Terms of sale
Please read this page carefully.
My goal is to provide you with the best animals and service possible. The terms below are designed to make the buying experience a positive one. In the reptile community there are there are bad reptile dealers; and there are also bad reptile customers. Full disclosure about what you can expect when doing business with me, and what I expect from you, will help to avoid any problems. Your complete satisfaction is my goal.
The first section of this page explains what you can expect from me. The second section addresses customer responsibilities.
Much of what you read below may seem intimidating, and may cause you to feel apprehensive about doing business with me. If you have ever bought a new car or a house, you know how all the "fine print" and paperwork can make you feel overwhelmed! Please understand that the best way to ensure a positive experience for both of us is to clearly cover all contingencies before they occur. Some of the stipulations below are for worst-case scenarios that rarely if ever take place. We both will benefit from knowing ahead of time what we can expect from each other.
Quality
I guarantee my animals to be honestly represented, healthy, feeding aggressively for me on frozen-thawed rodents, and free of mites. Your satisfaction and a long-term relationship is my goal.
All of my Green Tree Python babies, yearlings and adults come with pedigrees tracing family bloodlines back to founder stock in the wild (when available), and data cards. I will always be glad to answer your questions about any animal being offered, before and after the sale.
My animals and facility are clean at all times, not just when visitors are expected. GTP fans and customers are always welcome to visit, with advance notice. I strongly encourage new customers to make the effort, if at all possible, to visit and see the animals and facility in person.
How I price my animals
I set my prices for clutches and individual animals based on bloodlines (which will include past results from the parents when available), the appearance of the parents, the colors and traits of individual babies, and the market forces of supply and demand for individual bloodlines and morphs. Individual babies may be priced according to appearance after having put on some growth and close to the time they are ready to ship. I believe that the honesty, documentation, service, and quality that I offer make my pythons worth their price. If you are able to get price quotes from other high-end chondro breeders, you will find my prices are very reasonable when comparing animals of like lineage and genetics. I do not set top-end prices on offspring simply because they are from desirable but unproven parents. The highest prices are assigned to clutches from parents with proven track records. I strive to offer animals in all price levels within the range of what is appropriate for quality captive bred animals. It is my conviction that offspring prices should reflect a realistic value for them, and not be based simply on sales hype or visual emotion. I believe it is important to list prices publicly so buyers can compare.
Waiting list's and Deposits
I am now doing waiting list's which will not require a deposit to be on, being on a waiting list will give you the chance to select and reserve an animal or animals prior to the animals be listed on the available page or being posted in classifieds ad's on the web. A deposit of 10% of the cost of any baby you wish to reserve will be required to make a reservation. Deposits are non-refundable unless I am unable to provide you with a healthy, feeding baby. Placement on a waiting list will be made when I receive Email notification from you expressing your interest in being on a list. I will contact the people on the waiting list as a group when the selection process is to be started. Customers who fail to send deposits within 5 days of contacting me about a reservation will forfeit their reservation. Deposits may be paid via cash, check, money order, or through Pay pal.
Offspring Selection
Customers that are on a waiting list will be provided with the opportunity to select their baby or babies and make their reservation, once the babies are feeding well and on their way to being established. Selections will be made using high quality photos on a private Available page, and full size images of specific animals will be accessible. Customers are always free to select babies in person, but must do so in a timely manor once the waiting list selection process has started. There will be no picking order during the selection process, the waiting list's will be emailed as a group when the selection process is to be started and reservations will be made in the order I receive deposits! So yes there will be a level of competition to secure the animal or animals you would like to own. I will be notifying the customers on the waiting list of the date the private available page will be accessible and then will email out the link to the page on that date. The customers will have 15 days to select their animals before the page is opened to the public. I will be happy to provide information and suggestions when customers are making choices. It usually takes 10-12 weeks to establish babies. I want to have at least a dozen meals and two or more sheds on the records before I release babies. I also like to see some noticeable growth on them, and this may take longer with some offspring. I do make occasional exceptions to this waiting period for experienced chondro keepers who are willing to accept full responsibility for the animal. Full payment is required prior to shipping (unless other arrangements have been made), and customers can take advantage of this three month establishment period to get their funds in order.
All selections are made after I have chosen keepers. I will always hold back animals from each clutch. Some will be offered as sexed yearlings and some will be added to my breeding colony. Some chondro keepers have expressed frustration with breeders who hold back the best babies, at least the best as judged by the person who produced them. It must be understood that it takes a lot of work, and many times a sizeable investment, to produce designer chondros. Breeders must put back the best possible animals into their breeding program in order to ensure more and better babies in the future. Keeper Selects are one of the ways this is done. I price my babies based on what I feel is a fair value for the bulk of the clutch. Many times, the holdbacks are worth more than the clutch price.
Sexing Policy
In order to best serve the well-being of the animals, I do not probe or "pop" any chondro under one year of age. If you desire to purchase only pythons of known gender then sexed yearlings are the best choice for you. This gives you the added advantage of having a very good idea of the python's adult appearance, but is also the most expensive route to take. The most economical way to obtain breeding stock is to purchase multiple babies over time, and see what kind of a sex ratio you end up with. You can then sell or trade for what you need. Keep in mind that serious breeding programs all have extra males, mine included. Having a ready male when the time comes can mean the difference between success and waiting till the next time. While I know that a few breeders and dealers disagree with the above sexing policy, I must emphasize that there is a very good chance of doing injury to the fragile vertebrae of baby chondros by sexing or handling them when very young, regardless of who does it. Often this damage shows up only when the python is older. Please accept this as one of the factors necessary to the responsible selling and raising of quality chondros, and don't listen to anybody who tells you otherwise!
Shipping and Delivery
Animals may be purchased directly from me in Maryland, where you are welcome to see my set up and animals. I strongly encourage customers to make the extra effort to pick up animals directly from me and to avoid the risks and stress of shipping. You may also pick up or purchase snakes directly from me at any reptile show I may be visiting, although I don't attend many of them.
I can ship your animal via Fed Ex and the price will vary by your location.
Contact me for estimated shipping charges via Fed Ex.
Live arrival is guaranteed only if you are present to accept the package. I will provide full details and carefully coordinate the shipment with you.
Shipments are insured for the full value of the animal.
Shipments are made based on the existing weather conditions here and at the destination. I reserve the right to postpone shipping until conditions are deemed safe. Generally, I require overnight temperatures in Maryland and the destination city to be in the mid 40's or warmer to safely ship. Heat packs are used when necessary.
Full payment is expected when your animal is ready to be shipped. Since it often takes five months or more from the time reservations are accepted until the eggs hatch and the babies are established, this should not be a problem. Please do not wait until I notify you about your baby being ready to get your payment together. Sometimes a delay in payment can result in cold weather setting in before your animal can be shipped. This will delay your animal arriving, and isn't fair to me.
I do make sales and ship chondros to those living outside the U.S. Chondros are listed as CITES Appendix II animals and require import and export permits.
The process can take as long as six months or as little as ninety days.
Please contact me if you are not in the US and would like to purchase an animal.
Disclaimers
I can not make guarantees about factors that are beyond my control. These include the adult colors of any baby chondro, the sex of any un probed animal, the breeding ability of any chondro, and future health issues beyond live and healthy arrival. See details about health claims below.
Customer Responsibilities
Please read the following section carefully, and feel free to ask me any questions you may have. I will gladly clarify any issue you may not understand. Purchasing an animal from me represents that you have read this section and agree to the terms and stipulations.
Making Reservations
Please see the information above regarding my policy for waiting lists and reservations. To make a reservation, please wait until I open the list for the clutch you are interested in. This will be published on the Available page or Private Available page when live viable and feeding babies are in their tubs. Once this takes place, send me an Email with your request or phone call, and specify your payment method. A non-refundable deposit of 10% of the price of the hatchling is required to make a reservation. I will hold your reservation while your payment is being processed.
NOTE: By placing a paid reservation with me, you are representing that you have read all of the Terms of Sale on this page, and agree to them.
Making & Completing payments & Payment plans
Reservations and balance payments may be made using Pay Pal or by sending a check or money order. Cash is always accepted cheerfully! Setting up a Pay Pal account is free and easy; log on to www.paypal.com and follow the instructions. Use gstephens_1@clearviewcatv.net as the Email account to send payments to me.
Payment plans are offered at my discretion to some customers. Contact me to work out the exact details, but in general I ask for the purchase to be paid for in three to four months months. Very expensive animals may qualify for extended terms. I understand that most of us (my self included) need to have time to pay for expensive items. I will work with you as best I can. but it is worth stating here before inquiring about a payment plan know that if at any time you are thirty day's behind with a payment, and you have made no effort to contact me. I can terminate your payment plan and all funds paid to date are non refundable. I may choose to roll you balance into a credit for a future cash or credit card purchase at my discretion.
Full payment, including shipping charges, must be made prior to pickup or shipping. If you are paying using a personal check, the check must clear your bank before the animal will be released. Unless prior arrangements have been made, prompt payment is expected when you are notified that your animal is ready to ship. Since it often takes five months or more from the time reservations are accepted until the eggs hatch and the babies are established, this should not be a problem. Please do not wait until I notify you about your baby being ready to get your payment together. Sometimes a delay in payment can result in cold weather setting in before your animal can be shipped. This will delay your animal arriving, and isn't fair to me.
Please don't wait until shipping time arrives to begin figuring out where your payment will come from.
Customers who fail to respond within 10 days of shipping notification will forfeit their deposits funds paid to date and their selected animal. I will make three attempts via Email and/or phone to contact customers. It is your responsibility to notify me of any changes in your contact information. I do understand that life can sometimes throw us a curve ball, and circumstances may require someone to cancel a reservation. Please have the courtesy to notify me, rather than simply ignoring my attempts to contact you.
Receiving Shipments
Once we make the shipping arrangements, it is important that you clear your schedule for the delivery time window and be at specified location, or be home to receive the package from Fed Ex. Since I have no control over the conditions or temperature of the holding facilities, live and healthy arrival can not be guaranteed if no one is present to receive the package.
Health Claims
The sale of all live animals is final. I guarantee live arrival, pending compliance with the terms of shipping detailed above. Any health issues must be made within 24 hours of shipment arrival. Although I cannot warranty any live animal beyond the 24 hour period, I will do my best to help you with any health or husbandry issues that may arise. You assume complete responsibility for the animal from the moment you open the shipping box and verify live and healthy arrival.
Due to the fragile nature of chondros, especially babies, I cannot warranty any animal against heat stress, kinks, prolapse, respiratory infections, and spinal trauma including "cigar back syndrome", sudden death, or any other health issues once you verify healthy delivery. Please keep in mind that when I send your animal, it will have been thriving under my care for at least three months and often longer. I send out perfect and healthy animals, based on every possible criteria. I am understandably hesitant to accept responsibility for claims of ill health beyond the 24 hour window. Juvenile chondros are delicate animals that are easily damaged, especially if handled. Be sure to follow the normal unpacking and neonate handling protocols with your animal.
If you feel you have a legitimate claim for a pre-existing health condition, the first step is to take the animal to a qualified veterinarian. We both must agree on who is "qualified" and I may ask to speak with your vet over the phone. My vet, who is excellent and handles all my personal GTP health issues, will be available to consult or examine the animal, at your expense. If this option is used, I will rely heavily on his opinion. Dr. Scott Stahl, a well-known chondro vet with a consulting practice, may also be asked to do they exam. Even experienced vets may not agree on a diagnosis or necropsy results.
I will do everything I reasonably can to help you in the event of a health issue with one of my animals. It is important to remain calm when addressing a problem and discussing possible remedy. My goal, if at all possible, is to resolve any problems in a way we both are satisfied with.
Expertise and Experience
I assume that anyone purchasing one of my animals is representing that they have the experience, skills, and expertise to receive, set up, feed, and maintain chondros in good health. While I guarantee that my animals are feeding easily for me at the time of sale, I can not guarantee that they will eat for you. There are multiple factors involved when chondros of any age go off feed, and it is up to the owner to accept responsibility for getting new animals established and feeding in their own facility. There is a knack to feeding even well-established chondros of any age, and many first time owners have some difficulty. I will give you all the help I can. I can't tell you how many times I have been told that one of my animals steadfastly refuses to eat, despite all the advice I can offer, and then the frustrated owner stares in disbelief when I feed the animal in front of them in less than a minute. Of course, this sort of help isn't possible over long distances. Most established chondros will feed readily, but you must accept the challenge of the few that need extra work.
I will provide all the follow-up assistance you need in order for your animals to thrive, but ultimately you must accept responsibility for your own skills and the well-being of your chondros.
Conflict Resolution
I pride myself on the quality of my animals and the level of customer care I provide. I am a reasonable, easy-to-get-along-with person! Conflicts are rare, but they can happen. You can't find another chondro breeder who stands behind his or her animals more than I do. I will make every good-faith effort to resolve any conflict that may arise, as long as it is handled privately and with integrity. I will respond quickly and decisively to public attacks and smear campaigns from disgruntled individuals. As a part of resolving a conflict, I may choose to ask one or two respected GTP breeders and business owners for their input. Customers will have access to these private communications. I am confident that any conflict can be resolved to the satisfaction of both parties, as long as both parties adhere to the Terms of Sale on this page and respond in a mature manner.
Thank you for your patronage!