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.

[patientz3ro]

I can totally understand how you're feeling. That all sounds a little sketchy to me. Good luck.

Btw, did you seriously pay $90 for a normal? That's around triple the market price, and you can get them anywhere.

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[bcr229]

I'm assuming that since you ordered online you paid either with PayPal or your credit card. If you can't get a satisfactory resolution from the seller then start the dispute/chargeback process, and make sure you have all your documentation available for it. You ordered on 12/5 so depending on your CC or PP's policies for disputes I would start that process by the end of this month.

I also feel for the seller - house burned down + web site malware is enough to hit any small business and in many cases drive it under, but if that's the case why ship anything until you can verify the order with the buyer? Also the lack of notice/tracking number for the inbound critter was completely unacceptable and dangerous given the extremely cold/icy weather in many parts of the country.

Also OP what is the seller's web site?

[GoldSheep]

The seller's website is boasandballs.com. They had a good rep before which is how I got their website.

The shipping cost 60 dollars. The snake cost me 30 dollars. I was willing to pay that amount because I wanted a specific normal ball python that would have paired well with my pastel who has a similar pattern.

I mean I understand their situation, but a simple e-mail or a phone call would have been a good idea. I would have been amendable to try to find a replacement that fit something if they were not willing to refund, beforehand, such as telling me it wasn't available, but here are a list of pictures that they have... any communication at all would have been nice. They aren't even willing to do that.

If they won't refund me the complete amount, I'll have to turn around and try to sell him, which is a pain in the butt, but someone out there must want the snake. Since they did it on purpose and it kinda seems like they don't care about the welfare of the snake (Call ahead, instructions for shipping back... anything of that nature...), I feel on edge about dealing with them again.

I'm still working out a deal with the seller, so I'm holding onto the snake until a deal can be reached and still taking care of it. If it falls through, I'll let you know, but it's not getting the wrong snake that disturbs me, it's the lack of communication and an apology with a full refund also caring about the best interests of the animal--they knew it was wrong and would likely be shipped back. Even if they faked it, they could have at least sent me a female??? But they sent a male instead. I'm not a n00b.

[patientz3ro]

I just looked at the front page of their website. Maybe it's just me, but the fact that their show schedule hasn't been updated since at least November of last year would have been enough to steer my business elsewhere.

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[jclaiborne]

I just looked at the front page of their website. Maybe it's just me, but the fact that their show schedule hasn't been updated since at least November of last year would have been enough to steer my business elsewhere.

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I noticed the same thing.

[patientz3ro]

I noticed the same thing.

Did you get a sense that they were out of the business, too?

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[jclaiborne]

Did you get a sense that they were out of the business, too?

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Kind of it just seemed sketchy...I looked around the website and it just didn't look current. In my mind if your primary business is run online then your website should be top notch.

[SnowShredder]

http://thereptilereport.com/breaking...alls-facility/

Just posting the link for anyone curious. I agree that they definitely wronged you in every way possible. Wrong snake, wrong gender, no tracking, no communication. Their situation is terrible, but that's no excuse and this shouldn't have happened

[GoldSheep]

They will refund me 30 dollars and I keep the snake--that's what they said. Still perturbed... but it's a halfway solution. I guess I'll have to live with it. I still feel like they failed customer service basics. Should have offered a full refund (90 dollars) and shipping back. At least offer the correct gender snake.

Now I have to sell the little guy... Still feel bad for him going through all that.