Customer service??

[JoshJP7]

Anyone else experience crappy customer service when dealing with breeders? I tried to pick up a clown female off of a breeder and all I asked was for a couple more pics so I could assure that this is the one I want and he tells me last night "he doesnt have time to take pics before he leaves for a show at 2pm friday"... he also tells me the show is 20mins from his house... I email him back "Im really interested in this snake and will probably buy it if you can get me a couple more pics"... He says if "I still have it after the show this weekend ill take some pics" ... Anyone take a look at the price tag on clowns lately?? When someones willing to spend that much $ on a snake and you dont have 5 mins to get pics taken what kind of customer service is that? This breeder is pretty big... has alot for sale on Kingsnake... wont say his name but whatever ive gotten pretty crappy customer service and makes me wonder how some people even manage to sell their snakes.

[juddb]

Scumbag

[Freakie_frog]

What some people don't understand is how busy some of these breeders are. Just because the show is 20 minutes from his house doesn't mean it won't take the same time to prep for as one that is 20 hours away. Also due to the price of clowns breeders can't take every request for pics as a serious inquiry on the animal. I can understand both sides of the fence but my suggestion would be to step it up and if you are really serious drop a deposit on it. To a breeder when you say "I'm really interested in this snake and will probably buy it if you can get me a couple more pics" that screams "I'm wasting your time". Just my two cents

[lord jackel]

Scumbag

First let me say I know nothing about this particular breeder or situation but I would add that calling him a scumbag may not be fair. Taking pictures takes time...camera and equipment setup (not everyone does quick pics), a cooperative snake (not always easy), photoshopping (crop and watermarking)...on top of this if he is a large breeder he may get hundreds of requests for pictures (from people with no intent to purchase or only a passing intent.) Most breeders I know won't send just a quick crappy picture (esp. of a $3000+ snake) they want the animal to look its best so you buy it.

Now I am not saying it couldn't be handled better but if you are a big breeder (who pry still has a day job), getting packed up to head to a show(including this particular snake), you may just not have time...he did offer to take the picture once he gets back.

I could be wrong but I would give him the benefit of the doubt before I jumped the calling him names...or at least try and see it from his side.

[JoshJP7]

What I think is completely dumb is why do you post pics of a snake thats for sale and only have one on your comp?? To me Id snap like 10 of every snake for sale and leave it sitting on your camera or computer... someone asks for pics and bam you got em. Either way I dont care what he has in store for his day... Can you afford to turn down 4k? I dont care how big of a breeder I am or what I have going on... If someone wants to buy a snake for that much. I'm workin with him getting em what he wants. You cant lable every customer just bc "most" arn't serious... this is a prime example... you put this customer in that category and now im buying from someone else... Why do i wanna put down a deposit to someone whose come across like hes too good to get me pics? Atleast respond with something more than 1 line I mean cmon... I dont think ANY of this is irrational from a customer stand point... some these snake breeders need to take some business classes.

How do i give HIM the benefit of the doubt when IM the customer?? Who loses here... He blows me off... takes the snake to the show and it sells... he made out... I GOT SCREWED bc i showed interest first... Or he goes to the show the snake doesnt sell and he sells its to me "now that he has time" I told him exactly how i felt and i will buy from someone else... simple as that.

[lord jackel]

What I think is completely dumb is why do you post pics of a snake thats for sale and only have one on your comp?? To me Id snap like 10 of every snake for sale and leave it sitting on your camera or computer... someone asks for pics and bam you got em. Either way I dont care what he has in store for his day... Can you afford to turn down 4k? I dont care how big of a breeder I am or what I have going on... If someone wants to buy a snake for that much. I'm workin with him getting em what he wants. You cant lable every customer just bc "most" arn't serious... this is a prime example... you put this customer in that category and now im buying from someone else... Why do i wanna put down a deposit to someone whose come across like hes too good to get me pics? Atleast respond with something more than 1 line I mean cmon... I dont think ANY of this is irrational from a customer stand point... some these snake breeders need to take some business classes.

Well that is the nice benefit to a free economy...you have the absolute right not to care about what he says and take your money elsewhere. Since you have a bad feeling about him move on. I have yet to see an ugly clown so I am sure you will end up with a stellar new baby. Can't wait to see pics.

[Nate]

I think that if you feel like you're getting blown off, then move on.

On the flip side, yes a professional breeder is VERY busy. I can't say I know from experience, but i've talked on the phone and learned a few things, and I've also learned how to be very patient. The above statement about the time it takes to take pictures is absolutely true, especially good pictures. 9 out of the 10 pictures you would take, Josh, would be no good..therefore, you're left with only one good picture that looks good. Good photography isn't easy, nor is it cheap. Add to that, loading the pictures, making color corrections, resizing, watermarking, saving, uploading, sending.....it simply takes time.

Move along to someone who will give you the customer service you desire, or give the breeder the benefit of the doubt and let him get back to you after the weekend. If he sells it, tough. You're not out a single penny...there are a hundred other breeders trying to sell a clown this year.

[JoshJP7]

I beg to differ that its "tough to take good pics"... I can snap like 10 with my gf 300$ digital camera and get atleast 7 good pics... I didnt ask him to take it to walmart and get professional photos... I simply wanted a couple different views... thats it ... not hard... "It takes time" what?? Have you uploaded pics lately on a comp? I can take a pic and have it on the computer in less than 2mins... you plug the cord into the comp and hit upload... go to your email account... attach the file... and boom you just made yourself 4gs....

Like you all said ill just take my business elsewhere.

[Brimstone111888]

I had a lot of crappy service when looking for my spider. A lot of breeders just didn't seem to care and I moved on until I found someone who was willing to work with me.

Granted it isn't that hard to take a few pictures for $4,000, but some people don't have their priorities straight.

[JLC]

One thing to keep in mind...is that most of the breeders out there, even many of the "big" ones....are NOT people trained or experienced in running a business. And let's face it...it's very common for people that are into reptiles to have less-than-stellar people-skills. Combine those two characteristics, and you get crummy customer service, even from someone who is honest and has no intention of ripping anyone off.

As noted previously....it IS a free market and you're well within your right to take your business elsewhere. And well within your right to feel put-off or offended by the lack of service you received. But I think you'd be doing yourself a huge favor by being willing to realize that not everyone is going to conduct their business exactly the way YOU would conduct yours if you had one. If those are the only kind of people you'd be willing to spend your money with...then that's your perogative, of course. But that doesn't make everyone else a "bad guy."

And also, I'd like to note...while YOU are fully aware of how serious you were about spending that much money on one of his snakes....HE can't possibly know that. You have no idea how many "serious" requests he probably gets on a daily basis....or how often he's dropped what he was doing to take pictures for a "serious" customer, only to not make the sale after all. So, in the extreme busy-ness of getting ready for show, I personally don't find it at all unusual or unprofessional for him to not take you as seriously as you feel he should have.