Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What do you all think about classified ads that spend 3/4 of the ad talking about how their only guarantee is for live arrival, nothing beyond that? I'm feeling wary of purchasing from someone so concerned about telling me what they WON'T do, rather than reassuring me of the health of their stock. Am I taking this wrong? (I'm talking about ads here on Kingsnake).
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2.1 Corn snakes Snake Plissken, Jack Skellington & Abby
1.1 Hog Island Boas Harley & Isaboa
1.3 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1 Pacman frog Buffy the Cricket Slayer
1.1.4 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Olivia Newton John, Helmut Newton & Thandie Newton
1.1 cats Gus & Mena

>>What do you all think about classified ads that spend 3/4 of the ad talking about how their only guarantee is for live arrival, nothing beyond that? I'm feeling wary of purchasing from someone so concerned about telling me what they WON'T do, rather than reassuring me of the health of their stock. Am I taking this wrong? (I'm talking about ads here on Kingsnake).
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Interesting..
I can understand the need to protect themselves by stating live arrival guaranteed and nothing beyond that but I personally think it should go a little farther then that.
I think the main thing is they have no control on what happens to the snake once it has arrived so they find it difficult to guarantee beyond that point.
There have been people who have lied to get free snakes so it can go both ways.
I don't know if I would really let that keep me from at least checking on the animal and the seller.
A couple of e-mails or a phone call might clear up any wariness.
Then again there are a lot of people who are willing to go beyond that point and guarantee their animals for a period of time beyond arrival so,if you have even the slightest doubt you can always find someone else with what you want.
I personally beleive you should guarantee beyond arrival but there is a limit. It is a fine line.
so I rambled on for a few minutes here but don't really know if I actually had anything to say.

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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

I know a lot of breeders and there are a few stinkers, but most do the best they can. Only buy from the most reputable...you get what you pay for.
Jimmy, another beauty! Really enjoy your pictures.

Buffy's Mom,

Many of those advertisers are selling wild caught animals. Most have been shipped in crowded conditions and have parasites. It is difficult to guarantee something that has a high mortality rate.

I don't think most corn snake breeders state "live arrival is guaranteed, but no guarantees beyond that." At the same time, it is a bit frightening to receive e-mails from people asking "What kind of guarantee do you offer?" as if they are predetermined things will go wrong (or planning on lying in order to get a free snake).

I've had several customers buy snakes, only to have the snakes escape shortly afterwards. I had a customer put their snake cage on a radiator to "warm it up" (it died). I even had someone who didn't know that snakes need water (that one died too).

So you can see why some breeders are reluctant to offer guarantees (or have a heck of a lot of fine print included with the guarantees they do offer).

Most breeders, myself included, are more than happy to replace or refund an animal that doesn't prosper because of something that doesn't seem to be the fault of the buyer. This doesn't happen very often, therefore we don't feel the need to state this unwritten "guarantee."

Tim

Third Eye