first rule of business

Brian,

Yes, I can understand people not having access to a computer. But what I'm saying is different. You have probably seen adds with snakes sold in the three-figure range. They clearly state "I will not answer your e-mails, if you are interested call me". A couple of years ago I was burnt badly on a deal, from then on I learned a lot about "red flags". That's why I prefer something in writing and a phone call. If the seller doesn't want to disclose his phone number the deal is off.

Regards,

Thanks for the replys everyone.  Part of the reason I made the post was so that hopefully some of the worst offenders would read it and see just how important it is to many people.  I gree that some people just have a tough time getting it, and it may not reflect the least bit on the way they care for their animals.  On the other hand if all other things are equal I will most likely deal with the better communicator.  Why would you want to start yourself off in the hole.

Steve Schindler

Daniel,

I have had to use a friends computer to set up this account so i know it does happen however you still have a library around and look they all have computers with how!! Internet, I was to busy to go and had stopped buy to look at a purchase (And schelue a del. to Lees as we both had to go) which is now ironically (Sp i know) for sale.

Go look at it LOL..
As for doing bussiness good luck everyone lies at least once in a while, I am not saying that people lie, but they do w/o knowing it alot of the time.

I am another who bases some part of my decision on how someone writes/speaks as to whether or not they are a person I would do business with.  I have met a lot of great people in this hobby who don't necessarily speak or write well but are never-the-less splendid individuals.  With those people, I would not hesitate to do business.  However, for most business transactions, I expect the person I am dealing with to be professional and to be able to communicate clearly.  I'm not saying that I expect 100% perfect spelling or grammar (I don't always check either in my correspondence myself) but I do expect to be able to communicate without feeling the need for ESP.  As for profanity, I do not expect it nor condone it in any type of business conversation.  I would be concerned if a person immediately began resorting to vulgarity for lack of ability to express themselves.  With written correspondence, I still write emails as if they were a business letter - a greeting, the bulk of the email/letter, and a closing with my complete name and contact information if necessary.  I am not formal per se, but simply feel that it is the right way to do a letter that is sent for business purposes.

In regards to minors, I do not sell to or purchase from minors when it comes to live animals - period.  If it ever comes to a point in a transaction that has gone wrong that I feel the need to take some type of legal action, their age will not have to be one of my concerns.  If a parent is present, then I will deal with a parent but not the minor.  With emails or posts, some of the habits of the young people simply drive me nuts.  The trend to abbreviate words and intentionally misspell with the intent to make it some type of shorthand just annoys me to no end.  If a person is too lazy to complete a word or a sentence so that it is comprehensible, I have a hard time believing they behave any differently in other situations.  It is entirely possible that I am too harsh when it comes to young people.  It would not be the first time I have been accused of such.  However, I expect the same commitment and integrity from everyone, regardless of their age.

How you come across in conversation, correspondence, or even on the forums affects how others perceive you.  Those perceptions will color business transactions with or without you even being aware of it.  We all make spelling errors and typos or forget to proof read what we write.  Occasional errors don't affect my personal perceptions, but someone who constantly writes poorly or is too lazy to spell out words will not get my business.  How we choose to portray ourselves is totally in our control.  If we choose to come across as uneducated or ignorant, we can only expect to be treated as such.

Just my .02 - okay, .03 worth. <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

Dianne

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">If a person is too lazy to complete a word or a sentence so that it is comprehensible, I have a hard time believing they behave any differently in other situations. &nbsp;</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Dianne made a very good point (example: &quot;some1&quot . One other thing that is beginning to worry me is how many adds state &quot;my computer is down so I won't reply to e-mails; call me on the phone instead&quot;. How did they put-up the add in the first place? I know, I know, a &quot;friend's&quot; computer...

I'm not saying this is always bad. On one hand you have his phone number and can discuss details and see how they conduct themselves while talking. In fact, we should encourage more verbal communication. But my feeling is that some people don't want to leave things in writing any more. That kind of add completely turns me off as a potential buyer. A little bit of both (something in writting plus having a phone conversation) makes me feel more comfortable with a deal.

Daniel

Steve.... you forgot one very important thing.... these idiots are our FUTURE!!
I'm just glad I'm old!
I couldn't have said it gooderer myself! ....Neil

Here, here!
Well put, Steve - I couldn't agree with you more!!
Excellent advice!

A+!!
(Grammar is great - spelling a wee bit off...)
<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>
Sorry... couldn't resist - hee,hee,hee!

Liz

Thanks Steve. I was getting lonely thinking I was the only one who did not feel comfortable buying an animal from someone who can't spell that animals' name. Evan

I agree 100%. &nbsp;My trust in a person goes down a little bit more with each and every spelling error. &nbsp;Even simple things like putting your name at the end of an email.

Remember back in the good 'ol days when writing an email was like writing a letter? &nbsp;You even included a greeting??

Mark

Steve,

Now I agree, to a point(Always have to be difficult, don't I)
I myself have posted classified ads with at least 3 mistakes in the ad itself. Why? I was in to much of a rush when posting it. Most of the smaller breeders on kingsnake work full time jobs when they arent shoveling snake poop or answering emails without real names on them(More about that later) Factor in a family, kids, the dog and perhaps some upper level education at night(To improve their lot) and you have one guy that ISNT looking forward to cleaning rat and mouse cages, let alone cleaning snake cages or answering emails.
So....they get rushed and misword it and make some typos, some times more than they should. I am guilty of this, definetly.

Do I personally think this makes them an idiot or somebody not to deal with? No.
Some of the most ELOQUENT well spoken people in this business, with great diction and seemingly *Endless* supply of &quot;professional banter&quot; turned out to be some of the biggest lieing , cheating, money grubbing people that I have ever met..
So.....bad wording doesnt necessarily turn me off, as long as the persons HEART is in the right place. BOTH can be present at the same time, but more often than not, one is lacking.

Now.....what DOES bother me is people that email me for snakes and NEVER use their real name. Names like&quot;Zorromaster&quot; and&quot;FlyingMice&quot; &nbsp;dont merit a whole lot of return email after the initial email. I feel like I am talking to someone in code language.

Reralize that a vast majority of our customers dont do their homework, dont read up on what they buy BEFORE the sale, and no doubt are O.C.D. as they change gears and buy new &nbsp;snakes all the time as if the old ones werent good enough after 3 months. But grammer? No, not the biggest problem.
We all make mistakes, sometimes it is hard to correct them, sometimes it is easy.

Fred Albury
AZTEC REPTILES