first rule of business

A dangling participle also occurs when you don't make it clear which word the participle describes-
"When dangling, watch your participles!"
They make for very funny scenarios sometimes.
But spelling and grammar aren't really important to me, it's the ablility to convey a coherent thought. Sometimes I worry that people actually think the way that they type. Yikes!

Erin Benner

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

Thanks for the replys everyone. &nbsp;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. &nbsp;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. &nbsp;On the other hand if all other things are equal I will most likely deal with the better communicator. &nbsp;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.

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 &quot;I will not answer your e-mails, if you are interested call me&quot;. A couple of years ago I was burnt badly on a deal, from then on I learned a lot about &quot;red flags&quot;. 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,

Well here's what it comes down to. &nbsp;Provided you want to have a &quot;reptile&quot; business that works.

First let's remember one key point. &nbsp;The age range of 28 to 128 all have the same common factor. &nbsp;A lack of computers in our youth, schools and education. &nbsp;There are many great sites out there made by 13 year olds. &nbsp;On the flip side some of the best breeders have either no site or a fairly poor site.

Key here is to speak live with the person you're dealing with.

Of course those conversations can be weeding out by the point that brought on this thread, spelling.

How many of the following have we all seen.

okytee corns
anrithristic
xantic
and so on and so on.

The way I see it, if you don't know that it's Okeetee I highly doubt an Okeetee is what you have.

Another point here is as a business the &quot;reptiles&quot; end of things is tough. &nbsp;People talk about reputation on the internet like it's golden and it's going to make or break you. &nbsp;When if fact, who is the largest reptile breeder in the world?

I can only think of one person who produced, what was it 16,000 Cal kings and corns alone last year. &nbsp;I've asked a very people talking about internet reputations if they knew this person and not one did. &nbsp;Why? &nbsp;Because Mark Bell doesn't have a website and I've never seen a post online by him. &nbsp;Yet he still sells more animals then anybody else.

I've been keeping reptiles for 23 years, putting on reptile talks for 20 and breeding for 15 years and I'm still always amazed at this business. &nbsp;I love reptiles more then just about anything in life but with the turns things have taken I'm not adapting well.

What happend to the days when you were happy to get a price list you sent a SASE for and only hoped they weren't sold out by the time you called? &nbsp;When you didn't think about insaulting somebody by asking for a lower price? &nbsp;Oh well, I sure do miss it and it sucks thinking it was for fun back then.

Anybody with me?
Adam Block

PS One major point I forgot. &nbsp;When you let go of the full time job to do reptiles for a living. &nbsp;You need to not need the money. &nbsp;What I'm saying is many breeders who NEEDED the money from sales had to adjust their morals more to the money side and away from the fun, hobby love of it side. &nbsp;I noticed myself doing the same thing about a year ago and sold 75% of my collection to keep it as a hobby.

I have to agree with Adam here on one point ..... When you see someone selling something and the pic is a completely different animal it sends up a red flag. Also the whole spelling thing makes me crazy, even though there are things I mis-spell I truly try to correct mistakes but some are so obvious that it makes you really think .... " Can I trust this person with my money " , things like ball piethon, or burmeeze pythons or rainbow redtail boas or of course selling false hets but that is another story entirely.


Gary

Key here is to speak live with the person you're dealing with.

Agreed. But now that we are making reference to old times, remember the movie "Gone with the wind"? Regrettably the same happens with speaking live these days. Personal preference: Have something in writing plus a phone call.

With regards to spelling, yes it does scare me somehow. But what scares me the most is adds like this:

I have a CB 100% hetero for albino ball python. I'm not making this one up, there is a similar one posted in the adds as we speak. An honest mistake? Maybe.

Daniel.... What mistake?? Other than it's OBVIOUSLY CB.... that's just redundant (or rhetorical), I wouldn't consider it a mistake??

I can't tell you how many times I write an ad.... and IN THE TITLE I put that it's, "WC LTC OF ABOUT 6 MONTHS".... do you have ANY IDEA how many folks STILL email me to ask how long it's been in the country???

As I always say....

1. Tell them you're GOING to tell them....

2. Tell them....

3. Then tell them WHAT you just told them....

Even then.... there will be folks who won't get it!

I don't think there's anything wrong with telling them EVERYTHING! Even if it's redundant!

....Neil