What would you do?

OK, here's the situation............I found a gorgeous caramel albino female ball python on KS. Did a search here - found good guys threads (although a little older.) Contacted the seller, put a deposit down. This was on Sept. 20. I'm now ready to pay off the BP, and have emailed the seller twice now since last Friday - no response. I don't have his phone number, or even the state he's located in (I know, my bad.)

Now, to be fair, I didn't think I'd be able to pay this girl off so early. So, he is not expecting me to pay her off early. However, the lack of communication is - well, it freaks me out a little. As many times as I've seen folks get ripped off...........and now, my gut is feeling, not so confident. :(

So, my dilemma is............I have 30 days to file a complaint with paypal. That makes it 10 days from now. Do I...........keep trying to contact the seller, with a deadline of 10 days from now for some communication? Do I just trust that he might be on vacation, or his computer crashed, or whatever and just can't contact the outside world right now? Any other choices?

I *really* don't want to be paranoid, and panic........but in this day and age, communication is key. Any advice is appreciated. :)

I be burning up the Email every day letting him know that if you don't hear from him by "X" date you will report it to paypal and every day send the same Email then the day or so before the time expires. Let them know that you have reported them to pay pal and to consider your sale void.

If you know WHO the seller is, perhaps someone here will know how to contact him if you posted his name :)

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

I be burning up the Email every day letting him know that if you don't hear from him by "X" date you will report it to paypal and every day send the same Email then the day or so before the time expires. Let them know that you have reported them to pay pal and to consider your sale void.

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I agree with Ed. Obviously you've learned your lesson about getting a real name and contact info from someone before sending them real money...so I won't belabor that point.

If I were in your shoes, I would be e-mailing every single day. Nothing angry or accusatory....but very calmly laying out the uncomfortable position you're in of having sent money and being ready to pay off the balance and suddenly having no communication in return. Explain that you don't want to open a paypal dispute, but will have no choice if contact isn't reestablished by such-n-such a date.

In other words...while staying on top of it and being very open about what you need to do....TRY to not antagonize or otherwise offend the person. I've seen way too many deals busted simply because many of the "business people" who get into this have the maturity of a petulant 10 year old child who will walk off the playground in a huff if they get a hint of offense or accusation.

Be professional and firm without being accusing.

Agreed...

That amount of time is a bit too much, and you need to get answers soon.

Be firm, and ask for a response.

If you don't get one by the weekend or by the end of five days, open up a paypal dispute.

Hey Debbie, sorry about the bad situation, but I wonder if this is the first snake he has sold on KS, probably not. So I am thinking maybe you can post something in the forum there, asking if anyone has done business with him/her and see if they have their contact info, other than that I am with Ed, keep on them with the emails til the deadline comes til you have to report them to paypal.

While there are people with whom I would not worry if they had my money and were a bit behind on communication due to personal reason, if it was someone I did not know that had very little to no reputation I would start getting a bit nervous.

Give it 7 more days emailing him EVERY day (being courteous) and on day 8 if he failed to answer file the complaint with paypal letting him know why you made that decision.

Hope this get resolve, good luck.

Thanks you guys. :) I have his name, John Manser, and his email. I just don't have his phone number. *smacks self* And I didn't learn how to do screenshots until AFTER his ad went down. *smacks self again* He has positive BOI threads, albeit not super recent. I thought I was covering my tail. Stupid dumb. :(

If you guys don't mind, I'll hash out my email so you guys can give me feedback. I think I'm relatively good at using my "inside words", but..........when I'm a little freaked..........eh. Some outside words might come out. :O

OK, here's my email. Too strongly worded? Not strongly worded enough? Any feedback appreciated. :)

Hi John,



I'm starting to get concerned that you haven't contacted me back. :-( I would really like to complete our deal, but since I haven't heard back from you, I don't feel comfortable doing so. Please respond to this email by Oct. 15, 2008, or I will be opening a paypal dispute. I don't want to go this route, but without communication on your end, I feel I have no other choice. My phone number (again) is 530-320-9185. Please respond to this email, or call me as soon as possible.



Thank you,

Debbie Prince :-)

I think that response is appropriate and well written. Good luck, Deb.

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Originally Posted by LadyOhh

I think that response is appropriate and well written. Good luck, Deb.

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Thanks Heather. I'll keep you guys updated as to what happens. :)

Was there an agreed upon date that you would be making payment? Have you seen him list or post since you've tried to get a hold of him? Perhaps he's on vacation? Headed out to Tinley early? Maybe he just doesn't pick up his email very often? Sometimes life gets in the way -- I hope that is all it is.

Good luck!

Good Luck Debbie.
Hope it all works out for you and you get a smoking, healthy animal.

Seven days is plenty of enough time to get back to you, so you should get a reply. Even when my computer is down I find a way to check my emails at least once every other day. Good luck!

Thanks guys. :)

Tosha, I had thought it was possible that he was on vacation, or whatever. But the problem is........if he's not, and I don't file the complaint in time, then I'm SOL. :( He has until Wednesday, and if I file and he does come back from vacation or whatever, I can cancel it. At this point, I'd rather be safe than sorry. Whatever happens, I'll letcha all know. Thanks again for the support and advice. ;)

From doing a little investigating it looks like John Manser is from Tennessee, possibly Memphis area.His user name on Fauna is "Tuff"; he only has 1 post but he was last logged in on 10/1/08. Not much to go on but hope it helps.

I'll poke around a bit more once I get some free time. :)

Sam, you so TOTALLY ROCK!! :D Well, if he logged in on 10/1/08, and not since, then it's possible he's just away from the computer, since I didn't send the first email until the 3rd, second on the 6th, and the third today. Hope this all works out.......she's such a pretty little girl. ;)

Just a quickie update.........he did email me today, and said he's been in Florida this past week with his family. So, we'll set up payment and the shipping date. I'll keep you guys in the loop. Thanks again for the advice and support. :D

I'm glad to see this worked out alright.

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Originally Posted by dprince

Just a quickie update.........he did email me today, and said he's been in Florida this past week with his family. So, we'll set up payment and the shipping date. I'll keep you guys in the loop. Thanks again for the advice and support. :D

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Yeah, that can happen. But if I was him, I would have tried to find a computer to check my email, at least a couple of times a week. If I know that I'm going to be somewhere that I will have no access to email, I put up an automated response, so that people know I'm not ignoring them, I just don't have internet access.

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Originally Posted by dprince

OK, here's my email. Too strongly worded? Not strongly worded enough? Any feedback appreciated. :)

Hi John,



I'm starting to get concerned that you haven't contacted me back. :-( I would really like to complete our deal, but since I haven't heard back from you, I don't feel comfortable doing so. Please respond to this email by Oct. 15, 2008, or I will be opening a paypal dispute. I don't want to go this route, but without communication on your end, I feel I have no other choice. My phone number (again) is 530-320-9185. Please respond to this email, or call me as soon as possible.



Thank you,

Debbie Prince :-)

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this email is not only polite but words out what you expect good luck

Just thought I'd let you guys know..........I am holding one of the most beautiful (even though she's in shed!! LOL) caramel albinos I've seen!! John came through like a champ. He took great care in explaining how she's been cared for, what she's been fed, the works. Great transaction all around, and I just wanted everyone to know that it worked out well. :D Thanks again for the advice and support everyone!! :D I'll take some pictures after she sheds. Steve, she is indeed SMOKIN'!!!! :banana:

Good to hear it all worked out for you, can't wait to see your new addition!

Debbie,

I'm glad to hear that everything worked out and we all really want to see some pictures after it sheds.:gj:

Nice to hear that it all worked out..........Please post some pictures :)

OK, here are some pictures of her. Needless to say, I'm pretty happy. :banana:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j3...p/DSCF6022.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j3...p/DSCF6024.jpg

Debbie she is smokin!!! I am very glad that everything worked itself out!!! i know there are some bad apples in here so we just need to weed them out.. she is hot!!!

Fantastic looking Caramel Debbie! Congrats!

She's gorgeous, Debbie!! :D

She is stunning -- I am glad it all worked out - good luck with your new addition!!!

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Originally Posted by dprince

Thanks you guys. :) I have his name, John Manser, and his email. I just don't have his phone number. *smacks self* And I didn't learn how to do screenshots until AFTER his ad went down. *smacks self again* He has positive BOI threads, albeit not super recent. I thought I was covering my tail. Stupid dumb. :(

If you guys don't mind, I'll hash out my email so you guys can give me feedback. I think I'm relatively good at using my "inside words", but..........when I'm a little freaked..........eh. Some outside words might come out. :O

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I know exactly how it is. some times things just come out. :gj:i understand your plight!

She is smoking hot, congrats! :gj:

She looks great and its nice to see a happy ending.

Debbi,

All I can say is wow, what a great find I cant wait to see what it looks like as an adult. AWESOME LOOKING ANIMAL!!!! Very Niiiiice :taz:

Looks like she was worth the wait! She's absolutely gorgeous!

Thanks everyone!!!! :banana: