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Info Seeking Advice on Dan Scolardo

NeoReptiliac

NeoReptiliac

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I recently bought a caiman from Dan Scolardo. I'm aware that you need a permit to ship caimans over state lines. I asked him in my first email if he could help explain to me the process of getting this permit. He told me he would cover it since he was the shipper and then told me the price I would need to send him over paypal. I paid him and he sent the caiman. When I got the caiman it was shipped by FedEx. I didn't realize it at the time but FedEx does not legally ship caimans. What caught my attention though was that the box was not labeled in any way other then the shipping address slip. Then I noticed there was no copy of the permit either. I asked a few friends what they thought and none of them knew what to say about it since none of them had ever dealed with Caimans or shipping reptiles. The next thing I noticed wrong was the Caiman would not eat. Then 4 days later died.
I emailed Dan Scolardo then about this matter and he said he didn't label the box cause - and I quote..
"the box was marked properly with nothing on it. If you mark it animal, then you risk someone kicking it, throwing it, or stealing it or some employee wanting to open it and play with it and then keeping it. I am quite experienced from watching and listening to my peers stories for decades and took their recommendations to heart and know exactly how to ship reptiles vice what the clowns say on forums and have shipped several thousands of boxes and never had a single animal arrive dead or injured nor was any box ever stolen. If you mark the box live animal, and its a risk someone along the way will drop it or rob it. "
He then told me that he could not do any refunds or replacements. And tried to find every reason he could think of to not put the blame on himself. He blamed his provider and me but never himself.
After getting no sort of progress out of him I asked a couple friends what they would suggest. One of them said I should call FedEx and see what they say about the shipping rules. So I did and they told me then that they do not ship caimans. So the man I spoke too in the FedEx department told me he would write this up and I should expect a call from his manager.
I then called Paypal as my friends suggested next. I did so and they would not help me get back the money. They called the case something but I forgot what it was called. Either way they said they couldn't help me cause they have no way of investigating it.
Dan then sent me an email letting me know he didn't appreciate me making a claim on paypal and that he didn't want to speak to me any more and he put me on his blocked email list. So I can not discuss anything further with him.


So here is what I need help with. What should I do now to get my money refunded? I do not wish to get a replaced caiman from him since I now know he is a shady business man. But I do feel like I diserve a refund of my money.

Thank you, Karl Jordan
 
Contact the Florida Dept of Fish and Wildlife, as well as your state's DFW. Let them know what happened. Take pictures of everything.

Follow PayPal's advice on how to get your money back, send them whatever they want, pictures, affidavits, whatever.

Have the caiman necropsied by a qualified vet to determine cause of death.

Save everything, receipts, reports, emails, everything.

Contact a lawyer.

With any luck, the lack of a permit (which I'm sure there is no permit) will put scolaro in the can for a while.

Maybe someday, he'll be shut down.
 
For the record and so that searches come up properly, his name is Dan Scolaro out of Boca Raton, Florida. His business name is DTS Herps.
 
Even though many of us here have plenty of experience with scolaro, it would be good to post whatever emails you have. Pictures of the dead caiman, pictures of the packaging and labels, and copies of reports that you get back.

I'm sure you've sent scolaro proof that the caiman is indeed dead, correct?
 
Yes I sent him proof (photos). I have the caiman in the freezer right now. You cant tell from just looking at it that it looks anything other then slightly skiny. I still have the box and packaging materials (newspaper with snake bag) but Ive lost the lable with my address on it. I still have the FedEx tracking number though and I have filed a report with FedEx over the matter.
 
Are you sure there is a Florida Fish and Wildlife department? In Texas, we have the Texas Parks and Wildlife agency that deals with Texas indigenous animal matters, then there is a FEDERAL US Fish and Wildlife agency that deals with migratory birds, and wildlife laws and regulations at the national level.
 
Dan's response in these situations is well documented...but there are a few things that should be pointed out.
- If you call FedEx, and ask them if they ship reptiles (regardless of the type), the answer will be no. A special waiver is required, but that part is generally not addressed in their response to general inquiries. To the best of my knowledge, there is no specific statement against the shipping of crocodilians by approved accounts.
- There is no permit required to ship spectacled caiman across state lines (unless something has changed in the past 7 yrs or so). If a permit is required to possess the caiman in your state, it is your responsibility to acquire it. (If they are regulated in a given state, shipping is subject to the rules of that state)
- Many, if not most, dealers do not label packages. I suspect it goes back to the days of needing to ship on the sly because the companies wouldn't allow them. The rules regarding this have been debated repeatedly over the years, and the two sides are pretty well set in their points of view.
 
Yes that's him.

I reported him to the WFC and they told me they would get back with me on the progress of the investigation.
 
hhmoore said:
Dan's response in these situations is well documented...but there are a few things that should be pointed out.
- If you call FedEx, and ask them if they ship reptiles (regardless of the type), the answer will be no. A special waiver is required, but that part is generally not addressed in their response to general inquiries. To the best of my knowledge, there is no specific statement against the shipping of crocodilians by approved accounts.
- There is no permit required to ship spectacled caiman across state lines (unless something has changed in the past 7 yrs or so). If a permit is required to possess the caiman in your state, it is your responsibility to acquire it. (If they are regulated in a given state, shipping is subject to the rules of that state)
- Many, if not most, dealers do not label packages. I suspect it goes back to the days of needing to ship on the sly because the companies wouldn't allow them. The rules regarding this have been debated repeatedly over the years, and the two sides are pretty well set in their points of view.
Click to expand...


Yes I checked before I bought the caiman if it was legal to own in my state. The only permits you need to own one is if you are breeding them and selling them. I had no intention of doing so. And I've only had one caiman in my ownership. But you do need permits to sell them. I don't now if he has any. Also you have to get a permit to ship them also after getting one to sell them. The permit to ship is $22 - I noticed after he started giving me trouble that he didn't charge that on my bill when I paid for the caiman. I asked him why and he didn't answer. Then I found out shipping FedEx was not permited so I assume he didn't have a permit to ship either.
 
rosebud945 said:
I notice in the ad that he charges $20 for what he is calling a permit fee. Was that fee in the ad before?
Click to expand...
Right. I didn't get charged that fee. He charged me $220 which was $175 for the caiman and $45 for shipping. I didn't catch onto this right away. Makes me feel sort of stupid for being so oblivious. I guess I was just so excited about getting the caiman I didn't stop to think of much else or even see the warning signs.
 
So did he add that fee to the ad after you questioned him? I am just curious about whether or not he did that to cover his can because you questioned him about it.
 
I believe the $20 is in reference to shipping costs within the state of Florida, where a person is required to have a permit. The permit has to be obtained from the state by the person possessing the caimen. For Dan to legally sell it he would need an "exhibit and sell" license for Florida as well as a class 2 crocodilian license from the state. I don't know FedEx's policy on shipping caimen, but as long as Dan has those permits mentioned and did not ship to a state where they are illegal there probably no legal ramifications. Unfortunately in his ad it does not state anything about a health guarentee for them beyond live arrival.
I'm sorry the little guy died and Dan certainly isn't known for his customer service when there is a problem, but I'm not sure there is much that can be done.
Paypal won't get in this fight either. They seem to avoid "animal issues". You ordered said animal, said animal was shipped....after that paypal figures its not their problem.
Again sorry this happened to you (and the caimen)

Greg Bryant
 
rosebud945 said:
So did he add that fee to the ad after you questioned him? I am just curious about whether or not he did that to cover his can because you questioned him about it.
Click to expand...
It was there when I ordered the caiman. I remember it saying something like 20 or 22 dollars. And he didnt add that to my total.


As for if he can legaly sale these in FL. I don't know if he has permits or not. Does anyone know if he has a permit to sell animals at all ?
Weither or not someone here knows doesnt matter to me. I will soon find out anyways. I was told that if Im not contacted within a week to call the WFC back and they gave me a number to use when I call to look up my report status. They will let me know something when it happens. =) Im glad you guys gave me the information in order to contact them. Lets all hope something can be done. If not anything it might light a fire under him to start cleaning up his act.
 
I just got another email from Dan. This time a harassing one. He saw this thread and decided to email me, behaving like a fool.

This is what he sent me .

It's comical to see your bogus report on the BOI. My permits are in order with the law and have a class II for caiman and class III to sell for several years running and nothing you can do will make anyone believe other than what someone else was smart to point out in that threat - that I stuck to the terms of sale and you are a bogus idiot who killed your pet and its a real shame you killed it. And no one believes your bogus complaint and your tactics will haunt you later and that is perhaps the only extended guarantee you will get. Why not just admit you overheated your caiman and are just an idiot in your care tactics keeping a tiny caiman outside in 95 degree weather and you are a turd in your tactics to try and rob me with a refund? I am so glad I did not extend any guarantee for you are you are a nasty rotten person who does not deserve to have the joy of owning a beautiful caiman.

Dan the caiman man


What I find the funniest is that he said I over heated the caiman which was untrue. I have a covered back porch where I kept the enclosure the caiman was in. The hottest it got around here while I had the caiman was 95F but even that wouldnt over heat a caiman. It had half water half land area to go into. It was constantly in the shade due to the covered porch. And the set-up I had it in was perfect for caimans with plenty of room to move, hide and to be honest they are suppose to be kept at a 85F-95F temp range. Like I said he is trying to blame everyone but himself. I tried to respond to him but he has my email on his blocked list. But I guess thats alright, there's really nothing I need to say anyways. I already tried to work this issue out with him and now its up to the WFC's investigation. I just thought I would post this for anyone to read that is interested.
 
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