Sellers Rant

Over the years I have see the same things happen time and time and time again when selling snakes...

1.) Don't offer to buy a snake until you have the money in hand to do so! Seems like common sense, but this happens more times then not. "I will pay you in 2 weeks when a check comes in" This almost never works. Either something happens causing the check to be late... or something happens and you have to spend the money on something else. Or a combination of both. I have agreed to this kind of arrangement probably 10 times over the years, and maybe one of those transactions was actually completed.

2.) Don't text or call a seller late at night unless he/she specificly says it is ok to do so! Lots of us in this hobby are middle aged adults. We have spouses, and children. We have jobs. I have all of the above. Don't call and text at all hours of the night. It is RUDE.

3.) Don't blow up my phone with inquiries. Don't get me wrong... there is nothing wrong with asking whatever questions you have. But do it in a way that is not bothersome. Take some time to write an email that asks all the quesitons you need to ask at once. Write down your questions so that you can ask as many of them as possible in one phone call. Don't constantly call or text many times at all hours of the the day and night. I shouldn't have to field 50 text messages / calls after you agree to buy an animal requesting more info, more pictures, more etc.

3.) If someone says in a for sale ad that they are willing to meet up to 3 hours away, that does NOT automatically mean that if you live 3 hours away they will be delivered to your door for free!

4.) While I appreciate your interest in buying whatever I am selling, it does not give you the right to treat me like crap. If you are a prick to me, what would make you think I would be interested in selling my animals to you? They aren't used cars. I actually care about the kind of keeper they go to.

5.) Don't contact me telling me that my snakes, or whatever else I am selling, are not worth what I am asking for them. If you would like to offer less then I am asking, no problem... If I want to accept the offer I will. If I don't, I won't. But don't tell me what I am selling is over priced... ESPECIALLY when it's NOT over priced!

My many years of corporate customer service have taught me that the customer is always right. Well, my snake collection isn't a corporate business. If I don't like you, you aren't getting good customer service! In fact, I won't even let you be one of my customers.



Sorry for the rant. I do feel better now though... :gj:

3.) If someone says in a for sale ad that they are willing to meet up to 3 hours away, that does NOT automatically mean that if you live 3 hours away they will be delivered to your door for free!


If the seller can take the time to mention in an ad that they are willing to meet within a 3 hour distance, they should also take the additional fraction of a minute to clarify. For example, "...for an additional fee."


Of course common sense would suggest that someone isn't going to drive for three hours to deliver a $150 product/animal/anything to you, but it sounds like you've dealt with enough people to know that common sense isn't all that common. Simply stating up front that any extra "service" will be charged accordingly eliminates misunderstanding and saves you time and frustration.

#2 is a weak argument imo. Theres a 4 hour time difference across the country and everyone has different work/life schedules.

:Firm believer in "the customer isn't always right". Most of the time, sure. But not always.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

#2 is a weak argument imo. Theres a 4 hour time difference across the country and everyone has different work/life schedules.

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You seriously think it's ok to call/text someone at 1, or 2, or 3 in the morning to discuss something they have listed for sale? Send an email, man! Dang!

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

#2 is a weak argument imo. Theres a 4 hour time difference across the country and everyone has different work/life schedules.

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True, but it is common courtesy to not call in the dead of night, unless specified otherwise. The norm is up during the day, asleep at night, other schedules are the exception to the rule, and should be noted. If you are a buyer that has a flipped schedule, simply email rather than making the phone call.

As a buyer, I would never expect the seller to revolve around my schedule, rather I would work around his. Afterall, it's not like we go to the mall at 2am demanding they open the doors because we have a graveyard shift job and are not up during normal business hours.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

#2 is a weak argument imo. Theres a 4 hour time difference across the country and everyone has different work/life schedules.

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Mike, if you call me at 9am your time, without first arranging with me that is the only time you have available, I'll cut your dialing fingers off :P But most likely, my phone will be on silent or vibrate, and you won't get a response until much later when I'm awake :P

I think all of those are great. I have been guilty of number 1 before and felt terrible about it. I dont pm/email/text/call until i have the cash AND have the OK from the wife to spend that money.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

#2 is a weak argument imo. Theres a 4 hour time difference across the country and everyone has different work/life schedules.

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Not a weak argument at all, sellers have their personal life and schedules too...and they're the ones with the animals we want. Just because you want to possibly purchase something doesn't mean common courtesies get thrown out the door....and people have no reason to not be aware of time zones, and in continental US, it's a 3 hour difference over four time zones, not 4 hours. Sadly, many people obviously don't know that if it's 9pm in California, it's 12:00 am in New Jersey. It's part of the reason I only give my phone number after an inquiry is made(writing an e-mail is no more difficult than making a phone call). I have enough common sense to know when to call or not, and I normally won't call someone to inquire about an animal after 8 pm(seller's time). I'll write an e-mail and only call if that e-mail is responded to saying it's ok to call, otherwise wait and call the next day.

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Originally Posted by Anatopism

Mike, if you call me at 9am your time, without first arranging with me that is the only time you have available, I'll cut your dialing fingers off :P But most likely, my phone will be on silent or vibrate, and you won't get a response until much later when I'm awake :P

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This is my point. I work 6am-2pm. I would NOT be able to call Brit before work, LOL. Most people get out of work at 5pm. That would be 9pm my time. Im an old man since i have to wake up at 5 for work, so 9pm is starting to get late for me. I prefer texting anyways bc i have terrible hearing so you'd never get a call from me lol.

Oh... I thought it was 4 hours, my bad. Idk i guess i just have a bit of a different mindset. If I'm trying to sell a snake, I'm willing to get texts/calls whenever. Doesn't really bother me as much i guess.

Why not just use email to field preliminary questions and give your # out once the sale is looking promising?

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Originally Posted by MrLang

Why not just use email to field preliminary questions and give your # out once the sale is looking promising?

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This too.

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

Over the years I have see the same things happen time and time and time again when selling snakes...
5.) Don't contact me telling me that my snakes, or whatever else I am selling, are not worth what I am asking for them. If you would like to offer less then I am asking, no problem... If I want to accept the offer I will. If I don't, I won't. But don't tell me what I am selling is over priced... ESPECIALLY when it's NOT over priced!

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Addendum - Do NOT contact me and ask "What's the lowest you'll go?" Do your research and make me a specific offer. If I actually answer that question with a number, do NOT then proceed to offer me something lower!! You just might get hung up on. Again, RUDE.

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

2.) Don't text or call a seller late at night unless he/she specificly says it is ok to do so! Lots of us in this hobby are middle aged adults. We have spouses, and children. We have jobs. I have all of the above. Don't call and text at all hours of the night. It is RUDE.

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Literally just did this last night (well, DIDN'T do it): decided I wanted to jump on a snake that I've been eyeing and therefore ruin my "no snake buying for six month" thing I was trying to do (lol) and felt it was too late to call the seller so I checked what time it was over there via a time zone checker and sure enough it was already into the early evening. Called today and all was dandy :gj:

Tip for you only give your phone number to SERIOUS buyers/inquiries everything prior to that point email and email only!

Why sweat it anyway at this point, you're out of the snake business right?

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Why sweat it anyway at this point, you're out of the snake business right?

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Even when you're "out", you're never really out! ;)

I have texted in the middle of the night but only one text. I work nights and go to college during the day. I don't have much time during the day to look at kingsnake.

Sent from my Droid RAZR M using Tapatalk 2

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Even when you're "out", you're never really out! ;)

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*Cue poignant Godfather music*

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Originally Posted by toyota89

I have texted in the middle of the night but only one text. I work nights and go to college during the day. I don't have much time during the day to look at kingsnake.

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Good to know you have time while at work at night... Oops, I'm off to a meeting! ;)

I feel like I'm pretty patient...I really try to put up with almost anything in the name of customer service. But I did have one customer who actually managed to tick me off. He sent the payment while I was on my way out to dinner with my significant other. I sent him a message that I would book his shipment when I got home and send him the tracking number when I did. He sent me a message back that said "I know you have a smartphone. It's been 15 min since I sent the payment. Where's my tracking #? I know you can book the shipment from your phone." I thought that was pretty rude. Needless to say, the phone stayed off for the rest of dinner. Between myself and my business partner, we are almost available 24/7. But, I absolutely will not sit at the dinner table and mess with my phone...just because I can do almost anything from my phone doesn't mean I'm going to. It's also worth noting that his shipment wasn't actually leaving for a few more days...It was Friday night.

I've completed five transactions to date, where I never called, or texted, the seller. It was all handled over email, and there were no problems.

However I have three where I either texted or called. When I picked up my (originally) five males, we texted back and forth about shipping and receiving. The other two were for my girls, and I talked to my lesser seller several times working out the trade details. I almost got a pastel lesser out of that one. Then when I got the pastel girl, I didn't expect the call but he gave me a call about dropping her off at FedEx and what she was eating. Turns out she was picky for them, hasn't missed a meal with me and started on f/t with me too.

Sent from my SAMSUNG Galaxy SIII using Tapatalk 2

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Originally Posted by FireStorm

I feel like I'm pretty patient...I really try to put up with almost anything in the name of customer service. But I did have one customer who actually managed to tick me off. He sent the payment while I was on my way out to dinner with my significant other. I sent him a message that I would book his shipment when I got home and send him the tracking number when I did. He sent me a message back that said "I know you have a smartphone. It's been 15 min since I sent the payment. Where's my tracking #? I know you can book the shipment from your phone." I thought that was pretty rude. Needless to say, the phone stayed off for the rest of dinner. Between myself and my business partner, we are almost available 24/7. But, I absolutely will not sit at the dinner table and mess with my phone...just because I can do almost anything from my phone doesn't mean I'm going to. It's also worth noting that his shipment wasn't actually leaving for a few more days...It was Friday night.

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Wow... that would have ticked me off. Even if you were shipping out the next day I would not have expected a tracking number until later.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

I can attest to FireStorm's patience! She sold me my first online snake (mojo) , and answered all of my millions of questions without being short at all.

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

3.) If someone says in a for sale ad that they are willing to meet up to 3 hours away, that does NOT automatically mean that if you live 3 hours away they will be delivered to your door for free!

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I love this one!

I had a craigslist ad for some pet supplies, including a small hamster cage I priced at $10. In the ad I listed the areas where I can meet people (areas I frequent either through home, work, or family), over all about a 40 mile diameter circle. Got someone contacting me asking if I would deliver this $10 cage to them 80 miles away because gas is expensive. I didn’t say this to the, but I wanted to! “Sure, I’ll deliver this $10 cage to you, 80 miles out of my way. Never mind the fact the gas to drive there and back is going to cost me $20.” Never ceases to amaze.

Customer contact is key. We as breeder's sometimes will have one or two emails or texts slip through the crack's from time to time (just ask Annarose). I have voice mail, email, text, Facebook, and twitter. If you call and I don't answer leave a message I'll get back to ya. If you email me at least give me a day or two to email you back. I have a smart phone but I also don't drop what I'm doing to respond to emails right away it might be that night before you hear back but I see them..

As for sales call's and lowballs.. Meh it's part of the territory we all handle it different..

Unfortunately many people just don't think before responding to an ad. That is the main problem.
Personally, I always contact by email FIRST because that way, it's the least likely way I'm going to wake a person up. Even then, the only time I use texting with snake sales, my computer business, or other non-personal communication is for instant updates on critical info such as "Just got them and they are here safe". I know the sellers I've dealt with never had a problem with me texting as soon as the animals arrived but I wouldn't call them unless it was something important. Easier to go back and look at info on emails and I have yet to find a way to attach a pic to a phone call. :)

Time zones are also not an issue honestly. It's just a simple search on the computer or if you're like me and commonly deal with people halfway across the globe, you can add a world-time app to your phone. Between 9 AM and 5 PM local time for the person I'm contacting is my personal rule. People who contact me outside of that on business, may or may not get a response. Once again, it comes down to thinking about it and remembering the person on the other end of that email/text/phone call is actually a person despite not being physically in front of you.

Being in customer service for a living, even I know the customer isn't always right. I will bend over backwards (and frequently have to as a manager with Wal-Mart) to make a customer happy but when it comes to my animals, their safety and well being ALWAYS comes first. There is also the whole rule of "If you are rude to me, I'm less likely to try to help and more likely to just ignore you". Customer service or not, everyone is still a person and should be treated with respect.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Why sweat it anyway at this point, you're out of the snake business right?

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I will never be completely out of the snake business... I have a 3 foot snake tatoo for gods sake! :)

I think the problem is that everyone(or almost everyone) has a smart phone, so buyers feel it is fair that they should get everything done right away. I have been selling some dubia roaches on CL since my colony is huge since I only have one beardie and I live in Nassau county li, I have people asking me if I am willing to drive 30 miles to sell a 100-small for $10. I never give out my phone number until the morning of the meet date for the reason do not bother me at 3 am. People need to slow down, and relax. Not everyone is on the computer 24/7, people have lives. When I have snakes for sale I will give out my number once I feel that you are truly interested in the snake. Not when your asking when was it born, what's it eating, what's the weight, what were the parents, is it 100% het, do you do genetic guarantee and ask the same questions ever week.

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

*Cue poignant Godfather music*



Good to know you have time while at work at night... Oops, I'm off to a meeting! ;)

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I deliver newspapers. I'm all alone in my car for 4 hrs, I have 5 hrs to deliver them. Sometimes I have to wait for the paper to get to the warehouse.

Sent from my Droid RAZR M using Tapatalk 2

I guess I can jump of this bandwagon.

Last year was my first year selling and it was so frustrating. It took 6 months to sell all but 2 or the 40+ babies I produced. I had lots of "interests" and few offers. And a couple offers didn't go through because of the "I no longer have money" thing.

If it weren't for one guy buying 25 snakes off of me I don't know what I would have done.

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Originally Posted by toyota89

I deliver newspapers. I'm all alone in my car for 4 hrs, I have 5 hrs to deliver them. Sometimes I have to wait for the paper to get to the warehouse.

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Just to clarify, I was only teasing. I spend way too much time on BP.net while I'm at work. :)

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

Just to clarify, I was only teasing. I spend way too much time on BP.net while I'm at work. :)

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x2, I think 99% of my posts are in the middle of the afternoon when I'm trying not to fall asleep on my desk.

all good ones....but I have another one that has happened to us three times! Don't agree to meet up with me with a date and time, if you don't plan on showing up/not really interested in the animal. We got stuck waiting for someone that never returned our phonecalls when they said they def wanted the snake and even set up a date and time when we could meet, and never showed up....this happened three times!!!

Even though I don't sell snakes, I don't give out my phone number to clients... unless they're getting a special order, and usually I end up calling them when I'm ordering their fabrics.