Reigning Reptiles and Exotic Pet Supply — Local services in Buford

Although I would love to rave about the friendliness and great service, I would have to do the opposite. My family of 6 drove all the way to this location with the anticipation of getting a beardie and maybe some education on the care of our new dragon. As we all walk in, (myself, a big man as a husband, and 4 boys) we head straight to the dragons and looked at all of them. As we waited with eagerness for someone (anyone) to greet us and ask if what we were in for (although it was pretty obvious), we got the opposite - which was nothing. Not even a hello, from what I counted to be 3 employees and the owner. Now, I will say that there were 3 customers in there, so we waited. My 5 and 7 year old were excited and looked at each Beardie they had ranging in price from 79.99 for the baby to 499.99 for the more exotic or older beardie. However, myself and my 2 teenagers aged 16 and 18, had our eye on the teenage beardies that were priced 299.99 one in particular that followed us as we moved. He/She was really cute in size and in color. By this time, a customer leaves and now 3 people are helping a couple with what I believe w/ a small snake, so that leaves 1 employee left. I made eye contact, but then he sat down as if to imply that he was on break or waiting for someone else to help us....so we waited. My husband is walking down all the aisles, and he even walks to the other side where the snakes are, still no response as if he wasn't there. Now, let me pause at this moment because now I'm thinking, they must get a lot of walk ins with people who are "just looking", so I'm like let me chill out... but should that excuse the staff from greeting all the people that walk into their door? While I'm thinking to myself, my 5 and 7 year old are so excited, that they are now LOUD and can't contain themselves, surely someone will be by to say "And which one are you guys interested in?"...but nothing. We're now down to 2 available guys, one tall one with a beard, and one shorter slender one...but maybe they don't see us, I mean its only been 5-7 minutes (if not more) of non-attention. And now I'm starting to wonder if this non attention is intentional, because it surely feels that way. Like who lets MONEY walk in with not even a HELLO! Like really! A whole family and nothing! Okay...that's weird. I look at my husband and now we're looking a the turtles, now some salamanders and back to the dragons. I'm like you ready! He said Yeah! I say let's go! So we walk out. As we're walking out, I say to him not even a Hello, he says, yeah I know. We're getting back in the vehicle, I said...I'm going back in and I'm going to talk with the manager. And that's what I did...only for her response to be..."Oh, I'm sorry, when were you here????" I laughed it off at first (because you don't know who walks in and out your store...really, this place is not that big...but okay) and said it was 6 of us that was just in here and no one greeted us or said one moment, one of us will be with you!?! Nothing. She said, "oh I'm sorry, we will work on being better or we will meet about this". Okay, sure I replied back. She hands me a card (not sure why) but I accepted it and then she said "even if you don't come back, I just wanted you to have my card". Then the slender guy, gave me some recommendations of other reptile places that are located in S.C. I'm adding this review, because as a business owner myself, no one should intentionally or unintentionally be treated the way we did today. With that many people on staff, training should have already been in place a while back on customer service. People are coming into your establishment, give them the common courtesy they deserve and treat them the way you would want...

For all those involved in this entire "Snake Heist/Hostage" drama, I can tell you that the snakes were not STOLEN, that word is 100% wrong. In both cases the snakes were in fact brought to the store willingly, and then left, the reasons and circumstance for both are different, and both animals were brought and left at the store by 2 different people.

The act of stealing requires "Without Permission", in both cases permission was given to take passion of them, and it also requires an "Intent" to not return, which at the time of possession was never the intent for either.

The current state of both animals is different, and has 2 very different timelines as well as stories.

1 animal left in the stores care, by the store owners admission died, which I contend is probably the TRUTH, but even if it is not, it has ZERO relationship to the other animal. There are other circumstances related to that animal unrelated to the 2nd animal.

The other animal, which is in fact ALIVE, and in reasonably good health, after recovering from the stated injuries described in prior posts (Seen by my own eyes PRE/POST treatment), has been in the stores possession since late Nov 2017.

If the animal owner claims that the intent for this animal was to "Board" and perhaps get assistance with its injuries, RR most certainly has done that to its best ability.

I contend that the reason behind not returning that snake is due to the COSTS incurred in both boarding(6Months), and any medical care the animal received.

Animals are most certainly a persons property, and that property is the responsibility of its owner, that includes cost of care...

Georgia law (44-14-490) allows for "... facility shall have a lien on each animal or pets treated, boarded, or cared for by them while in their custody...facility shall have the right to retain the animal or pet until the charges are paid."

So, if the Owner of this animal is claiming that Board & Care was the intent for bringing the animal, then it is the shop owners "Right" to hold the animal in Lien until charges are paid.

If the intent was not boarding, then one can assume it was surrendered or abandoned, which after 30 days by law, without contact with the owner becomes their property.

All other comments, statements of fact or the like coming from any other person other than the shop owner, and the animals owner are without merit - That would also include my "Opinions" HERE

The use of unrelated "Facts" about the owners history or past are just immature attempts to "Poke the Bear", and frankly serve no valuable purpose in this situation.

People believe what they want, true or not, trying to convince someone they are right by adding insult and slanderous statements is just childish.

This entire situation is just a SAD statement, one case of two parties unable to work things...

I traveled over an hour to get a Father’s Day gift. I called for 2 hours straight before hand and received the “voicemail is full” message. They’re hours said they were open until 6pm on Sunday, not to mention I just left the Petco in Duluth and a fellow customer told me they were open. So I literally drove around the corner not even 5 minutes away and there is a sign saying they are closed at 4pm for Father’s Day. At this point it is 4:09pm, and there are at LEAST 4-5 other cars parked in front looking confused. The number even rang through and no one answered. This is exactly why mom and pop business don’t thrive, because you decide to run the business however regardless of the inconvenience of your customers. If you are going to be a business at least have the decency to be professional, if you decide to be closed or leave early for a holiday then do so, but post on your website that hours will vary on holidays. This is unacceptable and unfair to your customers. I will never even think to come out again. Waste of my time and then had to travel back home empty handed. Get it together before y’all go out of business.

UPDATE- With notice of the reply from the store at 11pm same day, I decided to give the store the benefit of the doubt and check the Facebook hours. The hours for the day were noted as regular, and a single notice of the early closing of the store was posted 8 hours previous. That is 3pm, in which again I was already in route from over an hour away drive and the phones not only did not ring until after closing, but did not give notice. Deciding you want to close early within the next hour is not only a disappointment to your customers and negative impact on future relationships, but wasted time we could have been with our own families. As customers we understand that staff are human, but as are we and would appreciate...