Boas and Balls

[GoldSheep]

I've ordered ball pythons online twice before, but this was somewhat of a nightmare.

The website charged me the wrong amount, but I thought that the seller would correct this by calling me.

First I placed the order through the website, they did not call or give me a tracking number. Both places I've ordered online before called ahead to make sure I'd be there and the order was correct. Because of that I missed the shipment and the snake had to come back the second day (I felt bad for it). It also took them 2 weeks to send the snake. I ordered it on December 5th, but did not receive it until the 18th. (It was a self birthday gift). With no tracking number ahead, so I was confused if they got the order at all.

Then when it arrived, it was a male, and the wrong one. So I contacted the seller to find out what happened and why I received a male snake instead of the female one I ordered. The seller said that their house burnt down and that their website got malware, so they couldn't fix it and just got access. So the snake I wanted was either sold or dead. But the shipping label clearly states the snake I wanted, so a simple phone call (which is also on the receipt could have solved this issue.)

Now for the mistake, the seller is saying they will not refund the complete amount for the time and trouble. They are only willing to refund 30 dollars for the snake, but it cost me 90 to buy from the shipping cost and will cost me another 60 to ship back.

One phone call or an e-mail could have saved the time and trouble and the mix up. A simple, "Your snake is not available" or a simple, "Please wait to see if we can find your snake." would have sufficed, but instead it was dead communication, no phone call ahead and I wasn't there to receive it. I feel bad for the male normal I did get, but I do not need another male normal.

I'd forgive them if they communicated or offered a full refund, but they are only willing to pay 30 dollars. I find this unacceptable and I'm not trying to be hard on them, but seriously, you knew the snake was wrong, why not communicate and say that the amount paid was wrong and/or offer a different deal.

This sucks as a self-birthday gift. I'm trying to still work it out with the seller and giving proper care to the snake in the meantime. He does not need to suffer for the seller's mistake.

All I have to say, is if they do this with a simple normal, then I'm not sure about more expensive snakes. I understand your house burnt down. I understand the malware problem, I understand that you didn't update the website properly, but you had a phone number and e-mail, so communicate and tell me *something* about the situation! 100% your mistake. Don't switch it and think I won't know the difference and say you'll only pay thirty dollars.