Sick cham refund question

[harmona1]

Okay, so I am going to email the guy who I bought my sick panther from and see if he's willing to do at least a partial refund. The bottom line is that he was sick when I got him (seeing as how he died 5 days later), and the vet said it had been ongoing for a while. This leads me to believe that he was sick when the other guy procured him too, since he said he'd only had the cham 2 weeks. Problem is, I'm not really sure how to word the email to be polite, yet stress the fact that he sold me a sick animal. The deal took place at an exotic expo, and there was no health guarantee of any sort. I don't want to put him on the defensive, because to my knowledge Indiana doesn't have an animal "lemon" law, and I probably couldn't do anything to him in court. Any suggestions? Do we have a lawyer in the forum??? LOL

 

[Trillian]

I wouldn't worry about the wording too much yet, just say something like:

I'm sorry to tell you, but the panther chameleon I bought from you at the Expo died a few days later. I had taken him to a vet, who told me that he'd been ill for a while and there was nothing that could be done to save him at this late stage. I'd like to ask for a refund. I know we did not discuss a health guarantee, but I bought him in good faith and would not have bought him from you if I thought he was not healthy. I believe you said he was only in your care for two weeks, so it may be a good idea to let your supplier know that there seems to be a health issue with his chameleons.

Something along those lines? It's a good sign that he gave you his email address, he was obviously prepared to answer questions or provide some sort of after-sales support.

Good luck and keep us informed!

 

[ISA my Veiled]

Okay, so I am going to email the guy who I bought my sick panther from and see if he's willing to do at least a partial refund. The bottom line is that he was sick when I got him (seeing as how he died 5 days later), and the vet said it had been ongoing for a while. This leads me to believe that he was sick when the other guy procured him too, since he said he'd only had the cham 2 weeks. Problem is, I'm not really sure how to word the email to be polite, yet stress the fact that he sold me a sick animal. The deal took place at an exotic expo, and there was no health guarantee of any sort. I don't want to put him on the defensive, because to my knowledge Indiana doesn't have an animal "lemon" law, and I probably couldn't do anything to him in court. Any suggestions? Do we have a lawyer in the forum??? LOL

That is aweful, I hate when people sell sick animals like that it breaks my heart to hear this, good luCk to you

 

[Swayne8998]

We have an awful reptile store chain here in CO called "Scales 'N' Tails." The animals are sick, there is NO humidity, no ventilation, smells like crap, dead crickets in water bowls, sleeping animals, uncleaned and inappropriately set up cages... There was a sleeping female Jackson's with MBD and a pile of feces under her and a water bowl with dead food in it... I could tell she hadn't moved in a while. It disgusted me

 

[Swayne8998]

As for your guy, say something like Trillian suggested. I'm sorry to hear you got a sick cham

 

[Brad]

You should contact the company immediately. The fact that you waited so long could affect your ability to get a refund. Most reputable breeders have their guarantee listed on their website. This thread will be closed if it becomes about your personal transaction instead of refunds in general.

 

[ISA my Veiled]

You should contact the company immediately. The fact that you waited so long could affect your ability to get a refund. Most reputable breeders have their guarantee listed on their website. This thread will be closed if it becomes about your personal transaction instead of refunds in general.

Yeah it looks worse for you but if you sound sincere about it and say you made an effort I think you will get your refund. The fact that they offered a partial refund is irritating and a slap in your face I think

 

[harmona1]

The fact that you waited so long could affect your ability to get a refund. Most reputable breeders have their guarantee listed on their website.

I didn't think I "waited so long," as it just happened yesterday. Problem is he's NOT a breeder- according to the business card, he's does retail/wholesale. Hence the problem.

 

[harmona1]

I wouldn't worry about the wording too much yet, just say something like: Something along those lines? It's a good sign that he gave you his email address, he was obviously prepared to answer questions or provide some sort of after-sales support. Good luck and keep us informed!

Thanks so much! Very professional. I hate confrontation, and I didn't want to sound like a crazy woman!

 

[Brad]

I don't think many breeders offer refunds and I suspect replacement is more common.

For the general case I have a couple comments.
If you suspect there is a health problem contact the breeder immediately and offer clear photos.
If someone is committing fraud or acting in a grossly unethical manner then I suggest posting in the BOI at www.faunaclassifieds.com. You can also contact the site administrator at Chameleon Forums if a sponsor is involved or the breeder is selling in the site classifieds.

[siteurl="https://www.chameleonforums.com/sendmessage.php]Contact Chameleon Forums[/siteurl]

 

[DanSB]

When requesting refunds always request 100% of the value and accept credit for an equal animal or services. After all you wanted an animal it looks shady if you don't accept credit for another animal of equal value.

Also see if your vet will be willing to give you a report of the examination that was dated. If it was me I would request compensation for the vet bills and accept additional credit. You're not likely to get that but if you request that as well and he compromises your more likely to get full credit or possibly a refund. If shipping is involved you can use the vet bills as a negotiation to get them to cover shipping.

If all else fails use FaunaClassifieds and or Kingsnake along with a few others to report this seller as unethical. Also check the reviews on these sites before dealing with vendors you don't know.

As Brad mentioned above don't use this site to report bad vendors it will just get shut down. Use the two I mentioned, it is where we should be going for the reptile marketplace.

 

[Trillian]

Thanks so much! Very professional. I hate confrontation, and I didn't want to sound like a crazy woman!

I hate confrontation too! And I save the crazy for when they try to wriggle out of it

I think this situation is a little different, if it's anything like my Expo experience (and it sounds like it could be) he's not a breeder, or even a supplier, he's just a guy who knows where he can get a load of cheap chameleons from a week or so before an Expo. This is why I'm so impressed he gave you his email address, it shows he was at least a little more than the guy I got my first chameleons from!

Please, please don't take this the wrong way (and feel free to look up my first ever thread to see the state of my first chams that I thought would be fine after being fed well for a few days) but he did look ill from the photos you posted, and he looks ill in your avatar picture too. This is something you are very unlikely to know without experience, which is why I don't think it's worth mentioning in your email to the seller. But he was in a condition which no reputable seller could sell him in with any honesty, without selling him as an unwell chameleon who would need a lot of support to recover, and even then he may not.

I've just got my first ever healthy chameleon, and the experience of having her over the others is a TOTALLY different world. I still worry, but I'm happy to leave her be for a few days, rather than pestering her about food and water, I know she's well enough to find what she needs. Please keep in mind what I said in your other thread, and don't let this experience put you off. Stick around, give help to others in the position you were in, and get addicted like me! Before long a situation will present itself and you will have another chameleon. But spend the $200 on your chameleon, not on your vet bill! My vet actually told me not to get another chameleon, but he felt so sorry for me and how upset I was that a rescue went so wrong, he gave me a baby ball python who was brought in for rescuing! After he nursed her back to health...

 

[ataraxia]

i dont want to be the lemon here and its not what you want to hear. He wont give you a refund nor will he even give you a replacement. I didnt know the chameleon was in that shape or otherwise i would have offered you some help since you are near me. Knowing where you got it i should have known. You will have to bite the bullet on this one and if i can offer one huge piece of advice. Buy a captive bred animal from a breeder directly. When you buy animals at these shows from people that just flip animals for profit you will more than likely not be happy in the end. Buying from breeders you get 9 times out of 10 a healthy, cared for animal.

Sorry, this happened. if you get another chameleon and have problems. pm me and i will try my best to help you.

 

[harmona1]

Please, please don't take this the wrong way (and feel free to look up my first ever thread to see the state of my first chams that I thought would be fine after being fed well for a few days) but he did look ill from the photos you posted, and he looks ill in your avatar picture too. This is something you are very unlikely to know without experience, which is why I don't think it's worth mentioning in your email to the seller. But he was in a condition which no reputable seller could sell him in with any honesty, without selling him as an unwell chameleon who would need a lot of support to recover, and even then he may not.

Exactly. When I got him home at looked closer I thought he seemed a little dehydrated, but I didn't realize how bad it was until people started commenting on the photos. And, as you said, that's just something that comes with experience. But even then, I thought he'd come around with some TLC, up until he totally crashed on me. And then 24 hours later he was gone. I run a senior dog rescue and have worked with shelter animals for 15 years so I'm used to nursing things (well, mammals) back to health. But jeez, reptiles are tough!!!

I guess all I can say is this was a learning experience and I'll know better next time- if there is a next time. But if there is, I will DEFINTELY go with an experienced and reputable breeder (as I had originally planned to). Ugh.

 

[harmona1]

He wont give you a refund nor will he even give you a replacement.

Honestly, I really don't expect him to. I'll be surprised if he even answers the email. But I figured I might as well try. Won't make the same mistake again.