Bad experience with snail breeder

[kimmisc]

During my search for magenta snails a few weeks ago, I found a snail website via applesnail.net. The snails were out of stock, but I placed an order for snail food.. $36 worth of it. I paid via PayPal. That was 3 weeks ago. I never heard anything from the online store, nor did I receive a shipment. 1 week ago I emailed them and requested an order cancellation and refund. I've still not heard anything back from them.

I know they're not out of town, because there have been changes made to the news and messages on their homepage.

I emailed them tonight notifying them they have 1 week to return my money before I contact PayPal's dispute resolution center.

I don't know if it's against the rules to name the shop here, but anyone wanting to know who they are, I'll gladly respond to your PM with the website to beware of. If you're looking to buy snails online, you should PM me and get this shop's name.

[mellowvision]

1 week? I'd start the process now... and list the name to protect future buyers.

[kimmisc]

Well I wanted to give him/her the benefit of the doubt as long as possible. I am not sure if I can name names publicly or if it depends on the situation. I've seen someone else reprimanded for posting a LFS name on the forum.

[mellowvision]

it's your money. if it were me, I'd be doing what I had to to keep it.... and I'd be willing to be reprimanded to protect people from online scammers.

[Dangerdoll]

I don't know if it's against the rules to name the shop here, but anyone wanting to know who they are, I'll gladly respond to your PM with the website to beware of. If you're looking to buy snails online, you should PM me and get this shop's name.
that's the exact way to approach that ;)


As far as the situation, I would be doing just as mellow says... but maybe I'm not the most patient person. However, it's not how I would do business and when I pay for something I expect to be treated as I would treat someone else. That website is big enough that they should know how to deal with this situation better. You emailed them 1 week ago and got no response. That would have been enough for me. In my opinion, you waited too long.

[kimmisc]

I wish I'd posted this before emailing them tonight. I already gave them one week now. *getting all fired up again*

[mellowvision]

they probably ignored your email last night like they did the first one, I'd just start the process.

[kimmisc]

I talked to someone else who has an order open with this store and they've received responses from them within 24hrs of emailing them each time. So I went ahead and opened a dispute on PayPal. The way it works is I had to write a message detailing the problem. The seller gets to respond to it via PayPal resolution center, and we have 20 days to discuss it before the claim automatically closes. If we don't reach a resolution, it can be escalated to claims to be reviewed by PayPal before the 20 days are up. I'm going to give her some time to respond and make good on this before escalating it. I only want my money back, and don't care about trying to slap her on the wrist. Somehow I feel she wants to be spiteful to me though. It's so frustrating.

[ZSandmann]

What email service do you use, it is possible that your email is being flagged by their system as spam. If they list a phone number call them. Or try another email address if you have one.

[kimmisc]

My email server is my ISP, Roadrunner. That shouldn't end up being filtered out unless the person has blocked all Roadrunner intentionally, which in itself would be a crazy thing for a person conducting an online business to do. I doubt she has PayPal blocked, so she'll definately get the messages now. :)

[kimmisc]

Update: I filed a claim through PayPal, PayPal investigated and returned all but $9 of my money. I never did hear from the seller, and my order status on the seller's site still says "processing."

This could have been fraud, or it could be that something happened to the seller... accident, death, you never know.

With that said, the seller is RainbowSnails at http://www.thesnailstore.com/index.php ... If you plan on buying from this seller, I'd make sure to message her first and make sure she's still ... err... alive. :huh:

[elementkid65]

i was bored so i sent them an email saying i was from nigeria and i want to buy 10,000 snails for $10 each

[Dwarf Puffers]

i was bored so i sent them an email saying i was from nigeria and i want to buy 10,000 snails for $10 each

LOOOOOOOOOOOL, make them believe you ;)

[vampie]

That's really juvenile.

I'm surprised at this incident though, Rainbow Snails has been a legitimate breeder/shop for a long time. Although there were a number of times the owner took a leave of absence, moving or family matters I believe.

[ILOVEBETTAS]

Bingo!

She was having technical issues and she thought about quiting but she didn't... go to thesnailstore.com ands scroll down just a little on the home page, you'll see it.

[kimmisc]

Bingo!

She was having technical issues and she thought about quiting but she didn't... go to thesnailstore.com ands scroll down just a little on the home page, you'll see it.

Hmmm. She had people's money and orders for months, ignored emails, and wouldn't return money. If she has been alive and not in the hospital this entire time, there is no acceptable excuse.

[kimmisc]

October 1 2007


Today we resumed shipping.
While adding on our new fish room we had electrical problems that fried both of our computer systems. This and a many other problems made me consider closing down. The frustration just about caused us to walk away but 4 years is to much to throw away - especially after spending thousands on the new fish room so instead we are going to have a new Grand Opening and put all the construction and insanity behind us. I am trying to answer all emails and I apologize for just walking away for everything for so many weeks - however I do know that if I wouldn't have we would now be closed permanently.


The site has not accepted orders for several weeks - I should have that turned back on by the end of this week. Once again - I apologize to everyone. I am not a flighty nutcase - I just got completely overwhelmed. Also thanks for the kind phone calls and emails.
And remember -- What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! :-)




Her message was dated 7 days ago. I never received any email apology, nor the rest of the money she owes me which PayPal couldn't retrieve. There are plenty of places to access the internet besides home (library anyone?), and when you have someone's money going into your accounts, it's time to utilize those resources. I am personally infuriated right now. :rant2: She didn't have so much trouble accessing her PayPal accounts that she was unable to withdraw the money, else the balances would have been available for PayPal to retrieve.


Getting frustrated and walking away for a while is fine.... but you don't take my money with you! I need a "Better Internet Business Bureau."

[Dangerdoll]

wow Kim.... I understand your anger.... I have to say, I believe I would be looking toward that same path you are.

[-KT-]

Wow that is totally ridiculous, i'm sorry.

[cooldude123]

i think its time for some crazy ninja skills...

[Star_Rider]

If you still have concerns regarding this business and it's practices or any bussiness and their practices. contact your State AG office(Attorney General) they actually are a better source for your concerns than the BBB and they work with other states regarding this too.

I had issues with a magazine Company that was sending magazines to me that I had not ordered..they then procedded to try and bill me. I contacted the Postmaster General they also investigated as this was stuff sent thru the mail.
the magazine company tried to send the bill to collections..I contacted the AG's office..

I soon got a letter of appology from the president of marketing and the president of sales.(this is a large magazine company)

[kimmisc]

What ninja skills might those be? There's nothing more I can really do, as far as I know. I can't go hire a lawyer to go after someone over $10, which is the remaining balance she still owes me.

What really gets me isn't the $10, but the fact she returned, posted a sad little story along with some lies about catching up on orders and emailing apologies, and she will now continue on with her unscathed business reputation while getting away with ripping me and a few others off behind the scenes.

*I got her site's link removed from applesnail.net forums when she disappeared.
*I started this thread, and linked to it in my forum signature here.
*I got a partial refund by filing the PayPal claim. After they judged in my favor and partially refunded me, the case status went to "closed."
*When I found out she returned again, I contacted the admin at applesnail.net again, told them what's going on from my end, and told them I hope they don't endorse her business again in the future. I doubt this is going to make any difference. She is a mod on their forums and is highly respected as a mentor and business owner.
*I emailed PayPal again and asked if I can expect the remaining balance she owes me.
*I emailed her directly the other day and gave her a piece of my mind.

Short of pursuing her legally, I think my hands are tied, and there's no way for me to even prove these things really happened this way short of handing out my PayPal password so everyone can log in and see the records for themselves.

For any who doubt or are simply curious, see the attached image. It's made of screenshots of the dispute in my PayPal account. The only alteration was cropping the 3 printed screens and merging them together so you can see the entire page. Sorry about the large image size, but resizing made it blurry and questionably fake looking.

[kimmisc]

If you still have concerns regarding this business and it's practices or any bussiness and their practices. contact your State AG office(Attorney General) they actually are a better source for your concerns than the BBB and they work with other states regarding this too.

I had issues with a magazine Company that was sending magazines to me that I had not ordered..they then procedded to try and bill me. I contacted the Postmaster General they also investigated as this was stuff sent thru the mail.
the magazine company tried to send the bill to collections..I contacted the AG's office..

I soon got a letter of appology from the president of marketing and the president of sales.(this is a large magazine company)

Ooooh, I am definately going to look into that. Thanks Star..

[kimmisc]

Just a followup to the above image.. this is my PayPal history since the date I purchased from her. It shows that as of today, I've still received no more funds from her.

[dixienut]

maybe your money and others funded her new fish room??

[jagr200]

maybe your money and others funded her new fish room??

LOL! Im sorry for your troubles Kim, but I do see you have a World of Warcraft icon and a Sim City 4(or so I think) icon on your system tray! Go WoW!

[nickmcmechan]

why don't we all email them a complaint on this one saying we are disgruntled about the way a fellow hobbyist has been treated?