Mantis Warranty

[mantiscraze]

Do breeders offer a warranty on mantids sold? Are sellers responsible for them after mantids leave our care and arrive safely?

Again, not a discussion on DOA or anything related to shipping. This is after the mantids arrived safe and sound, but pass away after the new owner took them for a while.

Long story short, I shipped some mantis, arrived live (Express) and everything, included extra mantis, etc. After 2, 3 weeks, it mismolted under the new owner's care. I felt bad and being a nice person, I offered and then refunded everything except shipping/handling.

 

[patrickfraser]

You were a very nice person in that situation. I don't think you should be held accountable for future problems. Did they purchase nymph insurance?

 

[mantiscraze]

Well, I wasn't trying to make any money, and the trouble was not worth it. So the first thing I did was offer refund. Anyways, I just have a rant about people who don't take responsibility. Anyways.

You were a very nice person in that situation. I don't think you should be held accountable for future problems. Did they purchase nymph insurance?

 

[Orin]

Generally the reason nobody offers a guarantee past arrival is because it is almost certainly the buyer's lack of proper care that killed it. However, that doesn't mean it's always true.

 

[jrh3]

No, after arrival its all the buyer. You shouldnt have to warranty and insects because you never know what caused the death. Ooths not hatching should not be warrantied......but, that is if it was honesty from a bred female. and i would always replace with another ooth or nymphs just for good business. I have bought some nymphs and they died within that week. not my fault or the seller, they just died. so after arivial its chance.

 

[PhilinYuma]

Well, we know why you offered the refund, Mantiscraze, because youre a nice guy, but apparently you sent more than one mantis, so did they all mismolt, or did your customer take the refund plus the surviving mantis? And Mantiscraze custmer, if you are a forum member, why did you accept the refund when the mantis died under your care? :shifty:

 

[mantiscraze]

The extra mantis is still alive and well. Anyways, I try not to blaming anyone here. I offered the refund myself.

The main point for the post is to get a feel on what the community feels about "mantis warranty". It seems pretty obvious to me that if the shipping and mantis are good as described then you give the seller a thank-you message, and the rest is your problem. I've bought a bunch of nymphs and ooth from here, and I have never bothered the sellers a thing after the mantids have been exchanged. And I can tell you that being a n00b, most of mine died due to my inexperience and negligence. The only time that I've complained was when the hatchlings from an ooth didn't match the description as some of you know by now.

It just seems that sometimes you have novices who wander in here and buy mantis without doing any research. And when things go wrong, they write you long essays, make you feel bad as a seller, and want compensation.

Well, we know why you offered the refund, Mantiscraze, because youre a nice guy, but apparently you sent more than one mantis, so did they all mismolt, or did your customer take the refund plus the surviving mantis? And Mantiscraze custmer, if you are a forum member, why did you accept the refund when the mantis died under your care? :shifty:

 

[jrh3]

hey you sent extra so he was covered. Why did he still complain?

 

[Krissim Klaw]

The problem with a warranty would of course be the fact no telling if the buyer is the one really at fault because of poor care. I do however think if say the mantis dies within the first 24-48 hours or so of arrival it is more likely it has to do with poor packaging/shipping issues then the buyers fault.

I certainly don't expect a lifetime warranty from sellers, but when I find people that genuinely care about the mantises they are putting out in the world it sure makes me far more interested in purchasing from them than other less scrupulous sellers.

 

[hibiscusmile]

I like the idea of mantis insurance: haha, tks! I would not offer it, I have so many new customers that never had a mantis, the stories I could tell you would make your hair fall out!

 

[sporeworld]

Yeah, in my experience, if they eat and drop frass after I've received them, the rest is my responsibility.

Having accepted mantids from.. well, a long ways away... I really don't consider a mantid who crawls out of the box and dies on my table 30 seconds later a "survivor". I'd group that nymph with the other carcasses, and look back at our agreement.

Molting in transit is another matter. As is getting munched by a sibling. Both are less of an issue if they are packed individually, but I suggest individual packing of communal nymphs might be considered an "upsell". I've gotten (and sent them) both ways, with mixed results. But, if someone wants 200 communal nymphs individually wrapped, maybe a little negotiating is in order.