Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I responded to an ad for an adult pied male. I volunteered to fly from Florida to Wisconsin to view the animal. The owner said he had a closed collection and that wouldn't be possible. I told him I didn't need to see his collection or to come to his house. He could meet me at the airport with the snake, let me examine it and I'd ship it home and fly back. He was afraid of mites and/or diseases and that most breeders would say the same. I refused the deal. His concerns seemed out of line. What do you guys think. Who is crazy? Mike

Good grief. I am in agreement with you. I can understand not agreeing to show the collection but not to view the snake before purchasing is odd. Sounds like extreme paranoria or possibly something to hide in his animal. Would definitely be a deal breaker for me.

Stay away from that weirdo. That is ridiculous. He expects you to fork out several several thousands of dollars but yet you can't even see what you are going to purchase. This guy is crazy!!

He probably doen't even own a pied ball and was trying to scam you. I'm glad you didn't get taken advantage of and lose your money.

My advice is to stay away from people like this guy!! Surely, any decent and knowledgeable breeder or hobbyist would allow someone to view a snake they were going to purchase, especially one that is pretty darn expensive.

Just my opinion!!
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Michael
KoenigsPythons

I wouldn't give him a second thought. I don't like anyone that won't allow you to view their facilities to see what kind of care they give. Especially for such an expensive snake. The guy DEFINATELY has something to hide (or extreme paranoia as someone else mentioned.) Neither of these qualities are ones I want to deal with in a transaction. You may want to go to a certain unnamed website and give people the heads up. Better than someone to loose thousands of dollars. Just my opinion though. Take care, Scott.
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Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

"In any civilized society, it is every citizen's responsibility to obey just laws.
But at the same time, it is every citizen's responsibility to disobey unjust laws."
—Martin Luther King Jr

Well, I can't say I blame you for raising an eyebrow, and in today's world it does seem we need to "see" the animal in some instances, but after reading your name "Mike Bell", it put me in a different frame of mind. Take Mark Bell for instance (hence your name - triggered this thought, LOL) I can almost promise the Bell's would not allow any possible customer to visit their facilty, nor do I think they would be able to take the time to meet you at the Airport to show you the animal. Not out of haste or poor customer service, but directly due to time. Now in no way am I saying this guy is "that busy", the Bell's have 30 employees in season and work around the clock to keep up, not to many breeders/sellers have that many employees (some don't even have that many snakes) but I just don't think that just because someone won't meet you at an airport to show you an animal doesn't make the "weird". Think of it from both sides of the coin...you want to see the animal (and for good reason - that's alot of money) he doesn't want to meet you with the animal/show his colection, you think the guy is bad news (very, very possible - and sadly w/ some of the horror stories I've heard, I would agree) but the other side could be like this...a guy has a Piebald for sale, someone calls him, says he'll fly up to see the animal. The guy says "private collection/no visitors (understandable for obvious reasons - residence, etc...) Then the guy says "we can meet at the airport" and the seller thinks "man, this stranger is going to fly cross country to meet me at the airport to look at my animal...could he be trouble??"

I'm guessing he couldn't provide you w/ pics...

Bottom line for me is if I was purchasing an animal of that value from a stranger I would also insist on seeing the animal as well (you're smart) and I would pass on the deal as well, but I still think the guy may be "legit" he might just be a little overly concerned about improbable possibilties.

Bottom line - if you're buying an animal of significant value, buy from someone you know will back the animal up 100% ie: BIG NAMES or lil' guys close by.

Just a quick thought...have you considered asking this person if he set's up at any expo's?? If so, maybe you could arrange your flight for then, and it could all be done in a public place under a business situation. I'm guessing he had a killer price on the animal or you wouldn't fly up to see it. am I right?? Well, either way I think you made the right decision - but in certain cases, not wanting to meet someone doesn't mean they're bad news all of the time...

just me being nosy again...best of luck on your Piebald purchase!!

Thanks for the long reply. I know Mark Bell, and you're right he wouldn't let someone come and visit. I do feel sure that he would meet someone that was willing to travel, at least for a purchase of this size. The seller did have a picture on KS, but I also have pictures of pieds on my computer and don't own any. The airport or any other public place would have been acceptable to me. I can't imagine someone flying there to just be a nuisance. He seemed anxious to sell, so I don't think the few minutes of his time would have been an issue. I'm curious what some of the big names would have to say about this, if they would meet someone who wanted to make a big purchase. I purchased some het pieds this week that originally came from Ralph Davis. Ralph doesn't know me, and he had nothing to gain from helping me. When I e-mailed him to confirm the animals were produced by him, I received an INSTANT reply along with the pictures he had kept from two years ago. He took some of his valuable time to help, when he had no interest in the deal. THANKS RALPH. I agree everything could be on the up and up, but I thought it was strange

An airport is a public place, can't get any more public. I doubt the guy is going to rob him in the middle of an airport.

Sorry, Mike...only one reason I didnt want to meet with you...frankly something about your personality kinda weirded me out, and from your emails to me you didnt seem like a serious buyer anyways. Nothing personal, just a bad gut feeling about it.....and I dont believe for a second you were serious about flying out here. As for myself and for the animal, anyone who wants credibility references for myself, feel free to contact me at ruppco@asapnet.net; I have made many good friendships in this business with some of the biggest names to the up and comers. I am not the "scam artist" that I think the Mike character is implying. As for the animal, he is absolutely perfect in every way. If someone is serious about this animal (not a wannabe, weird question asker like someone else I know), I will cut you a VERY good deal on this animal. Sincerely, Stan Ruppel Reptiles 414.525.1595

OK Stan, it sounds like you've picked up the gauntlet that Mike threw down so how about some more detail? I can understand not inviting someone to your facility. I have another name for MY facility, I call it home and I'm not in the habit of inviting strangers over to my house. But not meeting him at the airport because he sounded "weird"? Thats just crazy talk. How can you make that kind of determination over the phone? Give him your phone number and tell him to give you a call as soon as he gets into town, and then you'll come pick him up and meet with him. If he doesn't show, he doesn't show. No skin off your nose. Frankly if he came with the price of an adult piebald in his pockets, I'd meet with him if he came dressed in a fright wig, big floppy shoes and a red rubber nose.

Mark

>>Sorry, Mike...only one reason I didnt want to meet with you...frankly something about your personality kinda weirded me out, and from your emails to me you didnt seem like a serious buyer anyways. Nothing personal, just a bad gut feeling about it.....and I dont believe for a second you were serious about flying out here. As for myself and for the animal, anyone who wants credibility references for myself, feel free to contact me at ruppco@asapnet.net; I have made many good friendships in this business with some of the biggest names to the up and comers. I am not the "scam artist" that I think the Mike character is implying. As for the animal, he is absolutely perfect in every way. If someone is serious about this animal (not a wannabe, weird question asker like someone else I know), I will cut you a VERY good deal on this animal. Sincerely, Stan Ruppel Reptiles 414.525.1595

Hello Stan,
I never implied that you were a scam artist. I simply stated facts, none of which you have disputed. If during a five minute phone call, my expressing apprehension and concern causes you to weird out, I think you are too sensitive to be in a business that deals with the public. While you refer to people as wannabe and weird question asker, a good businessman would refer to them as future customers. You may very well be on the up and up, but you botched this sale. Since our phone call ended with you hanging up on me in mid-sentence, I'd like to say Goodbye Stan!

Have you ever wasted your time waiting for someone to meet you at a location and they never show up? I have!!!!! I think you have to protect you home and time. What price is time? If you have shown pictures, gram weight, hatch date...what else is there? Perhaps offer a $100.00 fee to meet for your time and if purchase is consummated the fee is applied to purchase price. Just a thought. We all have things to do during the week. Sort of like a service fee a TV repair man or any service that requires travel to a location.
RicK

Some of my best friends are herpers
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RicK Denmon

Ball Boutique,Inc.