I hope it works for you Kevin. When I talked to Sal he seemed to want to resolve it as well but kept lying and not following through. He also likes to coach on what to say on the boi after you have talked to him. Until you have money in hand I wouldn't be to optomistic. Mine was for only 175 quite a bit less than you. He comes off as concerned but will give you the run around and then gets pissed when you finally decide enough is enough. I gave Sal plenty of chances to make good before I posted on the Boi and all he did was lie. He told me several times he was shipping the next day, that he had the snakes but they just ate and would ship in a few days etc... Then he changed his phone numbers so I couldn't reach him and got pissed again when I posted I couldn't reach him. I was very patient with Sal and tried to be understanding even giving him half year to make good. He has my number and email and still avoids. Oh by the way don't worry about the bark he likes to try to intimidate keep after your money.
-
Posted 12/19/2024.
=====================
I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?
So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.
But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.
Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.
I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.
=====================
Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.
And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
-
Responding to email notices you receive.
**************************************************
In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.
Anyone dealt with Boca Reptiles?
- Thread starter BryonsBoas
- Start date
gila7150
New member
Kevin, post those IBD + necropsy reports if you still have them.
The ironic thing is that Sal was recently a vendor at a reptile expo that was trying to raise money for IBD research.
Just a word of advice....if he offers more animals to make up for your loss say no! There is no way you should expose your collection to animals that came from him again.
I think I'd even run any cash he sends you through the washing machine before putting it in your wallet
The ironic thing is that Sal was recently a vendor at a reptile expo that was trying to raise money for IBD research.
Just a word of advice....if he offers more animals to make up for your loss say no! There is no way you should expose your collection to animals that came from him again.
I think I'd even run any cash he sends you through the washing machine before putting it in your wallet
dhserps
New member
dont know him,
but sounds like he is someone not to do buissness with i walked pass his both in orlando fire and a buddy of mine said stop here they coul of some hypo het for albino
and the guy was looking at me and i just laughed loud and said i wouldnt buy nothing from him look him up on fauna when you get home hes a piece of s**t in my book ive never dealt with him and never would and he can get mad if he reads this because i never will buy from him theres way to many other people out there seems like most of ads i see of his stuuf is wc anyway that he says is cb but yeah sure it is i havent heard one good thing about this Sal guy i know i dont know him but him continuing to scam and con is just obsurd
but sounds like he is someone not to do buissness with i walked pass his both in orlando fire and a buddy of mine said stop here they coul of some hypo het for albino
and the guy was looking at me and i just laughed loud and said i wouldnt buy nothing from him look him up on fauna when you get home hes a piece of s**t in my book ive never dealt with him and never would and he can get mad if he reads this because i never will buy from him theres way to many other people out there seems like most of ads i see of his stuuf is wc anyway that he says is cb but yeah sure it is i havent heard one good thing about this Sal guy i know i dont know him but him continuing to scam and con is just obsurd
mmeade
New member
me too
I, too, am still waiting for $165.00 refund on a cage that was never sent (ordered last December).
Sal, come on man. You are selling on kingsnake, send me my cash.
Mike Meade
I, too, am still waiting for $165.00 refund on a cage that was never sent (ordered last December).
Sal, come on man. You are selling on kingsnake, send me my cash.
Mike Meade
jessicaSimpson
New member
boca reptiles
please research them
please research them
Rainbowboaman
I smell a Rat!
Gillian,
I find it unusual that you have been a member here for 3 months & this was your first post? without any added input to thread. Care to elaborate on this or was this just to pull to top to redirect things?
odatria
New member
I dont think there is anything unusual about this being his first post.
The guy has obviously done his homework and is posting to warn others as he should. It is too bad more people do not do the same! Im not quite sure what the problem is. Now, if in his first post he was defending or promoting Boca Reptiles I would find that strange.
The guy has obviously done his homework and is posting to warn others as he should. It is too bad more people do not do the same! Im not quite sure what the problem is. Now, if in his first post he was defending or promoting Boca Reptiles I would find that strange.
Sal,
Amazing you certainally are a piece of (work). Unbelievable that you have the nerve to post about others not paying money owed.
I quite agree a year is long enough so quit spouting your crap and start paying up. There are 3 of us here that we know of that have waited long enough. I mean come on Sally you don't even have the guts to admit you ripped us off. It would really be best for you to just fade away or pay up.
Later bro,
Mark
Amazing you certainally are a piece of (work). Unbelievable that you have the nerve to post about others not paying money owed.
I quite agree a year is long enough so quit spouting your crap and start paying up. There are 3 of us here that we know of that have waited long enough. I mean come on Sally you don't even have the guts to admit you ripped us off. It would really be best for you to just fade away or pay up.
Later bro,
Mark
BEAST
New member
Boca Reptiles is a Scam......SAL IS A THIEF
well let me say this,
Sal is an evil son of a #it@h. he is wanted in two states for fraud and owes soo many people money. i bought a fat tial gecko from him and it arrived dead(he shipped it in a plastic bag). he said he give me a refund. did he yet? no it has been 2 months and he ignores emials and phone calls. he used to be UPSTATEEXOTICS and is now BOCA REPTILES. do not order there he is just sending ur lizard or snake to deaths door. so BUYER BEWARE. this is just a typical fraud scheme.
well let me say this,
Sal is an evil son of a #it@h. he is wanted in two states for fraud and owes soo many people money. i bought a fat tial gecko from him and it arrived dead(he shipped it in a plastic bag). he said he give me a refund. did he yet? no it has been 2 months and he ignores emials and phone calls. he used to be UPSTATEEXOTICS and is now BOCA REPTILES. do not order there he is just sending ur lizard or snake to deaths door. so BUYER BEWARE. this is just a typical fraud scheme.
Can you expand a little bit more on the shiping method? I'm trying to figure out how can you ship a gecko in a plastic bag but just can't. Which carrier was used for shipping?
Thanks
Thanks
dmasio
Member
I have to say I bought a trio of ball pythons from Sal around 8 months or so ago and they arrived perfect and are beautiful. But thats just me, he shipped them fine and they arrived next day. Thanks Damian
FLtatts78
New member
interesting
I dealt with upstate exotics a few times about a year ago. we did a fairly expensive trade. I shipped first and received my animal in perfect conditon as he said I would. I am not calling you a liar, I am just saying that i have delt with him and never had a problem.
I dealt with upstate exotics a few times about a year ago. we did a fairly expensive trade. I shipped first and received my animal in perfect conditon as he said I would. I am not calling you a liar, I am just saying that i have delt with him and never had a problem.
BocaReptiles
New member
Money Sent!
First off i would like to say is that i just sent him a full refund.
Alvaro i can answer that question for ya, back on 8/4 i shipped this 14 year old kid a fattail gecko via USPS and yes it was a DOA. Some times stuff like this happens, it was NOT shipped in a plastic bag, it was in a snake bag. Some people just don't know the difference. I have all emails saved from this transaction if anyone want's to see including tracking numbers ECT, just email me and i'll be more then happy to send them to you.
Sal
Boca Reptiles
First off i would like to say is that i just sent him a full refund.
Alvaro i can answer that question for ya, back on 8/4 i shipped this 14 year old kid a fattail gecko via USPS and yes it was a DOA. Some times stuff like this happens, it was NOT shipped in a plastic bag, it was in a snake bag. Some people just don't know the difference. I have all emails saved from this transaction if anyone want's to see including tracking numbers ECT, just email me and i'll be more then happy to send them to you.
Sal
Boca Reptiles
khood
New member
Upstate exotics/Boca Reptiles
Hey Mark
I recieved your replys but wasn't ready to post anything then.
Unfortunately, I too will join the ranks of those not compensated by Boca Reptiles (Upstate Exotics). Here is my story.
As you are aware, I lost my entire collection due to IBD. I purchased all of Sals "Breeder Boas" from an advertisement that he posted on Kingsnake. It was a deal I could not pass up, but later found I should have walked away from the deal. Not only did they have IBD, but they were also infested with mites. After months of trying to find Sal (Upstate Exotics), I finally found him on this forum operating under a new business name, Boca Reptiles. When I first called him He was noticeably upset that I posted negative comments regarding his business. I asked him to try walking in my shoes. I explained my entire situation to him regarding the collection I had to euthenize. I told him after losing six of the boas that I purchased from him I decided to pay for necropsies on that last three. All turned up positive for IBD. Even though I had taken care of the mite infestation, the damage was already done. Under the advise of my veterinarian (The same vet Pete Kahl used to diagnose and euthenize his collection due to IBD), I had him make a house call to euthenize my collection.
Sal asked me why on earth would I have all the others put down. I told him to do the math. I had already spent thousands of dollars in veterinarian bills to try to clear up the RI and fungal infections that were mysteriously spreading throughout the collection. None of the animals were responding well to any of the antibiotics or treatments. Six animals turned belly up after only three months of getting them from him. Three of which I had necropsied proving all three positive for IBD virus. The entire collection had a mite infestation (One of the largest known vectors of the IBD virus). Tha majority of the animals were in ill health. It was quite assumeable that they all had IBD. I was not willing to take anymore risks.
After explaining all of this to Sal I was most stunned by his response. He said that if I had I returned the other boas to him, prior to having them euthenized, he would have been more receptive to reimbursing me for the animals. I asked him why. Sal said quote, "I won't lie to you Kevin, I would have resold them." This to me was dispicable. I can only imagine who else he has spread this virus to. I told him all the animals were dieing from IBD. How could he possibly think of spreading this terrible virus to someone else. He had nothing to say about that. I told him I was extremely disappointed in my business transaction with him. I told Sal I had all supporting veterinarian documents to back up my claim, and I even encouraged him to contact my vet. Mind you, this is the same veterinarian that treated and ultimately euthanized Pete Kahls boa collection due to the same IBD virus. I trusted this vet and he had cridentials.
Sal asked me what I thought would be a fair resolution to this matter. I replied undoubtedly that I should be reimbursed for the animals that I purchased from him. I wasn't even asking for the thousands I spent in vet bills. He said there is no way he would give me the $5000.00 I paid him. I asked Sal what he thought would be fair then. He said he would be willing to work something out with me but would have to sleep on it and discuss this matter with "his girl". I was fine with that and immediately posted on this forum that I had discussed matters with Sal and he seemed to be cooperative. Or at least I thought he would be. I called him the next afternoon and he told me to fax the documents I had from my vet. I called him after faxing them to him. He told me the vet bills showed a definate pattern and that I had confirmed that there was a definate problem with the snakes. He said he would need time to come up with a figure to resolve this. He told me to call him later that evening. I did call him and once again he didn't have an answer for me. He said he was just running out and that he promised to cal me later that evening. Well, I am still waiting for that phone call. Sal has once again avoided all attempts resolve this and I do believe he has no intention to reimburse me.
Whether Sal has repaid others or not, I find this one fact to be most disturbing. Sal has proven to me that he is willing to put anyones collection at risk. He will purchase back animals that are sick and resell them to unsuspecting victims. Even animals that have deadly virus', such as IBD which there is no cure for. He will resell thim. Had I not put those animals down and had I no morals as well, I could have sent those (IBD infected) boas back to Sal for a refund. Unfortunetly for the next victim, he would have resold them to regain his losses.
To anyone reading this post, I cannot stress enough the importance of checking out the dealer you are contimplating doing business with. Please learn from my mistakes and don't let this happen to you. It is not only financially devistating, but also emotionally devistating. I would never wish this on anyone else. While I would never tell anyone who or who not to do business with, I would only suggest to check out thier background and ask for references. And even then, still quarantine all new arrivals to play it safe. So please remember this.
1) If a deal or advertisement is to good to be true, it probably is.
2) Check out your dealers/breeders. Ask for references and only buy from ones that are well respected.
3) Quarantine all new arrivals.
I send my thanks to anyone that has read this post.
I will never, nor will I recommend others to do business with Sal.
With much regret,
Kevin Hood
Hey Mark
I recieved your replys but wasn't ready to post anything then.
Unfortunately, I too will join the ranks of those not compensated by Boca Reptiles (Upstate Exotics). Here is my story.
As you are aware, I lost my entire collection due to IBD. I purchased all of Sals "Breeder Boas" from an advertisement that he posted on Kingsnake. It was a deal I could not pass up, but later found I should have walked away from the deal. Not only did they have IBD, but they were also infested with mites. After months of trying to find Sal (Upstate Exotics), I finally found him on this forum operating under a new business name, Boca Reptiles. When I first called him He was noticeably upset that I posted negative comments regarding his business. I asked him to try walking in my shoes. I explained my entire situation to him regarding the collection I had to euthenize. I told him after losing six of the boas that I purchased from him I decided to pay for necropsies on that last three. All turned up positive for IBD. Even though I had taken care of the mite infestation, the damage was already done. Under the advise of my veterinarian (The same vet Pete Kahl used to diagnose and euthenize his collection due to IBD), I had him make a house call to euthenize my collection.
Sal asked me why on earth would I have all the others put down. I told him to do the math. I had already spent thousands of dollars in veterinarian bills to try to clear up the RI and fungal infections that were mysteriously spreading throughout the collection. None of the animals were responding well to any of the antibiotics or treatments. Six animals turned belly up after only three months of getting them from him. Three of which I had necropsied proving all three positive for IBD virus. The entire collection had a mite infestation (One of the largest known vectors of the IBD virus). Tha majority of the animals were in ill health. It was quite assumeable that they all had IBD. I was not willing to take anymore risks.
After explaining all of this to Sal I was most stunned by his response. He said that if I had I returned the other boas to him, prior to having them euthenized, he would have been more receptive to reimbursing me for the animals. I asked him why. Sal said quote, "I won't lie to you Kevin, I would have resold them." This to me was dispicable. I can only imagine who else he has spread this virus to. I told him all the animals were dieing from IBD. How could he possibly think of spreading this terrible virus to someone else. He had nothing to say about that. I told him I was extremely disappointed in my business transaction with him. I told Sal I had all supporting veterinarian documents to back up my claim, and I even encouraged him to contact my vet. Mind you, this is the same veterinarian that treated and ultimately euthanized Pete Kahls boa collection due to the same IBD virus. I trusted this vet and he had cridentials.
Sal asked me what I thought would be a fair resolution to this matter. I replied undoubtedly that I should be reimbursed for the animals that I purchased from him. I wasn't even asking for the thousands I spent in vet bills. He said there is no way he would give me the $5000.00 I paid him. I asked Sal what he thought would be fair then. He said he would be willing to work something out with me but would have to sleep on it and discuss this matter with "his girl". I was fine with that and immediately posted on this forum that I had discussed matters with Sal and he seemed to be cooperative. Or at least I thought he would be. I called him the next afternoon and he told me to fax the documents I had from my vet. I called him after faxing them to him. He told me the vet bills showed a definate pattern and that I had confirmed that there was a definate problem with the snakes. He said he would need time to come up with a figure to resolve this. He told me to call him later that evening. I did call him and once again he didn't have an answer for me. He said he was just running out and that he promised to cal me later that evening. Well, I am still waiting for that phone call. Sal has once again avoided all attempts resolve this and I do believe he has no intention to reimburse me.
Whether Sal has repaid others or not, I find this one fact to be most disturbing. Sal has proven to me that he is willing to put anyones collection at risk. He will purchase back animals that are sick and resell them to unsuspecting victims. Even animals that have deadly virus', such as IBD which there is no cure for. He will resell thim. Had I not put those animals down and had I no morals as well, I could have sent those (IBD infected) boas back to Sal for a refund. Unfortunetly for the next victim, he would have resold them to regain his losses.
To anyone reading this post, I cannot stress enough the importance of checking out the dealer you are contimplating doing business with. Please learn from my mistakes and don't let this happen to you. It is not only financially devistating, but also emotionally devistating. I would never wish this on anyone else. While I would never tell anyone who or who not to do business with, I would only suggest to check out thier background and ask for references. And even then, still quarantine all new arrivals to play it safe. So please remember this.
1) If a deal or advertisement is to good to be true, it probably is.
2) Check out your dealers/breeders. Ask for references and only buy from ones that are well respected.
3) Quarantine all new arrivals.
I send my thanks to anyone that has read this post.
I will never, nor will I recommend others to do business with Sal.
With much regret,
Kevin Hood
Sal,
It was in a cloth bag inside a box, right?
Thanks.
It was in a cloth bag inside a box, right?
Thanks.
BocaReptiles
New member
Alvaro
Yes it was a cloth bag inside a cardboard box with news paper packing.
Sal Tornambene
Boca Reptiles
Yes it was a cloth bag inside a cardboard box with news paper packing.
Sal Tornambene
Boca Reptiles
BocaReptiles
New member
Time to clear the air!
First off Mark, I owe you nothing!
Heres the story:
Back around 2 years age i shipped mark a 10 lot of ball pythons, when he received them he claims that a few day later some of them were not looking good and statrted dying off. With out even asking for pictures or proof "stupid me" i shipped him another 10 lot and paid for shipping, no questions asked. The next day he call me and says he only received only 5 not 10. I should have relized it then that he was up to no good but i didn't. At the time i sent him the replacement 10 i had around 1000 ball pythons on hand, so why would i short you 5 and to top it off i was replacing them anyway? But i didn't see coming and a lesson to be learned on my part. That's the reason for him not getting any more from me, so mark give it up, and stop waisting you time and space on this board.
As far as the Kevin Hood story goes:
Back in December 2003 Mark had responded to my ad on KS for a great deal on my breeder boas. We have been in contact via email and phone calls for a couple of days and he new that i need to move them due the move i was looking to make going to florida, so he purchased them. We decided not to ship due to weather,cost and ect, that he was going to drive from maryland to NY to pick them up. Well Christmas day i get a call from kevin saying that he wanted to come and get them and i said fine. He drove 12 hours to my house one way and arrived around 1AM, I had all the snakes in there enclosures that i have built so that when he arrived he can see them before bagging them with me. We were there for a few hours going through each and every snake one by one, bagging them and labeling the bags. I told him of the ones that were gravid and the ones that might be. Mind you that all of my breeders were in a totaly differnt park of my house and were not exposed to any of the others. I help him load his truck and off he goes, never herd from him again until now, 8 months later.
When i move to florida i had my number forwarded to the new home for around 2 months or so, the upstate exotics website was still up and running so that i can receive any emails up until june 2004. It seems very strange to me that someone who spends $5000 or more on snakes and that they are all dieing with "IBD" to wait 8 months to call or even email? come on kevin... even a blind man can see this one comming. Another thing on the vet report you sent to me only states that it is a snake that had IBD... 1st it dosen't say what kind, it only has a number next to the name, second who it to say that it was even mine. How do we know that it wasn't your own snake that killed off mine?
Well i sat back and thought this on out and come to the conclushion that i am NOT going to replace. You have made no effort to contact me in 8 months to call, email or even just do a simple search for me. You new i was in florida, i have over 50 ads running on KS and other classifeids, and you now let me know. Like i stated to you on the phone a few weeks ago, if you have contacted me even 30 days later after the sale i would have worked something out with you. Now it's way over 8 months and way over my guarantees and you make no effort to contact me.... well sorry Kevin i can't help you with that.
So with all that said, will leave it up to others on this board to decide what they think about this situation, and i'm sure they will.
Sal Tornambene
Boca Reptiles
First off Mark, I owe you nothing!
Heres the story:
Back around 2 years age i shipped mark a 10 lot of ball pythons, when he received them he claims that a few day later some of them were not looking good and statrted dying off. With out even asking for pictures or proof "stupid me" i shipped him another 10 lot and paid for shipping, no questions asked. The next day he call me and says he only received only 5 not 10. I should have relized it then that he was up to no good but i didn't. At the time i sent him the replacement 10 i had around 1000 ball pythons on hand, so why would i short you 5 and to top it off i was replacing them anyway? But i didn't see coming and a lesson to be learned on my part. That's the reason for him not getting any more from me, so mark give it up, and stop waisting you time and space on this board.
As far as the Kevin Hood story goes:
Back in December 2003 Mark had responded to my ad on KS for a great deal on my breeder boas. We have been in contact via email and phone calls for a couple of days and he new that i need to move them due the move i was looking to make going to florida, so he purchased them. We decided not to ship due to weather,cost and ect, that he was going to drive from maryland to NY to pick them up. Well Christmas day i get a call from kevin saying that he wanted to come and get them and i said fine. He drove 12 hours to my house one way and arrived around 1AM, I had all the snakes in there enclosures that i have built so that when he arrived he can see them before bagging them with me. We were there for a few hours going through each and every snake one by one, bagging them and labeling the bags. I told him of the ones that were gravid and the ones that might be. Mind you that all of my breeders were in a totaly differnt park of my house and were not exposed to any of the others. I help him load his truck and off he goes, never herd from him again until now, 8 months later.
When i move to florida i had my number forwarded to the new home for around 2 months or so, the upstate exotics website was still up and running so that i can receive any emails up until june 2004. It seems very strange to me that someone who spends $5000 or more on snakes and that they are all dieing with "IBD" to wait 8 months to call or even email? come on kevin... even a blind man can see this one comming. Another thing on the vet report you sent to me only states that it is a snake that had IBD... 1st it dosen't say what kind, it only has a number next to the name, second who it to say that it was even mine. How do we know that it wasn't your own snake that killed off mine?
Well i sat back and thought this on out and come to the conclushion that i am NOT going to replace. You have made no effort to contact me in 8 months to call, email or even just do a simple search for me. You new i was in florida, i have over 50 ads running on KS and other classifeids, and you now let me know. Like i stated to you on the phone a few weeks ago, if you have contacted me even 30 days later after the sale i would have worked something out with you. Now it's way over 8 months and way over my guarantees and you make no effort to contact me.... well sorry Kevin i can't help you with that.
So with all that said, will leave it up to others on this board to decide what they think about this situation, and i'm sure they will.
Sal Tornambene
Boca Reptiles
BocaReptiles
New member
One more thing!
As per the mite situation, Kevin was the one who looked at every snake, handled them, inspected them and bagged them. There was nothing said or stated about mite at ALL. Mind you that they were all in there enclosures that were made of white melemine, so if ANY would have had mites would have seen them right there, besides bagging them.
Sal Tornambene
Boca Reptiles
As per the mite situation, Kevin was the one who looked at every snake, handled them, inspected them and bagged them. There was nothing said or stated about mite at ALL. Mind you that they were all in there enclosures that were made of white melemine, so if ANY would have had mites would have seen them right there, besides bagging them.
Sal Tornambene
Boca Reptiles