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Huge disparity in Breeders

Kulprit said:
That is not the case here as I have proved to myself that I can provide proper husbandry to a colubrid, evidenced by a thriving brooks kingsnake in my care. I have no problem admitting my chronological new-ness, but have researched and practiced husbandry far beyond any "rookie".
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Unfortunately, 3 weeks is not sufficient time to prove that it is "thriving". I've had newly hatched corns go 6 weeks before a first meal and do fine. Were they "thriving" during that 6 week period since they were alive and active?

Many websites are relics of the past. I've tried contacting breeders from websites and generally assume that if I haven't heard from them in 3 weeks that the breeding side of the collection is defunct.

I work full time, and do some rescue on the side. I'm currently caring for two kittens and a puppy getting over parvo. I would not have much time to update a website at all.
 
Kulprit said:
And a flashy website is not needed, just an up to date and organized one.
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Then, if it's such an issue, why don't you offer your design services free of charge to all reptile breeders so they can have a website.

It's not that simple. There are loads of old school breeders that are not computer savvy and can't do much more than a cover page with contact info.

Also some stock rotates so fast, it's hard to keep up, but they do what they can.

Brent is right, customer service is a two way street. Everything he said is spot on. You only see one side of it. Breeders get bombed with tire kickers all the time and that can affect how they choose to respond.
 
Let me slow things down here, if I can. I'm not personally attacking anybody, I made a complaint of overall customer service. So the snyde comments in my direction can stop. I never questioned anybody's work ethic. My complaint is with customer service, something that comes with being a breeder. I've narrowed my complaints to rude and/or no responses as well as poor web updates. Nothing personal, just business related issues. If anybody continues to take this thread personally, I will cease and desist so as not to hurt feelings.
 
It's not hard to answer emails and update a web page. That is the crux of my complaint. There are few in this thread who seem to understand that.
 
Kulprit said:
Let me slow things down here, if I can. I'm not personally attacking anybody, I made a complaint of overall customer service. So the snyde comments in my direction can stop. I never questioned anybody's work ethic. My complaint is with customer service, something that comes with being a breeder. I've narrowed my complaints to rude and/or no responses as well as poor web updates. Nothing personal, just business related issues. If anybody continues to take this thread personally, I will cease and desist so as not to hurt feelings.
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You are not getting it. We are NOT businesses. Customer service does NOT come with being a breeder. Working a full time job and taking care of the snakes and hatchlings comes before anything else. Anyone who fails to understand that is someone I would prefer not dealing with.
 
This is NOT a business for me! I sold animals at the local expo and wholesaled the rest of them. I'm down to some non-feeders, a zigzag that will be going to Robbie after a couple more feeds, my own keepers, and the 3 survivors from the Clutch of Death. These are not products, these are the offspring of my pets! I care about them, especially while they are in my care. I cried when I found those 15 babies had all died.

What do you consider a 'rude' response? Would that be asking if they have a particular snake and the response being "Nope."?
 
When you are dealing with 20 clutches hatching and unknown amount of emails coming in and who knows if they have a full time job, then yes it would be hard to answer emails and update web pages. The welfare of the animals come first before customer service or even ones own webpage.

It seems you aren't looking at it from a breeders stand point. Not sure if you have dealt with having more than one snake or even what is it like to deal with a handful of hatchlings. Its not an easy task.
 
Kulprit said:
It's not hard to answer emails and update a web page. That is the crux of my complaint. There are few in this thread who seem to understand that.
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Answering emails and updating a website takes a backseat to a full time job, and animal care. I did not breed this season but in seasons past I am up til midnight and later taking care of the snakes, AFTER working a 56-58 hour workweek. Sorry if you aren't getting it...
 
Kulprit said:
If you are selling a product, and accepting money for it, you are a business.
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Incorrect Scooter.

If you have a yard sale, does that make you a business? Nope.
If you make a blanket and sell it, does that make you a business? Nope.
If I make popsicle stick panda hats... well you get the picture.

That's why it's a hobby.
 
I must say I partly agree with Kulprit. I myself sell my offspring (being very lowscale compared to a lot of you), and I have had my share of irritating custumors over the years, so I do very much understand that side of the situation.
On the other side, I also get annoyed when I ask a question (information not in the add) and I get no answer at all. No problem if it takes a while, but not at all I can't understand.
Or if I ask if it eats frozen, and the answer is "NO", without heading, name or anything, I head another way. I don't expect a whole story, but a sentence might be nice.

I don't know about the amount on either side here, but I do understand frustration with rude sellers as much as frustration with rude buyers.

Updating a website... well that would take me quite some time as my computer knowledge is horribly close to nonexistant :) so for me the lack of updates is not a problem. Also it's always possible that the snake in question has only just been sold. You can't always sit at your computer changing every detail.
 
Kulprit said:
Let me slow things down here, if I can. I'm not personally attacking anybody, I made a complaint of overall customer service. So the snyde comments in my direction can stop. I never questioned anybody's work ethic. My complaint is with customer service, something that comes with being a breeder. I've narrowed my complaints to rude and/or no responses as well as poor web updates. Nothing personal, just business related issues. If anybody continues to take this thread personally, I will cease and desist so as not to hurt feelings.
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You called out breeders. We responded...
 
Kulprit said:
Good questions. Communication easily tops my list of complaints. From no responses to elitist attitudes displayed in curt responses. Also, laziness in web page organization and timely updates seems the norm.

You all have brought to my attention that professionalism may be rare in this marketplace, as many are simply fly by night hobbyists. Which makes my complaints more easily understood and overcome.
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Taking care of the snakes comes first.
Web page organization and updates comes last.
When you have 700 snakes and 400 more due to hatch in the next 2 months, please remember this thread.
I felt much the same as you 4 years ago.
 
That is why the BOI is a wonderful place. You can search on a sellers to see how their customer service is or how their dealings with customers are.

If you find a rude breeder, there are usually a handful of wonderful breeders to deal with. I have a do not buy from list as well.
 
Kali, those are my feelings exactly. The "breeders" in this thread are getting a bit over excited. I'm not "calling breeders out", just showing them that it's not hard to provide a perfectly normal level of customer service.
 
. . . and then, of course, no matter how perfectly well you conduct yourself in any aspect of your life, there is that one (or more) people who have a problem with it. Always.

Sometimes there is addition by subtraction.

D80
 
Oh so you can make generalizations, and when breeders give reasons for why things are the way they are, we are "over excited?"

That may not be how you meant it, but it sure is the way it sounds.
 
Kulprit said:
Kali, those are my feelings exactly. The "breeders" in this thread are getting a bit over excited. I'm not "calling breeders out", just showing them that it's not hard to provide a perfectly normal level of customer service.
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I for one have no problem with your thread. I certainly hope that you emailed/contacted those breeders that you were dissatisfied with to clearly explain what issues you had.

D80
 
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