Buying/shipping ball python

When buying a ball python, should you get the ball python the next day? The person I am buying from wants me to pay him today and I would get the ball python on Tuesday because he only ships mondays, tuesdays, and wednesdays. And the reason why he wants me to pay today is because there are others who want it. He is a reputable breeder from what I have heard but this is my first time buying from an online breeder.

Because you pay on a specific day does not mean you will get the animal the very next day, it depends on whether or not the animal ate recently, and the availability of both you and the seller, obviously some people are only available on certain days and will ship on those said days.

Now as far as someone else being interested it is possible most seller will not hold a snake for you unless you pay for it or at least make a deposit on the animal.

So it boils down to whether you really want the animal and are willing to pay right now or if you want to take a chance and would rather pay the day before it ships and maybe lose the animal completely if there is really another buyer interested.

sounds normal to me, I only ship M-W weather permitting

I don't know the breeder or the situation but that sounds pretty standard to me. I payed in advance for both of my BP's. My second one I payed in about a month in advance. They can't hold your snake without payment or deposit because to many people back out.

Most people ship those days because there is a chance of the animal being held over the weekend otherwise. Not good!

I feel comfortable using paypal. If you want the snake and know their reputation then go for it. Most have a live arrival guarantee.

Good luck:)

i do want it and I have talked to him on the phone and I do trust him. Its just I need other peoples answers who have bought snakes from people online and how they did it. This is my first time so I'm clueless. The breeder has told me how the online purchase is done and what I have to do.

Well I can tell you that when I see something that I want I send the money right away before someone else snatches it and than schedule shipping whenever I or the seller is available for doing so ;)

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Originally Posted by Maddumpling

i do want it and I have talked to him on the phone and I do trust him. Its just I need other peoples answers who have bought snakes from people online and how they did it. This is my first time so I'm clueless. The breeder has told me how the online purchase is done and what I have to do.

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The two I bought were set up just like you described. The mojo male was my first online purchase. It went just fine. I payed on a friday night by sending the money to them via paypal. I got a confirmation that the money went through from paypal and the breeder emailed me to let me know that they got it. They mailed him to me on the next monday and it came to me at noon Tuesday. I had the tracking number to watch and the fedex number to the carrier incase there was any issues. The snake showed up. I opened the box- inspected it- sexed it- and called them to let them know he was here and ok. I had no problems. I was worried too. It was only $200.00 but I was nervous. My second snake was much more expensive but I felt confident in the transaction.

Thats my experience. Hopefully others will share theirs.

My wife paid for my new snake almost a month before we got her. She paid after the first shed (she wanted pics) then the animal didnt ship for 4.5 weeks breeder wanted it to eat 4 meals then he shipped on monday. so sounds pretty normal to me

Yup - that's pretty standard. You buy the snake, and then schedule a ship day. Maybe you have a work meeting one morning, or the breeder is out of town another, terrible weather the next, lots of reasons why shipping isn't immediate.

If they're a reputable and legit breeder, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.