screamdreams
10-28-2003, 04:44 PM
Not really sure where to go with this, but obviously I feel I have a responsibilty to the herp community as a whole. Please forgive me if this gets confusing or long and drawn out...
Some of you may remember that I had 5.0 (MALE) 66% possible het Pieds available not too long ago. These were purchased directly from Mark & Kim Bell, in short, these were all in the 450+ gram range and were to be long term project animals in my collection. Well, we all know how things can change, and I opted to sell. The group of 5.0 (MALES) ended up being broken down into three individual sales of 2.0, 2.0, and 1.0. All transactions went smoothly, and I included a copy of the original receipt from Mark & Kim Bell, as well as a receipt from me, with all my contact information, the exact quanity/sex purchased, date of sale, etc...weeks, even months go by, all is well.
Someone emails me about 2-3 months ago, asking me if I sold "x" 2.0 possible het Pieds, I checked my records and the answer was yes. He had traded for these animals and wanted to verify (after the trade took place I might ad) and all is well, nothing stuck me as being odd or fishy in the least.
Well...this past Friday, a gentlemen had asked me to verify if I had sold "y" any possible het Pieds...the name didn't ring a bell, I checked my records, and the answer was no. He then stated he had a receipt from Mark & Kim, and one from me as well, and these were sold to him as 2.3, all weighing between 250-350 grams or so. He said he was going to try and get his money back from this person before starting a negative thread here at the BOI, but said the word would be out either way, and I waited to hear back from him...well, guess what?? I'm talking to someone on the phone last night, putting the finishing touches on a deal we had arranged and BOOM!!!!! The guy that emailed me Friday regarding verification of these animals (you know, the one was going to try to get his money back) was trying to trade these same animals to the guy a had a deal with!!!! SMALL WORLD, huh??? He brought it up, I was like "wait a minute...I just got an email, blah-blah-blah" and look at what happens.
Mark Bell and I talked on the phone for an hour or so last night after all this reared it's ugly head, and it seems that someone has altered or forged "paperwork" and both Reptile Industries and I wanted to remind everyone to VERIFY THE ANIMALS BEFORE YOU BUY THEM. It only takes a phone call. It's worth it!!!!
Sadly, this is the route that some have chosen in the industry. It's a shame, but we all know it happens, so this is just a friendly reminder to do your homework. I have orders to get out, so I have to leave now, but I will included details a little later as far as names, etc, go...but as you can see this got a little confusing, I want to check all emails, and get the FACTS before I start writing names on the wall...so in the meantime...please BE CAREFUL!!
Some of you may remember that I had 5.0 (MALE) 66% possible het Pieds available not too long ago. These were purchased directly from Mark & Kim Bell, in short, these were all in the 450+ gram range and were to be long term project animals in my collection. Well, we all know how things can change, and I opted to sell. The group of 5.0 (MALES) ended up being broken down into three individual sales of 2.0, 2.0, and 1.0. All transactions went smoothly, and I included a copy of the original receipt from Mark & Kim Bell, as well as a receipt from me, with all my contact information, the exact quanity/sex purchased, date of sale, etc...weeks, even months go by, all is well.
Someone emails me about 2-3 months ago, asking me if I sold "x" 2.0 possible het Pieds, I checked my records and the answer was yes. He had traded for these animals and wanted to verify (after the trade took place I might ad) and all is well, nothing stuck me as being odd or fishy in the least.
Well...this past Friday, a gentlemen had asked me to verify if I had sold "y" any possible het Pieds...the name didn't ring a bell, I checked my records, and the answer was no. He then stated he had a receipt from Mark & Kim, and one from me as well, and these were sold to him as 2.3, all weighing between 250-350 grams or so. He said he was going to try and get his money back from this person before starting a negative thread here at the BOI, but said the word would be out either way, and I waited to hear back from him...well, guess what?? I'm talking to someone on the phone last night, putting the finishing touches on a deal we had arranged and BOOM!!!!! The guy that emailed me Friday regarding verification of these animals (you know, the one was going to try to get his money back) was trying to trade these same animals to the guy a had a deal with!!!! SMALL WORLD, huh??? He brought it up, I was like "wait a minute...I just got an email, blah-blah-blah" and look at what happens.
Mark Bell and I talked on the phone for an hour or so last night after all this reared it's ugly head, and it seems that someone has altered or forged "paperwork" and both Reptile Industries and I wanted to remind everyone to VERIFY THE ANIMALS BEFORE YOU BUY THEM. It only takes a phone call. It's worth it!!!!
Sadly, this is the route that some have chosen in the industry. It's a shame, but we all know it happens, so this is just a friendly reminder to do your homework. I have orders to get out, so I have to leave now, but I will included details a little later as far as names, etc, go...but as you can see this got a little confusing, I want to check all emails, and get the FACTS before I start writing names on the wall...so in the meantime...please BE CAREFUL!!