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This year, I ordered a snake from a breeder who had the snake listed at a price plus $40 shipping. When I got the snake by USPS, I saw that he had paid

>>This year, I ordered a snake from a breeder who had the snake listed at a price plus $40 shipping. When I got the snake by USPS, I saw that he had paid

I would assume that you were going to say that he paid less for shipping then the $40.00.
There is nothing wrong with this. Shipping doesn't only include the USPS, UPS, FEDEX or other carriers charge. It can also include the insulated box, cold pack, deli dish and time spent packaging if the shipper so desires.
There are a lot of times where a specific shipping charge is given for all shipments. Shipping to some areas may be less and some areas it may be more but it is just easier to do it this way to avoid the hassles.
I would say that when you agreed to the price of the snake and the shipping cost that you felt it was a satisfactory deal or you wouldn't have gone through with it.
Are you happy with the snake?
Before you knew what he actually paid for shipping were you happy with the deal?
I think that as long as you agreed to the terms, and purchased the snake, that it wouldn't really matter even if shipping was free for him.

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

Draybars Snakes
Available

I am going to assume you meant to add that the shipper paid less for shipping than what he actually charged you.

I have to agree with Jimmy. If you agreed with the shipping price at the onset of the transaction, then there isnt any reason you should feel cheated. Maybe you could have asked for a lower shipping price and gotten it. But as Jimmy stated, the shipping price doesnt always just include shipping alone.

I use E-bay, and it is the same way. I pay a set shipping cost, and it doesnt always reflect on the actual shipping, unless stated in advance that shipping is calculated on zip codes.

If the snake arrived healthy and you are happy with it, then I would say you got a decent deal.
Brian

>>This year, I ordered a snake from a breeder who had the snake listed at a price plus $40 shipping. When I got the snake by USPS, I saw that he had paid
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RATS
1.0 Corn snake "Warpath" (KY locale)
0.0.1 Corn snake (KY locale)
1.0 Black rat snake "Havok" (KY locale)
1.1 Black rat snakes "Reaper and Mystique" (MO locale)
1.0 Albino Black rat snake "Malakai" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Everglades rat snake "Deadpool" (Dwight Good stock)
0.1 Greenish rat snake "Rogue" (Dwight Good stock)
0.0.1 Great plains rat snake (TX locale)
1.0 Grey rat snake "Punisher" (White oak phase)(Dwight Good stock)

Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

The $40 charge is a ripp off.Ive sent large boas for less than forty.Now this is just plain next day air.It does cost more to have (Before noon) deliveries and they can cost 36 dollars.I live in central il so that could be on my side as well.

>>The $40 charge is a ripp off.Ive sent large boas for less than forty.Now this is just plain next day air.It does cost more to have (Before noon) deliveries and they can cost 36 dollars.I live in central il so that could be on my side as well.

How can it be a rip off if it is agreed to ahead of time.
It doesn't matter if he shipped it for free.
The simple fact is that no matter what shipping is, the total amount is what counts.
$15.00 for a snake and $40.00 for shipping is $55.00
So is $20.00 for the snake and $35.00 for shipping.
Or $25.00 for the snake and $30.00 for shipping.

Which one is fair and which one is a rip off?

the simple fact of the matter is, he felt the total price was fair so he ordered the snake.
How the price is arrived at or how it is broken down is irrelevant.

just my opinion on the subject
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes
Available

and do they accept snakes now?
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phflame

They sometimes tolerate it.It also depends on the postmaster.I fight tooth and nail with our FedEx and they swear they dont ship reptiles.Yet I know many breeders who have accounts with FedEx.It's just a giant mess and I dont see it getting any better.Ive had more bad experiences shipping/receiving than good as of late.Im going to have to drive a pair of Bairds down to Jimmy next spring(when the bass are in prespawn)lol..Paul

From going to shows and watching the classifieds I know about what the snake I want to purchase costs.I could see coast to coast shipping being expensive.Why should it cost me the same if I live in the middle of the United States?How can a 14 ounce package cost 40 smackers?You can buy boxes dirt cheap,containers dirt cheap,and used newspaper?So let's say I have 2-4 dollars invested in my packaging and it costs me $20 or less to ship.Ive seen some adds were shipping is $55 no matter were you live.They will never see my money.That's just being greedy.lol.
I do see your point and I have seen adds like that.To be real honest with you I hate the whole shipping process.The only snakes Ive ever had huge problems with I purchased online.Im going to stick with buying from shows from now on.
Just my opinions and ranting like a lunatic....Paul

>>From going to shows and watching the classifieds I know about what the snake I want to purchase costs.I could see coast to coast shipping being expensive.Why should it cost me the same if I live in the middle of the United States?How can a 14 ounce package cost 40 smackers?You can buy boxes dirt cheap,containers dirt cheap,and used newspaper?So let's say I have 2-4 dollars invested in my packaging and it costs me $20 or less to ship.Ive seen some adds were shipping is $55 no matter were you live.They will never see my money.That's just being greedy.lol.
>> I do see your point and I have seen adds like that.To be real honest with you I hate the whole shipping process.The only snakes Ive ever had huge problems with I purchased online.Im going to stick with buying from shows from now on.
>> Just my opinions and ranting like a lunatic....Paul

I understand everyones argument I just feel that if it is within reason and the buyer agrees then all is well.
I have also seen more and more instances where people aren't shipping next day. USPS isn't over night guaranteed is it? I would never ship that way. must be next day guaranteed.
I get nervous as hell every time I ship. I have had problems with several carriers and almost hold my breath until I find out a shipment has arrived safely.
I like the more local deliveries where I can take an couple of hours out of a day for a personal delivery. Easier on the snakes and lets you meet people.
Like you said Paul. if you don't like the price you will look elsewhere. I think that is the way with all of us.
Speaking of which, we will definitely have to find a show or something about half way between us so we can meet and maybe exchange bairdis.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes
Available

To a certain degree I think Jimmy is right -- as long as both parties agree on total price, there isn't a problem regardless of the breakdown. The breakdown is really just assigning reasons for the price the breeder wants anyway. But on the other hand I have to point out that this is one of the more recent scams. Everyone has seen those television commercials where some company wants to send you something free, you just pay shipping and handling. And then it turns out that shipping and handling is $5 for a CD-ROM disc in a paper sleeve, which of course is far more than shipping really costs. Oddly enough, the first time I ever heard of this was a number of years ago when Jackie was still on the Howard Stern Show. He used to sell his CDs dirt cheap, but the shipping and handling costs were high, and Howard was yelling at him for making money off postage. More recently, I saw hatchling splendida sold for $80, with a 50%-50% breakdown. I really, really, really want a splendida, but I'm not buying one from that guy.

The point is that I think you should watch the total price, and as soon as you find yourself uncomfortable with that number, then start looking into the breakdown.

Just my opinion.

Thanks to all of you for your responses.

I see that some of you come down on the side of the letter of the contract and others seem to feel that dealers and breeders should not be using shipping as a way to increase profits.

I have always felt that people should always be upfront in their dealings. Tell the truth, and don’t try to take advantage of people.

I like dealers who tell you how they are going to ship so that you can look up the charges for yourself. I don’t mind paying a reasonable box charge. (Insulated boxes can run you a few bucks.) Saving money on freight should be used to benefit the buyer and not to increase the profits of the seller by a large percentage.

FedEx shipping overnight does cost about $40. For what you pay, they do get the package to you the very next day and in good condition. The US Post Office does not make the same claim on the method of shipping that was used. It did work out that way, but if there had been a problem there would have been no way of tracking the shipment and resolve the problem quickly. I am willing to pay the extra money for the level of service that UPS and FedEx gives its customers.

When I saw that the seller was charging $40 for shipping, it sounded fair to me since I knew the FedEx rates in advance. I even asked for a tracking number. He did ship the animal on the agreed day but did not send me a tracking number like I requested in advance. Because I asked for a tracking number, the seller knew what I was expecting, but ignored my wishes to increase his profits.

I have had an animal or two sent to me by USPS in the past, but the shipping charges reflected the decreased costs.

You can’t put everything in a contract. You have to be upfront and be fair. That goes for both buyers and sellers. If I but a snake from you and it dies the next day, should the seller replace it? If I buy the snake and it dies 10 days latter, should the seller replace it? Buyers have a right to expect that a healthy animal be sent to them, but it is also true that an animal could arrive in good health and then come down with an infection and die. That is just life. We all need to be realistic, fair, and honest, and do the right thing.

Again, thanks to all of you for your posts.

Rick