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

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    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....

Good Guy Dan Scolaro DTS Reptiles

Well, I had a fun little experience with Dan Scolaro. The FIRST time I ever ordered a reptile online, and I received a Russian tortoise with badly infected eyes.

I requested a $30 refund on a $330 order (plus $60 shipping,) to cover the cost of the medicine that I purchased for the sick tortoise. I felt that was a completely reasonable request. Apparently not for Dan.


Read from the bottom to the top, and make your own conclusions. All four Russians were packed in one snake bag, so in my opinion, even if it had been a scratch injury, it was still Dan's fault. If they had been packed separately, it couldn't have happened. But don't "point the finger" at the guy that packed them!

Like I said, I bagged great healthy tortoises. If you think otherwise, then your foolish. I did offer compensation and think something is the matter with you. I am treating you great by offering compensation and it was more then you perhaps deserved after harassing me so much.

Dan






In a message dated 3/9/2010 9:25:34 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes:

I am not going to play this back and forth game with you. You have emailed me twice since I asked you not to email me any more unless it was through the Paypal dispute, which was closed.

I have wanted a group of Russian tortoises for 21 years. I finally get my Russians and one of them is unhealthy, plain and simple. As a GOOD seller, you should have offered some sort of re-compensation. I don't want to order from you again, who is to say I would not get another tortoise with "injured" eyes that I have to drive over an hour to get medicine for? (Which I did this morning for the one you sent me.) Really? I receive an injured or sick tortoise and you think I will be a repeat customer? I may be naive but I am NOT stupid. I have never in my life bought reptiles off the internet, and I do for the first time, and I finally, FINALLY, get the tortoises that I have wanted since I was a seven year old kid and this is the experience that I have. That's just great.

Leave me alone. Do not contact me again. I want to say so many angry things to you that you can't even imagine, but I am not going to, I am not going to act like a child. So put YOUR "thinking cap" on, and maybe someday you will realize that treating a buyer badly will in the end get you nothing.

Kristina


Kyryah's Tortoise Network
http://tortnet.darchorizons.com/index.html





From: [email protected]
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 21:13:38 -0500
Subject: Re: TRACKING NUMBER FOR SHIPMENT
To: [email protected]

What made you think there was a refund? No reptile dealer even offers refunds so why did you think there was a refund in the guarantee policy when it clearly states only live arrival? I told you I could give some good consideration on your next order and I know what I saw when I bagged the tortoises. Nothing personal, but I know what I bagged and know what I have here and its only healthy eyed tortoises and for all I know, you have to assume that you could be pulling my leg and that is why reptile dealers do not have a refund policy as there are twice as many scam buyers out there as their are honest sellers and that is not meant to be personal. I have to have some type of guarantee and have to stick with it and can make a generous offer to give consideration on the next order despite I do not have the tortoise in front of me to prove its the one I sent and that is not to question your integrity.

Dan

From: [email protected]
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 21:01:16 -0500
Subject: Re: TRACKING NUMBER FOR SHIPMENT
To: [email protected]

Like I said, I can offer consideration on your next order and there is no statement of refunds in my guarantee so I obviously do not appreciate you're filing a bogus complaint against my paypal account.

And like I said before, I ship many animals and am quite detailed about completing a very close exam of the specimens that I ship and those tortoises all had great eyes and all of the tortoises here have great eyes. I am understanding that one got his head harmed or injured and can only offer some consideration on your next order.

And I received animals like you do, perhaps many more and had much worse happen and it never even crossed my mind to file anything against anyone's account so don't know if you have your thinking cap on or not.

Dan



In a message dated 3/9/2010 8:44:44 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes:

I am not pointing a finger. You were the seller, therefore you would be the one responsible for the condition of the tortoise. I recieved a tortoise shipped by you, that has an issue with it's eyes. It is a very simple problem, and I offered a simple solution. I would not walk into a petstore and purchase an animal with swollen eyes. All I am asking for is a partial refund for the one tortoise that has a problem. I am not even demanding a full refund.

This will be my last email to you, please direct all further communications to the dispute I have opened with Paypal. The dispute will automatically close once I receive a $30 refund, which is less than half of what I paid for the tortoise, and will cover the sterile saline solution and opthalmic ointment that is needed to treat the infection/injury. If I do not receive a refund I will escalate the dispute to a claim and allow Paypal to make a decision on my claim.

Kristina

Kyryah's Reptile and Amphibian Rescue
http://tortnet.darchorizons.com/rescue.html
Kyryah's Tortoise Network
http://tortnet.darchorizons.com/index.html





From: [email protected]
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 20:04:28 -0500
Subject: Re: TRACKING NUMBER FOR SHIPMENT
To: [email protected]

yea, seems quite strange but it happens and again am not keen to your pointing a finger that I bagged animals with eye issues so again ask you to stop doing that.

Dan



In a message dated 3/9/2010 8:00:12 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes:

Thank you, but at this point I do not think I will be placing another order. Even if it was a scratch from another tortoise, it could not have happened if each had been placed in their own bag.

Again, it is not it's "eye," it is BOTH eyes. It just seems strange to me that both eyes on one single tortoise would have gotten damaged or dirty, but the others are fine.

Kristina

Kyryah's Reptile and Amphibian Rescue
http://tortnet.darchorizons.com/rescue.html
Kyryah's Tortoise Network
http://tortnet.darchorizons.com/index.html





From: [email protected]
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:40:13 -0500
Subject: Re: TRACKING NUMBER FOR SHIPMENT
To: [email protected]

Well like I said, I bagged them all looking fine with great heads and eyes and think its eye got dirty from either a poke from another tortoise or poop in the bag so hopefully it will clear up and it won't be an issue and will be glad to provide another at a discount on your next order should there be some long-term issue there but obviously did not expect that to happen.

Dan

In a message dated 3/9/2010 5:42:50 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes:

Whether it is an ifection or an injury, it is still going to require treatment. I have no incentive to say something about one chelonian out of 6 total that I ordered, other than the fact that it is going to cost me money to treat the injury, infection, or what ever it is. It appears to me to be infected, and in that diagnosis I am drawing on many years of experience treating similar conditions in turtles and tortoises. I fully intended to have to have all of them wormed and treated for parasites, as that comes with the territory of purchasing wild caught tortoises. I did not plan to have to treat any other part of any of them.

I am requesting simply a partial refund on the single tortoise that is not in good condition. I fully accept all other charges an paid them willingly, but this was an unexpected event.

Kristina

Kyryah's Reptile and Amphibian Rescue
http://tortnet.darchorizons.com/rescue.html
Kyryah's Tortoise Network
http://tortnet.darchorizons.com/index.html





From: [email protected]
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 11:56:36 -0500
Subject: Re: TRACKING NUMBER FOR SHIPMENT
To: [email protected]

Well like I said, I inspected their faces and there was nothing wrong so have to strongly disagree that its an infection as infections don't happen overnight. Perhaps it got something in its eyes during the shipment as I have no incentive to send anyone a tortoise with infected eyes.

Dan

In a message dated 3/9/2010 11:53:19 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes:

It is both eyes, not just one, and is definitely infected, otherwise the discharge would be clear, not yellowish white. Both are swollen completely shut. This is not a scratched eye.


Kyryah's Tortoise Network
http://tortnet.darchorizons.com/index.html





From: [email protected]
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 10:08:03 -0500
Subject: Re: TRACKING NUMBER FOR SHIPMENT
To: [email protected]

Well he must of got poked in the eye in the bag by another tortoise or rubbed his eye into something in the bag as I inspected them closely before bagging and they all were bright eyed and doing fine. I would say its injured and its fluid running from his eye.

Dan

In a message dated 3/9/2010 9:52:58 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes:

The tortoises arrived about 45 minutes ago. I am pleased with everything except one Russian. It has very swollen eyes with a puss like discharge, even after a warm water soak. Please see attached photo.

Kyryah's Tortoise Network
http://tortnet.darchorizons.com/index.html
Click to expand...

kris296.jpg
 
Before anybody jumps down my throat, the above post was sarcasm. Those who have read Dan's other threads should have no problem getting it.
 
Kristina - one of the statements Dan is known for is that he's never had a legitimate complaint. In his eyes, they're all "bogus"...and he usually calls them that, as he did with you.
I obviously do not appreciate you're filing a bogus complaint against my paypal account.
Click to expand...
 
This guy really needs to be shut down...Anyone coming here and talking good about him should feel bad about it..Your basically an accomplice to helping him do what he does...
 
Iraqvet said:
This guy really needs to be shut down...Anyone coming here and talking good about him should feel bad about it..Your basically an accomplice to helping him do what he does...
Click to expand...
I will openly admit that the first time I'd ever heard of Dan Scolaro was while I was scanning the "for sale lizard" ads on Kingsnake.com. I shot him an email when I saw his Red Eyed Croc Skink ad and he replied in what was, to me, a professional way. I then decided to go over to his website, and on said site was a TON of positive testimonials. So I figured it wasn't a bad idea to order from him.

I honestly don't think about the BOI on Fauna when I look into purchases anymore. No offense to anyone here, but the last time I took part in this forum beyond what I've done recently was roughly 5 - 6 years ago. To me, the BOI on Fauna seemed like it was a place for people that had beefs with each other to sit around and grind their axes. I still feel pretty much the same now.

My transaction with Dan went pretty smooth, and I'm actually very thankful for that. All I can do, personally anyway, is comment on how my own experience with Dan went and ended up. And in my case, it went good.

I don't think I'm an "accomplice" to anything. I had a transaction with Dan, and if it's a good transaction, I feel one should tell of it.

Not saying that your comment was directed at me personally Iraqvet, but I thought I'd throw my two cents out there as well.
 
Iraqvet said:
This guy really needs to be shut down...Anyone coming here and talking good about him should feel bad about it..Your basically an accomplice to helping him do what he does...
Click to expand...

What I can't understand is the people who do not understand this. The whole "my transaction with dan went smoothly" therefore all the other transactions that didn't go smoothly should be dismissed seems to be nonproductive. And to say they are not supporting him is ridiculous. By putting money in his pocket and supporting him here with their "good transaction" (which by the way, at best those who are saying their transaction with him went smoothly are just describing the way things are supposed to be done and that coming here "supporting" him only shows he knows how to do things correctly sometimes but he chooses not to on other occasions, and on those occasions he will unload on you like you are the biggest idiot on the planet). Coming on here saying I received what I ordered doesn't warrant a "good guy" post as far as I'm concerned. Going above and beyond is usually what makes it as a BOI post, be it good or bad. Dan has shown us plenty of bad and thus far I have not seen any good. Just because he gets a few orders shipped out correctly it doesn't mean that he is a good guy and to come here and support him and possibly cause someone else to become his next victim is criminal in my book.

Recap:

Dan has plenty of bad guy threads backed up by his own rantings which is irrefutable proof of how he conducts himself.

I have yet to see a warranted good guy thread for him. At the very best the thread(s) tell of him doing what is expected of someone, anyone, everyone.

So he can do things correctly but more often then not he doesn't and will go off like someone having a turrets episode if you confront him about it. Yeah, there is someone I would do or refer others to do business with. :rolleyes:
 
ragnew said:
My transaction with Dan went pretty smooth, and I'm actually very thankful for that. All I can do, personally anyway, is comment on how my own experience with Dan went and ended up. And in my case, it went good.
Click to expand...

If your opinion of smooth and good is a missexed animal, that has to be returned, resulting in the death of said animal, we are not going to get anywhere. You have said your piece, now it seems like you are baiting with your comments about Dan and the BOI.:shrug01:
 
David Scarboro said:
If your opinion of smooth and good is a missexed animal, that has to be returned, resulting in the death of said animal, we are not going to get anywhere. You have said your piece, now it seems like you are baiting with your comments about Dan and the BOI.:shrug01:
Click to expand...

:iagree:
 
David Scarboro said:
If your opinion of smooth and good is a missexed animal, that has to be returned, resulting in the death of said animal, we are not going to get anywhere.
Click to expand...

If there was ever a definition for this smilie :bandhead0 there never was. Sounds like a great deal to me, where do I sign up? :bandhead0 Can I pay for my own return shipping too? (granted he did step up and pay the shipping, it never should have come to this in the first place had he sent the proper animal the first time, that was just a :>poke2<: at the individual who offered to pay :bandhead0)

David Scarboro said:
You have said your piece, now it seems like you are baiting with your comments about Dan and the BOI.:shrug01:
Click to expand...

You are going to need a bigger boat fishing these waters. :toetap05:
 
What Im not understanding and Dave touched on it a bit... why is it when Dan does something that he should be doing anyways he is labeled a good guy. That doesn't make him a good guy.... that make your round at Russian Roullette (sp?) a winner. You didnt get :mah:

Dan has showed his true side on here time and time again. Why would anyone want to take that chance? When it comes to problems he doesn't hand them professionally. He handles them like a kindergartner :mah:

Maybe Dan is finally trying to change with the way he handled this transaction... but I will need to see ALOT more proof of that before I believe that. Especially with the way he came after me on here just because I said I wouldn't spend my money with him because of the way he acted here.
 
I agree 100%.

It is easy to have a good transaction. All you have to do is what is expected of you as a seller.

It takes actual work to be a bad seller. You have to refuse to make things right, call your customer names, never take responsibility for your mistakes and in general be a jerk. In my case, I don't feel that I was in the wrong asking for a $30 refund. The tortoise cost me $65. I was asking for less than HALF. You saw how he got about it. Was it really that big of a deal? You know, the biggest difference I see is that if Dan would have made good with me, I WOULD have been a repeat customer. He would have made more money off me. But to say, I sent you a sick animal, but I will give you a price break on the next (potentially sick!!!) animal that you give me money for is RIDICULOUS.

Bad experiences far outweigh the good in my opinion. Dan has shown repeatedly that if things go good, he is okay to work with. But if there is a mistake in your order, be prepared to be told it is your fault, not his, called names, and harassed (I love how HE does the repeated emailing and name calling, but then accuses others of harassing him!)

A good seller would be able to accept their mistakes, and make it right no matter what.

How I feel is that the people that defend Dan are saying, "I had a good transaction, so it doesn't matter to me that he treated you like crap." That isn't fair. Even if Dan recently stepped up to the plate and did what was right for once, he still has left a trail of people that he has abused. One good transaction simply DOES NOT make all the bad ones go away.

I have an honest question, to which I want honest answers. All of you sellers out there - if you had sent me a tortoise, and even if its eyes were clear when it was mailed, and it arrived to me less than 24 hours later with swollen eyes, and all I asked for was a $30 refund, what would you do? Was I out of line in asking for that money?
 
kyryah said:
I have an honest question, to which I want honest answers. All of you sellers out there - if you had sent me a tortoise, and even if its eyes were clear when it was mailed, and it arrived to me less than 24 hours later with swollen eyes, and all I asked for was a $30 refund, what would you do? Was I out of line in asking for that money?
Click to expand...


No...
 
kyryah said:
I have an honest question, to which I want honest answers. All of you sellers out there - if you had sent me a tortoise, and even if its eyes were clear when it was mailed, and it arrived to me less than 24 hours later with swollen eyes, and all I asked for was a $30 refund, what would you do? Was I out of line in asking for that money?
Click to expand...

IF I knew it was the same animal I shipped out... you'd have your money.
 
Plain and simple - I had no Russians before I got 4 from Dan. I have nothing to back that up, of course, except 1500 posts on www.tortoiseforum.org

Claiming that I took pictures of an animal I already had, other than the one Dan sent me is exactly what Dan tried to do.
 
well

I just purchased 2 egg eaters from him and he actually sent me 3. id say thats fantastic service dont you think. theyre all healthy, no mites spots etc ive had them for a week and a half so far getting them eggs tomorrow since itll be their 2 week feeding time soon.
 
Babyeater said:
I just purchased 2 egg eaters from him and he actually sent me 3. id say thats fantastic service dont you think. theyre all healthy, no mites spots etc ive had them for a week and a half so far getting them eggs tomorrow since itll be their 2 week feeding time soon.
Click to expand...

I'd say "fantastic" IF you knew ahead of time the extra snake was coming. If the third snake was a surprise....as pleasant as YOU might find that behavior, I consider it to be extremely inappropriate and irresponsible to send live animals to someone who is not expecting to take on that responsibility. If someone were to send me a surprise extra snake at this time, I'd be in a very serious jam and it would piss me off considerably.

Of course Dan has some deals that go as they should. I don't think that's ever been in doubt. The problem is, he also has plenty of deals that DON'T go as they should, and when that happens, he treats his customers like crap. I'm happy for you that you got lucky....but that doesn't make Dan a person I'd ever choose to do business with.
 
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