did I get ripped off?

[Blue Apple Herps]

My question to the OP is this what kind of dialogue did you have with the breeder between suspecting a mistake had been made and verifying the ID with us? People tend to forget that mistakes do happen. Breeder's are people too so mistakes do happen.When you first suspect a mistake had been made your first call should be the breeder. Give them the chance to fix the mistake or to explain and rectify the error.

As a breeder if I make a mistake and your first call isn't me the minute you think something is a miss.. I'm going to think your trying to pull something..

Prime example this happened to me..I ordered a HC albino female. Paid for it and it got shipped. One of the smoothest transactions I've ever had.. Get the animal in and it is completely different than the animal in the pic that I was sent and in the advertisement. I instantly pick up the phone called the breeder and here's the key ...UN-Accusingly stated there may have been a mix up. I explained the problem and the breeder went right to work seeing where the mix up was..See the snake I was looking at was labeled as male on the breeders site, there was only two male and female. I ordered a female. Come to find out, I did get the female (and the better looking of the two animals). What happened was the pics got switched around on the site..

I never once thought or even considered that the breeder was trying to rip me off. I simply felt a mistake had been made..

Please everyone remember people on a forum can't solve an issue between you and your breeder. So go to the breeder first and when all possible avenues have been explored. Then ask for outside help.

Excellent anecdote! Its sad that as a society and as a group of hobbyists that to a certain extent we've come to assume the worst. Your story is a good reminder that sometimes innocent mistakes do happen, and we should give benefit of the doubt 1st before coming to the worst conclusions.