My wife recently had a transaction with a reptile buyer in Western Australia. She is from Victoria. Here is a copy of what happened. She sent me this as she doesn't know what to do and we're looking for options how to protect ourselves if things go wrong. Phone help wasn't too helpful.
"Purchased 7 snakes all up from me in 3 transactions.
On the second transaction, he wanted another female. The snake was probed by myself as borderline female - he was told this and I told him I did not guarantee the sex as I was not comfortable doing this.
He rings me saying he probed it as male and is asks for compensation.
I say I would offer some bubs out of next clutch for him to purchase. He agrees.
I have three bubs, he wants females once again. I say as always I won't guarantee the sex. He wants them sexed via vet.
Take to vet. Vet sexes. One female, one male and one borderline.
Say this to daniel - he is happy to proceed. Offer paperwork from vet, he declines paperwork. Total cost of sale $1300
Few weeks later he messages me, one female but other is male.
He wants a female snake or a compensation of $500.
I explain I never guaranteed the sex of animals even when they went to vet due to their age. He demands $500.
In good faith, I offer him $250 and he declines.
No longer have paperwork from vet - but have payment receipt"
There was no guarantee of the sex of the animals, and he knew this and accepted the risk. But he feels he deserves compensation. We have multiple copies of communications with the gentleman where it's repeatedly stated that there is no guarantee of animal's sex; they're animals.
Just wanting to know what our footing is. Can we just block all communication and walk away or are we in the clear? Or do we legally have to give him compensation under Australian Consumer Law?
It's similar to being told that a car is not safe to drive, buying it, driving it and crashing it...
"Purchased 7 snakes all up from me in 3 transactions.
On the second transaction, he wanted another female. The snake was probed by myself as borderline female - he was told this and I told him I did not guarantee the sex as I was not comfortable doing this.
He rings me saying he probed it as male and is asks for compensation.
I say I would offer some bubs out of next clutch for him to purchase. He agrees.
I have three bubs, he wants females once again. I say as always I won't guarantee the sex. He wants them sexed via vet.
Take to vet. Vet sexes. One female, one male and one borderline.
Say this to daniel - he is happy to proceed. Offer paperwork from vet, he declines paperwork. Total cost of sale $1300
Few weeks later he messages me, one female but other is male.
He wants a female snake or a compensation of $500.
I explain I never guaranteed the sex of animals even when they went to vet due to their age. He demands $500.
In good faith, I offer him $250 and he declines.
No longer have paperwork from vet - but have payment receipt"
There was no guarantee of the sex of the animals, and he knew this and accepted the risk. But he feels he deserves compensation. We have multiple copies of communications with the gentleman where it's repeatedly stated that there is no guarantee of animal's sex; they're animals.
Just wanting to know what our footing is. Can we just block all communication and walk away or are we in the clear? Or do we legally have to give him compensation under Australian Consumer Law?
It's similar to being told that a car is not safe to drive, buying it, driving it and crashing it...