Agreed. But!
Is backing the guy up against the wall going to help the OP? I think not.
As I suspected earlier, Nate tells us on facebook this is the worst year of his life, so this kind of negates the theory he is well-off at this point.
I also agree a man's word is his honor, and apparantly this guy has very little honor at this point. As I stated earlier, my advice may not work with Nate one bit, and probably won't get any blood out of this turnip, but it is a better route to take than the one the OP is currently on. All he (the OP) is doing is letting Nate control how he reacts by doing the typical reaction of 'I trusted someone and they ripped me off'. I'm saying tell Nate you wish him the best, be sincere, and see what life brings your way. You may just be pleasantly surprised. This is also coming from a guy that used to have to donate plasma to go right next door to Publix and buy groceries with the $20, so I do know the value of money.
As far as my personal experiences about which I typed earlier, I thought they were pertinent to the essence of this thread, which to me is about trust, loyalty, and friendship. If I was wrong, my apologies to the OP.
Anthony, I don't know you, we've never done business, and probably never will. Nate didn't tell "US" anything. He told Michael in a pm on FB, It was a ploy for sympathy, nothing more.
Michael and John are 2 of the most honorable and generous men that I know, I am grateful to have them in my life.
We as friends have been through more hardships together as friends than most do in marriages that I know.
John through his phone calls has been a life line to me when I needed him most, this was based on love and mutual respect for each other, no amount of money can be buy that. In fact, I have sent John animals with no personal gain to be had. Just pay it forward. John has helped me with things in my life and has sat and listened to me for hours on the phone, not for money or the next best snake, but out of friendship and love.
Michael is like a son to me. We share our lives with each other. We started out as business people. Seller and customer. It developed over time into family, that's how we view ourselves today.
We enjoy each others critters as Michael has a very diverse collection, with years of experience and successful accomplishments. It took commitment and time on Michael part.
And the crux of this situation, Michael trusted Nate and believed that his trust was being returned. I have seen some of the animals that Nate has sent Michael, I have held and watched grow the animals the Michael sent Nate. All my dear friend wanted was a little note stating that he was still working on getting the animals that he wanted and was owed, nothing more and nothing less.
I have been in Nate's shoe's before, it's not a pleasant place to be, however my outcome was different in the way that I handled myself. and I managed to right a wrong that I had gotten myself into. My hope is that Nate will do the same.