Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was recently in negotiations to purchase an expensive boa. This animal was in the $7-$8,000 range. After getting close to finalizing the deal the seller advised me that he would guarantee live arrival but not if there was a carrier error. I told him i was uncomfortable with these terms and would not be able to purchase this animal. I would not take the risk with any animal, let alone one of that value, and run the risk of just being out of luck. I have been breeding/selling/shipping snakes for about 7 years now and have always guaranteed live arrival no matter what. I always thought that the industry standard was that the seller took on the shipping risk in order to reach a larger customer base. If this is no longer the case, that is something i would be very interested in finding out. I have purchased countless animals from many breeders, large and small, and was never told that there was no guarantee due to carrier error. I would appreciate all your opinions on this matter. Thanks, John Martino

ive never had anyone do that with ordering snakes or even mice or crickets. by the way we have the same last name
-----
Vince Martino

1.0 Amel Cornsnake "Sunny"
1.1 Snow Cornsnake "Gary Busey" and "Slopes"
0.1 Okeetee Corn (2nd generation off the hunt club)
1.0 Spider Ball Python "Ceasar"
0.1 Colombian Red-tailed Boa "Sammy"
1.1 Albino Striped California Kings "mean" and "meaner"
1.0 Pastel Bearded Dragon "Norbert"
0.1 Hypo Nicaraguan Boa

That would pretty much keep my money in "My Money Status"
Of coarse for something that is $8K I would insist on a live pick up.
Just move on to another breeder IMO

M/

John,
...I think you are right on. I guarantee live healthy arrival as long as someone is available to sign for the snakes when they arrive.
Jeff

>>I was recently in negotiations to purchase an expensive boa. This animal was in the $7-$8,000 range. After getting close to finalizing the deal the seller advised me that he would guarantee live arrival but not if there was a carrier error. I told him i was uncomfortable with these terms and would not be able to purchase this animal. I would not take the risk with any animal, let alone one of that value, and run the risk of just being out of luck. I have been breeding/selling/shipping snakes for about 7 years now and have always guaranteed live arrival no matter what. I always thought that the industry standard was that the seller took on the shipping risk in order to reach a larger customer base. If this is no longer the case, that is something i would be very interested in finding out. I have purchased countless animals from many breeders, large and small, and was never told that there was no guarantee due to carrier error. I would appreciate all your opinions on this matter. Thanks, John Martino

Hey John, I think you made the right choice. I have not run accross anyone who would not agree that the health of the animal is solely on the seller until arrival. I've been there shipping out snakes where there was an error on the shippers part and the overnight package was not delivered until the second day. All was fine and of course I was worried. I still would have made it right had it not turned out well.

>>I was recently in negotiations to purchase an expensive boa. This animal was in the $7-$8,000 range. After getting close to finalizing the deal the seller advised me that he would guarantee live arrival but not if there was a carrier error. I told him i was uncomfortable with these terms and would not be able to purchase this animal. I would not take the risk with any animal, let alone one of that value, and run the risk of just being out of luck. I have been breeding/selling/shipping snakes for about 7 years now and have always guaranteed live arrival no matter what. I always thought that the industry standard was that the seller took on the shipping risk in order to reach a larger customer base. If this is no longer the case, that is something i would be very interested in finding out. I have purchased countless animals from many breeders, large and small, and was never told that there was no guarantee due to carrier error. I would appreciate all your opinions on this matter. Thanks, John Martino
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB, selectively bred from good stock)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
13.26 BRB
11.16 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thanks guys. I was thinking the same thing and even spoke to a few other breeders. i feel i made the right decision. Thanks to all for the input.

On shipping I will cover damages etc if the animal is shipped via Delta Dash ONLY if there is a DOA due to the fact that it meant the buyer took the time to actually go pick up fro ma airport and i took the time to go ship it out right before it needed to be there. I have never had a DOA all the time i was in boas so never had to deal with it. IMHO if im selling you a $8k snake and you dont wanna take the time to pick it up at a delta hub then i wouldnt gurantee live arrival on one that high due to if something beyond MY control was to happen then im SOL because no over night carrier would insure my loss. Delta you can get insurance up to a certain amount forget what that is not i think $5k is max maybe less. But with a over night carrier if it is held over in cold weather / mish shipped to other side of states and re shipped or is left in summer on a HOT dock for hrs untill the truck is loaded and arrives dead it isnt my fault or the buyers but the shippers and the shipper will say sorry we dont insure live animals we just let you ship them ( fed ex ) . So to me if he was implying that yeah ill sell you the animal but would only gurantee live arrival if delta then i can see that because i wouldnt wanna ship one via fed ex knowing there is to much to risk no matter how many good shipments you have . I wouldnt wanna be out $8k wouldnt want the buyer to be out $8k So to me its not outragious to me but as someone said a personal pick up if it isnt across the states would be a prefference if possible to do .
-----
__The Revolution has begun ... www.junglehabitatsplastics.com_

signature file edited, contact an admin 6/12/06

I told him i dont care how he shipped as long as he guaranteed live arrival. I go to the airport on a regular basis. It is about an hour and a half from me but i have absolutely no problem doing it. Whenever, with whom ever was fine with me. He still refused to guarantee live arrival due to carrier error. I refused to pony up that type of cash without a guarantee. If someone else is willing to take that chance, no matter how improbable it might be, so be it. It just wont be me.

well with that being the case i agree i wouldnt make a purchase either . Delta will cover losses to a certain amnt i just aint sure what cause i have never needed to use it.
-----
__The Revolution has begun ... www.junglehabitatsplastics.com_

signature file edited, contact an admin 6/12/06

I have shipped a-lot of animals and recieved a-lot of animals! I gurantee live arrival through Delta Dash, which is by far the best and safest way to ship. I do ship FedEx when a customer requests it, and I only ship Overnight Priority that is guaranteed to arrive at 10:30am. I do guarantee live arrival of my FedEx shipments if they arrive on time and are signed for. With a 8K animal I would only ship it Delta Dash! I have had only one DOA, but it was from East Coast to West Coast and the young man I was shipping to didn't make it a priority to get to the airport on time. The Delta Cargo worker knowing it was a reptile put the box on a radiator heater and from what I can tell cooked the snake. The animal was insured and Delta denied the claim, so just because you insure your animals doesn't mean that you are going to get your money if something happens to the animal. Just my two cents!!! What it's worth~~

Al Brown/Brown's Boas

That is exactly why even with chances being very slim if some worker does something boneheaded i dont feel i should be out of luck. I feel after 7 years in this business that the risk is always that of the seller.That is a risk i always have assumed in order to reach a larger clientle.

You spend 8K with me and Ill hop a flight out on a weekend drop and run.Im in the LTL Freight buisness and have been for over 25 years. AINT A CHANCE IN HELL I would allow "ANY CARRIER" to move a time sensitive shipment of this nature,much less cost involved.
If people actually knew the risk they take and just how freakin lucky they are when it turns out successful they wouldnt (if they cared) do it again.Once a breeder has cash in hand they go into CMA mode and they dont often budge.
Greed is a MONSTER ! FACT is they get theirs sooner or later,and generally later when it REALLY STINGS !! LOL!!

M/

>>That is exactly why even with chances being very slim if some worker does something boneheaded i dont feel i should be out of luck. I feel after 7 years in this business that the risk is always that of the seller.That is a risk i always have assumed in order to reach a larger clientle.

In the situation I described with the young man and the DOA I didn't feel responsible for the loss,since he didn't get to the airport at the appropriate time! Even though I didn't feel responsible I still gave him back his money. I talked to several of my breeder friends about this situation and they all told me he made the mistake he should be responsible. I didn't want to start any trouble as I am a laid back person and have plenty of animals and this kid was just starting out. I have bought a couple animals over 5K this year and I picked them up in person. Like metachrosis said if the animal is that valuable to your collection then it is time for a snake gathering road trip. I personelly always attempt to get my customers to take Delta Dash shipments since they are the best for both parties not to mention the animals which are the most important thing in all of this.

Al Brown/Brown's Boas

I am with you. I also had a one or two instances where i felt the buyer was at fault but i just made it right anyway. I have no problem with receiving delta dash, just have a problem with carrier liability. What if i get there on time and some new guy at a possible stop over in atlanta, or even before i get there decides to put the animal on a heater or something? I also am uncomfortable because at what point is able to claim carrier error? What if there was a hiddden problem to begin with? I hear what you guys are saying but i am unable to take the time away from work and my family as i have one small child and am expecting another any day now to drive 20 hours each way to pick this animal up. Thanks for all the replies though.

I have one of Al's babies and I really like the way he handles the whole shipping thing. He simply negotiates the selling price for the animal "shipped". Then sends it Delta, no questions, no choices. It arrives the same day period.

Except, Delta is NOT infallible. Another shipment (not from Al) I recently received came in just fine. But the shipper had sent out three packages at once. The other two had the barcode labels placed on the wrong packages by the freight person and ended up at the wrong airports. The snakes were fine and rerouted the next day, I know my seller was fairly well stressed out by the whole thing. Good packaging is a MUST!!
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB, selectively bred from good stock)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
13.26 BRB
11.16 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Say Hi Al, she is a beauty!!

And thanks again!!
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB, selectively bred from good stock)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
13.26 BRB
11.16 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I miss that animal, Her mother produced 14 more gorgeous albinos for me this year, so she is getting this year off to gain some weight and be treated like the queen she is. She has produced 22 albinos and 24 hets in two seasons. She is one of the animals that will never leave my collection no matter what. I will post some pixs of the 06 brother to Daves' albino tomorrow, but for now her is a pick of her 05 sister I am keeping!!!SEE YA LATER BOA FREAKS!!!!

For me shipping wouldn't be an option. If I was spending that sort of cash... I do a "road trip" and pick it up in person.

If I wanted the animal bad enough I'd find the time to make the drive. If I couldn't, then I'd have to pass on the purchase. I realize that people ship snakes all the time and, in most cases, they arrive just fine. I just wouldn't feel comfortable having a "really expensive" snake shipped. For me really expensive is....... over 2,000 dollars.