Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[_dave_]

ok heres the story.

found an advert on preloved from a guy called Mark Austin.. selling 1.1royals , female proven breeder etc, based in bradford. thought id email them as the price was good! so i did.

From : mark austin <markie_austin@yahoo.co.uk>
Sent : 23 July 2007 19:03:33
To : Dave ~ <mc_shocking@hotmail.com>
Subject : Re: Preloved Advert Enquiry

| | | Inbox


ive had them about 8month got her off a mate in manchester he had just had a nice clutch most of them came out like bumblebees really light and very nice markings i am in bradford west yorkshire mate ur pritty far away from me.
01*** *****. postcode BD7 2PY

Dave ~ <mc_shocking@hotmail.com> wrote:
ok mark thats cool

where are you? im in chatham kent..

am very interested in these. When did they last breed?

give me a call if you can on 0********

Dave


>From: mark austin
>To: mc_shocking@hotmail.com
>Subject: Re: Preloved Advert Enquiry
>Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 14:35:00 +0100 (BST)
>
>hi i dont have any pics as my phone is playing up but female is about
>1800gm to 2200gm male is alot smaller both nice healthy snakes tho but like
>i said female is a little head shy and does not really like being held
>
>mc_shocking@hotmail.com wrote: Dear croc1010,
> A Preloved member has responded to your advert:
> Name: _dave_ Email: mc_shocking@hotmail.com Tel:
** Country: UNITED KINGDOM
>---------------------------------
>
>Message: Hi am interested in these pythons do you have any pics of the
>snakes? and possibly a weight on the female? Thanks Dave
>
>---------------------------------
>> Just to remind you, your advert reads1.1 royals - £120 ono
>for sale male and female royals female is proven breeder male is not both
>very nice snakes but female is a little head shy selling has i need the
>space £120 the pair ono
>


This then went on to phone calls. Mark stated the female was 2300gramms, which most of you will know this is brilliant! i thought YES. Bradford is like a 6hour drive so i can get it couriered by reptile taxi. Mark seemed such a nice guy on the phone telling me about his venemous he keeps etc and retics.

He told me that he had pictures and would send them to me. we agree'd on 80quid for the female, so i paypal'd it over and organised reptile taxi to deliver it to me for 100pound.. so 180 for a big female, well worth it.

kept contacting him to see where these pictures were, but he hadnt had time to send, so the day come and reptile taxi picked up the snake.. 6 hours later it gets delivered.. open the box.........

theres a 900gram female with retained eye caps sitting there. !!!!!! i am absolutely fuming now, the reptile taxi witnessed me opening this in front of them. I wanted to know where the before and after pictures were that they say they take on there website, but this is on request (didnt say that!) so i have rung up Mark and he SWEARS he sent the female.. i trust reptile taxi from the reviews ive read, so this guy is obviously a lier. ive paid 180 pound for a snake that never turned up.

i tried for a paypal refund, as mark is never home.... he puts up fences for a living and apparantly works all day and night it seems! of course the paypal refund didnt come through. i have tried again today to call but he is out..

not really sure what my best route is, i can drive up to bradford costing me like 90quid return in petrol.. and they prob wont be in! or try and grow the royal on and then sell for 180 quid in a year probably.. ive treated the eyecaps and its now clear, but its 'f*c*i*n*' viscious and just wants to attack the food rather than eat it.. GREAT!

Edited by MJ: I have removed the phone number of the seller.

[Stuart]

Gutted for you mate..are you even sure its female?..can understand your anger..I would certainly persevere and try and get your money back.
_________________

[_dave_]

yeah its a female..

learnt my lesson to never buy from someone i dont know, as things like this ARE too good to be true.

[garysumpter]

I know Dave and know that his side of the story is 100% legit. Just hope the 'seller' has the decency to try to sort this out!

Gary
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Need a website? 8 years experience, GREAT rates for reptile keepers, currently designing several reptile websites. Also graphic design, hosting and marketing services.

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[garysumpter]

Dave,

Just googled and found these, seems the guy is an A1 tossbag.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86801

http://www.adpost.com/uk/pets/13195/

http://www.preloved.co.uk/fuseaction-adverts.showadvert/index-1031160313/750fa99f.html

Gary
_________________
Need a website? 8 years experience, GREAT rates for reptile keepers, currently designing several reptile websites. Also graphic design, hosting and marketing services.

http://www.sitewonders.co.uk
gary@sitewonders.co.uk

[_dave_]

yes thats the 'f*c*er' right there

anyone on here a thug and lives in west yorkshire?

[mattrethy]

so sorry dude what a ****** could you not report him some how?

maybe grow her on she may calm down then you can sell and get your money back?

good luck
_________________
www.freewebs.co.uk/southeastreptiles