on your side w/ that issue. But it sounds to me like you just took his word for the "health" of these snakes. That's a great way to do business, but how much fun are you having with it now? That's the point I'm trying to make. Don't trust people you don't know. Get it in writing, so if have a problem you something to go on. Sure, you can still get screwed, but paperwork holds up much better in court than "he said........"

The refund issue is something that I'm sticking to because you have never said/posted anything about you and Todd discussing a return if there was a problem before you sent him the money. If there was an email on the subject I'd love to read it. But, buyer can't assume their personal policy on refunds is the same as the sellers. Many, many people in this business offer NO refunds whatsoever as long as the animal arrives on time and alive. Many will not even be held responsible if the animal is late getting delivered, and still others offer no guarantee whatsoever on certain types of animals, like amphibians. I'm using your situation to illistrate why it's important to cover all these bases BEFORE the transaction.

You haven't posted much in the way of emails from Todd, (maybe you did this over the phone). But it sounds to me like he guaranteed to animals to "arrive alive and in good condition" futher it sounded to me like you told him they did. Todd's policy may be that once he hears "they did" the transaction is closed. If that is the case, and those were the terms you agreed to then the health issue is closed. Those terms may suck, but if you agreed to them then you are bound by them, you can't try and change them a week later. We/I don't know what terms you agreed to other than the terms on paperwork for the genetics, we've seen the email for that. And on that issue Todd should either give you the paperwork (his word ain't gonna cut it) or give you back your money.
 
Brian ..... wake up and smell Juan Valdez or even better wake up and go back to sleep !!!! Do you seriously believe the stuff you are spouting ? There are a great many of us who have purchased some expensive animals over the net, both from people everyone has heard from and from nobodys's as well and you know what ? It doesn't have a thing to do with anything !! There are so many reasons why Greg deserves not only a 100% refund but a public apology as well!!! The fact that he was sent a sick animal that was supposed to be in top health and feeding, which by the way for anyone reading this post the term "feeding" does not mean feeding with the assistance of medicinal help., go back to the genetics issue and don't say you wouldn't buy from someone over the net because you would drive or fly there because what you would do is not the issue here. Greg didn't do anything wrong ......... he made a deal and bought a snake ...... when that snake arrived it was not what he had bargained for, plain and simple ! He was misrepresented. If you were misrepresented you would want your money back too and not just 75% of it either! And I will say this, I don't know Todd from the man in the moon but after this I am not likely to ever do business with him and I don't think I am the only one either. When people spend their money whether its $25 or $1000 it doesn't matter, they want to feel safe in their purchases .
 
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