Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Documentation? What is the big deal with documentation? I see a lot of people post opinions on documentation and the below discussion about the Jungle Boas is no exception. In today’s computer age a Snake sales ticket saying that a snake is from some sort of lineage really has no true value. I will try and explain this from a Law Enforcement point of view for everyone.

1) Any sale is base on a Civil Law Transaction and any break of trust in that sale would have to be handled in a Civil Law Suit. Police, Sheriff or any other Law Enforcement agency has no Jurisdiction in that area. We are criminal law enforcement and do not dabble in Civil Law disputes.
2) Even a claim of out right fraud such as “he said it was double het for purple elephants and all it produced was normal boas” would still be in a Civil court, it still involves the sale of an item and the fact that you received the item and are not satisfied with it. If you never got the item, then the police would have some say.
3) Most of these transactions will be in Small Claims Court (in FL it is under $2500.00 I think to keep it is small claims court) the problem there is that a small claims court can not compel the bad guy to show up and or pay the awarded judgment. They can only award the judgment and it is up to you to record it.
4) if you were scammed from someone out of State, the cost of small claims court (about $250.00 in Collier County) and the cost of recording the judgment ( $35.00) is more lost money that you will never recover. So you will be throwing good money after bad. You can make a black mark on the bad guys credit history (if you even have enough information to record that) but more then likely if he is a dirt bag to begin with then it will not matter to him. So no harm comes to the bad guy and you are out $285.00 on top of the money paid.

Now back to the documentation. I recently had a very nice guy ask for documentation on the purchase of a pair of het boas from him. He even asked if I could have it notarized for him for his added protection. I told him no problem and sent him the paper work. Now these snakes are 100% Het for Anery and I believe myself to be an overly honest person, but if I were not what could I have done. The notary, who happens to be a co-worker, notarized the fact that I signed the paper in front of him. He has no idea if these snakes are what I said them to be. I could have wrote that the snake would crap diamonds and pee gold and he still would have notarized my signature.
My point is that it seems too many people are putting too much weight on documentation. The person I mentioned above, and Matt thanks again for the purchase you are a good guy, was smart enough to check me out through the BOI and ask around too. With the replies he got he was somewhat confident that I was not going to rip him off. He did his home work and check on my reputation. In this hobby us breeders only have our word and our reputation and it is this that people should be looking into, the documentation is nothing but paper and ink and can say anything any one wants it too.
Just thought that I would bring the subject up and maybe clear up some thoughts about how important paper is.
Thanks for reading
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

A Receipt,from the Seller stating the Animal purchased and the Date, that's all.Like the one i got from, Ben Siegel Reptile's Very Professional,and the one i got from Ron, at Class Reptilia Costomer Invoice,again "Very Professionl" that way you have something for future reference ,i think Breeder's/Seller's should at least provide a receipt.And that way a phone-call can verify where the Animal's come from should the question ever arise.
Have A Good One ! !
Kenneth

I think a picture is important. Personally, I insert a picture of the animal in question and sign my name across it. That way there exists documentation (I can also save a copy for future reference) that makes it possible to verify THAT snake is the one the receipt goes with.

>>A Receipt,from the Seller stating the Animal purchased and the Date, that's all.Like the one i got from, Ben Siegel Reptile's Very Professional,and the one i got from Ron, at Class Reptilia Costomer Invoice,again "Very Professionl" that way you have something for future reference ,i think Breeder's/Seller's should at least provide a receipt.And that way a phone-call can verify where the Animal's come from should the question ever arise.
>>Have A Good One ! !
>>Kenneth

You make a "Good Point There" i like that idea,Thank's for the input ! !
Have A Good One ! !
Kenneth