I'm done with Animal Plastics...

[MarkieJ]

I have ordered 3 racks from Animal Plastics: one 3-shelf CB70 Series, and two of the 375 Series (4 shelf, and 7 shelf). I also have one 3-shelf CB70 rack from Reptile Basics, and two 32 quart melamine racks I got off Craigslist. Wanting to increase the homogeneity of the racks in my collection, I ordered the 3rd rack from Animal Plastics recently (7 shelf 375 Series), to replace the melamine racks.

First of all, comparing an Animal Plastics rack with an RBI rack is like comparing apples to oranges. I personally feel that Animal Plastics is slightly better functionally and aesthetically, while with Reptile Basics you're going to get a rack that is completely assembled ready to plug and play. The main difference, and the reason why I will never purchase from Animal Plastics again, is the time it takes to get your rack.

My first rack I ordered was the CB70. They quoted me 5 weeks until I were to receive it, and while I received it a couple of weeks later than the 5 weeks, I was very satisfied with the product. I ordered the 2nd rack (4 shelf 375 Series) well ahead of my future Ball Python purchases anticipating the long time it takes them to ship their racks. 2 months had passed after ordering this rack before I decided to contact them. Their response was pretty much: oh shoot, we forgot about your order... we'll ship it out immediately.

I know after that last order, I should've taken my business elsewhere... but darnit, I want my racks to look the same in my snake room. My CB70 from AP and RBI are side-by-side each other, and it just looks funny. So I ordered my 3rd rack from AP (7-shelf 375 Series)... *SIGH* 2 months later again, I decide to contact them for the status of my rack. Emails kept bouncing back, and the ones that got through didn't get responded to. Well I finally got a response back and my rack is on its way.

I personally feel that Animal Plastics just didn't care about me and my small orders. It felt like if I weren't to contact them... who knows if I were to ever get my racks. Needless to say, I am done with Animal Plastics. I'll have an oddball AP CB70 rack next to my stack of RBI CB70s. If you're debating ordering from either Animal Plastics, or Reptile Basics Inc, go with Rich at RBI. You will get a quality product in a timely fashion.

Mark

[justinmann17]

All I have are animal plastic racks........I know to order many months in advance. So you are not alone in thinking they will never ship. Atleast they treat everyone equally as bad.

[PigsnPythons]

I have 2 AP racks and an 3' x 2' AP Cage. My 2nd rack and the cage took FOREVER to get here. That said, I'm 100% satisfied with them. In fact, I love them. I always had very quick responses from them when I e-mailed questions and concerns.

I'm sticking with AP, but I wish they could get stuff out faster.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

I love my AP racks and every time I've called them, or emailed, I've been treated courteously. One of my racks was picked up at a show. The others were shipped. I was told of the turn-around time. It is expected to be longer if there is a show coming up as well.

That's business in this world. It isn't Walmart. It's a reptile cage company. They can only afford so many employees and they also travel all across the country for shows. There is going to be some lag time for a small company such as this with high quality racks that almost any keeper can afford..

[AndrewGeibel]

It does take a long time to get products from them but that's why you plan ahead. They quoted me 6 weeks and I got mine in 6 weeks. I always got an email response same day from them though so I wonder why they took so long to respond. Maybe they were out of town at a show? It's hard to run a mill when you are across the country.

[meeistom]

I personally will never by anything from AP ever again. The lead time is way too long and you have assemble it once you get it. RBI all the way for me. Rich has always gone above and beyond for me and anyone else I know who has ordered from him. AP treats all there customers like dirt and we just take it. I for one see no reason to do that when there are better options out there.

[2kdime]

Each place has their pros and cons

I know Ap usually has a 4 week lead time, but they have now started doing like "10 day" shipping on some items as well.

Ive been to their shop many times and have seen how they do business and know they have made steps to be able to provide people with product faster.

Ap for me all the way brother

Let me know how pissed off you are after your order gets "skipped" on a round of cage making and you have to wait twice as long from another cage competitor.

[Strick]

RB now has a minimum 3 week lead time on their racks now. Looks like one will have to plan ahead no matter what. I orderd one of the Rhino Raxx 3 weeks ago so we shall see how Boaphile does. If their racks are built like their cages I'm in.

[DemmBalls]

I had great customer service from AP and my order shipped right on schedule. Sure it was a long wait, but the rack is great!

[adamjeffery]

I personally will never by anything from AP ever again. The lead time is way too long and you have assemble it once you get it. RBI all the way for me. Rich has always gone above and beyond for me and anyone else I know who has ordered from him. AP treats all there customers like dirt and we just take it. I for one see no reason to do that when there are better options out there.

other than the lead time which they state on the site. when and where was anybody treated like dirt?
i will only ever but animal plastics racks. the customer service is second to none in my book. if you want fast build your own. if you want quality you plan ahead, purchase and then wait for your item to be built for you, by hand, by a small American company. they will also add custom features as well if you need something modified. they replace parts fast and without hassle.
i see no need not to buy from them.
adam jeffery