ComplaintsforRocky Mountain Maine Coons

• Initial Complaint

  01/31/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Deposit on kitten Sept 22, 2019. Her communication was only based on me reaching out to her. I gave her the benefit that she was indeed ill for several years, which was what she told me each time we emailed. I read the complaints, last year, and even reached out to her to show my support. She mentioned DV and divorce and I was sympathetic to that. She offered me one kitten, which was not the color I initially requested and zero communication after that. I never wanted her to be a fraud but it is clear she is. I really feel she stole money and does not care. I realize divorce and illness happen but why was she not willing to refund the deposits( yes she said non refundable but I STILL WANTED A KITTEN) ... I am not sure she ever really had kittens to offer. I guess she sleeps at night knowing she has made lots of cash off innocent TRUSTING people. Website is now down and she is hiding.

• Initial Complaint

  08/14/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  In June of 2021, I put down a $600 deposit for two kittens, the estimated wait time was 18 months. I have yet to receive kittens, an updated timeline, and she has stopped responding to emails.As this was a deposit, and the goods are not being delivered- a return of said deposit is in order.

  Customer response

  09/07/2023

  email support for communications

• Initial Complaint

  05/23/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I put down a deposit in April 2021. I was told wait times could be ***** months. I emailed 3 times for an update on where I was on the wait list and received responses the first two times but never an answer to my questions, just a lengthy email about reasons it was taking a long time. I was courteous and understanding. Last email I sent was 10/22 and never received a response. We have gone with another breeder and I believe there is no reason she should be able to keep a deposit after 25 months with no answers to my questions. I requested a deposit back via PayPal which she denied. I was hoping this could have been resolved easily since no one should be able to keep a deposit for that long without providing any updates AT ALL so now I have taken it to the BBB

• Initial Complaint

  03/27/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I made a deposit of $300 on September 14, 2020 for a Maine **** kitten with this breeder. I was told that it could be up to 18 months to receive a kitten. There has been virtually zero communication on the breeders end. I waited approximately one year and inquired about the waitlist status on 10/6/21 and have inquired periodically with no response. It has now been 30 months and 1 week since I've made a deposit and I still haven't received a kitten or even an email update regarding where I'm at on her waitlist. She is very clear that the deposits are non refundable, however, you can't just take someone's money for a product and then never deliver that product. That's stealing. I see several complaints about this breeder and they are all the same. She collects deposits and then drops communication. When she does respond, it's nothing but excuses. In my opinion this is a scam business.

  Business response

  04/10/2023

  I am not a scam. I've been dealing with getting divorced and a domestic violence situation with my husband. I have had to move three times in the last year because of the divorce. It has been stressful for me and for the cats. Moving always stresses out cats, and when they are stressed out, they do not feel like being in a romantic sort of mood. I think that's pretty understandable. They are just animals after all and they don't understand what is going on. I have been buried in paperwork and court proceedings, along with more court dates because of the protection order. We were married for 30 years, so this hasn't been easy on anybody in my family. I am sorry it is taking me longer than expected to get ***** and others their kittens. I just do not have any control over any of this. I have also been dealing with health problems. I am not telling people about all of my woes. I am just trying to explain to people what is going on because they need to know, and because I do need people to be a little bit understanding at the moment. I am not stealing from anyone. Things just haven't gone as planned in any possible way lately. If there was something I could do to change the situation, believe me, I would. I will get ***** a kitten just as soon as I possibly can. ***** has only contacted me once, and I did send her an update. I have also told her to contact me if she does want an update. She hasn't contacted me until very recently, and I just haven't had a moment to catch up on my emails. My final orders for my divorce are coming up next week, and I am hoping life will return to normal very soon after. If ***** would like to contact me, I can explain in more detail...or not...if she would rather I don't. Again, I do apologize for the long wait and for not being in better touch. My life has just kind of fallen apart lately. Thank you, ******

  Customer response

  04/10/2023

   
  Complaint: 19857177
  
  I am rejecting this response because, although I certainly am sorry about ******'s situation and understand that her life has been difficult I'm no longer interested in obtaining a kitten from her.  I have seen other complaints where buyers have made deposits AFTER I did and in her response to those complaints these buyers were the very next on her waitlist. Huh? If I really was on the wait list, why wasn't I offered the kitten before people who went on AFTER I did.  She indicates that she isn't a scam, and maybe she isn't, however, I've been more than patient with her waitlist as I've been on it for 2.5 years, which is almost twice as long as I was led to believe it would take.  Something just feels off about this business.  There are several complaints against her, for all the same reason.  I understand that there are situations in her life that I'm not able to understand, however, she run's a business and is taking money for a product she isn't delivering.  I think it is unacceptable and really bad business practice to accept a deposit on the pretext of an18 month waitlist and when the 30th month passes not be willing to give the deposit back for something THAT WAS NOT DELIVERED. In my opinion, after the 18 months had come and gone and to maintain a positive business image, I would have communicated with the buyer that it was taking longer than ****************************************************** did they want their money back.  At this point, it just feels like I've been stolen from. 
  
  *********************

  Business response

  04/28/2023

  I don't think I have ever put down that somebody was next on my list on a review, or put down when they placed their deposit. I usually will talk to people in person to people about their place on my waiting list. So, that is simply not true. I have answered every email ***** has sent me and I have sent her updates. If someone was coming up on my list, then they placed their deposit before she did. I do not favor some people over other people. I simply go down my list in the order that their deposit was received. I will get ***** a kitten if she wants one, but the deposit is not refundable. It says that in numerous places throughout my web site. If she does not want a kitten from me than that is her decision, not mine. I emphasized to her that it would be At LEAST ***** months before I would have a kitten for her, and I also explained to her that it was just a guess, and that it was entirely up to the cats and higher powers than me on when I could get her a kitten. I told her there were too many variables involved, including how many kittens we get, what gender, what colors, and what people decide to do when I do contact them about kittens. It is out of my hands, and I made that abundantly clear. I told her over and over again that there was a long waiting list and there would be a long wait for her kitten. She knew that ahead of time, before she placed her deposit. When she said she still wanted to place a deposit, I told her that she was welcome to place a deposit, as long as she didn't mind the long wait. I have had numerous other things happen this year with my health and my family, which I have tried to explain to her. The cats are part of our family, and unfortunately, having to move three times in a year effects them as well. I did not have control over any of the things that have happened this year, from my husband having mental issues to going through a divorce to going into the hospital and having surgery after surgery. I am doing my best. I understand that my problems are not her concern, but it is mine, and there's nothing I can do about any of it. I will get her a kitten if she wants one, but if she does not want a kitten from me any longer, then she forfeits her deposit. It says that on my policies page, my kittens page, and my pricing page. I put it on both the top and bottom of my kittens page, just to be sure people knew that ahead of time. She is more than welcome to contact me if she would like a kitten in the future.

  Customer response

  04/28/2023

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. Not really. She mentions that she has responded to every one of my messages, I've attached one that she didn't respond to.  I'm no longer interested in swapping messages back and forth with nothing but excuse after excuse in every single response.  I've reviewed every complaint on this site and they are all the same.  People making deposits and waiting way more than the 18 months she says it will take.  I understand we are talking about kittens, however, I would think ****** would have a solid understanding on how this works and would be able to give an accurate estimation of time since this is her business .  Yet, every single thing I read says the same thing, you can expect to wait 18 months. I'm way past the 18 months and will chalk this up to "being scammed".   I DO NOT WANT A KITTEN FROM THIS BREEDER.  She can keep the deposit without delivering anything in return.  I consider this theft but I'm not interested in hearing any more excuses.  I will however, warn every single person that asks me about my experience with this breeder.  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

• Initial Complaint

  10/18/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Consisely, we put down 2 deposits for 2 kittens almost 2 years ago. terrible communications during this time, including updates to the waitlist and now request for refund. i believe we've been scammed. i have multiple emails that I'm happy to show to prove my case.

• Initial Complaint

  04/06/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In September of 2019, I put a $300 deposit down for a kitten. Jarica responded to me saying all the kittens she has are spoken for, which is completely understandable, and gave me a timeline of ***** months for a kitten. It's been 2.5 years at this point.She does not provide any information about where you are on the list, does not provide updates on timeline, and when you reach out with a question, she sends back a paragraphs-long email with excuses on why you haven't received your kitten which you have already paid a portion for. $300 is not pocket change, it is a lot of money, and I feel like she is scamming people. Either that, or she is manipulating the waiting list and jerking people around.

  Business response

  04/13/2022

  ***** is at the top of both my female and male kitten lists, so she is up for a kitten. She is on both waiting lists because she said she was open to either gender. I have emailed ***** and I told her that she is up for a kitten. I do have kittens right now, too. I also have more kittens on the way that will be born any day now. The kittens just need to get old enough to leave their mama before they can go to their new homes. I do write several paragraph emails to people sometimes. Sometimes it takes a couple of paragraphs to give them all of the information they are looking for. I do include updates about kittens and sometimes what is going on with me as well. I would rather give too much info., than not enough...in order to avoid confusion. Also, because I do want to be sure that people understand what is going on. I would think that people would appreciate the information, rather than giving me a hard time about it. I have answered all of *****'s emails and given her updates as well. I have no problem telling her where she is on the list. I just did that in an email last week. ***** has not gotten back to me since I sent that email to her. So, if she would like to contact me, we can discuss getting her a kitten in about 6-8 weeks here...depending on what litter she chooses a kitten from. I have no problems giving updates either. If ***** wanted more updates, she could have sent me an email, and I would have gotten back to her with an update. I never mind giving updates, and I tell people all of the time. If they are looking for an update, or are wondering what is going on, all they need to do is shoot me an email. It may take me a day or so to get back to them, but I always do my best to answer all of my emails. I am not giving excuses, scamming people, or jerking people around with the list. I emphasize over and over again that I have a long waiting list when people contact me, both in my emails and on my website. I told ***** that If I had to guess, I would say ***** months, but that it was just a guess. I also explained all of the variables involved in detail. I do not know how many kittens we will get, what gender, what colors, or what people will decide to do when I contact people with kittens. It is not up to me, and I do not have the power to predict the future. It is entirely up to the kittens and higher powers than me. We did not get as many kittens as I had hoped this last year, and I have explained that to *****, as well. You can see that in the emails that ***** included in her compliant. It has taken me a little longer than I had hoped to get ***** a kitten, and I apologize for that, but I cannot control these things. It is not up to me. Things just didnt work out as planned with kittens this last year. The deposit is not refundable. I have included that in my website over and over again. It states that the deposit is not refundable on my Pricing Page, Policy, Page, and I put it on my Kittens page twice, just to be sure people would read, and so that they would know that ahead of time. Im sure that ***** knows that as well. I would love to give her a cute, furry little kitten in just a few weeks here if she would like one. I would ask that she contact me, so I can get her a kittenif she wants one. However, the deposit is not refundable.

• Initial Complaint

  10/31/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Rocky Mountain Maine Coons advertises that they are a Maine **** cat breeder. You must make a deposit of $350 to reserve a kitten. The website says that you may not receive a kitten for up to 18 months after your deposit. My deposit was sent in early August of 2020. It's been 19 months. I tried to get my money back through PayPal but PayPal doesn't allow that amount of time to pass and give a refund. The woman who runs the website is Jarica. She got very angry with me when I tried to get a refund through PayPal for a refund. I believe she is taking deposits and never adopting out any cats. Her website does not show any new information from when I sent her my $350 deposit in August of 2020.

  Business response

  11/10/2021

  The complaint that ******* made is completely untrue. She is lying. To start out with, she did make a case against me with PayPal through the resolution center, and PayPal decided the case in my favor, which is why she is mad, and made this complaint to the BBB. I won the case with PayPal. She also told PayPal that she did not receive her merchandise, and a kitten is not merchandise and cannot be shipped. I cannot put in a tracking # for a kitten. This was a personal choice that ******* made to put down a deposit for a kitten from a future litter of kittens. I was not mad at her. I was upset because she made a bunch of untrue claims about my business when she made the case with PayPal, and she did not bother to talk to me about wanting her deposit back before she made the case against me to PayPal. I would have liked to have the opportunity to try and work things out with her before she went to PayPal about it. She just went straight to PayPal and made the case against me, and that is how I found out that she wanted her deposit back. That effects my working relationship with PayPal, and effects my business. Especially since she told PayPal a bunch of untrue things about me and my business. Things that she wouldnt even know about because she has never been to my home or anything. She told them that I was a Kitten Mill, which I find highly offensive. We are no such thing. She also said that I was a scam, which is also untrue and offensive. I have a very long list of people who have received kittens from me over the years and are very happy with their kittens. I have never scammed anybody. She has no clue how my animals are cared for. This is a small family business, and the kittens are raised in my living room, by hand and underfoot. There are four of us that help to care for our cats and kittens, and we love them very much. We give them the best possible care that we can give them. She just wants her deposit back and it is not refundable. She knew that when she placed her deposit. She was told before she ever placed her deposit that I had a long waiting list, and that it would take at least ***** months. I told her that in an email, and I also explained that it was only a guess because it is entirely up to Mother Nature and the kitties. I cannot control these things. I explained in great detail about all of the variables involved, and why I could not tell her exactly when I would have a kitten for her. She knew that ahead of time. My website does not say that it would be 18 months at all. Im not sure where she got that. My website states that, You will have to be patient and wait for your kitten. It also states that, I almost always have a long waiting list for kittens. It also states that, the deposit is not refundable. My website says that the deposit is not refundable on my Prices page, my Policy Page, and on my Kittens Page. I put it on my Kittens page twice, just to be sure that people would know that before they placed their deposit. It is in 14 font, so it is not like it is in small print.  ******* placed a $300.00 deposit on Aug. 8, 2020. Not $350.00. I have raised my prices to $350.00 since ******* placed her deposit. She decided she wanted her deposit back on Jan. 27, 2021. She decided she wanted her deposit back less than 6 months after she placed her deposit. Basically, she changed her mind for whatever reason, decided she wanted her deposit back, and then decided the best way to go about it was to smear my business to PayPal and now the BBB. ******* did receive updates through email. I updated her whenever she emailed me asking for an update. I never mind giving updates and she knows that. I have told ******* that I will get her a kitten if she wants one, but her deposit is not refundable. She does not want the kitten anymore. She backed out on me. Not the other way around. The deposit is not refundable, and I do that for a couple of reasons. First of all, it tells me that people are willing to commit to one of my kittens, and to me. I like knowing they have a forever home ahead of time. Also, if somebody backs out on me at the last minute, then I have to spend more time placing them with other people. The older they get, the harder it is to place them with people. People want a kitten when they are buying a kitten, not a cat. Also, because I do spend a lot of time with my customers answering questions, emails, updates, meeting people, sending pics, etc. So, it's kind of like my cancellation fee, which most businesses do have. The deposit does go towards the cost of your kitten as well. Plus, when people change their mind and then demand their deposit back, then we have to come up with the deposit out of nowhere and that puts a hardship on us and thats not fair to us. I am not a pet store, and I am not rich either. It costs a lot to raise these wonderful kitties and I really do not make that much. It is truly a labor of love. I have tried to work this out with ******* multiple times through email and through Paypal as well. She said she does not wish to go back and forth with me. Her untrue accusations are not true, unappreciated, and unfounded. This is definitely not the way to go about getting a non-refundable deposit back either. I am sorry, but the deposit is not refundable, and she knew that ahead of time. I have pasted the PayPal case information below. You can view my website by clicking on the link below if you would like to. I can also send all of the emails between ******* and myself if the BBB would like to see them. The entire business transaction was done through email, and I do keep all of my emails. Thanks, Jarica
  

  
  http://rockymtnmainecoons.com/
  
  
  Item not received claim CASE CLOSED
  Case ID: **************
  The case was closed in your favor based on the info provided.
  View case history
  Case details
  Buyer information
  *****************************
  *********************
  Transaction amount
  $300.00 USD
  Refund requested
  $300.00 USD
  Transaction ID
  *****************
  Shipping address
  3700 *************************************************** States
  Date reported
  January 27, 2021

  
  Buyer notes
  I put in a deposit on August 8th of $300 for a kitten. I was not told how long it would take to get the kitten. It's almost 180 days and I feel like I've been scammed. Breeder responds but it is a problem.
  Additional info from the buyer

  
  Your responses
  Date added
  February 13, 2021
  Note
  This transaction was a Non-Refundable $300.00 Deposit for a future kitten that has not been born yet. Maine Coons are the second most popular breed now, so there is just not enough of them to go around to everyone who wants one. So, everybody usually has to wait for their kitten. I had to wait for my cats, too, and I had to pay twice as much for breeding rights. ******* was told ahead of time, multiple times, that there would be a long wait for her kitten because I have a long waiting list. She was also told that it would be at least ***** months and that it was just a guess because I cant control these things. It is up to the kitties and higher powers than me. She placed her deposit 5 months ago. I uploaded the emails between the two of us, and I included the URLs to my website. Please look at the items that I uploaded because it includes the emails between the two of us. My website also states that the deposit is Non-Refundable on my Pricing Page, Policies Page, and on my Kittens Page. It also says that you will have to be patient and wait for your kitten, and to please make sure that this is what you want to do. The entire price of the kitten is $1050.00. My customers pay the remaining amount when we meet, and I give them the kitten. They also have the option of making payments while they wait for their kitten. We meet in person, so the kitten is not shipped. It is not for merchandise and it cannot be shipped or tracked. It is a legitimate breeding business, and it is not a scam in any way. I went through this once before and the ************************ found in my favor. They said that this was a personal transaction between me and the buyer. They equated it to paying for a dinner at restaurant, and then trying to make a claim with Paypal because you didnt like the dinner. You cannot do that either. URLs: http://rockymtnmainecoons.com/home http://rockymtnmainecoons.com/policies http://rockymtnmainecoons.com/pricing http://rockymtnmainecoons.com/kittens

  
  Date added
  February 7, 2021
  Note
  We are most definitely not a kitten mill in any way. My cats and kittens are raised and live in my home where they get lots of love and attention. They are our pets, and we love them very much. There are 4 of us to take care the kitties and we spoil them bunches. My mom, my husband, my son and myself all devote lots of time taking care of our animals every hour of every day. They are never alone because both my son and I stay home with our animals. Kittens arrive when they arrive. I cannot control how many kittens arrive, or what colors and gender the kittens are when they arrive. It is not like I have a shelf full of kittens just waiting for someone to walk in and pick out the perfect kitten for them. We are not a pet store. The kittens must be born, and then they come out however they come out. It is completely up to the kitties and higher powers than me. I also explained that to you ahead of time. You would think it would be a given, but apparently not. These accusations are false and unfounded, and not appreciated. You know nothing about my cats or my home, or my family for that matter. I work extremely hard taking care of my kitties, and on my business, and I am insulted that you would refer to it as a kitten mill. I have told you about my business, my cats, and my family, but you continue to make accusations that are false. I have a long list of customers who have received happy, healthy little kittens from me, and they are extremely happy with their kittens. You never gave me that chance. You were told that I had a long waiting list, and you were given a guess as to how long it would be before you placed your deposit, and you were told that it was only a guess. You were also told that I could not predict how long it would take because there are so many variables that I cannot control and I did explain it to you in detail. I am sending the emails between the two of us, so that PayPal can see that what I am saying is true. I am also sending links to my website.
  File
  2nd Response to *****************************.pdf
  Copies of Emails between ***************************** and ******************************* .pdf
  Links to my Website.pdf
  Your conversation with the buyer
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  Customer response

  11/10/2021

   
  Complaint: 16078734
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  This business takes money from people trying to adopt a Maine **** kitten.  As you can see by her responses, in my opinion, she is not quite right.  It is unacceptable to keep someone's deposit and not deliver what was agreed upon.  This business should NOT be in business, she should NOT be allowed to continue to take people's money.  People need to be warned NOT to do business with this person.  

   

  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩