Sight Unseen purchases... - Page 2

HABU · #11 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 01:51 PM

if i was buying a one-eyed, stump tailed, slack-jawed boelens python for 100GBP's....do you think i'd worry about a pic?? hahah! but yes with the etb's, i just gotta see them....it makes all the difference.....i mean appearance and health wise....one look at a pic and i'll say no instantly.....

snickers · #12 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 02:03 PM

I've bought spiders sight unseen (difficult to see the slings even when they arrive!) but they were 10-20 quid and from sites I believe have a good reputation. A bit like buying off ebay you have to take a chance.

Buying snakes is different. I have always had pictures first. While it's not difficult to fake a picture, it is an indication that things are OK. Then I've always handed over the cash in person giving me an opportunity to back out (though that's difficult when you've driven half way across the country) if something was wrong.

feorag · #13 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 02:16 PM

I bought my Miami zig-zag, sight unseen and (apart from my 2 garter snakes bought in 1979), I've never bought sight unseen before for any of my animals.

However, I bought her from someone on here and went with my gut instinct that he was genuine and wouldn't say she had good patterning and temperament if she didn't. I sent off the money weeks before I could collect her to show my honesty that I wasn't mucking him about because I was waiting for a new viv to be built.

I have to say that I certainly wasn't disappointed when I picked her up and I'm as happy as can be with her.

However, it's not a thing I would do on a regular basis.

milly · #14 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 03:07 PM

a friend of mine bought a tortoise of an internet site saw a general picture of the species she was going to buy, my friend was really happy with what she got and next day delivery

Young_Gun · #15 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 03:54 PM

I have done it in the past and will do it in the future, I will do it with buying snakes like royals from the states, when its the genetics I want it doesn't really matter what the exact snake looks like, I know what the morph looks like and what I want it for.

If I was buying something purely for looks then I would want to see it prior to buying.

pankthesnake · #16 (**permalink**) 02-01-2008, 10:25 AM

I was in the corn run last year, and will be again this year. Whether or not I do it again in the future is debatable.

Part of last years order was a pair of amel striped corns from Serpenco which, although nice snakes, had somewhat incomplete stripes.

The problem with the big breeders, especially ones like Rich at Serpenco is the amount of snakes they produce, numbering thousands per year. With this number of hatchlings there have to be some that are exceptional examples and some that are crap examples. People who purchase from these big breeders at shows etc. can pick the better examples, and no doubt the breeders themselves keep the real stunners, or exchange them with other breeders. The ones that are left are the ones that go to sight unseen purchasers, IMO.

jaysnakeman · #17 (**permalink**) 02-01-2008, 07:58 PM

i have done quite a few times and will do again as long as i trust the seller i dont see a problem

leejay · #18 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Young_Gun

I have done it in the past and will do it in the future, I will do it with buying snakes like royals from the states, when its the genetics I want it doesn't really matter what the exact snake looks like, I know what the morph looks like and what I want it for.

If I was buying something purely for looks then I would want to see it prior to buying.

i agree m8 got my pastel from bob clark totally unseen
was after the genetics rather than looks..he is a stunner which is a bonus
i am on the corn run next year from cathy love again unseen but have paid extra for high end ones

essexchondro · #19 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 12:25 AM

I bought my black-head pythons from Paul Harris of ukpythons.com without having ever seen them in person or seen pictures. To be fair though, Paul is one of the most respected breeders in the industry so I wasn't really taking that much of a chance. I'm 100% happy with what I got.

Stuart

captaincaveman · #20 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ssthisto

That's a good point, Jay - if I were buying a Miami or a Stripe, I'd want photos and to pick the one closest to what *I* consider a perfect Miami or Stripe. I'd hate to buy a Miami sight unseen and get a tan and orange animal when what I want is steel grey and red.

Now, on the other hand, three quarters of what I'm getting aren't pattern morphs at all - Lava, Caramel and Amel, all of which are possible hets for Butter-Topaz Motley (and of course, even if the hets don't quite pan out, at least one pair will produce guaranteed hets for Topaz). The last one is a Bloodred het for a few other bits - and it's the hets I'm interested in, plus having a homozygous bloodred male in case Calcite, my Coral Snow possible het Blood isn't het. And none of 'em are Serpenco

Royal pythons... well, I might buy something sight unseen from a big US breeder with a stellar reputation (though I'd be ASKING for photos, not getting 'em wouldn't be a dealbreaker); I'm less likely to get one sight unseen from someone who doesn't have a big reputation backing them. I just wish I could afford import costs and a big purchase from Ralph Davis Reptiles

Yeah, i think if i was buying a butter, caramel or even an ultramel, something like that, i'd buy blind, especially from someone like serpenco, but a definite no-no for me on selective bred morphs, motleys, stripes or where the background or saddle colours were important

I had to wait over a year to find the right male crimson, and thats a cheaper morph i could have got anywhere, but not one id be happy with, and my choice of bloodreds is even stricter

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