Terms Of Sale

Please read this page carefully. My goal is to provide you with the best animals and service possible. The terms below have been worked out over years of doing business and are designed to make the buying experience a positive one for both of us. There are bad reptile dealers; 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.

First-time buyers please note! Much of what you read below may seem intimidating, and may cause you to feel apprehensive about doing business with me. If you have 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. I can provide many references from satisfied customers, including those I have helped with problems they have encountered. Allow me to earn your trust!


Buying from Fine Green Tree Pythons

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 my Green Tree Python babies and yearlings come with pedigrees tracing family bloodlines back to founder stock in the wild (when available) and data cards. I do not keep records on the general husbandry of adults, so the occasional sale of one of my permanent animals will not be accompanied by years of weekly feeding records. All available data, including bloodline pedigrees, will be provided for such adults.  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 all the time, not just when visitors are expected. GTP fans and customers are always welcome to visit by appointment. I strongly encourage new customers to make the effort, if at all possible, to visit and see the animals and facility in person.

In general, I do not offer second quality animals such as one-eyed, kinked, or animals having other mild deformities. If I wouldn't want it in my collection, I won't sell it. I do make full disclosure about any past health issues in the history of any of my animals, when discussing a sale. Some chondros are slow to begin feeding, and some that eat well from the start are slow to show growth. I won't release any chondro that isn't 100% healthy to my knowledge, and I do not consider slow starters or slow growers to be inferior. Most chondros end up about the same size and weight by the time they are young adults regardless of how quickly they started.

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. In most cases I will post a price estimate for babies from specific clutches, subject to change. Individual babies may be priced according to appearance. Most of the time all the babies (of like baby color) from the same clutch sell for the same price.

I believe that the honesty, documentation, service, and quality that I offer make my pythons an excellent value. If you are able to get price quotes from other high-end chondro breeders, you will find my prices are very reasonable when comparing apples to apples...often much better. I do not set top-end prices on offspring simply because they are from attractive but unproven parents. Clutches from parents with proven track records are priced accordingly. I strive to offer animals at 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. Secrecy may seem "cool" but usually it simply conceals inflated prices.

I do not wholesale chondros, or make quantity discounts. For more thoughts about chondro quality and pricing please see my article Chondro Pricing Philosophy in the Editorials section.

Reservations and Deposits

Deposits for specific babies will be accepted only after viable eggs are laid. I will announce that I am accepting deposits for specific clutches at the appropriate time on the Current Pairings page, which is accessed through the Breeding Updates topics list. A deposit of 10% of the estimated cost of any baby you wish to reserve will be required to make a reservation. Deposits and subsequent payments are non-refundable unless I am unable to provide you with a healthy, feeding baby. Placement on a reservation list will be made in the order that I receive e-mail notification and payment from you. I will hold your place on the list while your payment is being processed. Customers who fail to send deposits within 14 days of notification will forfeit the reservation. Deposits may be paid via cash, check, money order, or through Paypal. My mailing address is listed on the Contact page of this site.

I fully understand the anticipation and excitement about some of my pairs and bloodlines. I wish I could accommodate everyone's desire to be first on the list. I have tried several methods of managing lists and reservations, and I think the policy stated above is fair to both you and I, as well as being equitable to most customers. I value my long-term, established customers and strive to treat them accordingly. Since I publish all my breeding activity, equal access is available to all customers. Due to the very uncertain nature of high end chondro breeding, I can not accept advance payments for animals and projects that do not have viable eggs currently incubating.

Baby Selection

Customers will select their babies in turn, based on the order of the reservation list. Selections usually begin once the babies are established and ready to ship. Selections will be made using the high quality photos in the clutch Family Portrait, and full size images of specific animals can be provided. Customers are always free to select babies in person, but must do so in the order of the reservation list. I will be happy to provide information and suggestions when customers are making choices.

It usually takes 12-18 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 expected at shipping time unless other arrangements have been made, and customers should take advantage of the lengthy establishment period to get their funds in order.

All selections are made after I have chosen keepers. I almost always hold back some animals from each clutch. Some will be offered as sexed yearlings and some will be added to my breeding colony. A few 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 high end 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 majority of the clutch. In fact, some of the best animals from a clutch can and often do get sold, because choosing from among a clutch of baby chondros involves guesswork and some luck.

Sexing Policy

In order to best serve the well-being of the animals, I do not probe 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 if you need a different ratio. 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! Accusations that I am secretly sexing hatchlings and selling off only males are unfounded, and expose both the ignorance and deceitful nature of the accusers.

Sexed yearlings are occasionally offered. I have sexed many chondros over the years, and am confident in my ability to perform this task safely and accurately. However, even the most experienced veterans can and do sex chondros incorrectly. The probability of error, if one is made, is to sex a male as a female. This is possible if the probe can't be inserted into the inverted hemipenes, such as if they are blocked by sperm plugs. In the unusual event that a male is incorrectly sexed by me as a female, a one time $500 credit will be issued.

Shipping and Delivery

Animals may be purchased directly from me in Ohio, 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 do ship anywhere in the US using an overnight carrier. Delivery will generally be made to the home or work address you specify by 10:30 AM. Saturday delivery is available but is not recommended. The cost of overnight shipping is $50. 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. Shipping always entails some degree of risk and places stress on the animals, and is not a procedure to be undertaken casually.

Shipments are made based on the existing weather conditions in Ohio and at the destination. I reserve the right to postpone shipping until conditions are deemed safe. Generally, I require overnight temperatures in Ohio 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. Since it often takes four 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 not make sales or send shipments to those living outside the US. Chondros are listed as CITES Appendix II animals and require import and export permits. The process can be expensive and time consuming, and currently I am not set up to make such sales.

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 unprobed 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. My primary goal is to provide you with a healthy animal and an easy, smooth transaction. My second goal is to have an easy, smooth transaction for me! Making a reservation or purchasing an animal from me represents that you have read this section and agree to the terms and stipulations. Please do not think that I am difficult to work with when reading the terms and conditions below; on the contrary, I am easy to work with! However, like all small business owners I have had my share of difficult customers and frustrating situations. The terms below reflect my attempt to cover all the bases, and to have a written policy in place in the rare case of a dispute.

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 Current Pairings page when viable eggs are incubating. Once this takes place, send me an e-mail with your request, and specify your payment method. A non-refundable deposit of 10% of the estimated price of the hatchling is required to make a reservation. I will hold your reservation while your payment is being processed. If others are waiting to make reservations, I must receive your deposit within 14 days or your place will be passed to the next person.

Please understand that making a reservation for one of my animals constitutes a commitment on both of our parts. I am committing to reserving a healthy animal for you and providing excellent photographs, good communication, and follow-up service. You are committing to following through with the deal, sending your full balance in a timely manner when asked to do so, and understanding that chondros are specialized animals that require specialized care. Please do not make a reservation unless you are committed to your end of the agreement. This is not a hobby for me; it is my livelihood. Timely payments are the only paycheck I receive.

Payments

Reservations and balance payments may be made using PayPal or by sending a check or money order. Cash is always accepted cheerfully! Setting up a PayPal account is free and easy; log on to www.paypal.com and follow the instructions. Use gmax AT finegtps DOT com as the e-mail account to send payments to me. My mailing address is on the Contact page of this web site.

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 or four months. Very expensive animals may qualify for extended terms. I understand that most of us (myself included) need to have time to pay for expensive items. I will work with you as best I can. Partial or full payments may be sent for babies that are being established following hatching.

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 four 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 requires me to house, feed, and clean your snake over the winter. This 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 14 days of shipping notification will forfeit their deposit and any payments made, and their place on the reservation list. I will make three attempts via e-mail 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. Please understand that I cannot refund deposits or subsequent payments. Under certain circumstances I will apply your payments to a future purchase. Such circumstances do not include simply changing your mind or running out of money.

Receiving Shipments

Once we make the shipping arrangements for overnight delivery, it is important that you clear your schedule for the delivery time window and be attentive to watch and listen for the delivery. Most shipments will be guaranteed for delivery by 10:30 AM. Delivery drivers are on a tight schedule and may not wait long to get an answer when they knock or ring the bell. Once they leave, the package will be rescheduled for another attempt the next business day. Since I have no control over the conditions or temperature of the holding facility, live and healthy arrival can not be guaranteed if no one is present to receive the package on the morning of the first delivery attempt. In the unusual event of a problem with delivery, you may be required to accept the responsibility of tracking down the driver and/or package. This is simply due to the fact that you are there and I am not.

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 48 hours of shipment arrival. Although I cannot warranty any live animal beyond the 48 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. Again, this is due to the fact that you are there and I am not, and I have no control over the care and handling of the animal once it leaves my possession.

Due to the fragile nature of chondros, especially babies, I cannot warranty any animal against heat stress, kinks, prolapse, respiratory infections, 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 48 hour window. Juvenile chondros are delicate animals that are easily damaged, especially if handled. Be sure to follow the unpacking instructions included 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 her opinion. Dr. Scott Stahl, a well-known chondro vet with a consulting practice, may also be inquired of. Even experienced vets may not agree on a diagnoisis or necropsy results.

I have a history of standing behind my animals, and can give references. 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 remedies. My goal, if at all possible, is to resolve any problems in a way we both are satisfied with.

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 expect that all my customers will have purchased a copy of my book and are attempting to maintain their animals according to the principles and guidelines outlined in it. This is not an attempt to pressure customers into buying books, but rather to ensure that they have the sound information they need to maintain the animals properly. The information in the book will provide the basis for resolving husbandry and related health issues. 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. These animals must be met on their own terms, and expecting them to meet you on yours is a recipe for failure.

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 won'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. The time to question or dispute any of the policies on this page is before making a purchase. I will be happy to explain anything you may not understand.

Trades and Breeding Loans

In general, I do not make trades or engage in breeding loans. I will consider trade and loan offers for extreme chondros.


Thank you for taking the time to read this page. My goal is a pleasurable and smooth business experience for both of us. Please contact me with any questions you may have. I appreciate your business!