Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently saw a classified add which stated, "Due to a high number of requests, I can no longer send pics of snakes you are interested in".

Now, does anyone here buy snakes, sight unseen? Now, yes I understand that if you have a friend or well known breeder that specifies a locality and says it is light phase with this pattern you might be inclined to buy it.

What if you were buying a generic snake and no pictures?

Any thoughts on this?

Steven

I guess it depends on the situation.. I have bought snakes sight unseen in the past but, for the most part i like to see what i am buying prior to the sale. Expecially if it's a species with a high degree of variability.

I would say if your not comfortable doing businees blind then move on to another vendor that is willing to take the time to send pictures.

You may pay a bit more.. But, at least you know exactly what to expect when you open the box!

~ Mike Russo

I guess I should have mentioned that when i did buy sight unseen it was pre-internet..

~ Mike Russo

I can understand getting tired of doing the same thing over and over again. But sending pictures to a buyer is an inconvience you sometimes have to live with to do business.

I would say that if they did not want to send out pictures to everybody that asked, then they should try to post them in the add. It is not like the old days when you had to run off prints/photos and stuff and an envelope to mail them at the post office.

My point of view is, if you can not take a moment to let me see what you are selling, I will just not be that interested in sending money. I would still want to see them if it was my own mother selling it to me. I guess I like to be an informed buyer or something????

In this day and age where it is so easy to snap a digital photo and post it online for free, the unwillingness to do so makes me curious. When you consider the fact that anyone with a KS classifieds account can host the photo there for free, I am even more curious.

I personally would REALLY have to want the animal to take the risk.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

For me, I would only trust people I have dealt with on a regular basis or well known breeders. I would never sell any hatchlings sight unseen. How do I know you would like the snake. Shipping is too expensive to send back and forth, and it is also stressful for the snakes. Derek

Once you take a picture of a snake, you already have it on your computer. I would recommend him getting a website if he doesn't want to send pictures to potential buyers. Derek

I have never purchased a snake from a breeder I didn't know without seeing a pic first and I never will. IMO, it is too risky to send money that you worked hard to save up and buy the snake to begin with on something that you are buying and ending up not being 100% satisfied. Every breeder I consider top notch has always been able to send me pics when I was really interested in something.

If they have an ad that has a pic of a snake that is similar to the actual snake, I still pass. I want to see WHAT I am buying.

Friends of mine that knew I would be interested in something and would bring the snake to Daytona for me to check out is another thing.
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Genesis 1:1

Not for me, gotta see it to believe it!
Todd Hughes

time was there were no pictures, just phone called, checks or money orders and late night first viewings at the air terminal. Today though it’s so easy to snap a quick picture and post it for free that this has become the new standard. I have to wonder about anyone, especially a business, not doing it. They may be legit and have great animals but service from the start doesn’t look too accommodating.

I also remember when Michael Jackson was cool..
I remember seeing the Empire Strikes Back in the movie theater.. (BTW Darth Vader was Lukes Father)
and I used to pay $0.89 / gallon for gas..

That's very funny Tony..

I clearly remember waiting for my new issue of the Vivarium to arrive so i could check out the classifieds.. Buying stuff sight unseen and then heading to the Delta Dash office at JFK Airport wondering just what the animals i paid several hundred dollars for are going to look like..

~ Mike Russo

I know that Pro Exotics will pic out snakes if you ask for them and sell them un-seen but will try and get pics of stuff for you but the time they get the pics to you, the snake you wanted might be sold. It takes alot of time to take a decent pic of a snake, I've tried I've still have'nt come up with anything like some of the masterpeices the guys on these forums have. And I take like 20 minutes each photo and its usually too close, or washed out or something. (my camera also stinks but still) I'd imagine this could take alot of time. I bought my pair of kingsnakes unseen from Tom Stevens of tomssnakes.com and he said that they would be beautiful and they were. I'd say that if the person is reputable and they say they look nice they probably will look nice. Even if they are not so reputable call the number or e-mail them and judge how professional they act/sound.
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-J.Hill

And end up selling to another buyer, or nobody at all, I can live with that. I hold some animals in high esteem that others might not see as attractive. And some animals that other people hold in high esteem I find boring.
There is a whole eye of the beholder thing, and the best way to make sure everybody will be happy is with a picture. If you do not want to send a picture to each interested person, then put a picture in the add. I do not think it is asking too much. I for one do not think it needs to be studio quality shot, just represent the critter a little.
And like was said before, shipping is expensive and stressful... Make a little extra effort to be sure it is only needed one way.

I was'nt saying that it was too much to ask, I was just making a point that sometimes sight unseen is not always bad. When I bought my brooksi sight unseen from Tom Stevens they came and I think they will be one of the best when they get to breeding age. I agree though that if the person is relatively unknown they should be willing to send pics.
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-J.Hill

I can get to know a person by talking to them over the phone and develop a level of trust and understanding. What I am trying to say is that snakes, especially species with high degrees of variability, need to be examined based on your personal taste and interest. The person selling it is not doing it through your eyes, and should be willing to accommodate with a picture before shipping the animal.

If it was all about the trust, a picture would not do much, a dishonest seller could take a picture of one animal and send you something else or nothing at all. To me trust has very little to do with this question.

Only deal with people who you can trust buying any animal. Also make sure they tell you everything about the animal and will help you in anyway they can after you buy it. eddy

I too remember when someone faxed or mailed a pricelist, you read the descriptions and then called, sent the check or mailorder and then presto 2 to 3 weeks later you got your snake.

I just wanted some feedback because it is very hard for me to understand why people dont offer pics for snakes sometimes.
Granted 100 or 200 dollars to some people may be chump change but to me it is still hundreds of dollars of hard earned money.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I really enjoy reading different stories and opinions from everyone.

Best Wishes,

Steven

I have bought sight unseen from a reputable breeder... I only did this about 3 years ago, and it was only the second time I had ever ordered via the internet.

Did the snakes turn out alright? They turned out extremely nice, but they didn't look the way I expected. I was hoping for something a little more vivid what with the way the breeder went on about them, but I was still very happy anyway when I opened up that box (which, incidentally, was brought to my house in a plain white van. It was supposed to have been sent UPS. I don't get what happened there- still a mystery to me!)

Was the service alright? Well... it was a little lackluster in the beginning. Is that too surprising? Someone who is "too busy" to take less than 5 minutes to shoot a picture and then upload and send it, is certainly even less likely to have time for things like answering questions and e-mails.

I was lucky- I found out that the person I had bought my snakes from had been weeks-gone-by slow in responding to my e-mails only due to an accident. When I had some care questions about the snakes later on, I received very prompt customer service that was slower in the beginning- even before the accident.

Although my previous and only experience had been successful, my main concerns now with buying from someone who won't snap picutres are: what else is this person too busy for? Too busy to regularly clean up after their animals? Too busy to do a quick visual exam for health regularly? Too busy help you out if a problem comes up for you? Ifthey just can't afford or can't figure out how to use a camera/computer, I then have to ask, "have they been able to afford veterinary care for their animals if/when they've needed it?"