No picture for you!

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Originally Posted by SpiffyYoshi

It's shady too. If somebody told me that I'd feel like they are trying to hide something. I'd take my business elsewhere.

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And that's what I did. :rolleyes:

I'd love some opinions from the regular posters on here, and from some sellers too! :)

Thanks!

When I decided to get a Caulker Cay boa I requested photos. The breeder only sent one photo and explained that it wasn't the one I would be getting. He explained that he didn't do individual photos due to the size of the litters, and that the litter mates were mostly identical, but he guaranteed that I would be getting a quality animal. Based on the fact that he did answer all of my subsequent questions, and based on his reputation in the Herp world, I went ahead with the sale, and I was not disappointed. So my thanks go to Vin Russo at Cutting Edge Herpetological for an awesome snake. So my opinion is, it depends on who you are dealing with, their reputation, and what kind of vibe you get from them.

Since you knew you were buying one within a litter, I guess that's okay. But to list a specific snake and not take a picture requested by the buyer isn't cool in my opinion.

Like you said in your post, you weren't buying a specific snake, you were buying a snake that was part of a large litter and you were okay with that. But if he were just selling one and only one of these boas, would you have been okay with one picture and one picture not of your snake?

I would run, not walk away from any deal where the seller wouldn't take a picture that I requested. I wouldn't care if it was from some small breeder or from BHB or any other large breeder.

Buying a snake worth more than a few hundred dollars, I think I deserve whatever picture I request of that snake.

Since I'm just now getting back into breeding and will have snakes available for the first time in 10 years, I would always give the buyer the pictures they want. Now, it may take a day to get that picture, but the buyer will get the picture(s).

Just my opinion,
Jim Smith

I always take as many pictures as the buyer wants, and expect the same from the sellers I buy from. That is just good customer service. I have not bought from a few breeders who told me that they wouldn't take a picture of the animals. I never really understood how they expect to do online business without taking pictures of their animals.

Whenever I am asked for pictures I oblige. Its all about customer service when you are a small breeder. Its just one way to set yourself apart from the other million basement breeders. As far as paying for pictures... I have seen people ask for it. I have seen stuff like additional photos are 15 dollars but I will subtract that from the purchase price if you buy the animal. As for me, its just an excuse to get away from the kids and in to the snake room so ask for pictures all you want!

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Originally Posted by mdjudson

As far as paying for pictures... I have seen people ask for it.

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This is what this seller said to me, I won't share names because that's not what my original point was, but I will ad they were extremely kind the whole time, yet it still turned me off from buying the crested gecko.

' thanks for your interest, but I just simply don't feel the need to take a photo of the other side of the gecko. I feel you can see the side and top just fine and it's a great representation of the gecko. If I take more photos of the gecko the price will go up, as it increases the amount of time and effort I have in selling it. I've got these priced the way they are to move them quickly and effectively. '


I'm very glad I'm not the only one that thinks asking for a photo is a bad thing.

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Originally Posted by Carlene16

' thanks for your interest, but I just simply don't feel the need to take a photo of the other side of the gecko. I feel you can see the side and top just fine and it's a great representation of the gecko. If I take more photos of the gecko the price will go up, as it increases the amount of time and effort I have in selling it. I've got these priced the way they are to move them quickly and effectively. '

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That's ridiculous!! I would've been turned off too!! I mean, I guess I can understand if they have a huge collection, but really, as others have already said, it doesn't take that much time to snap a picture. And I'm the same way, I really like to see several pics of the animal, especially if I'm going to be spending several hundred dollars on it!! Ideally I like to see an animal in person before I buy, but if I do have to buy online, I don't think there's anything wrong with asking for more pics.

I agree that it also depends on the seller's reputation, but yeah, I would still be a bit miffed if someone ever refused to take more pictures.

I feel the same way as you. I was close to clicking the purchase button when I was looking at a particular bp online, but I wasn't really confident in the single picture because the photography itself looked really pretty. I asked if there were additional pictures or if they could take one, and I was just told that the picture online was a sufficient representative. I didn't want to spend a bunch on something I wasn't sure about, and when I happened to see the breeder at a show and see its similar siblings in person, I was glad I didn't buy it off of the one picture.

Still think the breeder has amazing creatures, but I was confused as to why they wouldn't take addn. pictures.

Not only do I ask for additional pictures when purchasing snakes online, I ask for pictures of the snake in question with a specific money bill so that I can be sure the seller really has the snake and that there are no color modifications to the picture.

Customer service really does count, and no matter how great someone's animals are, I am not going to do business with anyone who is rude or disrespectful. Fortunately, nearly all of the people I have dealt with in terms of reptile businesses have been very patient and helpful, and even continue to check in and answer my questions long after I have purchased and received the animal.

I think that asking for pictures, no matter how many, is a good thing and in no way unreasonable. It not only proves that the animal is liget, but it also proves that the animal is exactly what you're getting. My friend bought what was supposed to be a pi-ball morph, and according to the "one" picture it was. He paid a lot of money because it was a morph, but when the snake arrived it only had a tiny space of white about 1/4 and inch long at the base of his tail. The picture however was of a beautfully bred and perfect pi-ball. When he tried calling the breeder to question him the phone number was disconected, and all emails have been ignored.

They're are a lot of breeders and people in general out there waiting for people to scam. It's a good thing you told the breeder "no thank you" and as for the good feedback and ratings, those can easily be faked. People do it on ebay all the time. I'm not saying that's what this perticular breeder did, but others might. People should be careful about what they're buying over the internet. If you have any doubts about making a purchase over the internet you should probably wait, or try to find a breeder you can meet in person and see the animal with your own eyes. Remember photoshop can do wonders with pictures, be smart :)