Lisa F.

If you go to Backwater Reptiles' website, they have a wholesale link that you can click on, which opens externally to Wholesale Exotics. In their FAQ, they state they are wholly-owned by Backwater Reptiles. They ask that you make checks payable to Backwater Reptiles. When using a credit card or PayPal, the merchant is Backwater Reptiles. Yet, if you email them, they will claim that they can't find your order and that it's a different company, and for you to contact that company instead.

Read the BBB complaints that Backwater Reptiles have received, specifically about Wholesale Exotics (specifically their response to a consumer complaint from December 2017). This is a scam site. It's also one of the oldest trick with online consumer scams. Basically, they operate a semi-legit business, which is what Backwater Reptiles is; but they are also operating a scam site under the guise of their semi-legit company, which is what Wholesale Exotics is.

There's no contact number, only email, and their physical address is the same address as Backwater Reptiles. However, if you contact Backwater Reptiles, they will double-talk you and the replies you'll get is about them being "confused" because it's a different company. Nothing is listed as out of stock, prices are all "too good to be true", even items that you know are extremely rare or expensive, they have it as in stock at even below normal wholesale prices. (That should be your first immediate red flag.)

You won't get a reply from Wholesale Exotics, not until you've start saying you want a refund or that you'll dispute the charges. Then, they'll tell you something like it's out of stock or backorder; and would you like something else that is similar. Essentially what they're doing is hoping that enough time passes where they can challenge any claims you would have with the payment you provided.

Beware of the "substitution" too. What they'll do is give you a less expensive replacement that is more readily available, even at your local pet store. For example, if you purchased a Russian tortoise from them, after enough time has passed where they've received your payment, they'll tell you it's out of stock, and would you like a box turtle instead... they'll tell you that it's very similar to a tortoise and blahblahblah. What they don't tell you is that box turtles are native to the US and you can get one for free by plucking it off the side of a road, especially if you live in a rural area where they are plentiful.

Some PSA for online shopping, always use a major credit card (not a debit card). A major credit card company like American Express will provide you with consumer protection; you are their customer, not the merchant. The creditors are more willing to reverse merchant charges because it's their money upfront, versus your debit card (which is your direct money, making the bank indifferent to the outcome).

Dispute the charges directly with your credit card company. Don't fall for any of their "refund" replies. A refund is basically you being dependent on the merchant to actually issue you one, which they most likely won't unless they're motivated to do so (and they definitely won't be). A chargeback guarantees you a reversal of charges from your creditor... who do you trust, your credit card company or the website you're having problems with?