Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
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
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....
I wonder if there are legal implications to defamation. Jim’s case would probably hold up in court a lot better than the customer's since Jim actually has a reputation to protect him from obvious forms of outright abusive slander that harms his established business.
It's not a bad idea. There are grounds for defamation and invasion of privacy if Jim thinks there is enough money involved. Couldn't hurt to print this up and see if a local attorney wants to review it. Money and reputation matter and it looks like this was all orchestrated by one disappointed client. If this clients story is an exception to all of the other clients in the same time period then you probably have a strong case for defamation. Jim, a judge won’t care about your unfriendly handling of your client. She or he will just care about the product you sold, your clients reception of it, the claims the customer made about it compared to other clients in that time frame and then the pasting of the emails which defamed your character...and the matter of privacy invasion if you didn’t expressly authorize your client to paste the emails. Not sure if any of this has sharp teeth though. You would just have to make a call to find out. There were a lot of things said, not just by your client, that may have been slanderous and damaging to your business.
It's not a bad idea. There are grounds for defamation and invasion of privacy if Jim thinks there is enough money involved. Couldn't hurt to print this up and see if a local attorney wants to review it. Money and reputation matter and it looks like this was all orchestrated by one disappointed client. If this clients story is an exception to all of the other clients in the same time period then you probably have a strong case for defamation. Jim, a judge won’t care about your unfriendly handling of your client. She or he will just care about the product you sold, your clients reception of it, the claims the customer made about it compared to other clients in that time frame and then the pasting of the emails which defamed your character...and the matter of privacy invasion if you didn’t expressly authorize your client to paste the emails. Not sure if any of this has sharp teeth though. You would just have to make a call to find out. There were a lot of things said, not just by your client, that may have been slanderous and damaging to your business.
Dave... you notice how its the one's that just signed up with no post's that all of a sudden come to Jim's aid. Make you have to wonder.
Jim.... just food for thought. Not too long ago I was looking for someone to buy display cages from. A good friend of mine recommened your site to me. I went and looked at it and while I was reading your site the name kept jumping out at me but I couldnt place it. Finally it dawned on me and I did a search here. Sure enough... this thread popped up.
That search and the fact that I had been active in this thread from the start and knew what it was about cost you. You may think this thread wont hurt you or the way you dealt with this customer wont hurt you... but I promise you... it will. I'm spending my money with one of your competitors.
Hi Kevin. I think you should have no trouble verifying who I am. Google my name and call me. I like to hear someone else's voice so there is less masquerading as you rack up that impressive post count. I am not sure that you understand what has happened here, but if you do, by all means continue your own arrogant rhetoric. Just because you play the game better then someone like Jim doesn't make you better. One could argue that you are something worse. I don't even know you so I wouldn't argue that.
Hey Jim, I am checking out an ad on here for a pair of False Water Cobras (seller says that Bill Gillingham & Wes Pollack produced them). Since I need zoo exhibit-quality cages for the best value I will need two more of your black cages. I think a 48" would work. If any of you want to take a break from bashing Jim and would rather be useful, maybe you can help Jim and I determine the best size. I think his max size is 48". If this breed requires larger cages I was wondering if you ever make them so that they can be latched together. Since I will be showing them to the public at times the two ½’s might work better for transporting anyway.
It's called giving the pickle... It doesn't hurt, really it doesn't. I worked in customer service and I found my job to be a million times more pleasant when I gave the pickle. Having a good, helpful attitude, being willing to go that extra mile to make a customer happy, is more than worth it in the end! The added plus when a customer you've helped comes up to you and tells you how much your effort meant to them is what made working in customer service bearable for me.
You're always going to get people who are cranky, who do their best to make your life miserable. In this instance, that was not the OP's intent. If you actually read the thread and all the emails, that should be abundantly clear. It was to me.
I've decided to never do business with PVC plastics simply due to his extremely poor customer service and Jim's OWN ADMISSION that he will tell any dissatisfied customer to piss off. Putting Josh and his issue aside, how Jim handled the situation was completely unprofessional. I wouldn't want to be at his mercy.
So please let me again tell you all: I NEVER tried to get ANYTHING from Jim for free, as a matter of fact, I offered to BUY the 4 damaged panel replacements. I wasnt bashing the quality of the cages, I in fact complimented them, just was upset with the 4 damaged panels, not enough screws and covers, strange holes in my cage panels, and the very rude customer service! And yes, when I drop $$$$ on cages, I expect them to be perfect along with good customer service if I have a problem!
She or he will just care about the product you sold, your clients reception of it, the claims the customer made about it compared to other clients in that time frame and then the pasting of the emails which defamed your character...and the matter of privacy invasion if you didn’t expressly authorize your client to paste the emails.
To the matter of the emails, he sent them to me therefore they are my property and I can post them on the 9 O'Clock News if I so choose. To the matter of defamation of character, as with every other Bad Guy post on this site, I provided an accurate detailed record of my experience with this dealer and provided the proof of this as asked for by my fellow herp lovers. This type of forum is to share experiences with one another and to let people choose for themselves. Not once did I say to not buy from him, only that if you do, be prepared for the same experience I had should you have a problem. In his own words Jim has said if you have a problem he will NOT be there for you just as he was NOT there for me.
On another note, if you want to conduct business, this is not the post for it. Please respect the thread guidelines and stick to the topic at hand.
Thank you for that, I appreciate you taking the time to read it all and you are correct, I had anticipated good customer service and honestly was very disappointed and never expected the poor service I got even from the first contact I had with Jim and his wife about the problems I encountered.
In all honesty, a person who talks like that to a customer is well deserving of said customer driving out to loud mouths and giving them a wonderful Byatch slap !!! It's also known as a reality check...
Mr. Scharphorn certainly has been outspoken in the past. Of course, he could have burst forth a new man, like a butterfly bursting out of a chrysalis and shedding its caterpillar ways, but some how after reading this thread I think the caterpillar is still with us.....
It's called giving the pickle... It doesn't hurt, really it doesn't. I worked in customer service and I found my job to be a million times more pleasant when I gave the pickle. Having a good, helpful attitude, being willing to go that extra mile to make a customer happy, is more than worth it in the end! The added plus when a customer you've helped comes up to you and tells you how much your effort meant to them is what made working in customer service bearable for me.
You're always going to get people who are cranky, who do their best to make your life miserable. In this instance, that was not the OP's intent. If you actually read the thread and all the emails, that should be abundantly clear. It was to me.
I've decided to never do business with PVC plastics simply due to his extremely poor customer service and Jim's OWN ADMISSION that he will tell any dissatisfied customer to piss off. Putting Josh and his issue aside, how Jim handled the situation was completely unprofessional. I wouldn't want to be at his mercy.
Hi Kevin. I think you should have no trouble verifying who I am. Google my name and call me. I like to hear someone else's voice so there is less masquerading as you rack up that impressive post count. I am not sure that you understand what has happened here, but if you do, by all means continue your own arrogant rhetoric. Just because you play the game better then someone like Jim doesn't make you better. One could argue that you are something worse. I don't even know you so I wouldn't argue that.
I understand just fine what has happened here. Did you even read the emails Jim sent .... or better yet the way he responded in this thread and his other one that was going at the same time. You want to say my oppinon is "arrogant rhetoric" because it differs from yours.
As for the games... I'm not playing any games. None what so ever. I never said I was better than him. Those words came from your mouth... or in this case ... fingers.
Hey Jim, I am checking out an ad on here for a pair of False Water Cobras (seller says that Bill Gillingham & Wes Pollack produced them). Since I need zoo exhibit-quality cages for the best value I will need two more of your black cages. I think a 48" would work. If any of you want to take a break from bashing Jim and would rather be useful, maybe you can help Jim and I determine the best size. I think his max size is 48". If this breed requires larger cages I was wondering if you ever make them so that they can be latched together. Since I will be showing them to the public at times the two ½’s might work better for transporting anyway.
Clay, you seem like an intelligent, respectable guy... so tell me, how do two different sets of holes get drilled if the buyer or the seller didn't do it? There were damaged panels as well, how do you explain that? And what of the missing screws and screw covers that were supposed to be included? And the light strips that quit working (not the bulbs, the strips)? I highly doubt the buyer is just being difficult, there are issues in this situation that SHOULD have been addressed.
Instead, the seller decided to be mouthy and condescending, from the very beginning. And that's putting it lightly, there were times when he was just flat out rude and let his temper get the better of him.
These issues could have been resolved without this thread ever needing to be created. Jim stated in another thread that it would have cost $400 for the replacement parts. He could have met Josh half way, each putting forth $200 so that Josh could have the cages he'd wanted. But as I said, Jim refused to see reason and blew a few small issues into a gigantic beast.
A very articulate customer of Jim's is making two claims. One relates to his integrity and product and the other relates to his ability to please what appears to be a dishonest customer. He was candid and argumentative with a customer and finally profane! Bad jim. Good job all for noticing that he lost his patience and it sounds like its not the first time. If someone takes offense to jims short fuse then it is respectable to take action based upon values. But to Jim's point, where did these holes come from if not from someone who did in fact seem to be asking for a do-over on some panels? Those initial emails sound like someone trying to escalate a situation until jim finally gave in. Only he didn't. That part can't logically handled by saying that because jim lacks patience with tough customers he is also a liar. Unless there is a history of dishonest business dealings. Is there?
If you say you don't like jims attitude then fine. If you say jim sells bad products and lies sometimes, well don't expect his customers to not speak up about that separate claim. Some of us do trust his business dealings, overlook his northern attitude, and wouldn't settle for anything less than his cages at his shipped prices and speed of delivery.
I like what Em said because she noticed that we all get to choose our products based upon our preferences. I am mostly concerned with the cages and the cost. I vote with my cash like she does. Maybe Jim takes some classes on customer service, reads a book or watches a video to help handle difficult customers. And maybe he doesn't. Obviously that is between Jim and customers like A lot of you who want both quality and friendliness.
I agree that it sounds like there were some issues that should have been resolved despite the drilled panels. I think the screws should have been sent and the scratched panel replaced. I think those things should have been done regardless of what they did with the drilled panel problem. So again Em. You are right on. Sounds like Jim could have, should have, just sent those parts no matter what the customer was wanting with those drilled panels. I think jim predicted from experience that the customer wanted all or nothing. But that is speculation and if jim hasn't adressed that already, he might still want to up to and including a partial refund or credit for those very believable claims. For no other reason than to meet a minimum service expectation. Thanks all for letting me contribute.
I would rather spend my hard earned dollars with someone that has decent or excellent customer service vs someone that has no customer service. This way I know if there is a problem I will be taken care of... not brushed off to the side like Jim did with his customer.
That is what keeps all the bad guys in business. Folks want something for cheap and refuse to pay for quality.
I'll pay extra for quality every time and wont think twice about it. Maybe I have to save a bit more to get what I want... but at least I know that I'll be taken care of on the product end and the customer service end.
And now a question for you Clay.... How do you know Jim had a dishonest customer? It was proven that he talks about countersunk holes on his website... but yet he states he doesn't drill counter sunk holes. Once again... How do you know Jim had a dishonest customer?
as too... "overlooking his northern attitude"... that is the biggest bunch of hogwash I have heard in a while now. Why sould we have to spend our money with someone that has an attitude problem. Dont try to blame it on a "Northern" attitude. I know alot of Northerners and they dont have an attitude problem.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Well put Em, Bravo!
