Need someone in Arkansas

[ZoeynHarley17]

hey guys, i was wondering if anyone on this forum was from Arkansas or knew how i could check the members. I need a huge favor, I got an email from a lady that has an African grey for sale, and I want Nina, ive been emailing back and forth with her for weeks, but something feels wrong. im not sure if its the internet scam im afraid of or the fact that she seems to not be all there, she wants me to send her the money up front for shipping and pet which im not so comfortable with, i was wondering if anyone who lived there would be willing to go check on the grey for me, ill pay you guys and it would be even more awesome if that person was willing to pick the grey up for me and ship them to me, this lady doesn't seem like she has a clue what she is doing. i would highly appreciate any recommendations. thanks again forum friends.

 

[haleybird]

I dont live in Arkansas, but I think if your intuition is telling you sonething is wrong...chances are your instinct is right....and I would hate to see your heart and wallet be hurt by a scammer. How likely is it that someone from a completely different state (who isnt a breeder or seller, just a regular person) would want to sell you a bird but have you pay a bunch of fees up front, without having met you or you having met her/your future lifelong fid? Idk, something doesn't seem right to me here either...I'd be super cautious if I were you. Hopefully someone in that area can check it out for you..and if she turns out to be legitimate, I would just fly there, pick up your new baby and fly back....scam completely averted!

There was a post on here about a member who actually interacted with the scammer, I can't remember the name of the post, but maybe someone else can?? It might help you out! I will try looking for it too.

I hope it is a for real situation and you get to bring home a new fid..but from what you've said about the person in the correspondence (not "being all the way there") and the bit about the shipping and fees...that just sounds too suspicious. I'm curious to see what everyone here thinks about it. Keep us all updated though, please!

 

[crimson]

maybe there is another grey out there a little closer to home you can go see, and if it feels right, then maybe that one is for you.

stay far away from this woman, intuition is never wrong

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Anytime they want you to send money it's most definitely a scam!

Only a reliable and trustworthy breeder should be sent money

 

[ZoeynHarley17]

Alright now that I am on my Desktop I can tell you guys he whole story. I was on youtube watching a video about a African grey breeder, underneath in the comments was a post by a women saying she had a 2 year old African grey that she was getting rid of because it belonged to her daughter who was no longer living... heart breaking story. but I emailed her thinking maybe she was near by because this breeder was nearby and after a few emails she expressed that she was in Arkansas, and would prefer someone to go pick her up. I told her I was pretty far and therefore it would be difficult, she said shed ship her out, she also expressed that she had some resentment towards this bird, because it reminded her of her daughter and therefore needed to give it up ASAP. its true the bird is far from me but if its true and she is actually harbors hate towards this bird I want her even more. I have no issues taking a plane down there to go get her, but id like someone to at least go make sure the bird does exist, I just want to waste money and time on a bird that is a scam. therefore I figured if anyone on this post was close then I could have a clearer understanding of what is going on. these are the pictures she sent me of Nina the 2 year old Grey.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Unfortunately there is no quick way for you to check where all our members are from.

Please be VERY careful. This STILL smells like a scam to me, and please do not send her any money.

Of course I could be wrong. The story could be all true....but I still wouldn't send her a dime for my hard earned cash, not knowing if I ever will have this bird in hand.

 

[ZoeynHarley17]

don't plan on sending her any money without some sort of verification. that I can promise.

 

[Merlee]

What has this person said that made you feel this is questionable? Just curious.

There will always be an African Grey looking for a new home. I have seen plenty down here in Georgia. If you don't feel right about it, then don't get it. Something may become available closer to home in the future. Have patience! Never buy a bird sight unseen unless you have trustworthy references.

When I was interested in a bird from Arkansas, I asked if nearby members could do an inspection for me. Nobody responded. I bit the bullet and made the 13 hour drive myself. I was a bit apprehensive, but it turned out well in the end.

 

[ZoeynHarley17]

what made me think there was something wrong, honestly was the typos in her email... I know not everyone checks their grammar, but it was almost too uncaring? I don't know if that makes any sense, and the fact that she asked me no questions, just said send me your address and ill ship after I receive payment for shipping she asked for 250. which isn't bad at all, I honestly have no idea how much it costs to ship a bird, I drove to go pick up all my birds. so I am not sure of the cost, but I guess I am just apprehensive. its a grueling drive, I guess ill do it if its the only way to check it out, I was just trying to maybe just see if anyone was in the area. thanks again for everyones help

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Doesn't sound Good [Just had my Rb2 shipped from Georgia to Newyork] Its was 150 to ship. Does the 250 include the shipping. If it does [something doesn't sound right]. Are Craigslist gets a lot more for greys [even the older ones].

 

[Merlee]

what made me think there was something wrong, honestly was the typos in her email... I know not everyone checks their grammar, but it was almost too uncaring? I don't know if that makes any sense, and the fact that she asked me no questions, just said send me your address and ill ship after I receive payment for shipping she asked for 250. which isn't bad at all, I honestly have no idea how much it costs to ship a bird, I drove to go pick up all my birds. so I am not sure of the cost, but I guess I am just apprehensive. its a grueling drive, I guess ill do it if its the only way to check it out, I was just trying to maybe just see if anyone was in the area. thanks again for everyones help

See what she says if you volunteer to come and pick the bird up in person. If she makes up excuses then you know for sure that it was a scam. If you do make the trip, DO NOT GO ALONE. For the price of gas, I am sure you can find a bird closer to home for the same price.

The lady who gave me Judy wanted $500 for the bird and a cage that was designed for cockatiels. $400 was the cost of gas to make the trip and I could not afford $900. For that, I could have purchased the same type of bird at a nearby pet store for $950. She ended up giving me the bird because she wanted her baby to go to a good home. Judy was worth the trip!

 

[ZoeynHarley17]

so I sent her an email and told her I had a friend who lived over there and would go pick her up for me, she said perfect and sent me her address and said they could go anyday next week after 5pm.

the 250 was suppose to only be fore the shipping, she wasn't asking for money for the bird, only for shipping since all she wanted was a good home for the bird.

 

[Merlee]

Road trip!! Lol. I guess it is not a scam after all. How did you find out about this bird if you are in NJ? Now what are you going to do?

 

[ZoeynHarley17]

19 hour road trip from Jersey lol..

I was on youtube looking at a video of a nj breeder talking about his birds, in one of the comments was a women who stated she needed to rehome an African grey and put down her email for anyone who was interested. I sent her and email since today is my birthday and I felt a gift was in order.. I have a lot more time on my hands these days.. and I sent her an email because honestly I figured she lived in the NJ area because she was on a NJ breeder video, but I was wrong, I wasn't aware of where she lived until after she gave me her story. I was sold before the end of it. im looking for plane tickets now, I really shouldn't travel as per my doctor but its on about a 4 hour flight not a big deal, if not ill get someone to go get her for me.

if for some reason I cant make it out there quickly. Does anyone know of a service that will pick her up and ship her to me? to be honest I rather a shipping service pick her up and ship her then have this lady do it, simply because I want to make sure its done right versus working so hard and getting a DOA bird.

let me know ive been looking it up but don't have experience in shipments.

any ideas? im sold I want Nina home by tomorrow

 

[Merlee]

Happy Birthday. I have never shipped an animal so can't help you. Good luck getting Nina home safely.