Bad Guy Michael Lawton

[SteveDLS]

Why oh why didn’t I listen to good advice! I was warned by several people not to do business with Michael Lawton; however, when I confronted him about it he stated that was a long time ago and things were different now. I believe people deserve second chances and believed him. He is not only skipping payment right before Christmas but is using PayPal as a weapon in retaliation for spite. Never ever do business with Michael Lawton!

This customer, Michael Lawton, agreed to pay $800 in payments for wholesale shipment of Corn Snakes which according to our K&S Exotics payment plan the first 25% is non-refundable.
Here is a picture on our business page where we state our payment plan:
(K&S Exotics Payment Plan.jpg)
He agreed to the 25% non-refundable payment and he agreed to terms which were $150 paid now then $120 paid every Wednesday. He made first weekly payment; but, I agreed to skip the payment of the 26th for Christmas. On 12-19-2018, he stated he could not make payment which breaks our agreement. I told him I would refund $70 because he already paid $270 of the $800 and $200 is non-refundable. He said that out of spite he would file a claim with PayPal. I am attaching the most relevant of our conversation as proof of his agreement to the terms. The entire conversation can be copied for you upon request but is not relevant to case.
In this conversation he agrees to terms and to pay $150 on 5th:
(M. Lawton Conversation.jpg)
In this next clip, he agrees to the payment plan of $120 to be paid every Wednesday. I also re-iterate to the customer that the first 25% is a non re-fundable deposit which he agrees by stating, “I still want them”:
(M. Lawton Conversation2.jpg)
Here he pays the $150:
(M. Lawton Conversation3.jpg)
Here is the first weekly payment on Wednesday the 12th:
(M. Lawton Conversation4.jpg)
Today is Wednesday 19th and I remind him here that weekly payment is due:
(M. Lawton Conversation5.jpg)
The following are where he breaks agreement and for spite files a PayPal complaint:
(M. Lawton Conversation6.jpg)
(M. Lawton Conversation7.jpg)
(M. Lawton Conversation8.jpg)
(M. Lawton Conversation9.jpg)
(M. Lawton Conversation10.jpg)

 

[SteveDLS]

More pictures

More pictures

 

[bcr229]

In your OP there are references to ten images but you've only attached 8. Can you attach the last 2 please?

Also did you do a BOI search here on Lawton before agreeing to sell to him? Because I wouldn't sell him a rubber snake never mind a live one.

Finally, if his finances are so tight he can't pay the electric bill, why the heck is he purchasing $800 worth of snakes?

 

[SteveDLS]

There are actually 11 images

Hello, I am trying to post the remaining images but the website system will not let me. It keeps telling me I already posted these images (which I have not) and that I can not post duplicates. I will wait a few minutes and try again . Sorry about that.

 

[SteveDLS]

images

more images

 

[LauraB]

Why, oh why didn't you listen to good advice? Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Also sorry that you are dealing with Lawton. In the end, he will have no chance of "winning" with Paypal. Thanks for posting, and in the future refer to the BOI for searches / info on potential buyers, as Melinda suggested.
Here are two previous "bad guy" posts about him:

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=572234&highlight=Michael+Lawton

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=573943&highlight=Michael+Lawton

 

[SteveDLS]

Thanks LauraB! Your right I should have listened the the "bad guy" posts here on him. Live and Learn! I will always check this site first from now on. Thanks again !

 

[bcr229]

Has he filed the disputes yet? It will be interesting to see how it plays out since PayPal does not offer buyer protection for stuff purchased using a payment/installment plan, but OTOH you never did ship anything because the buyer never paid in full.

 

[Lucille]

PayPal does not offer buyer protection for stuff purchased using a payment/installment plan

I had thought they were going to change that in November in the U.S., not sure if they did.

 

[SteveDLS]

bcr229, Yes he file a dispute with PayPal and I am still waiting their results. I will post here when I know. And, yes, I never shipped to him since he did not finish paying. Thanks for the comment .

 

[SteveDLS]

Lucille, when I find out what PayPal is going to do; I will post results here. Thanks for commenting !

 

[bcr229]

I had thought they were going to change that in November in the U.S., not sure if they did.

I believe you're right. So, sellers need to make sure the nonrefundable deposit is sent F&F with the rest of the purchase price sent G&S if they want to keep using PayPal and not get ripped off.

 

[SteveDLS]

bcr229, that is good advice. I may still use PayPal and if I do it will be Friends and Family for deposit. Live and Learn! But to be honest I want to use something other than PayPal because when I think about this it is a partnership. I am basically giving PayPal 3% of my Company. I do the work and they get 3% and this is the second time I have had problems with PayPal. The first time I lost $350. I am kind of sick and tired of PayPal dictacting to me how to operate my company. I think I will give 3% of my company to someone else.

 

[bcr229]

bcr229, that is good advice. I may still use PayPal and if I do it will be Friends and Family for deposit. Live and Learn! But to be honest I want to use something other than PayPal because when I think about this it is a partnership. I am basically giving PayPal 3% of my Company. I do the work and they get 3% and this is the second time I have had problems with PayPal. The first time I lost $350. I am kind of sick and tired of PayPal dictacting to me how to operate my company. I think I will give 3% of my company to someone else.

It doesn't matter whether you use PayPal or a regular merchant processor to accept credit cards; you're going to end up paying some company to accept funds electronically.

 

[nickolasanastasiou]

Yes, other than hand to hand, you will always (in some way) pay for a middleman. The costs may be hidden. They may be subsidized by something else. They are still there. Part of doing business efficiently and broadly. You can avoid using these means and that is fine, but it can be somewhat limiting if there is significantly large volume to move or if competitors are willing to offer conveniences you are not. It comes down to what you, your prospective customers, your actual customers, and your business itself can tolerate/withstand. I use a small variety of methods that can be switched to suit the situation more specifically.

Steven, as for your having dealt with the namesake of the thread, there were more than a few negative accounts shared in previous threads. I understand people sometimes change and sometimes you can get good business done with a person who has a checkered history, but there were lots of issues with this guy. Payment plans, payment methods with mutual protection avenues, and so on are for regular people with regular histories or exceptional people with positive histories. Or at least those who can be given benefit of the doubt. I know I (mostly) stopped accepting payment plans due to deadbeat types with slips and excuses. This guy had none of the hallmarks of being worthy of any seller generosity or leeway. Exactly the type who, if given a chance to do good business despite history, should be held to only stricter methodology because of the potential for him to use benefits extended to average buyers to commit abuses against you as a seller. I know you understand this now, but I feel it is worth saying.

 

[KNOBTAIL]

STEVE, if someone files a claim against you on PayPal, under these circumstances, are these funds taken from your PayPal account and held in escrow ?
Sometimes there are more tears shed for the answered prayers then the unanswered ones. PayPal eliminates the need and makes sales over the internet a pleasure without the cost of using a card provider which may turn out to be more costly and not so easy to deal with. Especially in this trade.

If you have experienced problems with PayPal in the past and its animal related (which they really frown upon) when it comes to livestock claims, they may prevent future sales and services.. 3% for there services is a small price to pay for the convenience of conducting business with the least amount cost. The server is fine, you are the one who needs to be careful.

 

[SteveDLS]

nickolasanastasiou, Thanks for the comment it was all true. I will def. be looking back at this site often from now on.

 

[SteveDLS]

KNOBTAIL PayPal immediately withdrew the funds from my account without asking me one question. They emptied out my account then asked me to try and resolve problem with customer or escalte the matter which I did. As soon as I know anything I will post here.

 

[KNOBTAIL]

Steve, that's part of the service agreement you signed and agreed to. I fully understand the frustration.

I had a similar situation not animal related, but the process is based on shoot first and answer questions later. They take the money first and then the proof of having it returned becomes the innocence part of this mess. I would call them and try to handle the matter .

I don't know how much money we are dealing with, but a word of caution concerning using two different methods of acquiring or even sending funds via PayPal. If they see that using F & F as one method and paying any balance as another method, it appears that some kind of avoidance is going on.

Usually its related to the 3% fee avoidance. They will close your account if they do find out that you are trying to recoup those monies by charging the buyer through the PayPal services... All it takes is a complaint. I do hope this mess gets resolved for you.

 

[SteveDLS]

I woke up Christmas morning to have Michael Lawton calling me an ASSHAT on my own business Facebook page. He commnented multiple times on my page. To me, this is the ultimate low, commenting directly on my business page but I wouldn't expect anything less from this guy. I did not know you could ban someone from your page but I learned you can and he is now banned from commmentng on my business page. He also messaged me and stated he dropped the PayPal case and he wanted his refund immediately. I checked and indeed he dropped the case. Unlike, Michael Lawton, I do what I am going to say and I will refund his $70 as I said on the 2nd of January (as long as the bank is open, might be a holday).