Can You See the Difference?

Salvador

$9.99 paid

aprox 4 months old

   

Jack

$89.99 paid

aprox. 6 months old now

As much as I can be happy for a friend getting a deal on something, it really blows that I didn't.

I bought Jack for the boy a couple of months ago and, was quite impressed with myself for talking the pet store reptile chick down from $109 to $89 on a creature that was 3 inches long and can be caught in the wild everywhere except Canada.  Yup, I bartered so well on that one, I'm ready for a Tijuana shopping spree.

So, I tell my friend, Sue, what a great pet he is; way easier to take care of than the kids.  She knows this, has an iguana, and is intrigued.  A few days ago, while in a pet store placing a cricket order (for the iguana) she is browsing and sees the cute guy above, Sal, and inquires of the young reptile chick.  Reptile Chick replies confidently, "that's a Salvador Salamander and he is $9.99".  Sue is not one to immediately pounce on the obviously inept.  She will, however, give them a couple of chances to either sink or swim.  This one....like a rock.

Sue tells Reptile Chick that she thinks that this is, in reality, a Leopard Gecko and gives her the opportunity to price check.  The expert proceeds to re-read the writing on the terrarium, turns to Sue and says, "Nope, that's a Salvador Salamander and it is $9.99".  That's two... the panther is circling.

Sue asks Reptile Chick if there is someone else who she should run the price by.  Reptile Chick announces to Sue that there is no one else who she needs to check with and, in fact, she knows her lizards.  Critical error.

Sue got Sal for 10 bucks, her crickets and his current habitat for an extra $8.99.  As happy as she is with her incredible deal, she is fully aware that she can never return to that store after they have completed their next inventory count and find they are short one Leopard Gecko and up a Salamander.