RATE YOUR SOURCE (critter buyin')

[Smulkin]

I didn't see anything closer to this than the ability to rate the links provided through the site and figured it might be really helpful for folks gearing up for a puchase. If you could list the sources you have used recently to purchase a herp (local, e-order etc) and give them a brief rating it could go a long way towards easing or removing the "crapshoot" feeling you might encounter making an otherwise cold buy.

[Smulkin]

SOURCE: Don Hamper Reptiles
LOCATION: Columbus, OH
PURCHASED: m/f pair juvie ball pythons
DELIVERY: pick up
VALUE: very high - $35male normals $50 female normals
LINK: http://pythons.com/hamper
COMMENTS: Helpful friendly guy - really knows his stuff - been working with Pythons since the late 50s - high quality low cost herps

[Marla]

There's an excellent source for this type info already, known as the Board of Inquiry or BOI. It's located at http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...php?forumid=13. All the same, I'll be happy to rate my sources:

SOURCE: Alan Bosch Reptiles
LOCATION: Moncks Corner, SC
PURCHASED: 2.0 normal juvie ball pythons, 1.0 poss het piebald juvie bp
DELIVERY: pick up
VALUE: very high - $35 male normals $100 poss het
LINK: http://www.alanboschreptiles.com/page/page/799809.htm
COMMENTS: Helpful, friendly guy. Got lucky and caught him at Dixie Reptile Show. Not responsive after sale.

SOURCE: Chad Umbaugh
LOCATION: Leechburg, PA
PURCHASED: 2.0 poss het albino juvie ball pythons
DELIVERY: FedEx
VALUE: very high - $120 delivered for both, plus a (deserved) good guy post on BOI
LINK: none, see ks ads or BOI or ask me for contact info
COMMENTS: Helpful, friendly guy. Shipped professionally, good customer service, responsive before and after sale.

SOURCE: Petco, Inc.
LOCATION: everywhere, USA
PURCHASED: 0.1 juvie ball pythons
DELIVERY: pick up
VALUE: poor. sick snake, dehydrated, mites, neuro symptoms, sluggish, ~$80
LINK: none needed
COMMENTS: Could've been worse, I guess. She could have died or given something deadly to the rest. Definitely not recommended. Most employees don't know a herp from a harp.

[Smulkin]

Excellent, thanks Marla. I know I am skewed at wanting this to be a one-stop shop

[Wizill]

Source: Noah's Last Stop (Pet Shop)
Location: Farmville, Virginia
Purchased: 0.0.1 Ball Python, 0.1 BCI, 0.0.1 California Kingsnake
Delivery: Pickup
Value: Not bad at all. I've picked one or two ticks off the bp (which is expected coming from a pet store, imo)...
Link: Not on the web
Comments: Nice owner and employees, not bad on prices either.

[Marla]

Smulkin, I'd kinda like to see a section for this down in the business section of the site rather than one thread up here. I think it's useful. On the other hand, the BOI is widely known and used by thousands of members and visitors and already provides a depth and breadth of info it would be difficult to replicate here.

[emroul]

SOURCE: Rob Trenor @ RK Reptiles
LOCATION: Florida
PURCHASED: 1.4 CH Normal Ball pythons
DELIVERY: UPS
VALUE: Very high; all are feeding great and they are now hitting the 1,000 gram mark from last summer!
LINK: www.rkreptiles.net
COMMENTS: Helpful, friendly guy. Shipped professionally, good customer service, responsive before and after sale. Would highly recommend.

SOURCE: Dan and Colette Sutherland- The Snake Keeper
LOCATION: Palmdale, California
PURCHASED: 1.1 100% heterozygous albino Ball pythons
DELIVERY: UPS
VALUE: very high - would expect nothing less from such a reputable breeder.
LINK: www.ballpython.com
COMMENTS: Helpful, friendly and quick to respond. They get a very deserved A++++++ in my book.

SOURCE: Alex Hue
LOCATION: Grand Rapids, Michigan
PURCHASED: 0.5 CB Normal Ball pythons
DELIVERY: UPS
VALUE: very high - Will get a well-deserved good guy post on the BOI (transaction not yet complete)
LINK: www.alexhuereptiles.com
COMMENTS: Helpful, friendly guy. I have not received them yet, because I paid for them just last night through PayPal. That part went smooth. He is shipping them out today for tomorrow mornings' arrival. I'll update then.

SOURCE: Arizona Reptile Center (Loyal Clarke)
LOCATION: Mesa, Arizona
PURCHASED: 0.0.1 Jungle Carpet python
DELIVERY: pick-up
VALUE: very high- wonderful customer service, GREAT animal, awesome prices. Could not have been smoother.
LINK: n/a
COMMENTS: Just a really great place. Not your average "pet store". These people know what they are talking about! (And I am now fortunate enough to work for them!)

Jennifer

[The_Godfather]

http://royalpython1.tripod.com/

I bought two CH balls from Chip at that site for 18$ a piece. The first two died, but were healthy leaving me to believe UPS killed them. Odds are they fried in the FL sun because of UPS.

So to make it up to me he sent two CB females to replace them, and also covered half of the shipping. He used a diff shiping company. They arrived well, and are my lil babies. One has turned out to be well worth it, I'd have paid 100 at a pet shop for her.

I also bought Monty from a local pet shop in August of 2002 as a hatchling. With tax he was 95$, but well worth it.

[Smulkin]

Marla,

That was my first thought as well - but figured I would get dinged since this was neither a buy/sell/trade or a wanted post. My bad.

Fast replies, guys, you rawk.

[Marla]

Jennifer, good for you! That sounds like a great place to work.

Smulkin, I meant I thought it would be good to add another section to the business area, not just a thread, if we're going to continue this. Then we all know exactly where to look for recommended vendors. John, what do you think?