Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently bought an argentine boa. On the first day, I noticed the tip of his tail is missing. I emailed the seller and informed him of the situation as I had not been told about his tail. He told me he never noticed and that I could return him and he would refund me my money minus the charges for shipping him back. I told him I would rather not return him for a minor cosmetic problem, plus be out the shipping money. What do you think of this situation? What would be a viable solution? Thanks!

Well, you kinda answered your own question "minor cosmetic problem". Yeah, you and the seller could work out some sort of partial refund assuming you still want the boa.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

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

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I agree with Dave, I would discuss a partial reparation to save you both grief. Especially if it isn't a great deal of damage, without photos I cannot assume the nature of the flaw. Did you provide a photo to the seller as proof and to help your case?
You shouldn't have to pay ANYTHING to return an animal if the it is not as represented by the seller, but that is my own opinion of good business. If they had mentioned a flaw, then that would be different. Generally, anyone could assume beforehand that an animal that was flawed or sick may be sent back, and therefore mention any issues or replace it with a better animal before sending to save you both trouble later on (not to mention their reputation). Personally, I inspect my animals very well before sending them out. Honesty, customer satisfaction and healthy animals is the way to go if you can, you want folks to come back!
Good luck working something out with the seller, I hope he at least gives you a small refund as reparation for an unexpectedly less than perfect animal.

-----
Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
1.0 Probable Super Salmontine(Kahn)
0.1 Salmontine (Sonya)
1.1 DH Sunglow (Gabrielle and Bonnie)
1.0 Hypo het anery (Don Juan)
1.1 07 Hypo pos. triple hets (Rico Suave & Pumpkin)
1.0.1 Het. Anery (Guy & ?)
0.1 2007 Mostly striped boa (Andromeda)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.0 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal(deceased)
1.3 Hog Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Tang, Isis)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.3 BPs (MJ, Precious, Houdini)
1.2 Carpet Pythons (Jackson, Charlotte, & Cassandra)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
1.2 Children's Pythons (Spot, Freckle and Speckle)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)

He told me that, at any other time, he would give me a partial refund or refund the shipping money as well, but he can't afford it. He said, "It's a sign of the times." I don't think this validates his actions. I've tried to think of alternative ways to solve this, but, besides me shipping him back at a loss due to nonrefunded shipping, he doesn't seem willing to negotiate. Any ideas on what I should do? Thanks for the opinions, everyone!

I don't think this has anything to do with "the times"...other than in hard times is when people's true colors become most evident.

I agee with the others. If the seller had disclosed a defect, and you ordered the animal with that knowledge, then that's one thing. However, if he sent a defective animal without telling you, he should allow you to return it without any cost to you, and learn that he needs to excersise complete disclosure to avoid this stiuation in the future.

If he actually said something to the affect "any other time, I'd make it right", then he is clearly stating he is in the wrong, and he knows he it, but is going to use "the economy" as an excuse to not do the right thing.

That's a shame....good luck, hopefully he'll reconsider his position.

Mark
-----
uncommonboa.com

That sounds just WRONG!!!! I would be joining the forum with the board of inquiry and reporting this as a bad transaction.

IMO "It's a sign of the times." is a load of fecal matter!!!

Like already said, these times will show peoples true colors. Eventually the economy will turn around and hopefully this will weed out some of those losers.

Hmmm, how did you pay for it? Paypal??? Any option to dispute the transaction as unsatisfactory???
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

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

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

No, he doesn't accept paypal so the payment was made over the phone. I thought all would go well because I only read good things about him on the BOI, but I don't think I should have to pay for his mistake. I'm still unsure whether I'm going to return him or not though, but even if I keep him, I think I deserve a partial refund for the unexpected tail issue. Thanks everyone! I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't being unruly or anything.

Payment made over the phone - credit card?

Dispute the charge as goods not received in acceptable condition!!!

I for one totally agree this is not acceptable. Only slight possible loophole I could even begin to see would be if the ad or website pics in some way showed the defect.

IMO a significant portion of this hobby / business is customer service at all levels. Whether you're buying the latest morph / combo morph or a simple normal, making a fair deal is what it's all about. I bet you NEVER buy from this seller again.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

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

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I believe it is his own fault for not disclosing the flaw in the first place and that he should not have spent the money before his guarantee (if he has one even!)expired. The economy is no reason for one person to not back up their 'good business' while others in the industry still do.
On a side note, I have read some unsatisfactory stories before and have learned to keep the money set aside that I am paid for an animal until my health and satisfaction guarantees are no longer in effect. That way I will have means to satisfy the customer and finish a transaction correctly and ethically, should things go south by accident or otherwise. In business, there is always an opportunity to get a 'bad fruit' customer (as well as seller), but overall... you want to please folks doing business with you. The folks with stellar reputations don't always have a lot of spare cash, but they go above and beyond to do right by their customers.
I'm sorry to say that you may not get any reparation if he is already spouting excuses, but I wish you well! Good luck!
-----
Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
0.1 Sunglow 25% Suriname (Temperance)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
1.0 Probable Super Salmontine(Kahn)
0.1 Salmontine (Sonya)
2.1 DH Sunglow (Gabrielle, Dumah, and Bonnie)
1.0 Hypo het anery (Don Juan)
1.1 07 Hypo pos. triple hets (Rico Suave & Pumpkin)
1.0.1 Het. Anery (Guy & ?)
0.1 2007 Mostly striped boa (Andromeda)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.0 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal(deceased)
1.3 Hog Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Tang, Isis)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.3 BPs (MJ, Precious, Houdini)
1.2 Carpet Pythons (Jackson, Charlotte, & Cassandra)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
1.2 Children's Pythons (Spot, Freckle and Speckle)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)

he gave you a viable solution no?
-----
honesty is my only policy

I meant to say it was viable if he included the shipping refund as well. Good luck
-----
honesty is my only policy

I think the seller should give you at least a partial refund.
I recently purchased a snake online that was/is perfectly healthy but I noticed that she never flicked her tongue. Upon inspecting her mouth I realized that her tongue is deformed and immobile. This does not seem to effect her in any way. The person I got her from told me to keep her(if I wanted to) and offered to send me a new snake which they allowed me to pick. The seller did not even ask for me to pay for the second shipment. I believe that this particular seller went above and beyond, but it shows how customer service can be, even if the economy is not so good right now.