Hey guys,

So I've done my share of dealing with various customers. Not all prospective owners are excessively knowledgeable, in fact one of the parts of this hobby I enjoy the most is education.

However I have had my first run in with someone I am NOT interested in selling too because they do NOT seem interested in taking any responsibility. I would like to educate them but with baby steps, you know like a pet rock maybe. I could simply tell the person that given the conversation we have had they will not be purchasing my animal but I would like to salvage the opportunity to educate.

I will post the conversation up here because I honestly at am a loss as how to proceed. I know how to do so politely but like I said would like to salvage the opportunity to educate, any advice would be GREATLY appreciated.

I don't know this persons name so it has not been changed to protect the ignorant. Here is the conversation that has taken place via text: (if it is of interest the craigslist posting is under Flagstaff AZ "Ball Python, Normal") As a side note I'm still not convinced this isn't somebody I know messing around haha.

Buyer:
Do you still have the python?
Me:
Sure do, and its still eating well
Buyer:
Was it not eating well before? Does it have any mites?
Me:
It has been our best eater out of the clutch, very regular. Nope, haven't seen any mites.
Buyer:
That's good, is it gonna get big as hell or no cause I don't want a big ass snake I got kids at home.
Me:
Pythons are some of the larger snakes but Ball Pythons only get about 8 feet long.
(hadn't sexed it yet so overshot to make sure the size would not overly concern them)

Buyer:
How old is the one u have and how long? is it pretty tame
Me:
Its almost two months old, a little over a foot long. Babies can be a little snappy but they usually mellow as they get bigger.
Buyer:
Oh, ok but it's not poisonous right? I have never owned a snake just iguanas.
Me:
Nope not poisonous. There are care sheets on websites like ball-pythons.net that have a bunch of information for prospective new owners that can be very helpful.
Buyer:
Yea I mean I owned one for like a week but it ran away when could I see it?
(At this point I obviously won't want this person knowing where I live since I don't intend to sell them a snake)

Me:
Please read up about what is required to successfully take care of a snake. If you are still interested in a couple of days please let me know. I will hold the snake for you until Friday.
This last was sent at noon on Monday. At which point I did not get another communication until this morning...

Buyer:
When could I check out the python?

I'm sort of out of patience, I feel like this person is wasting my time. After this conversation nothing short of a quiz and a trunk full of stuff to build his enclosure is going to convince me this guy has the first clue about what is going on.

But like I said I would REALLY like to salvage this , if this person is interested in snakes I want to get them started on the right foot, not like they cant just go to Petsmart and buy one no questions asked. Then they will have no information and end up with another dead snake. But I can't MAKE them learn anything.


If you have any suggestion please don't hesitate.

Thanks in advance!