Dave, dave dave, doesn't ralph have kinked caramels? Doesn't that sort of shoot holes in your boat?
If you purchase "cheap" but good snakes, who friggin cares? There are enough newbs coming into this that reputation is not as important as some want to think for first timers. And once those first timers have a happy experience and get a quality snake they will purchase again as well as spread the word about what a cool snake they got. This also shoots hole, of a large caliber, into your rickety boat.
Do you ask the price of the parents of every snake you buy?
Lighten up.