help choosing a rack?

[zeion97]

So, I posted a little while back about looking for a rack, and using the info I received I have narrowed my decision down to two racks. (temporarily until I have a place of my own to attempt to build one.

If anyone has used either model I'd like every aspect you could give me, good and bad. Is there anything I need to request about it? I'd also like to know the best thermostat I can use for the price (around $100)

First, http://www.reptilebasics.com/iris-sw...y-or-back-heat

it has 4 regular boxes, and I can divide two of them in half to be able to house two more hatchlings and use the two lower ones for my two adults. (my adults are both small and if my female is to big my male will easily be a good size)

The other. (well can't decide between two)
http://www.boaphileplastics.com/rhin...sterilite.html
or http://www.boaphileplastics.com/rhin...sterilite.html

my opinion of this is the same as above, except for my adult female probably wouldn't fit! But i think she likes her 55 aquarium.

I'd love to hear everyones opinions, if you want to feel free to throw in some more links to other racks!

thanks everyone in Advanced!

[Evenstar]

Well, I don't have any of these racks (yet) so I can't comment on the products themselves, but I will tell you one thing: customer service at Reptile Basics cannot be beat. Rich is great about helping with any questions or concerns and he is very prompt with replies via email or phone.

Ron the Boaphile, however, is a whole other story. It is extremely difficult to get ahold of him. He does not answer email. If you need to speak with him, you need to call. You'll get a paypal reciept for your order, but no reciept or contact from Ron until you get the tracking number for your package. This is, frankly, disconcerting for me. I have no idea where he's at with the rack I have on order with him since I don't have the tracking for it yet (its been 7 weeks now ). But still, I don't think he's a bad guy in any way - I just think he's not the best communicator.

If you don't mind the lack of contact, then I'm sure you'll be happy with the Boaphile. I've heard good things about his racks and cages which is why I ordered one. But the lack of contact, I don't like at all. Personally, I wish I'd stuck with Reptile Basics.

This is just my opinion and my experience. If you decide on the Boaphile rack, I don't necessarily think that would be a bad choice. I just like to have more contact with the company I'm working with and that's just me. You may well feel differently about it. These are all nice racks!

[rexrem]

I have 3 of the reptile basics rack with dividers and I'm pleased with them. As stated above, Rich has excellent customer service.
I also have a herpstat and vivarium electronics(reptile basics) thermostat and both are great.

[zeion97]

Well, I don't have any of these racks (yet) so I can't comment on the products themselves, but I will tell you one thing: customer service at Reptile Basics cannot be beat. Rich is great about helping with any questions or concerns and he is very prompt with replies via email or phone.

Ron the Boaphile, however, is a whole other story. It is extremely difficult to get ahold of him. He does not answer email. If you need to speak with him, you need to call. You'll get a paypal reciept for your order, but no reciept or contact from Ron until you get the tracking number for your package. This is, frankly, disconcerting for me. I have no idea where he's at with the rack I have on order with him since I don't have the tracking for it yet (its been 7 weeks now ). But still, I don't think he's a bad guy in any way - I just think he's not the best communicator.

If you don't mind the lack of contact, then I'm sure you'll be happy with the Boaphile. I've heard good things about his racks and cages which is why I ordered one. But the lack of contact, I don't like at all. Personally, I wish I'd stuck with Reptile Basics.

This is just my opinion and my experience. If you decide on the Boaphile rack, I don't necessarily think that would be a bad choice. I just like to have more contact with the company I'm working with and that's just me. You may well feel differently about it. These are all nice racks!

Thanks! To be honest i am trying to stray away from the Boaphile for that reason... NO contact. I can not do that, this may be considered selfish but if I spend my money I expect a reply and contact, especially if it involves waiting. Thanks for the detailed reply though.

I have 3 of the reptile basics rack with dividers and I'm pleased with them. As stated above, Rich has excellent customer service.
I also have a herpstat and vivarium electronics(reptile basics) thermostat and both are great.

Awesome. Can I get a little more detail? Does it stay heated right? And how is the humidity? Thanks for the info!

[Mike41793]

[QUOTE=zeion97;1730946]Thanks! To be honest i am trying to stray away from the Boaphile for that reason... NO contact. I can not do that, this may be considered selfish but if I spend my money I expect a reply and contact, especially if it involves waiting. Thanks for the detailed reply though.


I dont think thats selfish at all, I feel the same way. If you're choosing to spend money on something and give him business then the least he could do is give you feedback on the progress. As long as you're not calling or emailing him every 5 minutes, he should be able to get back to his customers.

[Skiploder]

The Boaphile's name is Jeff. His last name is Ronne. Apparently, you must approach the Boaphile in the correct manner so that he may deign to return your parley. As his defenders claim, he is among the busiest of men, therefore it is apparently acceptable for him to not return e-mails, calls, semaphore, smoke signals, morse codes, etc. We are all peons and must accept this treatment if we are to be blessed with him deciding to sell us his products.

As for thermostats, I have a spare one of these (very lightly used):

http://spyderrobotics.com/products/herpstat.html

The Bean Farm sells them for $117 for a grounded one. I'll sell you mine for $90 plus shipping.

Animal Plastics also sell some nicely priced racks in their economy line. Some are even quick ship items (the 6/12 variant of the linked rack is one.).

http://www.animalplastics.com/Sterilite/1753EP.html

Unlike the Boaphile, Ali from AP will return calls and e-mails. Be forewarned, if it is not a quick ship item, they can take months to deliver.

[zeion97]

[QUOTE=Mike41793;1730962]

Thanks! To be honest i am trying to stray away from the Boaphile for that reason... NO contact. I can not do that, this may be considered selfish but if I spend my money I expect a reply and contact, especially if it involves waiting. Thanks for the detailed reply though.


I dont think thats selfish at all, I feel the same way. If you're choosing to spend money on something and give him business then the least he could do is give you feedback on the progress. As long as you're not calling or emailing him every 5 minutes, he should be able to get back to his customers.

lol. True. But I've seen post from people saying they attempted contact every few days, then after a few weeks starting asking daily. I came across another post on my phone awhile back where someone said they waited two months and NEVER got a response BUT received the rack after 10 weeks? (not sure but it was at least 10)

could these incidents be the "rare" ones, yes, BUT after all I've read Id assume they're the basic.

IMO this is something that shouldn't happen. I know he has alot of racks to build but he could at least communicate better IMO. (i have had no experience with him as of yet)

[The Serpent Merchant]

Animal plastics racks and spyder robotics thermostats.

[zeion97]

The Boaphile's name is Jeff. His last name is Ronne. Apparently, you must approach the Boaphile in the correct manner so that he may deign to return your parley. As his defenders claim, he is among the busiest of men, therefore it is apparently acceptable for him to not return e-mails, calls, semaphore, smoke signals, morse codes, etc. We are all peons and must accept this treatment if we are to be blessed with him deciding to sell us his products.

Dare I say it, no matter how good his products are I couldn't accept that treatment. IMO we should get updates. I don't doubt his work, I know how recommended it is, it just seems like more of a hassle then anything.

As for thermostats, I have a spare one of these (very lightly used):

http://spyderrobotics.com/products/herpstat.html

The Bean Farm sells them for $117 for a grounded one. I'll sell you mine for $90 plus shipping.


I won't be purchasing any of this until February/march, if you still have it then that would be awesome, but..did I read right it uses a sensor? Isn't it supposed to use a probe... I'm SLOW when it comes to thermostats and I honestly believe I'd be wasting money if I just bought one that a site recommended, that's why I asked!

Animal Plastics also sell some nicely priced racks in their economy line. Some are even quick ship items (the 6/12 variant of the linked rack is one.).

http://www.animalplastics.com/Sterilite/1753EP.html

Unlike the Boaphile, Ali from AP will return calls and e-mails. Be forewarned, if it is not a quick ship item, they can take months to deliver.

AP I completely forgot about... The only concern i have with there products is humidity and heat? if they hold well I would change my mind and go with them.

[zeion97]

Animal plastics racks and spyder robotics thermostats.

Can you explain the spyder thermostat? Is it like the one Skip posted? Like I said, I'm still learning the whole thermostat thing.