Have any of you ever refused to sell a reptile to a certain person?

[angllady2]

Add me to the list. I have before and will again, even though I am very new to the hobby. I had purchased a lot of baby balls that were imported because I thought it was a good idea. Now I know better but that isn't the point.

I sold all of the babies to various people. One couple seemed so sweet, they actually got two babies, one for him and one for her. Things went great for a long time, then they split up. She had to get a new place to live, and he kept the snakes. Within a month he'd managed to kill both of them. She told me so herself, and she was crushed. She blamed herself for the fact that her boyfriend was a complete jerk. Now, if she came to me and wanted another snake, I'd sell one to her, because what happened wasn't her fault. Her boyfriend on the other hand, I've spread the word to everyone I know to steer clear of him.

I also had a group of guys from a dorm come to see the babies. It seems they wanted a dorm pet, and fish or snake were the only option. One of them was a complete idiot, and I really wasn't liking the whole idea, when the quiet guy in the back spoke up. it seems his parents have owned snakes all his life, and he is the one the snake would be staying with. I asked him every question I could think of, from temperature range to feeding to shedding to mites to RI, and this kid knew all the right answers. he pulled out his phone and showed me the picture of the already set-up enclosure for the new baby when it got bigger, as well as the mini setup for it now. I knew then he'd be fine, and I know he was treated like a prince.

There is a certain guy I run into at reptile shows here, and he just rubs me the wrong way. He's always trying to buy a snake from me, usually for about half what I am asking for it. I use every excuse out there on this guy. Sorry, already sold. Just took a deposit on it. Holding it for a friend, etc. Last show I went to, he kept on and kept on about my Yellowbelly male. I must have told him 8 different ways he couldn't buy it. Finally I lost my patience with him and told him bluntly, " Look, there isn't enough money in Fort Knox to make me sell my snake to you! You are rude, you smell, and I don't like you, now please leave me alone!" When he stormed off in a huff, the people at nearby tables cheered for me.

Bottom line, know what you are talking about, be polite and friendly, and you likely won't get told you cannot buy a snake.

Gale