Reptile & Amphibian Forums

even if the guy has a good rep. would you buy without seeing it first. Not just any snake but somthing in the $1000-$2000 range or more.

I've purchased several animals in this manner from a few different folks. Everything from boelen's to albino boas. I only do this with quality people who stand behind their animals and those who I consider as friends.

>>even if the guy has a good rep. would you buy without seeing it first. Not just any snake but somthing in the $1000-$2000 range or more.

I dont buy snakes that I personally have not seen first hand or a picture of. All of my snakes I have bought not with the intent to breed, rather becuase I like how they "look". That in mind Im not going to spend 100$ 500$ or $12,000 on a snake and not know how it looks.

How else can you tell what size, health, or pattern you are getting ? you have nothing to fall back on if it is not what you were expecting.

Is it too much to expect a picture when you're spending that kind of money? I imagine you're forking over some dough for a peak freak suri of some type...

that being said,
I imagine anything from Mr. Eckert, Escoffery, Yagi etc. or any of the breeders (Brain Abrahamson, B. Miller etc.) would be of top quality...but they would also probably provide a foto.

just my 2 cents worth...that's a LOT of money to be forking over site unseen.

cheers,
gabriel gartner

small time breeder of surinam redtail boas, papuan pythons, green tree pythons, borneo short tailed pythons and ginter line red-bull snakes.

.. just a few short years ago, before we got websites, online albums, digital instant imaging.. everything was bought sight-unseen! I bougth many very nice boas and some real duds without seeing anything before sending the check..

I am amazed at how much things have changed.. part of the change is the drive to get a certain look or phase. it used to be you bought a Colombian boa, or a Peru boa and that's what you got.. Now, people buy a particular look or color or whatever and photos are all the rage!

But I agree, unless you are really sure about the person you are dealing with, photos are a must..

Gus

If I am buying a snake from someone I know and have dealt with in the past I would trust them. The few times I have done this what I recieved exceeded my expectations. It all depends on your comfort level with the breeder.
Bill Kirby

It doesnt matter who the snake came from, the name throwing thing its not like they actually inseminate the animals thenselves, I never take claim that I produced these etc. I had nothing to do with it just put two together and let them produce what they produce. If I think a snake is smoken that is my opinion someone else might think its ok, a picture request does not mean you do not trust the breeder it simply lets you see before hand what you are getting, if you arew not looking for anything special or different then what ever you get may make you happy so it is all up to your expectation as to what you are willing to accept.
thats all, it shouldn't insult any breeder even if you buy 20 snakes from them , don't be shy get a sneak peak as to what you are going to recieve.
They always look better in person then in a pic so chances are it will still exceed your expectations.

a pic. But after that, yes, I would buy sight unseen. I have boas from Jim Hopkins, Rich Ihle, Jon Roylance, and I would buy another boa from any of them, sight unseen. There are other breeders that I would also trust. I would just talk to them and once it was clear what I wanted, confirmed that they have what I am looking for, then yes, I would buy sight unseen from breeders like Gus or Linda H. I would add that I believe that every one of these breeders would guarantee my satisfaction. Also, asking for a pic does not mean that there is a lack of trust. I offer pics, even on $10 corns. It's called customer satisfaction. Some customers want a specific look or "cool pattern". Pics let them make their choice.

I purchased my Colombian RTB from Bob Clark, it was a scary process because I have never just "let" someone pick me out a snake. On the positive side, I got a sexy little girl with tons of pink, a great tail, slams anything you put in front of her and a great docile disposition. On the negative side, Bob Clark did not listen to me when I said "juvi male" because he sent me a female subadult. Now, regardless, I was not planning on breeding her...so, it didn't really qualp any of my plans. However, if I were going to spend upwards of $1000 on a herp...I'd definetly be considering a road trip.

Sami
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0.1 Red Tail boa~Ariadnae
4.6 Rats~Rex, Winkin', Kanga, Noodle, Cy, Pyp, Symone, Vyolet, Onyx, Blinkin'
1.1 Dogs~Boots, Karrey
0.1 Cat~Roxanne