Boaphile Feedback

This is not intended to be a "bad guy" thread, but I wanted to share my story about getting my new rack from Boaphile. I wanted people to know how it went down for me so if someone should decide to order from him in the future they'll at least be prepared. So here's my story...

I ordered the rack on Nov 16. Recieved the Paypal reciept but no order reciept from the company. Waited 2 days and sent an email. Nothing. Someone here said try calling so 1 week after my order was placed, I called. No answer or call back. Tried again 2 days later and Jeff Ronne called back. He had to FIND my order before he told me ok it would be about 5 weeks and he'd send me the tracking number. 5 weeks rolled around and no tracking. I waited 2 more weeks because I figured with the holidays, things were busy. At this point it has now been 7 weeks from the time I placed my order. I called. Nothing. Called again the next day. Nothing. Waited 2 more days and called again. Nothing. Waited til the following week and called yet again. Again nothing. Finally found his personal facebook page and left a polite (yes, polite - you don't get far without using honey, lol) message for him to please just let me know what the status was so I could rest easy. THE NEXT DAY I finally recieved the tracking for the package. No other contact - no phone call, no reply to my FB message, no email - just the tracking. 4 days later the rack shows up.

Now, I'm pretty happy with the product. It's not quite as sturdy as I expected - in his ads, there's a pic of Jeff standing on one and I certainly would not do that with mine. But otherwise, its fine and it is plenty sturdy enough. And I wouldn't have minded waiting. I understand these things take time and I ordered with plenty of leeway on my part (didn't absolutely need it til Feb). But having no contact from the seller was disconcerting to say the least.

The lack of contact was rediculous. I spent nearly $400 with him and he could have had the professional courtesy to respond. I wasn't calling every 15 minutes or even every single day - just once every 2-4 days for about a week. Being so difficult to talk to is not a way to run a business in my opinion.

I have a feeling he knows his customer contact is poor, but he gets enough business he doesn't care. That shouldn't be an excuse. A business should be professional no matter how busy you are or how many customers you have. And there are other places to go. As I said, the rack is fine. But I won't do business with Boaphile again. I just won't play those games.

Again, I don't intend for this thread to be a bash on Boaphile. I just felt others should be aware so they can make an educated choice. I wish I'd seen a thread like this before I ordered from him. I might have still done so! But I'd have done it better prepared...

that is excatly why I am going with animal plastics. :) I am not as polite as most people... espcially when it comes to my hard earned money and "Good customer service" :rolleyes:

Good job with your feedback though!

I will repost what I said in the other thread here:

I ordered a 4 drawer poly rack on Dec 14 and called back 2 weeks later to upgrade to a 5 drawer with his assurance that it would not change the time line and I would see it closer to the 5-6 week mark. So, I paid the difference and waited.

I called today since this is week 6 to see if it shipped or is shipping. He said it will ship next week and take a week to get here. That puts it at about 8 weeks. I asked what was the delay and was told that he cut the pieces for a 4 drawer, and needs to now cut pieces for a 5 drawer, so it is running behind. So much for the assurance that the change would not delay.

I have one of his cages and it is great. And I really wanted the poly drawers so I ordered it.

Anyway, the kids can live in their tubs for a couple more weeks no problem. He has a business but does not seem to want to use modern business tools like proper software and tracking. His communication is fine if you get him on the phone. Do not bother emailing him at all. The website pretty much says that.


I think he knows his communication is horrible, but he gets enough business that he does not care.

That's why we use Reptile Basics racks and cages. Never had a single issue with Rich ever. AP, Boaphile, and others nothing but long wait times and less then stellar customer service. We own 44 racks and 16 cages all Reptile Basics. Would never even think of buying anything else.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by meeistom

That's why we use Reptile Basics racks and cages. Never had a single issue with Rich ever. AP, Boaphile, and others nothing but long wait times and less then stellar customer service. We own 44 racks and 16 cages all Reptile Basics. Would never even think of buying anything else.

---

That is great and all, but Rich is out of the rack business.

I disagree, AP has wonderful customer service. Anytime I have placed an order and contacted Ali I have gotten a response the same day and all of my enclosures have arrived in about 5 weeks. Reptile Basics I have only ordered hides from and their shipping was fast, I can only imagine the rest of their products would be the same so I do agree Reptile Basics is good.


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=42.483681,-83.121159

Thanks for the info about Boaphile. I was looking at them for a cage for a possible BCI/BCC or blood if I get one in the near future. I think I'll look elsewhere after having read about your and others' experiences.

I'll second what's been said about Animal Plastics; Ali is awesome to deal with and their products are great. I have a nine slot rack I bought new and two four slot Iris racks I bought used; both work great and the one (or two) Iris racks have held up very well in spite of being used in a commercial breeding operation for a number of years prior to my acquiring them. The tubs that were in them, wellllll...hahahahaha!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jinx667

That is great and all, but Rich is out of the rack business.

---

Check out the site...RBI Back in the rack business starting in February but he has farmed it out to someone else...

I got a rack from Boaphile last summer and had no problems whatsoever and I called about 3 times to ask questions. Mine also shipped a week early. That being said, will I buy again? Nope cause the prices on their racks have increased a bunch. Now if I need a cage again you bet because they are very nice cages and the design is great...

I haven't dealt with them personally, but I bought a used boaphile rack and I'm loving it so far. As far as product goes, I think its one of the best.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jinx667

That is great and all, but Rich is out of the rack business.

---

Who told you that ??? He doin very vood with racks and just start running his own thermostats...
He don't build cages amymore because of low volumes of orders but he still building racks and those are very good quality products

AP's are built like a brick poopoo house. 3 or4 people could stand on one of them. AND i never had a problem with them getting to me...
spooky

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aes_Sidhe

Who told you that ??? He doin very vood with racks and just start running his own thermostats...
He don't build cages amymore because of low volumes of orders but he still building racks and those are very good quality products

---

http://reptilebasics.com/blog/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aes_Sidhe

Who told you that ??? He doin very vood with racks and just start running his own thermostats...
He don't build cages amymore because of low volumes of orders but he still building racks and those are very good quality products

---

Rick did lol. It's the truth, he said it himself.

Uhhhh ohhhhlazt tome I saw him on novembere 2011 show he dont say a word.... Readed blog and from what I see he is back on track he even think to reactivate cages production.. And that awesome news because Rich have always great products and awesome customer service....

Wow. Thats some poor service for a company with so many followers :rolleyes:

I ordered a boaphile rack on Dec. 26 so since its only been about a month or so I guess I should be expecting it in about another month :rage:

I have heard about the wait time that's why I haven't contacted him but now it seems like it's gonna be longer than expected

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jinx667

That is great and all, but Rich is out of the rack business.

---

No he's not he was going but he changed course and will still be doing racks. Check his facebook or site for all the details.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by meeistom

No he's not he was going but he changed course and will still be doing racks. Check his facebook or site for all the details.

---

Did you read the rest of this thread? It pretty well got cleared up. He had stated he was out of doing racks, and it looks like he has found someone to take over the rack building. Good news for all.

Got my shipping notification from Boaphile today! 5 drawer Poly rack ordered 12/14 and shipping notice sent today 1/30. Says it will be here Friday, but I will believe that when it says in transit. I will update when it actually ships and arrives.

in that case people should know my experience with boaphile as well:

I placed an order on their site and recieved an email confirmation shortly after. They said it would ship in 5 weeks. 4 weeks later i sent an email just to confirm i could expect my enclosure the following week, they responded shortly after and told me the cage was on the way. Sure enough, it arrived the next week (week 5) on time. The cage is high quality, the parts i wanted installed were installed well, and i am happy i ordered from boaphile :)

this took place about 2 months ago

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slither4

I ordered a boaphile rack on Dec. 26 so since its only been about a month or so I guess I should be expecting it in about another ten months :rage:

I have heard about the wait time that's why I haven't contacted him but now it seems like it's gonna be longer than expected

---

You meant ten months right? I corrected it for you. :)

I already posted my anger, but hey, I may place a order with him later on... depends on how he treats me before I order..

Mine has been picked up by FedEx, so should be here Friday.

Glad to hear you FINALLY got your rack Evenstar! I actually just bought a boa from the Boaphile. His communication skills are definitely lacking, but thanks to you I knew that going in. His customer service skills are definitely less than par, but if my snake shows up healthy and as beautiful as she looked in the pictures, I will be happy. As to whether or not I will purchase the cage for her from him in a couple years...we'll see.

If I do, I will make sure to order at least a few months in advance of when I need it. :P

Though I don't have any myself, the cages are top notch and my first choice If i go back to commercial cages. There have been a few complaints I have seen about his lack of communication and some lag issue with orders. But I can tell you Jeff is a great stand up guy.
WarriorPrincess90 I have 6 beautiful boas from Jeff, I doubt you will be disappointed.