Bad Guy Jeff Barringer's mistreatment to KINGSNAKE.COM Patrons Continues!!!!

[Joe I]

"Jeff Barringer, owner of Kingsnake.com, a subsidiary of Online Hobbyist Inc. continues to mistreat his longtime patrons!!!!"

Overview: Almost 2 months ago, 7/13/12, I received an email from Jeff Barringer stating that I had received a complaint against an ad that I had placed for a female leopard tortoise on Kingsnake.com. For the past 2 months I have sent emails with no response. Mr. Barringer, has suspended or revoked my account without any explanation or communication, and has kept my money!

My story is actually very simple. First of all, I am a hobbyist and a breeder. Through the years that has developed into buying, selling, and trading like many other hobbyist. In July of this year, I answered an ad on Craigslist for a 15 inch (Straight Line Measured) Adult Female Leopard Tortoise. I talked ith the gentelmen, and asked him why he was selling the animal. The reply was that he was in desperate need of money. So, I made an appointment to meet with him, and purchased the animal. Very simply, the animal was sold to me as a proven breeder. In fact, the ad said the word "Breeder" in it. So, after I purchased the animal I decided that I did not want to keep the animal for my personal collection. So, I placed it for sale under the Tortoise section at Kingsnake.com. My ad read, "15 inch Adult Female Leopard Tortoise- Proven Breeder". About 2 days after I posted the ad, 7/13/12, I received the email from Mr. Jeff Barringer. The email came through the Kingsnake Abuse Dept. The gentelmen that I had purchased the animal from had filed a complaint that I was misrepresenting the breeding status of the animal. I explained to Mr. Barringer that the animal was 15 inches Straight line, and that the animal was sold to me as a "Breeder". I was told this story in order to purchase this animal. I had no reason to question the story the seller gave me due to the size of the Female Leopard. In which, any Leopard Tortoise enthusiast would agree, a 15 inch straight line measured female is of of breeding size. Anyway, I went back to Craigslist and the wording of the ad had been changed. Then, about a week later a friend of mine went on backpage.com and found a copy of the same ad. Only, this ad had not been changed! So, a copy was forward to Mr. Barringer which showed him that the animal was being advertised as a breeder. I explained this Female Leopard I was trying to sell on his website was legally mine, so there was no fraud in selling someone else's animal. And the copy of the ad from Backpage.com showed him there was no misrepresentation. I explained the gentlemen made a false complaint because the animal was being sold for more money, it which he needed desperately!

I have since sent at least 8 emails (very polite and respectful mind you)in the last 2 months asking for my membership to be reinstated. The emails were sent to Jeff Barringer and to his staff. Mr. Barringer has simply kept my money, and kicked me off of his website with no explanation. Oh yeah, forgot to mention.... this is after about 8 years of being a great customer with zero strikes against my Kingsnake account.

I must admit, I was angry in the beginning, and confused at the same time. Why was I being treated this way???? Ahhh. Then, I did a google search and started coming across many mistreated customers. I spent better than an hour alone just here on this site reading about the years of abuse people had received before me. Then, it all started to make sense. Everyone, including myself, had experienced a little thing called, "The EGO" of Mr. Jeff Barringer.

So, I am here to warn other people to think twice before spending your money and supporting Kingsnake.com Because in the end, there is no loyalty, the (TOS) Terms of Service is not followed, and it doesn't matter how many years of a clean record you have. If Mr. Barringer decides to cut you loose without an explanation, he will do so in a heart beat and keep your MONEY!

I will end this complaint like they do with America's Most Wanted:

"If you, your friends, or any of your love one's have fallen victim to what you feel is ABUSE or MISTEATMENT by Mr. Barringer at Kingsnake.com...."

You may go to www.austin.bbb.org, and file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau regarding the treatment you received from Mr. Jeff Barringer @ Online Hobbyist.com, Inc. (based out of Walberg, Texas)

You can also send an email to [email protected] (Carlos A. Delgado)


I wish everyone the very best! Joe....

 

[Lucille]

The gentelmen that I had purchased the animal from had filed a complaint that I was misrepresenting the breeding status of the animal. .

Would like to see both ads, the emails, and post the seller's name please. What incentive did your seller have to make such a complaint?

 

[Joe I]

Hello Lucille

Would like to see both ads, the emails, and post the seller's name please. What incentive did your seller have to make such a complaint?

I can definitley post the ad that shows it was being sold as a proven breeder, but that's not the issue.... Yes, I am upset with the person who made the false complaint. But, I had to sit back and take a good look at the bigger picture here. Its the way Jeff handled the situation after the complaint, which seems to be his trademark! Even after I proved to Kingsnake the complaint was false, I was treated very unfairly! Another thing I realized Lucille is after reading many complaints about Jeff Barringer I noticed they had all the same common denominator. Jeff cancels people's accounts, and then doesn't feel it is necessary to communicate with that person. He just throws people in the garbage so to speak... People should not be treated this way!

 

[Lucille]

after reading many complaints about Jeff Barringer[/QUOTEPost the complaints. You are making a generalization with reports of anonymous complaints, let's see them named and why the complaint was made.
I'm interested in proof and numbers. KS is very large, how many accounts are actually cancelled?
Every person who runs a large board must deal with people he feels are not following the rules. I'd like a clearer picture of what is actually going on posted here.

 

[Lucille]

Sorry

after reading many complaints about Jeff Barringer

Post the complaints. You are making a generalization with reports of anonymous complaints, let's see them named and why the complaint was made.
I'm interested in proof and numbers. KS is very large, how many accounts are actually cancelled?
Every person who runs a large board must deal with people he feels are not following the rules. I'd like a clearer picture of what is actually going on posted here.

 

[Joe I]

Dont be sorry...

Sorry



Post the complaints. You are making a generalization with reports of anonymous complaints, let's see them named and why the complaint was made.

I'd like a clearer picture of what is actually going on posted here.

Hello Lucille. There are too many to post on this thread, lol.... If you want to be better informed please go to Fauna's home page, click on search, and then just type in the word Jeff Barringer. Get comfortable, that will keep you busy for a while. Enjoy!

 

[Lucille]

Sorry, if you have evidence for a thread YOU initiated, bring it HERE.

 

[Suncoast Herpetological]

While I have been a member of kingsnake for well over a decade and still post ads there on occasion, that is not the reason for this post. There are administrative issues on Kingsnake I do not agree with either. Like everyone else I have a choice to accept them and continue using the site or take my business elsewhere. I have chosen option 1.

The reason for this post is simple. In virtually every one of the threads started here by someone who got the boot over there for "no reason", after the emails are posted it becomes painfully obvious that the original infraction is never the cause....it is the bitchy argumentative torrent of emails from the "wronged party" that eventually gets them the boot. This is something that Jeff has been very vocal about. He will not tolerate any abusive communication. It is plainly stated in their TOS.

Post the unaltered COMPLETE email exchange, with headers, and prove me wrong




Poi

 

[Joe I]

Hello again...

Sorry, if you have evidence for a thread YOU initiated, bring it HERE.

Hello Lucille, first of all, posting the other complaints here is simply not possible. Too many people and pages that go with those threads. The people here already know about the reputation with the treatment that Jeff Barringer continues to display. I will definitely display some of the emails or the ad, if people think I am not telling the truth. But, the purpose of my post was to inform everyone that Jeff Barringer continues to mistreat loyal patrons that have been in good standing for years. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Lucille]

In virtually every one of the threads started here by someone who got the boot over there for "no reason", after the emails are posted it becomes painfully obvious that the original infraction is never the cause....it is the bitchy argumentative torrent of emails from the "wronged party" that eventually gets them the boot.

It's not Joe's first rodeo, either:

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142152

 

[Joe I]

Hello John....

First of all I agree with you to a certain extent. I have read several of the other complaints and after they were mistreated and not communicated, or ignored by Jeff... They did fly off the handle and wind up using 4 letter words. But, in my opinion, based on what I have read, Jeff does this intentionally!

In my particular case, I disagree with you....

Ever since 7/13/12, when my KS access was taken away I have sent very nice emails to Jeff "asking" for his assistance and help with this matter. To this day I have never called him any vulger names or used profanity in any way. Because, he wants me to do that! I have handled all of my emails in a professional manner, and I will gladly post them. I would have posted them already after Lucille mentioned it. But, my hard drive in which has those emails is being transferred over to my new computer. But, no biggy... I can post them. In fact, after pleading my case in detail to the Better Business Bureau, they opened a file. Any you know what, they have tried to contact Mr. Barringer for over 3 weeks! Jeff won't even respond to them! I can only think that Jeff does not know what to say to them! I have the proof that I presented to them! After everything that has happened, besides this is Jeff's normal behavior based on history... The only conclusion I have come up with is that the gentlemen that made a false complaint was a friend of his by some odd miracle. Because there is absolutely "zero" excuse for the treatment I have been given up until now. Now, of course, I created this thread so Jeff will not like that.

Here is the thing, I have waited almost 2 months! How long is a customer suppose to wait. Because I can never be accused of being patient with Jeff. I thought Kingsnake was great, as I am sure you do. Until you get that bad roll of the dice. The part that gets me is, this guy named "Adam" (don't know his last name) filed a complaint. That information was taken, I proved it wrong, I was still kicked off? The other gentlemen did not offer any proof at all! That is why I am saying that it must have been a person Jeff was friend's with.

 

[Fangthane]

...Oh yeah, forgot to mention.... this is after about 8 years of being a great customer with zero strikes against my Kingsnake account.....

Excerpt from Joe's other BG thread:

...You contacted Kingsnake abuse dept., you contacted other Sri Breeders, and started this thread, but you are not trying to bash me... you have got to be kidding me!.

Seems like the "zero strikes" statement may not be entirely true. According to your own words, a previous buyer complained to KS admin about you. It seems that perhaps your account being terminated may be due to a bit more of a cumulative effect than what you'd have us believe.

 

[Paul Kent]

Excerpt from Joe's other BG thread:


Seems like the "zero strikes" statement may not be entirely true. According to your own words, a previous buyer complained to KS admin about you. It seems that perhaps your account being terminated may be due to a bit more of a cumulative effect than what you'd have us believe.

Nice catch.

Thats why all of the communications, etc are necessary to give everything the necessary perspective.

 

[dumje]

this is a reason I try my best not to business on Kingsnake anymore...too many complaints about that guys business practices...I prefer this website and direct as many people as I can to this website...I would rather send my money to this site where at least Rich and the rest DO communicate back to you and tell you that stupid crap you did do...

 

[laterob]

Maybe I am too tired....doesn't seem too complicated.

The same person who scammed you reported you to Kingsnake for trying to pay it forward?

My take, that I haven't seen mentioned here, is that it is only a proven breeder if it's bred for you. YOU advertised it as a proven breeder, and apparently it wasn't. What if some poor schmo (me) bought the animal and it never bred?

You'll never catch me advertise anything proven that hasn't proven FOR ME, and I think that's the way it should be (although pictures and/or video may be more acceptable).

 

[Joe I]

Hello....

Excerpt from Joe's other BG thread:


Seems like the "zero strikes" statement may not be entirely true. According to your own words, a previous buyer complained to KS admin about you. It seems that perhaps your account being terminated may be due to a bit more of a cumulative effect than what you'd have us believe.

I did have zero strikes against my account at Kingsnake. If you read the TOS, and according to their rules.... you cannot have 3 strikes against your account within the same year. I am not even sure what year that was from in that post... but it sure would be nice if you let us all know where you got it and when I made that comment...

 

[Joe I]

Hey Rob...

Maybe I am too tired....doesn't seem too complicated.

The same person who scammed you reported you to Kingsnake for trying to pay it forward?

My take, that I haven't seen mentioned here, is that it is only a proven breeder if it's bred for you. YOU advertised it as a proven breeder, and apparently it wasn't. ).

Hello Rob. I completely agree with you on that fact. I trusted a guy on his ad and his word. Again, your buying a "15 inch Adult Female Leopard" and the person selling it to you says it has been bred before... No reason to really doubt him with the size it was. But yes, I did mention that to Jeff. The guy seemed like a really sincere person, and I believed him. A copy of the ad, that says "Female Leopard Breeder". Would that hold any weight if you were in charge of KS, and I was pleading my case with you? Just curious...

 

[laterob]

You know, Joe, that is a tough one. I think the ban is extreme, but I'd still ding you for misrepresenting the animal.

 

[Joe I]

Hello Dan...

Excerpt from Joe's other BG thread:


Seems like the "zero strikes" statement may not be entirely true. According to your own words, a previous buyer complained to KS admin about you. It seems that perhaps your account being terminated may be due to a bit more of a cumulative effect than what you'd have us believe.

hello Dan. I must admit you had me stumped on that quote, and yes I did say it. Now I remember, if you are so kind, as you have been to find this please tell everyone here the findings of the entire thread....

I sold a well started Sri Lankan Star to gentlemen that did not know what he was doing. Its a long thread, but I remember everything. And to answer your question bluntly "NO" his complaint at the time to KS did not hold any water. In fact, after giving KS my emails back and forth with the person, Melody from KS, said my account was clear and had no infractions.



So yes, I was correct with the statement I made..... I had absolutely zero strikes against my account for the whole terms on KS!!!!!!!

 

[Joe I]

Hey Rob...

You know, Joe, that is a tough one. I think the ban is extreme, but I'd still ding you for misrepresenting the animal.

Absolutely, you don't think I learned my lesson with this incident.... I agree banned is very extreme and apparently Jeff has continued with his extremely harsh judgement over the years. I could understand 1 month suspenion or something. But, I have been kicked out for almost 2 months now. And again, even is extremely busy... Jeff can't have his staff try and contact me and let me know what is going on after almost 2 months. I read on other posts where 1 guy was ridiculed for not giving Jeff enough time to respond. Other people were accused of telling Jeff off and losing their cool. I have done the complete opposite here. Nothing but professionalism, and emails in good taste. I never gave Jeff a reason to ban me. I guess this thread is his excuse now. But, what am I really doing here. I merely informing people of the treatment I have recieved from Jeff after years of being a loyal and upstanding patron. That's all, honestly!