Unbelievable-Designer Ball Pythons

[EMSPrincess]

I was planning on purchasing a pastel breeder female from Rob at Designer Ball Pythons. I had made an offer, asked a few questions, and all of which he answered and accepted. I had told him I wouldn't be able to pay until later that day, and he said the deal would only be on if I bought that day. Which was kinda pushy to start. But I asked if he had any FireBees or spiders anyway, and he didn't respond. In that time I had found a Spider I needed more than the pastel, and I decided to let him know instead of being a flake and just not responding anymore. This is the exact response I got:

"Always appreciate the waste of time....I get very few people who make offers and then can't follow through."

I was totally floored. I had let him know, I wasn't being a flake, I did make an inquiry, not a transaction, and frankly, I am a potential buyer who was offering my business. Had it not been for that, I would maybe understand the out of the blue response. But even as a business owner...that is not professional in my book. I said as much (very nicely might I add) and apologized again, and this is what I got back:

"I guess you didn't read my ad correctly or in its entirety. I have absolutely no patience for time wasters, excuse givers, pics collectors and so on.
I'm not having a bad day...I expect adults who offer a price (a low one at that) to actually have the funds to pay for it when I accept. Apparently that wasn't the case either. Now, if you think the problem lies on my end, you might need to take a closer look at the scenario with your eyes open.
Buyers like you I definitely do not need nor want."

It was absolutely unbelievable. He literally managed to call me a child, a waste of time, incompetent with funds, and not thorough.
As a customer I am very disappointed.
As a person I am appalled.
I don't really know what to make of this. I honestly thought that as business owner you would do whatever it is in your power to understand and help a customer. A customer that you rely on your livelihood to continue your business. But perhaps I am wrong?

About 90% of the above paragraph was in the email I sent back to that. I concluded with yet ANOTHER apology, and how I wasn't trying to be rude.

I suppose if you don't mind being pushed around, reprimanded, accused, called a child, a waste of time, incompetent with funds ect. then by all means do business with this guy. But let me tell you from personal experience, it sucks.

[blk02ssmonte]

WOW is about all I can say..

[Albert Clark]

Welcome to the real world brother. You have a lot of people out here perpetrating frauds, selling sick animals, unable to effectively respect and be kind ,to not only a potential customer ,but other people in general. Chalk it up as his loss and move on. You can't control what other people say but you have every right to take your business elsewhere. Don't sweat the small stuff. Peace.

[AllieKin]

Thanks for the heads up!

[John1982]

I had made an offer, asked a few questions, and all of which he answered and accepted. I had told him I wouldn't be able to pay until later that day, and he said the deal would only be on if I bought that day. Which was kinda pushy to start. But I asked if he had any FireBees or spiders anyway, and he didn't respond. In that time I had found a Spider I needed more than the pastel, and I decided to let him know instead of being a flake and just not responding anymore. This is the exact response I got:

"Always appreciate the waste of time....I get very few people who make offers and then can't follow through."

While I never would have responded the way he did, let me try to offer an alternative point of view as a seller. You said you asked questions and made an offer. He answered your questions and accepted the offer. While not legally binding, I consider this the internet equivalent of a handshake and would personally never back out after offering my hand. The time limit on the deal part isn't pushy in my opinion so much as prudent business practice. If sellers put an extended hold on animals every time an "offer" was made they'd miss out on a lot of sales due to animals being in limbo for folks who eventually ghost out.

It was nice of you to let him know you were backing out of the deal. I personally would have thanked you for informing me and moved on from there. I think it's a bit hypocritical to apologize several times to a person then write a bad review, especially as you are still apologizing to the subject of said review in your last correspondence. People generally don't apologize unless they feel they have wronged someone in some way. I think it's a good idea for you to avoid this seller as you obviously have different ideals when it comes to commerce. I personally would not avoid them based solely on the information given here. Then again, a lot of it has to do with wording, maybe I'd see your point of view better after reading the e-mails if you care to post them in their entirety.

[nightrainfalls]

As someone is business, and a low margin business at that, there are two kinds of customers who are rude whether they intend to be or not.

1. The customer who thinks he or she is at Wal-Mart. This customer feels that he or she is entitled to the lowest price on a designer or hand made, or hand bread product produced to the highest standard, because some one else has a cheap poor quality knock-off someplace else. The initial low ball offer is rude whether the customer intends it to be or not. Mr. or Mrs. Walmart doesn't understand that it costs money to make something. Especially something made in the US. There are fixed expenses, the building, utilities, property taxes, food, employees etc. Raising snakes is not cheap, and a lot of work. By the time this is over, the man you are dealing with probably makes very little per hour. It would be like going to Donna Versace and offering to by a gown for 200.00 because you saw the same thing at Walmart, for $175.00.

2. Any one who makes an offer and does not follow through. It used to be given in this country that a persons word was their bond. I don't know where honesty went, but when you spend twenty minutes out of your sixty hour work week with someone, it stings a bit when you make an agreement and then they back out. I'll bet that Rob works like a slave to keep his business running. He has a lot to do and every minute he takes to help someone who ultimately backs out costs him part of his life, and his life work.

David

[BWB]

Don't worry about it - people like this aren't worth losing sleep over. Also don't read too much into it. Sounds like he has a "form letter" response for people that tick him off. As posted above, he may be busy, etc. but he just spent a good part of his busy day being an ahole when he could be productively promoting his product. The world and this generation is so screwed up (I blame social media for a lot of the downturn in society as people are so busy following and being followed that they don't know how to function one-on-one). I also get the same reaction all the time on Kijiji - you ask about something (how big is it? do you have... for it, or whatever) and the person will come back with 'when will you be here to get it, I'll be home at "whatever' time. Sometimes people jump to conclusions because you showed any sign of interest (or thought that they could subconsciously force you into purchasing).

[Asherah]

If I made an offer on a snake and it was accepted I would have bought the snake and not ran off after the next new one I found. That wasn't very nice on your end, and while it doesn't excuse the prolonged shame fest on his part, you should never have offered for the snake if you weren't actually going to buy it.

Case in point - I made an offer on my dh albino pied male which the buyer agreed upon and in the process of looking for a female for him came across a deal with a proven het male and a female poss het (together which another seller). I could get both of for cheaper than the dh. I didn't necessarily need the dh with the purchase of the other two but I had agreed to get him. What did I do? I stood by my word, spent the extra money and came home with 3 snakes.

[OhhWatALoser]

Actions speak louder than words. As a seller I don't expect anything until money is in my account or hand. Only exception to that is when I do local business and you set up a time and place to meet, you better show up at least. Besides that, verbal promises mean nothing, no I will not hold the animal for you, nor will I get mad if you don't buy, it is what it is. There will always be time loss on nonbuyers it comes with the hobby.

As buyer I expect the same, if I don't send you money you owe me nothing, but if you want my money I expect some sort of professionalism, again I won't get mad if you're mean, but it is your loss in the end.

[Dave Green]

I don't agree at all with how he responded; however, when someone makes an offer I would expect them to follow through if the offer was accepted. To put things in perspective I probably "sell" each snake three times when dealing with new customers. When selling a couple hundred babies a year you can see how this can become frustrating and time consuming. I'm pretty lucky though as I have some great repeat customers who keep things going.