• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Be Carefull when dealing with Bill Obston (Email: [email protected] )

E

EriksReptiles

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Ok, I feel this should be here. I made a deal with someone here on Fauna under the user name: "northlight" . It was to buy two harlequin crested geckos for $200 (what his listed price was). I emailed him and asked some quesitons and sent payment on 3-5-06, which was the day after he had posted the ad. He then emailed me and we talked about shipping and one day wouldnt work for him and the other wouldnt work for me. So we deicided that he would ship them out today (3-13-06). I sent him an email last night asking if he could still ship them otu today and I then get an email back saying, and I qoute, "Hey Erik, I refunded your money as I have sold the cresteds locally." . WHAT?? I had ALREADY PAID in FULL for these animals so technically they were MINE, Not his to go and sell!

(PS: HERE IS A LINK TO THE AD: http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/pp_classifieds/showproduct.php?product=17691&sort=1&cat=27&page=4 )

Also when I did send the payment it went to an: Elizabeth Bunek.... Im not sure if that is his girl friends or what but it wasnt his name their.. not even his last name...

I did get my money back but I dont care about my money..... I just want my geckos....

I just cant beleave that he would just sell animals that I already paid for and then just go, hey heres your money back because I sold the animals locally instead!!.....

I dont know.. Am I going overboard on this whole thing?? I dont think....

Just watch out with what dealings you make with this "person". You might not ever get an animal. At least I was lucky enough to get my money back but I just want my geckos, I could care less about the money........

I will now be posting ALL of our emails. Mine will be in BLUE and his will be in RED...

ME: Hey, Which one was male and which one is the female?? Also do you accept paypal and could you ship this week??

Thanks Erik

HIM: Hey Erik, I have attached the pics and labeled them as male and female. On the fauna page, the pic on the left is the male, and the two pics on the right are pics of the female. Yes I do accept paypal and I could ship on monday if you want. Thanks

ME: Cool! I will take em'!! Please let me know if this is your paypal account! Also the total was $200 shipped right? Also who do you ship through and do you guarantee live arrival and that the both have tails and are perfect from what you can tell??

Thanks Erik

HIM: Hi Erik. Ok I will reserve the pair for you. Yes you can send the $200 through paypal to [email protected]. I will ship through Fedex next day so give me your address and let me know what day you want me to ship them out. I do guarantee live arrival and both cresteds are in flawless condition. Thanks

ME: Ok, I sent the money. Please let me know that you got it!!

Also for shipping you can use the address though paypal and if you could ship on Tuesday for Wednesday delivery that would be great!! I should have a couple packages being delivered that day so I will be home to sign for it!!

Thanks Erik

HIM: Hey eric I actually decided to put a few more of my cresteds up for sale and I want to show them to you first since I am already shipping you 2 this week. One is a gorgeous adult male that is a orange fire/dalmation. The other is an absolute gorgeous sub adult harlequinn/dalmation that is looking like a female so far. I have included picsw of both of the cresteds in this email. I will let them both go for $175 and I will include them both in the same shipment as the harlequin pair on tuesday if you are interested. Thanks Bill

ME: Hey, How much more would you want for just the unsexed that you think might be a female??

Thanks Erik

HIM: I will sell just the probable unsexed female for $115 extra. Bill

ME: Hey, I might be kicking my self in the butt later but I think that I will just keep the pair right now......

Please email me the tracking number on tuesday when they go out!!

Thanks Erik

HIM: Hey Erik, If you dont mind, I would ike to ship out the pair on wed for thur delivery since it will be much warmer on wednesday and we just had a big snow here. Let me know if that works

ME: Hey, I actually was just looking at my calender and noticed that I have a doctors appt at 9am on Thursday..... So if we can't ship for a wednesday delivery would you mind holding the pair and shipping them on Tuesday of next week?? (to ship them a week from tomorrow which would be shipping on the 14th).

Thanks Erik

HIM: then i will ship them tomorrow, not a problem

ME: Are you sure? I dont want you to feel like you have to ship because of my doctor appt... Its up to you though. Either way is fine with me! I know that someone will be home on Wednesday because I have 1.1 Chahouas coming also along with a bunch of other new stock!!

Also here is my shipping info again:
Erik Strait
***************
Littleton, CO 80124

If you do ship tomorrow please email me the tracking number. If you decide to wait until next week that would be fine also!

thanks Erik I tell him here that anytime he wants to ship is fine with me....

HIM: Ok then I will plan on shipping next week monday or tuesday. The forecast says that the weather could be in the 40's here.

ME: Hey, If you can ship tomorrow for Tuesday delivery that would be great! Please make sure that they can be delivered by 10:30 am though!

Thanks Erik

HIM: Hey Erik, I refunded your money as I have sold the cresteds locally.

ME: I am curious as to know why you would sell animals that I have already paid in full for??.....

If you want to talk about it any more please view and reply to the Thread the BOI on FaunaClassifieds as their is a thread their now...

Thanks Erik


I dont know.... Does it seem like I am over-reacting?? I already paid in full for these geckos and then he decides to up and sell them else where.... At least I have my money back but its a pain.....

Just let me know what you think!! and if you have ANY other questions feel free to post here!!

Thanks Erik
 
You are kidding right? He did the EXACT same thing to another user who freaked out exactly the same as you! I thought it was the same person posting, but you are another buyer with the same problem.... I'd love for everyone to compare time lines about these poor animals!http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76641

Was he going for the higest bidder? Now I'm very interested to see his side on his.
 
Hmmm.... Well I never saw that post.... I looked and everything but couldnt find another post about him....

I can see that he did it to other people too..... Although he told the other guy on the 8th.... Why did he wait so long to tell me?

I hate people like that.... When an animal is SOlD you cant resell it, even if you do give the other person their money back!!

Thanks Erik
 
EriksReptiles said:
I hate people like that.... When an animal is SOlD you cant resell it, even if you do give the other person their money back!!
Click to expand...

That was his argument as well though...... the seller could have sold these animals 5 times over it seems. I guess he should have said he would not ship them and saved everyone the hassle of paying, being refunded, and getting upset.

I hope Bill understands that what he did was not right and should not do this again.

Jessy
 
Ya, I just hate it...... When I buy an animal and he confirms he has the money, I expect those animals. Not my money........

Well now he has a negative trader rating from me...... He should have told me on the 8th (like the other guy) that he sold them locally and not have made me wait until the 13th!........


Thanks Erik
 
Well, He knows about this post. We'll see if He shows up. Not a paid member.

Sucks what He did. It wasn't right. Hope He works it out with you.


Rick
 
Ya, By the sound of it their is nothing to work out.... He sold animals that had already been paid for by at least two people to someone else!!

At least I did get my money back but it is still very irritating....

Oh-well.... I will go buy geckos else-where!!

Thanks Erik
 
Can you copy the emails to this thread with the header information intact?
Just want to see...

It seems painfully obvious that he may, in fact, be a bad guy...since this has happened twice in a week...

And your situation seems to have elapsed over several days...but the email header info will prove a timeline...and that the emails are genuine.

Thanks!
 
Call me paranoid, but it seems we have Bill Obston with the membership here, someone named Shane posting the ad, and an Elizabeth Bunek receiving the money....? That in itself seems a bit odd to me.
 
Hey Cathy I am lost, were did the name Shane appear?

Is it possible for these two threads be merged? It is really getting difficult to follow two current threads on one person.
 
She linked it in her response.

Shane.jpg



Rick
 
Very interesting. he did this to Dan at the Gecko Hut and I was called a "groupie" I think for defending Dan in saying this guy is a warning label......wonder what all the people in that thread that had so much defending of good ole' Bill are doing now?
Sorry about the geckos. I have had it happen to me also. It really is a bummer:( I hope you find better and cheaper ones!!!
 
You have a link to this gecko hut thread? Never heard of this place Myself not being a huge lizard person. Any other hangouts? Please link them.

Maybe this guy needs a little push in the right direction. If nothing else, some more exposure at other places. I don't mind being called a groupie. ;) That's mild to some of the things I've been called.

Either way, the more people who know of these incodences, the more likely it is to have an affect on his practices. It has to start somewhere, since He seems unwilling to come here with his side of the story.

Rick
 
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