A couple of questions for Neil Gub...The Snake Pit

I've been in Neil's store a couple of times in the past 3 years and yeah I've seen some poop here...some crap there...but that is only to be expected. I'm sure Neil doesn't have the time to check for poop every half hour so cut the guy some slack. You've got to realize he's running a business, snakes are going to poop, and you can't have every single cage cleaned all day long before someone comes along and sees some crap! I thought his store was rather clean...especially after some of the stores I've been to. Neil's store smelled good, is very organized, and the guy is more than eager to help you any way he can. I don't necessarily agree with the smoking inside the store but then I don't remember seeing Neil smoke when I was in there...I can't complain.
So when and if you're in their the next time...if you see some poop...why not mention it to Neil....bring it to his attention. He'll probably thank you for letting him know so he can attend to it.

i have been to Neils store before and i have seen ALOT worse then that in the tampa bay area,neils store couldnt be more clean,.As far as a old feces is concerned i dont know what you are talking about,i havent seen any old ****'* anywhere in any of the cages.
Neil i love the olive python,keep it up man.
pat murphy

Neil,

I am sure you don't know me, but I visited your store almost 5 years ago on a trip to the Bahamas and then driving through Florida. I bought an awesome male green burm and you shippped it to me on teh day I was leavign Florida. It is an excellent animal and I found that your store was not only in great condition but your animal were all in excellent health and your personnel were most helpful.

Thanks and keep up the good work.
vette

George Gunther

Wisconsin

Neil,

It's not really necessary for you to respond to this individual's attack. Your reputation speaks for itself and your many customers and associates have already posted to indicate your superb care of your reptiles. I have sent many of our customers to you and all have been satisified.

Our corporate policy is generally not to recommend specific livestock dealers. However, we regularly send customers to you because we know they will get top quality reptiles and service. Thanks for the excellent service you have always provided to our customers.

Steven Spitz
President
Big Apple Herpetological, Inc.
http://www.bigappleherp.com

Hmmmmm
No responce from this yo-yo Lennox
Real name.....don't think so
loser....... think so
coward......definately

Well. well, well. It's your old pal Lennox again. Sorry it took so long to reply but I didn't have the time to stay on the computer to wait for the sheep to jump off the cliff.
spam_ First and foremost my post was not an attack, it was simply and rather politely a series of questions. Then an enterage of internet body guards came to his defense in a not so amiable manner. I only asked Neil a few questions.
spam_ I was even kind enough to offer some advice at the end of my post in order to help him out (buisness wise). I didn't want Neil to lose anymore customers for the same reason that he lost me. The only reason that I have frequented the store on more than one occasion was to buy rodents. This is because I had recently spam_moved to the area, and he was the only source that I knew of at the time. Due to what I saw and experienced during my short visits, Neil lost me as a customer that was going to purchase anything besides a couple of rodents. Eventually, I decided that I would no longer even purchase rodents there. I now drive out of my way in order to avoid any contact with Neil or the store. This is to show how strongly I feel about what I have stated.
spam_ In response to those who have stated that the store is clean, maybe my information is outdated. Perhaps Neil has changed his ways, although I doubt it. Also, I'm assuming that since spam_the people that posted can type, than they can also read. Therefor, my qualm with the feces situation is that the majority of the feces that I saw in the cages were not fresh (this was stated in my original post). I am by no means a reptile expert or a vet for that matter, but it is to my understanding that feces that is left standing in an animal's habitat can lead to certain infections and parasites. Even if this is not the case, it is simply not in good hygiene.
spam_ spam_Another topic that I would like to address is everyone's spam_fascination with my genatalia. Almost everyone that has responded to my original post had more to say about my glands than reptiles. For a minute I felt as though I was in the "homosexual reptile owners" forum. If you would really like to find out more information about my package please start another thread because that is not related to my original post. Those interested can contact me and we can discuss all the "ins" and "outs" of my members, but until then leave the 'boys' out of this one.
spam_ There are a couple of reasons why I didn't address this topic in person. First, because as a customer, I have the right to choose where to spend my money; yet this does not give me the right to tell someone how to run their business. That is exactly why I asked Neil "a few questions" instead of telling him how to run his store. Another reason, froma business standpoint, is since I only purchased rodents from Neil, I am not viewed as a valuable customer. This results in my opinion having less value than my patronage. Yet another reason that I didn't address this in person, is because I know how people like Neil react to criticism. Rather than discussing his reasons for his poor husbandry with me, I imagine he would get confrontational and grow hostile. Proof of this is how he reacted to my questions( which I repeat, were not attacks). He responded with what I would call less than polite adjectives. I didn't recall setting this sort of tone in my original post. So that is why I didn't address this in person. I doubt it would have changed anything. The cons simply outweighed the pros. Now on the other hand, posting this on the board will undoubtedly change the situation. Whether anyone believes me or not is irrelevant. Maybe some people will drop by the store unexpectedly to decide for themselves. Perhaps I will visit the store one last time to take a few pics of what I am speaking of. Out of fear of this, I am sure that Neil will probably step up the quality in his husbandry; he doesn't want anyone to know that I am speaking the truth. So the next time that Neil walks by a cage that is in need of some maintenance, I am sure he will think twice before ignoring it. Thus, the goal of my original post has already been accomplished. What goal you ask, is the better treatment of animals (reptiles in particular). My goal was not and never will be to hurt anyone's business; I don't want to jeopardize anyone's livelihood. The only time I have problem with this type of business is when someone is exploiting the animals that I find so dear; whether or not Neil is responsible for this I'm not equipped to say; I obviously have a biased opinion.
spam_ I would also like to urge many of the people on this board to think for themselves. You can only judge a small amount of a person's character by what he/she posts on this board. Like I already stated, whether you believe me or not, my goal has already been accomplished. Do not assume that because someone presents themselves in a certain way over the phone or the net that you received an accurate representation of their character. That person could be blowing smoke directly up your rectum, in Neil's case you just might get real smoke (complete with carcinogens)
spam_ That brings me to the next topic. Some of you on here took what I posted completely out of context. I do not care if anyone smokes. My father still smokes, my mother smoked for almost 15 years, I smoked for five, and my brother has smoked on and off for the past 5 years as well. It is a fact that smoking kills millions of humans every year; now one would be hardpressed to get me to believe that smoking isn't ten times more lethal to reptiles than it is to humans. Our lungs are much more resistant to the damage due to smoking. Correct me if I'm wrong, aren't many reptiles already prone to respiratory infections? Now what if you throw carcinogenic smoke into the equation? Some poeple even stated that we as Americans have the right to smoke in our businesses. Would any of you tell your brain surgeon that he can't have a cigarette before he performs an eight hour procedure in your head? Probably not. But I'm sure the same people would prefer the doctor refrain from smoking during the procedure. How would you feel if you saw someone smoking in a room full of newborms and premature babies? I'd hope you would be disgusted. That is exactly what some of our reptiles are; hatchlings= "newborns" wild-caught imports = "premature". Whether you value the life of a child more or less than that of a reptile is irrelevant. We are still discussing living beings that are very susceptible to their outside surroundings. Lets face it, the odds are stacked against a lot of reptiles especially in the earlier stages of their lives. Why then increase the odds even more by voluntarily suscepting them to carcinogens from your cigarette, when the door is a mere 10 feet away from where you are sitting. It is for this reason that I find Rob's statement: "AS far as smoking and watching TV HEY THIS IS AMERICA!!!! WE CAN SIT ON OUR ASSES AND DO WHAT WE WANT IN OUR OWN PLACE OF BUSINESS IF THATS WHAT WE WANT TO DO" to be particularly simian and ignorant. Not only that, but I disagree with your entire statement; just because you live in America does not give you the right to voluntarily subject reptiles to carcinogens. I'd hope you would not like it if your local exotic vet examined your five year old burm that has an R.I. spam_with a cigarette in his hand and watching Crocodile Hunter at the same time. Put a bit more thought into what you say before you grab your "Caveman's Guide To Cliches".
spam_ I was disappointed to see your post Tom McCarthy. You have been so helpful to me in the past. I admire your business and your service (not to mention your cages). You came to mind when I was contemplating who is an example of a good breeder and reptile keeper. Having been in contact with you is one of the reasons that I found Neil's service sub-par.
spam_ Despite the great detective work, I am not the owner of a reptile business or any business for that matter. I'm simply a college student studyiong Chemistry and who has a small collection of snakes and turtles Thus this post was not an attempt to gain customers. I'm assuming that the detectives on this board think that I am somehow connected to Josie's Exotic Pets, the other reptile store in Neil's area. Wrong, she too smokes in her store with all windows and doors closed (except she does smoke quite a bit more than Neil). She is also painfully ignorant. Her place is a bit on the cleaner side of things though.
spam_ I believe I have addressed all the topics that I desired. I can't wait to hear your responses.

Sincerely,
Lennox Williamson

That is wonderful that you can "ask questions"
but if you were so concerened about the animals why did you not "ask questions" while there at the store.

As aforementioned.....lack of genitalia

Richie Luna acts like a 5th grade school yard bully. Lennox was being completely rational and reasonable and Richie goes and acts like a immature boy.
                            another local collector,
                                                      Gary Ellis

Lennox Williamson,Gary Ellis OR WHATEVER NAME YOU ARE USING TODAY!!!!!!!!
          #1 I am not the same Tom McCarthy that you mentioned! That Tom McCarthy is the owner of
"McCarthysBoas" Are you clear on that?? All you have to do is read the entire post!! So much for college?<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

&nbsp; &nbsp;#2 I am sure that I am not the only one here that is happy to see, that you decided to use one name TWO TIMES IN A ROW!!!!! If it takes you 3 tries to figure out what your real name is??? Why should anybody believe anything else that you say?<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'> &nbsp;My guess is that sometime in the past Neil has said something that rubbed you wrong. And it has taken a while for you to figure out how to get back at him! I know I am going out on a limb here? &nbsp;But from your last post(and I am only guessing) that you probably still drive a YUGO!!!
&nbsp; &nbsp;Tom

why does this guys statements have to be a grudge thing. is it impossible that he's just stating facts that he experienced? i thought this board was a place for sharing experiences with others to know who to do business with. how many neil defenders have actually even purchased an animal from him? do you people think that just because a guy can make you laugh that he's a good guy? i will say that neil has definately made some changes in his store, but he's not nearly the god you people view him as. why not go have a look at the quality emerald tree boas that neil presently has for sale. real nice specimens (for the freezer that is).
this place started out to be a very informative place to learn of good and bad experiences people have had with sellers, but he's right, this place has become a little clique and neil is the leader. not sure how neil pulled it off, but he's fooled you all. i've let this alone for quite some time as again, neil is making changes, but you people need to start thinking for yourselves instead of just jumping on someone for insulting your god.
my 2 cents which won't mean crap cause i only post here once in a blue moon,
steve barringer