BHB Reptiles has recently started holding reptile auctions on facebook. I have seen them praised online over and over and I assumed that a company as reputable and well respected would be a safe place to buy from. I was sadly disappointed. I bid on this auction and won:

http://m.facebook.com/home.php?refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbennetts4&refid=0&_rdr#!/photo.php?fbid=201726389879629&id=135784423140493&refid=20

When I received my shipment, I opened the box to find this 900 gram male:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=133745180049341&set=a.111800582243801.20017.100002415780617&type=1&ref=nf

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=133745203382672&set=a.111800582243801.20017.100002415780617&type=1&ref=nf

Side by side pic:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=134591516631374&set=a.110531495704043.19089.100002415780617&type=1&ref=nf

I emailed BHB and expressed my concern with the 400g weight difference and the visual difference between the reduced pattern male I bid on and the busy patterned male I received. This is the response I got:

On Wednesday, August 10, 2011, Lori Barczyk < bhbent@sbcglobal.net > wrote
> the animal that you received was definitely the animal we auctioned as we only had 1.

That was it. End of discussion. Overall, I am not impressed with BHB. As far as I am concerned, they either misrepresented the animal during the auction or they sent me the wrong animal. Either way, they aren't even admitting there may be an issue. Not a company I will EVER work with again.

Your side by side pic doesn't work, and your facebook link to the auction just takes me to my facebook page...

Is it the pastel they auctioned off on August 9th? Your pictures look just like it if that's the case...

The side by side was a security setting issue. I'm pretty sure I just fixed it. Idk about the other one. When I click the link, it goes straight through. You may have to be logged on to facebook to veiw it? I will try to post that link again.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=201726389879629&set=a.143493555702913.40584.135784423140493&type=1

July 6th. I had them hold the snake so I could add future auction wins to the shipment , but when nothing came up I wanted to bid on in the following few weeks, I had them ship him alone.

Looks like the animals got mixed up to me. Did you include links to the pictures in the email you sent?

I did include pictures. I was polite and worded things carefully so I would not sound angry or accusatory. I also do not want to start a war with them over $200. I got a snake, I am just disappointed that it isn't the one I wanted. I guess I will just cut my losses and walk away dissatisfied.

Something else I would like to add..
I know that BHB has been busy lately. They also announced on facebook that they were getting there daughter off to college last week. Considering the chaos in their lives last week, I sent them another polite email as they may have skimmed over my first in between handling their personal business. They may still come through, and at that point I will publicly apologize and admit that my initial impression of them was wrong. If not, I will drop it and move on with what I've got. I am not blind to the fact that everyone makes mistakes (myself included) and I see no reason to keep stressing on something I have no control over.

I'll chime in and say that, in 2010 I bought a Super Pastel Het clown Female from them at Daytona. It was a day trip from Texas to pick up some animals, and I didn't have a way to ship them back, so I asked them to ship them for me once they got the animal back to their shop. I bought it and a hand ful of other animals. That girl at Daytona was clearly a Super Pastel...what I got after a couple of months of waiting was, what appears to be a normal pastel...not even a very nice one. I even brought it to a show here in Texas to show it to Brian and say "seriously?" and he said if it doens't prove out, to call him. I guess we'll see but....if it doens't prove out, I am the sort that will scream it from the mountain tops. Anyway, a pick of the girl is here http://www.moreliapythons.com/forums/showthread.php?26327-Is-this-a-super-pastel-guys. Not totally pissed or anything, and Brian did tell me that he'll make good if she doens't prove out but...just saying...sometimes big operations make mistakes. We should know next season.

S~

I know this late, but I would say that thing is not a super. The head markings just aren't there and I would not have purchased it as a super, Anyway, my two cents.

Not a super.....

I agree it doesn't look like a super. Could it be a super maybe but I have my doubts. I'd get something in writing of exactly what make good means. Your not talking about a cheap or common snake here.

Remember, what I bought at Daytona WAS a super...i saw it, I held it...I know what a Super looks like. Whats I got in the mail, 45 days later...is the animal linked above. If you follow that thread, my last post in it outlines my exchange, in writing with Brian about what he'd be willing to do to cover it so, for now, I'll just grow her up and prove her out.

S~

in my book...there's a price difference between a pastel and a super pastel...if you paid for a super pastel and recieved a pastel....then you didn't get what you paid for.

....and having him say to you "if she doesn't prove out" i'll make it right....is pretty much worthless. that's costing you time and money to "wait" and see if she proves out.....him telling you that basically says that he's not sure himself.

it's not right...and it's not a way to conduct business......i would expect more from a "bigger breeder" ....since they normally charge more for their animals.

my 2 cents....

Pitoon

ShawnC - I am sorry to hear you had trouble with them as well. I am sure you spent a lot more money than me and I hope they make it right for you.

As far as my situation goes, they still have not responded to my last email and I'm starting to get the feeling I'm outta luck. Lesson learned. I will take my $200 male pastel and move on with my life. I will never do business with BHB again though. The mistake would have been easily forgiven. The poor customer service and shady business practices I do not want to deal with again.

This is what happens when the person selling the animal is more than likely not the person A) taking daily care of it, and B) putting in the box to ship it out.

this is why I won't buy from anyone but a hobbyist breeder. It takes a couple instances of this to take down a hobbyist breeder and label them as a scammer. But the "wal-marts" of reptile breeding are now untouchable and apt to just shrug off the occasional situation as the "cost" of commerce.

pretty simple fix if you ask me......

buy in person and take it home. i've had past orders screwed up....by the person i was buying from (A big breeder) he accepted the fact that they screwed up and made up for it in return.

it's always a gamble when having animals shipped.....to many variables inbetween them and you.

Pitoon

pretty simple fix if you ask me......

buy in person and take it home. i've had past orders screwed up....by the person i was buying from (A big breeder) he accepted the fact that they screwed up and made up for it in return.

it's always a gamble when having animals shipped.....to many variables inbetween them and you.

Pitoon

I agree. Or, you could just by from BLBC members :yes:

pretty simple fix if you ask me......

buy in person and take it home. i've had past orders screwed up....by the person i was buying from (A big breeder) he accepted the fact that they screwed up and made up for it in return.

it's always a gamble when having animals shipped.....to many variables inbetween them and you.

Pitoon

The down side to that option for me is that I live in an area where breeders are few and far between. No expo comes to my area and there are only a few local breeders I have come into contact with. I do not have the ability to travel long distances every time I am interested in adding a new animal to my collection. My location puts me in a position where I have to put faith in someone else and pray they come through for me. Most of the time things go well, and once in a while I get burned. It doesn't detour me from the hobby though. It just makes me more careful the next time around.

Just a little update.. Still no response from BHB regarding this situation. At this point I do not expect a return email or any attempt at resolution. Oh well, what can I do? Move on. I will attempt to prove him out. Maybe I'll get lucky. :)

That's crazy. A quick look at the two neck patterns proves that it's not the same snake. Don't suppose you videotaped the unboxing?

That's crazy. A quick look at the two neck patterns proves that it's not the same snake. Don't suppose you videotaped the unboxing?

I wish I had. I have received numerous animals over the years and never once thought to tape the unboxing. It is a good idea though. I think I will from now on.