Paul Edwards Reptiles - Experience

On March 1st 2008 Paul Edwards Reptiles sent notice that my payment for .2 '07 pastel females from an ad he'd posted on Kingsnake classifieds was received via paypal and in the process of clearing his account. In this email he suggested setting up shipping and asked for my address and phone number (I had also included this information in the paypal transactions just to be thorough).
I sent this back and we planned shipping for the week of the 1st.

I got busy with predeployment stuff for Ryan and didn't notice until mid week that I had heard nothing from Paul. I got an email on the 6th saying "I am so sorry, I totally spaced that I was supposed to ship this week. How are things looking for next week? Again, totally sorry.
Paul" I responded that it was okay, I hadn't bothered to remind him so we could just set up a new shipping date as soon as I got my work schedule. I got back to him saying that I was open for a Thursday morning delivery (the 13th since Ryan's deployment was pushed back). He said "OK cool. I'll get it out tomorrow afternoon then." Wednesday night I got an email saying "Hey, I just checked and they just ate 2 days ago, probably not fully digested yet, do you still want me to ship?
Paul" (we'd just talked about shipping from last week, why would you feed if you were going to ship?) "Melissa,
I hate to put off shipping, but I did feed on Monday and some of the animals still have lumps in them and definatly not fully digested. it would be wise to wait a little bit more. If you want to talk to me directly, you can certainly do that at any time at *** *** ****.
Thanks,
Paul"
I wasn't thrilled and emailed him such. I got this reply.
"Not a problem, your right of course. You'll get your animals next week.
Paul"
I emailed him with my schedule on Sunday and he emailed this back "I will be gone Monday and Tuesday - my son is here from PA and we're going herp collecting with Heyward Clamp of the Edisto Island Serpentarium for their "snake pits" displays. Would any time later in the week work? It can go to your work you know...does that help?
Paul" I emailed him back that I preferred to get shipments at home so they didn't get stuck sitting at work with me all day and that I had time later in the week. I heard nothing again from him until Wednesday the 19th when I got this. Kinda out of the blue message. "Hey,
I was just going over all the transactions I have going and saw that we need to ship these guys to you...are we ready? Sorry for my forgetfulness but please understand I have several deals going on at once and at different stages. Let me know what's going on.
Thanks,
Paul"
We'd been working on shipping and so this seemed just so out of place, I however responded on when I could recieve and then got this back "It's getting down to barely 40 tonight so I'm holding off all shipments til next week. Just wanted to let you know.
Paul"
I emailed making sure there were no 'blackout dates' like the previous monday and tuesday. Also I said that if for any reason besides weather they weren't delivered I wanted to discuss a refund. I got this in reply "Melissa,
I hope your husband got off alright and I know you are worried about the whole situation about his safety and it must be hard not having your husband around for however long he's gonna be gone and I also know you wanted him to see these guys. I'm sorry that it didn't work out that he did but he will. Please know that the only reason it will not be shipped is the weather. It is not the money or anything else. I have shipped litterally hundreds of shipments over the last 20 years or so and I know what I'm doing. it is the part of the business I hate frankly, because your "package" is totally in the hands of people that are, well, the type of people you don't want your package to be in the hands of! You have no control over it once it leaves your possession. It is VERY cold here tonight and I stand behind my decision not to ship unless you don't want me to guarantee live arrival...which some don't when shipping through UPS type carriers btw.
This is a weird time of year to ship because during the day, like today, it was great. Perfect for shipping. But this morning and tonight was colder then heck...I left a friends house tonight and I wished I had my coat on...and I'm in Charleston ! So do you put a heat pack in or not? If it gets warm during the day it could easily over heat the animals and that's not good. If you leave the heat pack out and it gets too cold...that could kill them too so what do you do? You wait. I have a gal that is in New Mexico and has been waiting weeks just like you for her albino Ball. We are just coming out of winter in most parts of the country, or still in, and it is not wise to ship when it is going to be under 40 degrees.
I will be getting back from a weekend buying trip to Florida late Monday afternoon, lets go from there. I'll get ya your snakes Mel, just hang on, I know you want to see what you paid your hard earned dollars for and I want you to know I appreciate your business and hope we can do more in the future. Don't hesitate to call me if you want.
Paul"
I replied with the days I had off. He sent the following in return. "OK I'll get it out this afternoon. Will you be there only in the morning? Am I shipping this to your home and you have the day off or what? Is this a business address I'm shipping it to?
Thanks,
Paul" I responded that it would be a home that he would be shipping to and that I was going to be home until 6 p.m. I then got this "It's chilly here today so I'm going to include a heat pack. What is your phone number? They ask for it."
I replied with my cell and home numbers and got this in reply "OK...it is beautiful right now, how's the weather there?"
I replied that it was nice but chilly. Got nothing in reply. I then emailed that I would be up awhile longer keeping an eye out for the tracking number. Got nothing in reply. I then emailed that I was still waiting on a tracking number. Got no reply. I then sent this "Paul. As of 11:25 p.m PST I have not received a tracking number on the snakes that you said you were shipping today. I had responded with my phone number which was also included as a message on the paypal payments I sent you and included in previous emails.
I will be up in the morning and looking for a package. If one is not delivered I will most definitely be in contact with you. Also, as I stated last week. If my animals are not delivered this week I will be requesting a refund. I do hope it's just a rather large oversight on your part that you didn't bother to send me a tracking number.

I'll be in contact tomorrow.
Melissa"
I then went to bed so I could get up early and check mail. I woke to the following message.
"Melissa,
Why is it that you seem mad all the time? Your shipment went out yesterday as promised. The driver picked it up around 5:00 PM. I included a heat pack in your shipment by the way...glad I did too. Your UPS tracking number is A314114948 5. It will be there sometime today. Total charges were $56 - more than I bargained for but that's OK.
One of them was shedding when I went to pack them up so I let her finish but she still might have a tad on her.
Enjoy your female Pastels !
Thanks for your business,
Paul
Paul Edwards Reptiles"
I then discovered that he had shipped my snakes Next Day Air Saver which typically delivers between 3 and 6 p.m. I called UPS and managed to get everything tracked down. I opened the box to find a single back with both pastels in it. One was the animal I ordered, the other does not match the numerous photos I was sent. I emailed Paul "Well Paul, I do believe I have a right to be mad. They were shipped for a 3p.m delivery. Also, only one of them is the animal I ordered. The other... most definately does not match the photo I was sent."

As of 1:15 p.m PST this is all the information I have on this transaction. I will keep the posting updated as more information comes available. As this is not the BOI I didn't feel the need to include a copy and paste of all emails however the entire transaction was conducted via email only and all were saved.

That seems a little off to me! keep us posted!

Let me say I know nothing about this transaction but I just (minutes ago) got off the phone with Paul...why don't you call him and discuss the issue? I am thinking of getting a snake from him and all his Fauna feedback indicate a great guy to deal with...not saying anything just curious about what might have gone wrong here.

PM me for his cell number.

I have his numbers. I'm not saying he's a bad guy, I am simply posting my experience with him. I checked him out on the BOI prior to dealing with him so I wasn't worried.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Entropy

I have his numbers. I'm not saying he's a bad guy, I am simply posting my experience with him. I checked him out on the BOI prior to dealing with him so I wasn't worried.

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Don't get me wrong I wasn't saying you were calling him bad...just didn't know you had his number or were doing all this via email and perhaps somewhere the lines got crossed.

I hope he makes it right. :)

As I really like a Blood he has available. :D

Well. Looks like this guy will be added to my Do Not Buy From list...I will wait and see what he does to rectify the situation about the wrong snake being shipped though. Is there any way you could post pics of the snake you thought you were buying and the one you got? Do they look healthy otherwise?

Between Melissa's experience and the fact that he charges you a paypal fee - I wouldn't certainly wouldn't do business with him.

I hope he makes good on getting you the right pastel - not that it would make up for the rest of the mess. :oops:

This is the female that I got that matches the photo I was sent.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../Rightgirl.jpg
(here is one of the photos I was sent that matches her, look at the pattern near the tail)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...lee/737702.jpg

This is the female that does NOT match the photos no way no how.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ightfemale.jpg
(here is what she's suppose to look like, obviously not the same animal)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...lee/737701.jpg

Hey Tosha, thanks. I've been trying to update both here and there, I see ya found it however.

Yep, no way that number 2 is the snake you purchased. I hope that Paul is quick to make it right by you.

(I do have to say though....she's the type of pastel I go for, I love the busy patterns....)

Yup, definitely not the same snake...still pretty though. I'm interested to see what he has to say about this.

That sucks, hope it works out. Plenty of red flags, I guess this guy doesn't pay much attention to the TOS of the companies he uses!

Charging the customer the 3% PayPal fee; against PayPal TOS, as well as illegal in many states.

Shipping snakes via UPS; against company policy.

I know someone else that had a less than agreed upon transaction with him, but I won't post second hand info, I'll ask the person to post it himself, once he gets his posting privileges restored. ;)

To be honest he did not charge me the extra 3%. I can attest to that.

Glad the snakes got to you safely, however, it's very obvious pastel #2 does not match the picture below it. Please keep us up-to-date on how this matter gets resolved.

Still haven't heard anything?

Wow, I never had any issue with Paul when I bought from him. I hope this all gets cleared up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Entropy

This is the female that I got that matches the photo I was sent.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../Rightgirl.jpg
(here is one of the photos I was sent that matches her, look at the pattern near the tail)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...lee/737702.jpg

This is the female that does NOT match the photos no way no how.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ightfemale.jpg
(here is what she's suppose to look like, obviously not the same animal)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...lee/737701.jpg

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No way is that second one match up with the pic.

This is the email I had waiting for me when I got home from work.
"Melissa,
I just got your first e-mail. I'm sorry that you are unsatisfied...it's pretty rare that someone is! Believe me, this has NEVER happened, and I have been in business breeding and selling a long time.
In addressing the first issue, if I sell something as "shipped", as I did in this case, I am paying shipping and I am guaranteeing live arrival. It is my choice what form of shipping I use and when it arrives. I try not to set up an expectation that it will arrive in the morning. Shipping those to you cost $56 btw - and it HAS gone up since we did this deal. I did say to you they will be there sometime today, I did not specifically say it would arrive in the AM. As to you not getting the animal you ordered, that is another matter. That one stumps me. I have never, and I mean never, substituted an animal unknowingly. My reputation means a lot to me and if you check on the BOI, you'll find I have a good one. Those are the two I had set aside for you from the beginning here at my facility. They had your name on them right along with everything else I've sold, are still for sale, or am keeping back. I did have a female Pastel die some time ago that was from clutch #0038 as one of yours is from I do believe, maybe that was the one you ordered that I was supposed to send you, I don't know. I am sorry, I was thinking I was giving you seperate bloodlines. At any rate, I do think the one I sent you is as nice, it really is, in fact it kinda surprised me how it was turning out...but regardless, my apologies about the mix up, it certainly wasn't intentional. Are you not happy with the animal at all? The other one wasn't any nicer I really don't think.
Thanks,
Paul Edwards"

And this is what I replied with tonight.

"Paul.
I had checked the BOI before doing business with you, thus one of the reasons I'm shocked at how this has gone. Honestly I was going to rack it up to a learning experience before I ended up getting a wrong snake. I have all the emails saved as well as the email in which you sent me numerous photos of the two females I was interested in # PE07F23Pr and # PE07F22Pr. One girl is the same as pictured, the other is completely different. I'll include the photos with this email.
Although it might seem otherwise to you I do not like getting upset or sending irate emails. I really would like to get everything resolved in a manner that is good for both of us. As I stated a few lines ago I'm including the photos you sent me and the photos of the mis sent girl. The animal I wanted was a reduced pattern female, the one I was sent is a very busy patterned girl, I tend to be very picky with my animals patterns. The photos are now attached, the two on carpet are the ones you sent me, the one on aspen is the girl I received.

Thank you
Melissa"

The way I see it the point wasn't about how pretty the snake is. Undeniably she is nice looking. HOWEVER she is not what you ordered, you were going for a specific look and you got the total opposite. Should be interesting to see how this plays out.

Melissa the only thing you should add in your email is what do you want him to do to recitify the situation? Take the animal back?, refund your money?, something else? - it doesn't sound like he has the animal in the picture...so what do you want him to do?

Just trying to help you get to the end of this. :)

Huh, is it common for breeders to not give tracking numbers? Or give an approx. time of arrival?
I must just have been lucky so far for dealing with breeders that always give tracking numbers even before they ship and are in contact the entire trip of the animal. From when they drop it off to when the animal arrives at my door step at or before 10 am.

Given I was in the situation, I would not tolerate any mistakes after waiting almost a month to ship. But again, I got an itchy trigger finger.

Hope things get worked out soon Melissa.

I would like to see what he suggests we do lord jackal. I could toss out suggestions all day and if he doesn't agree it won't be going anywhere.

What would fry me if I'd received that email - is that he isn't even paying attention to the fact that you were looking for a pastel with a certain look - he's not paying attention to his customer - and he seems to be pushing you to accept the one he sent because he thinks it looks nicer (or at least that is what he wants you to believe so he doesn't have to deal with you again).


If you aren't happy with it insist he take it back at his expense. If you are willing to accept it - then make him give you an acceptable discount. Perhaps tell him you'll have to add special lighting to her tub to make her look like the one you wanted :rofl:


Oh and find out how the other one died - that would be a concern to me - especially if they were from the same clutch and housed near each other.

Just my two cents.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Huh, is it common for breeders to not give tracking numbers? Or give an approx. time of arrival?
I must just have been lucky so far for dealing with breeders that always give tracking numbers even before they ship and are in contact the entire trip of the animal. From when they drop it off to when the animal arrives at my door step at or before 10 am.

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Luck has nothing to do with it any breeder that takes their business seriously would be falling all over them selves seeing that they had every thing in order prior to shipping.

That breeder should have drove home from FedEx(or where ever) fired up the computer and shot that info the second they got the chance.

Or to forget to ship an animal..I mean really would he be so forgetful if you had yet to pay him.

I understand mistakes and I understand wanting to be careful. But those mistakes scream I don't take you seriously as a customer.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tosha_Mc

What would fry me if I'd received that email - is that he isn't even paying attention to the fact that you were looking for a pastel with a certain look - he's not paying attention to his customer - and he seems to be pushing you to accept the one he sent because he thinks it looks nicer (or at least that is what he wants you to believe so he doesn't have to deal with you again).


If you aren't happy with it insist he take it back at his expense. If you are willing to accept it - then make him give you an acceptable discount. Perhaps tell him you'll have to add special lighting to her tub to make her look like the one you wanted :rofl:


Oh and find out how the other one died - that would be a concern to me - especially if they were from the same clutch and housed near each other.

Just my two cents.

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I agree with Tosha here.My mouth dropped when he stated that one died and it could have been yours :O.If i had one die all of a sudden for no reason to be known NO snakes in that rack would be going anywhere until i found out why.This deal makes me wonder how its going to end ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

That breeder should have drove home from FedEx(or where ever) fired up the computer and shot that info the second they got the chance.

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Don't even need to do that. Add the customers email to the ship notice when you prepare the airbill and Fed Ex will automatically send the tracking number and a link to their site to the customer for you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SPJ

Don't even need to do that. Add the customers email to the ship notice when you prepare the airbill and Fed Ex will automatically send the tracking number and a link to their site to the customer for you.

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See so many different opportunities to do it right.

Yeah, it was late last night and it completely flew by me. This morning when I checked at 11 I still hadn't recieved an email from him so sent him another asking about the death.

You know I didn't even think about the other snake dying...that should be a concern. Where is this guy's facility located?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spix14

You know I didn't even think about the other snake dying...that should be a concern. Where is this guy's facility located?

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He is in Charleston NC. http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...wards+Reptiles

And, after three emails today this is the only reply from him.

"I'll get back to you."

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Entropy

And, after three emails today this is the only reply from him.

"I'll get back to you."

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*shakes head* Just wow! I hope you get this mess settled

Really, what is there to get back to you about? Either he's going to take that snake back and ship you the one you asked for, or he isn't. Seems like a pretty cut and dry thing to me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Entropy

And, after three emails today this is the only reply from him.

"I'll get back to you."

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:ohmygod: Wow - what a looser - at this point I think I'd be sending both snakes back for a full refund.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Entropy

And, after three emails today this is the only reply from him.

"I'll get back to you."

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Wow... This would of had me steaming out the ears! That is a nice pastel you received, but the reduced pastel you should have gotten was much nicer. I'm not sure if he decided to hold it back after he sold it or if it really did die( which he should know, it sounds to fishy that he would hold back two pastels for you and then one pastel dies that MIGHT be yours.... if he held yours back wouldn't he know he had sold the dead one and have to REPLACE it?) , but i would want him to be at least kind enough to get back with you on what to do. I would have canceled the order a week into this if it were me( when i pay for a snake, unless I'm told before hand that he will have to be held for a week or two because of weather, i want the snake ASAP) This guy really ticks me off, he is one person i will never buy from.

Well if you want a quick reply just post his name on that other site on that certain board and that seems to make guys like this come running to defend their reps. just my :2cents:

I agree with Repti-Rob. You will never get such a fast reply. Have you heard anything else yet?

Just a bump here. Entropy did you get any emails or calls yet? Just want to know what this guy is doing to make it right. I know if I screwed up a customers shipment a resolution should be reached within 24 hrs of them complaining (NOT "I'll get back to you!") or at the very least contact you. Especially if there has been problems from the begining:colbert:
Hope this get's resolved in your favor and quickly. Keep us posted.

Read from the bottom up. I don't know exactly what I'm going to do. There is a wonderful person here who likes the 'other' girl and they are both doing well, I might end up keeping them both, leaving them in Q extra time and then passing on the 'other' girl to this person. I am not comfortable that I'd recieve a refund from him and quite honestly with that attitude I'd feel guilty sending her back! I offered food this morning with everyone else and the 'other' girl eats like a complete pig, my girl is a bit more hesitant but getting there.
It's obvious he could care less about the situation, he's not even bothered to answer my questions and his callous disregard for his animals well being... well that just speaks volumes. As usual, my emails are underlined and his are in italics.

I can't stop you from taking it to the BOI. Do it if you think it is neccessary. I told you already, I will pay to get the animal back here, I will give you a refund and sell the animal. More I can't do. Animals die, it's a part of life.


----- Original Message -----
From: Melissa
To: Paul Edwards
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:44 PM
Subject: Re: .2 pastels

Paul, it does bother me that this does not seem a priority to you. I do not want this to stretch on into next week. I am prepared to take this to the BOI Saturday evening if we haven't reached an agreement. I would like the questions I sent earlier to be answered. I would like to know how I came to be shipped the wrong animal.However nice you think she is she is NOT what I ordered. Also, how did this other animal (that you said could have been my snake) die? You have said nothing about either of those things. I see you say send the animal back at your expense and you would re-sell her. Would I receive my refund before or after you sold her? Also I will not ship an animal using anything other then 10:30 AM delivery, mine or not.

Melissa

Paul Edwards <peherps@comcast.net> wrote:

OK so what would you like me to do? I don't want any unhappy people out there so If you want, since it was my error, you can send me the animal back at my expence and I will re-sell her. Unless there is somehting else you would like?
Paul

----- Original Message -----
From: Melissa
To: Paul Edwards
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 6:10 PM
Subject: Re: .2 pastels

Paul. I would really prefer not to have to take this to the BOI. I am still waiting to hear back about how you plan to rectify the situation as well as why the other pastel female died.

Thank you
Melissa

I would take it to the BOI, since he doesn't want to answer your questions. Maybe he will if tons of people are asking. Sorry for this situation! Its something I fear!

You know, if your not going to be happy with the animal, sell it to someone else. At this point in time, your the "annoying customer" (at least that's it seems that way in his emails back to you).

I'd hate to see you get screwed over if you sent the animal back to him and he decides to start a grievance using these email's as some sort of leverage and proof of your unapproval if that animal were to get to him in less than 110%.

It's far fetched I know... Personally... I would walk away. I'm pretty fed up with the dancing around myself that I think his attitude so far isn't worth making the snake take another long journey at your expense if something were to happen.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

You know, if your not going to be happy with the animal, sell it to someone else. At this point in time, your the "annoying customer" (at least that's it seems that way in his emails back to you).

I'd hate to see you get screwed over if you sent the animal back to him and he decides to start a grievance using these email's as some sort of leverage and proof of your unapproval if that animal were to get to him in less than 110%.

It's far fetched I know... Personally... I would walk away. I'm pretty fed up with the dancing around myself that I think his attitude so far isn't worth making the snake take another long journey at your expense if something were to happen.

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I agree. I would walk away, but still post it on the BOI. Unless the animal is sick and not willing to eat for you I wouldn't bother trying to get compensation. I understand he shipped you the wrong female, but after hearing about the one that died, I'd be happy the one I did received got a nice home. He doesn't sound like he cares for the regard of the animal that died nor does he seem like hes going to work with you.
I would however suggest that if you do pursue to try to get him to do something, tell him exactly what you want in exchange for his poor selling tactics. Otherwise let it go if your not going to tell him, don't assume hes going to one day, after he reads your email, that a little light bulb will pop above his head. In his mind he has your money, sold you a healthly snake by his standards, and its a pastel, he doesn't care about the sale anymore. He got what he wanted and believes he shouldn't further any other issues that came up with the sale of your bp.

One that that I was wondering is he said send it back to him and he will sell it and refund you.
Does this mean he expects you to wait until it sells before you get a refund?
At this point, if it was me, I would tell him to go scratch, post on the BOI, and if you are not happy with the looks of the animal, sell it to the person who expressed interest in it (after the QT period-you don't want to inadvertently sell a bad snake).
Good luck.

He offered to take it back and give you a refund, right?
Then it's your decision to either take the refund, or keep the snake. What YOU do with the snake has nothing to do with the deal with him.
And frankly, snakes DO die. When you have a LOT of snakes, occasionally one will die. Just because he'd not weeping and wailing over it in the email doesn't mean he "has no regard for the animal's welfare".
His customer service is lacking, especially since he shipped a different animal to you than you ordered. Other than offering to take it back, what else would you expect from him as a seller? He already stated the snake he did have on hold died, and IMHO, he should have contacted you and told you that. But at this point, what other resolution would you want?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

He offered to take it back and give you a refund, right?
Then it's your decision to either take the refund, or keep the snake. What YOU do with the snake has nothing to do with the deal with him.
And frankly, snakes DO die. When you have a LOT of snakes, occasionally one will die. Just because he'd not weeping and wailing over it in the email doesn't mean he "has no regard for the animal's welfare".
His customer service is lacking, especially since he shipped a different animal to you than you ordered. Other than offering to take it back, what else would you expect from him as a seller? He already stated the snake he did have on hold died, and IMHO, he should have contacted you and told you that. But at this point, what other resolution would you want?

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Yes. Snakes do die on occasion but you do not ship a replacement to someone without letting them know about it and if a snake just up and dies, you stop selling until you figure out what happened. He hasn't done any of that and currently has 3 ads on KS.

Wolfy I don't say that because he's not all in a depression about the dead snake, I do say that because of his tone and because of how the two girls I have now were shipped along with his comment "they'll be there sometime today".
If he would have told me one had died and suggested something from there it wouldn't have been as big of a deal. But he didn't, he evidently thought I'd be blind and not realize that animal is not what I wanted and that it was ok to have me pay for a snake I didn't want.

Obviously he thought any pastel would do. Most of the snake people I know would want THE snake they looked at in the picture, not just one of the same morph. Which I mentioned.
I hope you figure out something to make you happy, whether it's returning it, or selling it to find a different pastel you like. I'm sure in just a little there will be some gorgeous animals from some quality breeders with much better customer service.

I think he's aready proven that he doesn't care. He has the money and you have a snake, so he thinks his job is done. Doesn't seem to care that you don't have the snake you want. As a breeder he should now what it is to go after a certain look with your snakes, and yet he dodges your questions. Doesn't say why the one you ordered died, doesn't offer another snake with the look you are going for, he just gets snippy. It's a shame because I looked him up on the BOI and he seems to have a pretty good rep. I guess you just never know. I would say, though, if you do wish to take it to the BOI, you should probably do the refund. If you keep the snake, people are just going to be like, "Well you kept the snake, so what's your problem?" Especially if he has a fan club built up on there.

That said, if you have concerns about the welfare of the snake, then keep it and sell it to someone you trust. It's a really crap situation all around. Does this guy have a website? He's definitely added to my Do Not Buy From list and I have a bookmark folder full of such people that I'd like to add him to.

Any updates?

I am keeping her and she will be going to another forum member after some Q time. I didn't trust that I would recieve a refund. I never did get an answer on what happened to the female I ordered and I will avoid all Paul Edwards ads like the plague.