As someone working for what sounds like may be that big box store....
I have 2 noodles that I have 'adopted'. Meaning they had reasons they couldn't be sold, so i was able to take them home with no guarrantee at no cost. One as a very young snake refused to eat frozen thaw and was needing to be assist fed since live feedings are a nono there. The other arrived from the breeder with a SERIOUS burn wound. Already seen by a vet on the company dime, but I couldn't bear seeing the baby in iso at work and just kept him.
Reptile Industries is where my store gets the frozen rodents from. They are owned by Mark and Kim Bell iirc. Our breeder is not the same. Since you are on the opposite coast, reptiles may be from a different breeder, but I don't know if Reptile Industries actually does do reptile sales to the big boxes on that coast.
That being said.... They aren't allowed to change the price on the animal otherwise. They will discount other merchandise to make up for the price difference if you can talk the manager into it.
I've gotten lucky and my 4 babies from the store have all been fairly clean bills of health (just dealing with the post vet care for the one was a lot of work) but I have seen occasional issues on other pets in the reptile section
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