Please Help w/ Potential Purchase!

[BigBlue56]

I plan to buy a Pinstripe male 2010 baby and someone recently contacted me on this site about his recent clutch that should hatch in a month or so.

He says this is his first breeding season so he doesnt have a reputation as a seller just yet. Basically I need help from you guys how to avoid being ripped off.

I dont wanna lose $300 just for nothing obviously so I was wondering what you guys suggest? Is there a way we can make this transaction through mail without one of us worrying about not getting our snake or money?

Please help guys. This is the 2 emails I recieved from him.. Maybe it can help you guys help me.. His 2nd email is in reply to mine asking if he has anyone that can vouch for him or any reputation for himself that way I know he is trusted.

First email:
From: JohnsonW84

in response to your wanted ad
I have a clutch of 9 that i am expecting to hatch june 15-17th, she was a normal bred to a pinstripe male, as for price, 250-275 for a male depending on how much shipping is, where are you located? And are you still looking for a pinstripe male?
-Will Johnson-


Second email:

I Ship through shipyourreptiles.com i just goggled a NY zip since you didn't give me yours, it was right around 45-50 for shipping so it would be 275.00 shipped, no need to offer extra money for first pick, i have no problem giving you first pick of the males, as to your last question no i am not a well known breeder, this is my first production year, and i wont have my website up till probably January. I can totally understand not wanting to get ripped off!! I've been through that with buying off of king-snake, so im not sure what other reassurances i can give you since I do not yet have any reputation, personally ive been ripped off in the past, i dont do business that way and never will!! So if you still want to do business great!! If not i also completely understand. And as to what pinstripe your looking for here is a pic of the male that i bred this year hopefully his dorsal carrys over to his offspring his only breaks once. Also if you give me your email i can send you better resoulution pics of the male i bred this year, the eggs should hatch around June 12-17th thanks again.
-Will Johnson-


Its been really hard finding the exact Pin male baby that Im lookin for and this guy seems to have what I want. So i am torn.

What would you guys do? Thoughts? Comments?

Thanks again ladies and gents..

[BigBlue56]

Anybody? Help a brotha out?

[LadyOhh]

I would wait and see what you can find when the babies are out. He can promise all he wants to, but there are no guarantees that he will even have a Pinstripe male.

Wait it out.

[ed4281]

I second that openion

[Twisted Reptiles]

I agree with the previous replies, but I'm also curious as to how you know he's going to have "the exact Pin male baby that Im lookin for" before they have even hatched?

Wait and see what he hatches, how they look, how well they feed, and then make your decision. Don't rush into this, get the animal that you truly want.

[johnsonw84]

Hey you guys are talking about me lol, i agree with all of the above i cant guarantee him anything till they hatch and just for the record i hadn't asked him to pay me before either that would be wrong , and you guys are right all of this hinges on whether or not i get male pins when they hatch. i also agree with xscorpio he should make sure he gets the male he wants! I just saw his wanted ad and let him know that i had pins on the way!!! Again i would never ask someone to pay for a baby that hadnt even hatched yet thats just crazy!
-Will Johnson-

[muddoc]

I would wait and see what you can find when the babies are out. He can promise all he wants to, but there are no guarantees that he will even have a Pinstripe male.

Wait it out.

I hate not making a unique comment on my own, but Heather saidmy words exactly. This is what I would do.

[BigBlue56]

Sorry for the confusion. I didnt mean "the exact snake I want" in terms of looks/feeding response, but more the fact that I want a Male Pin Baby.

Of coarse I dont plan to jump into this. This thread was more so meant that IF he does in deed have a snake I want to get, how is the best way to go about the transaction (if any) that could prevent being ripped off?

I appreciate all the replies but would love at least 1 more explaining the best way to go about the transaction if I do in fact want one of the babies.

Thanks guys.


johnsonw84, hope you dont take this personally, just trying to cover my own behind And get some good advice on this situation. I am new to this kind of thing so experienced herbs have a lot to offer.

[LadyOhh]

Well, considering there is a lot of time between when you plan on getting this perfect Pin and now, I would look into getting Paypal or Google Checkout.

That way, you can pay with a credit card, and if something goes wrong, you can (USUALLY) get your money back.

There are no guarantees that you will be 100% safe in doing something like that, but its more a guarantee than sending cash thru snail mail.

You need to figure out what will work for you in terms of your realm of comfort.

All the rest of this is just fluff.

[johnsonw84]

Hey man no sweat, im not takein it personal in anyway i always try to do the same thing and make sure im dealing with someone above board so i dont get ripped off lol il try to email you some better pics of the my male breeder in a couple of days im out of town.

Sorry for the confusion. I didnt mean "the exact snake I want" in terms of looks/feeding response, but more the fact that I want a Male Pin Baby.

Of coarse I dont plan to jump into this. This thread was more so meant that IF he does in deed have a snake I want to get, how is the best way to go about the transaction (if any) that could prevent being ripped off?

I appreciate all the replies but would love at least 1 more explaining the best way to go about the transaction if I do in fact want one of the babies.

Thanks guys.


johnsonw84, hope you dont take this personally, just trying to cover my own behind And get some good advice on this situation. I am new to this kind of thing so experienced herbs have a lot to offer.