After 15 years away I came back to find.....

...the same old crap. People still selling obvious imports as captive bred/born. People still using the old bait and switch by putting photos in the classifieds of different snakes than they advertise. What a shame. I guess some things never change. Glad I got out. See you in 15.
Have a happy fourth

What an upper of a post. Good thing we will not have to see it again for 15 years.

Lol I agree

Huh, that's nothing.

I was at the grocery store today, and the first three apples I picked up were bruised. Apparently, the entire grocery infrastructure in this country is trash.

Or maybe I just need some Tylenol and a nap. Hard to tell sometimes.

But it's not like there's just one bad apple. I went through four (yes FOUR) bad apples today to find the one good one.
Have you seen the classifieds lately? It's ridiculous.

Originally Posted by M.Dwight

Have you seen the classifieds lately? It's ridiculous.

Yes, actually I have. I look at them nearly every day, not just the ones for animals I'm interested in, but I scan all the ads to see what hobby trends are, and to make mental notes of what buyers and sellers are selling and saying. I comment on some of the ads, and give helpfully-intended comments on discussion threads. I keep a list of sellers and buyers who appear less than legit, so that my future transactions will be guided by these observations.

I post ads, and reply to ads and make purchases. I also scan ads on other similar sites, and evaluate the differences between this site and those others, and to see how sellers who are on multiple sites operate on, and are responded to on, each site. This is why all my online transactions take place here, and why I support this site with a small donation.

So, yes, I think I have a fairly decent grasp of the conditions of the classifieds.

Originally Posted by Socratic Monologue

I keep a list of sellers and buyers who appear less than legit,

I wish I'd had that list yesterday. I think I ran into everyone of them

Of course I realize the VAST majority of people on the boa classifieds are fine. But if you knew what I went through yesterday you wouldn't blame me for letting out a little steam.
This was my first boa purchase in 20 years so I was hoping it would go a little smoother. It gets a little frustrating when AFTER you pay the seller informs you they have to check if the boa in the images is the actual boa they're shipping
Can you really blame me for my post?

Originally Posted by M.Dwight

I wish I'd had that list yesterday. I think I ran into everyone of them

Of course I realize the VAST majority of people on the boa classifieds are fine. But if you knew what I went through yesterday you wouldn't blame me for letting out a little steam.
This was my first boa purchase in 20 years so I was hoping it would go a little smoother. It gets a little frustrating when AFTER you pay the seller informs you they have to check if the boa in the images is the actual boa they're shipping
Can you really blame me for my post?

And that would be the fault of this site how, exactly?

I think it is mostly my fault for being away so long, and not knowing who is who. I'm honestly NOT blaming Fauna for this...honest.

HOWEVER, perhaps there needs to be a STRONG rule that if you show images of animals for sale those images MUST be the EXACT same animals that are shipped.
What do you think? Does that make sense to you? Am I asking too much?

Originally Posted by M.Dwight

Of course I realize the VAST majority of people on the boa classifieds are fine.

I think so too. In fact, I think most people are good.

Originally Posted by M.Dwight

...the same old crap. People still selling obvious imports as captive bred/born. People still using the old bait and switch by putting photos in the classifieds of different snakes than they advertise. What a shame. I guess some things never change.

Is this an epiphany? You stated above that most people are fine, this to me implies that you realize that some are not. Yes, there is good and evil in the universe. But you are saying you knew all this years ago.

Originally Posted by M.Dwight

Have you seen the classifieds lately? It's ridiculous.

You mean the free classifieds you chose to visit where you already stated that THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ON THE BOA CLASSIFIEDS ARE FINE?

Originally Posted by M.Dwight

Can you really blame me for my post?

It seemed like a bit of a tantrum. An unnecessary tantrum, given that, by your own words, you realize the nature of the universe.
Had you not cast aspersions on the classifieds, I might have found it in me to commiserate that you had an unfortunate experience.

Originally Posted by Socratic Monologue

some Tylenol and a nap.

Excellent solution

Originally Posted by M.Dwight

if you show images of animals for sale those images MUST be the EXACT same animals that are shipped.

And do you expect that rule to be policed? By who? And their time, would it be free? Would they be liable for errors? What if they are wrong? Who gets sued for the defamation of the seller if the photo was genuine, but merely under a different light or some such? What if it was merely an error, and the seller offered a partial refund or a pizza for the mistake? I've seen threads where people debate for PAGES whether an animal is the exact same one as one shown in a photo. And if a violator is found, who is going to police that he doesn't simply return with another username?