Well I have never posted before, usually I just come here and read. However, I felt the need to let everyone know the experience I just went through with Mary at Nature Coast Exotics. NCE will probably come on here and say everything I am saying is a lie and bash me, etc. Unfortunately for them I have saved every last email and communication so that only the FACTS are available (emails available upon request.) Little background about myself I used to be an avid collector and then left the trade for awhile simply because my life was just too busy. Now I am getting back into the trade and thought my first purchase would be a baby American Alligator. They always make a nice focal point when someone walks into your collection room. That is where the drama starts. You will see a timeline below but here is a brief (as best as I could) explanation. I ordered an American Alligator from Nature coast exotics, found out over a week later that they could not ship to the state of GA which I did not know because I just moved here from Ohio where they were legal. Mary immediately offered me a refund but instead I wanted to find a way to make the transaction work (legally). I proposed shipping the alligator to my parents house in Ohio. Mary was fine with that. However, because of the poor response times from Mary as well as my parents overall business lifestyle I was never able to coordinate availability of my parents to be home to sign for the animal. I then requested the animal be shipped to an airport in Ohio as my parents would be able to pick the animal up there. Mary informed me that it would be an additional $75. I agreed to pay the extra but then Mary informed me that she did not want to drive all the way to the airport for one animal. (not a way to run a business but anyhow)
After several instances of trying to coordinate times
8/29 - Purchase and pay for 1 American Alligator on Nature Coast Exotics Website
9/4 - Mary Informed that they would be able to ship me an American Alligator in the state of GA. Offered refund.
9/4 - Called and left voicemail for NCE, no call returned.
9/5 - Called and left voicemail for NCE, no call returned. Email from Mary offered Refund.
9/5 - Requested to pay the addtl $75 to have animal shipped to an airport; Mary rescinded offer to ship to airport
9/6 - Called and left voicemail for NCE, no call returned.
9/7 - 9/15 - Discussed multiple different ship dates none of which ever resulted in an animal being shipped.
9/16 - Transaction became too complicated and I requested to exercise my previously offered refund.
9/17 - Mary informed me that they do not offer refunds per the website.
At this point I tried negotiating with Mary several times to get my refund. Mentioning how she offered me a refund twice, etc.
9/20 - I filed a claim with PayPal to let them decide whether I should get a refund or not.
9/20 - Received email from Mary attacking me for going to PayPal, threatening to call the state authorities of GA to say I was trying to illegally buy animals, banning me from buying from them again and then said she would give me a refund.
9/22 - Requested refund status. Mary advised me she does refunds on Monday (for someone who does not do refunds but has a refund day)
9/26 - Received Refund with another email banning me from ever ordering from them again
Now I would like to focus on the email of 9/20. Mary threatened to call the authorities to say I was breaking the law. So in order to hedge against a problem I called my state authorities myself and advised them that I had just moved to GA from Ohio, that I had no idea, and once I found out I no longer pursued the animal being sent to GA. The "deputy" on the phone advised me that this confusion happens all the time and no laws were broken. I would like to know why Mary thought a law was being broken yet she had no problem moving forward with the transaction?
Anyhow guys, I am sorry to have made this so long but again I want to make everyone aware of what I went through. All through this the attitude and customer service from Mary was just horrible. I never felt like a paying customer but more of an inconvenience. Unless someone can proove otherwise from now on I will no longer internet or phone order reptiles but instead attend shows and make my purchases there.
Thank you for listening.
Aaron Hair
After several instances of trying to coordinate times
8/29 - Purchase and pay for 1 American Alligator on Nature Coast Exotics Website
9/4 - Mary Informed that they would be able to ship me an American Alligator in the state of GA. Offered refund.
9/4 - Called and left voicemail for NCE, no call returned.
9/5 - Called and left voicemail for NCE, no call returned. Email from Mary offered Refund.
9/5 - Requested to pay the addtl $75 to have animal shipped to an airport; Mary rescinded offer to ship to airport
9/6 - Called and left voicemail for NCE, no call returned.
9/7 - 9/15 - Discussed multiple different ship dates none of which ever resulted in an animal being shipped.
9/16 - Transaction became too complicated and I requested to exercise my previously offered refund.
9/17 - Mary informed me that they do not offer refunds per the website.
At this point I tried negotiating with Mary several times to get my refund. Mentioning how she offered me a refund twice, etc.
9/20 - I filed a claim with PayPal to let them decide whether I should get a refund or not.
9/20 - Received email from Mary attacking me for going to PayPal, threatening to call the state authorities of GA to say I was trying to illegally buy animals, banning me from buying from them again and then said she would give me a refund.
9/22 - Requested refund status. Mary advised me she does refunds on Monday (for someone who does not do refunds but has a refund day)
9/26 - Received Refund with another email banning me from ever ordering from them again
Now I would like to focus on the email of 9/20. Mary threatened to call the authorities to say I was breaking the law. So in order to hedge against a problem I called my state authorities myself and advised them that I had just moved to GA from Ohio, that I had no idea, and once I found out I no longer pursued the animal being sent to GA. The "deputy" on the phone advised me that this confusion happens all the time and no laws were broken. I would like to know why Mary thought a law was being broken yet she had no problem moving forward with the transaction?
Anyhow guys, I am sorry to have made this so long but again I want to make everyone aware of what I went through. All through this the attitude and customer service from Mary was just horrible. I never felt like a paying customer but more of an inconvenience. Unless someone can proove otherwise from now on I will no longer internet or phone order reptiles but instead attend shows and make my purchases there.
Thank you for listening.
Aaron Hair
