Good Guy schaumda

I just want to express my recent experience with Markus. He was extremely helpful and an upmost professional. It can be uncomfortable creating a transaction dealing with a living animal with someone who you haven't ever met let alone someone on another continent. He respected my concerns with protecting my interest ($) and delivered exactly as he promised. I will be a repeat customer for sure. I would strongly recommend anyone considering in expanding their horizons that they reach out to Markus and inquire about his current inventory.

I just wanted to tell Markus thank you.

Sincerely,
Ryan

Ryan Johnson said:

I just want to express my recent experience with Markus. He was extremely helpful and an upmost professional. It can be uncomfortable creating a transaction dealing with a living animal with someone who you haven't ever met let alone someone on another continent. He respected my concerns with protecting my interest ($) and delivered exactly as he promised. I will be a repeat customer for sure. I would strongly recommend anyone considering in expanding their horizons that they reach out to Markus and inquire about his current inventory.

I just wanted to tell Markus thank you.

Sincerely,
Ryan

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Hi Ryan,

Did Markus ship directly to you, or through a US associate?

(I received an email from Ryan with contact information to discuss this)

Ryan, I don't wish to discuss this over email or over the phone. You wanted to post here to share your transaction, and I'm asking here if you imported these animals through a US associate. What I want to know specifically, is if you had dealings or are associated with the convicted wildlife smuggler Garret Smith, (link below) who Markus has used as this US middle man in the past. This information may be important for future buyers to be able to judge the potential risks involved with their transactions.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=538607

Interesting. Other inquiring minds would also like to know about your importer

Thank you, Alex, re: the email.

Good guy Markus

My intent was to thank Markus and tell everyone he is a stand up guy. If I had known it would go this direction I would have kept my comments to myself. Markus has several resources/people other than Garrett Smith in the U.S. as you say associates. I now see why they choose to remain anonymous. I offered you the chance to call me and discuss but you chose not to so I don't care to discuss this any further. If you or anyone else is concerned with Markus' resources or ability to secure your investment than I suggest you reach out and discuss it with him privately. That is exactly what I did and it proved to be very secure and a pleasant experience.

I wasn't asking you about other people.

Occidentalis said:

What I want to know specifically, is if you had dealings or are associated with the convicted wildlife smuggler Garret Smith[/url]

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It is really as simple as a yes or no.

I'm not sure why you feel the need for such secrecy, Franklin. Alex's question is valid given who Markus is known to work with in the United States. A pleasant experience does not necessarily mean a legal one. Please tell us who the middle man was. Don't you think it's rather shady that individuals who are importing animals into the United States want to keep their positive transactions anonymous, given all the shady characters out there? One would think that legitimate traders would want to have their good reputations spread widely.

Also, I forgot to ask this in my previous post, but can you please tell us what species you purchased from Markus? Your post was very vague.

snowgyre said:

I'm not sure why you feel the need for such secrecy, Franklin. Alex's question is valid given who Markus is known to work with in the United States. A pleasant experience does not necessarily mean a legal one. Please tell us who the middle man was. Don't you think it's rather shady that individuals who are importing animals into the United States want to keep their positive transactions anonymous, given all the shady characters out there? One would think that legitimate traders would want to have their good reputations spread widely.

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Vanessa,

Absolutely, Well said!

100%


Lynn Peterson
Big Time Reptiles

Good Guy Markus

As I previously stated this was to give thanks to a person who went above and beyond (Markus). After a recommendation from a friend that Markus could legally obtain unique animals I reached out to him. After speaking with him I realized his current availability that included animals specifically monitor lizards were lizards that I already had. During that discussion Varanus mertensi came up and I expressed interest in these animals. He offered to purchase them from Philip in the UK and send me some in his next shipment to the U. S. I had never previously pursued animals directly from overseas as I've purchased animals imported by other reputable people in the U.S. Which did not include Garrett Smith. Markus and I agreed upon a price and I expressed concern with a large transaction of money with someone I had never worked with before. He said he had a shipment of various monitors in a month and he could include the mertensi with this shipment for a small deposit. He was to contact me when the shipping papers were approved. Approximately 3 weeks later he contacted me saying everything is all set with export paper from Germany. I asked where the shipment was being sent to and he said Garrett Smith in California. He stated Garrett would receive and would immediately ship to me. At this point I had read a few negative posts about Garrett but hadn't ever had any dealings with him. This is where my comments about Markus go above and beyond and back up my statement about if you have concerns about your investment then contact Markus and see how he can provide security. I brought up my concern with the negative feedback that Garrett had received and Markus agreed to ship all 5 mertensi to Garrett and then Garrett to me without any deposit. I was to pay Markus directly through wire transfer within 48 hours of me receiving the animals. If this doesn't express or give Markus a good guy credit then I don't know what would. My mertensi arrived Thursday before last to Garrett and Garrett immediately contacted me saying he had them. This past Tuesday Garrett shipped them to me for which I picked up on Wednesday at the Fed Ex hub. At this point I had not shelled out one single penny. Markus kept up his end of the bargain and I get up with mine by sending payment directly to Markus within 48 hours. As for Garrett my experience was limited but went exactly as planned. I don't condone illegal smuggling of animals and follow proper practices in obtaining animals for my hobby. I do not know why Garrett decided to post the monitors that were a transaction between Markus and I as animals for sale and in fact sold other than elicit a future sales potential for himself. I can't say I blame him for that but it was incorrectly handled as he should of posted he assisted in bringing in animals for a person (me) who were sold by a friend in Germany (Markus) but was trying to market future sales for himself. I did not think it was appropriate to share all these details as Markus is a good person and someone might take advantage of him shipping animals without collateral. When I realized where this good guy thread was heading I tried politefully and professionally to withdraw and not share Markus' business but it's a shame that someone has to suffer and have scammer posts tagged onto any ad he posts. I'm sure the clouds have been opened now and the rain of crap is fixing to fall on me but the truth should never be judged as these are all facts. Markus has many opportunities and resources here for which his other counterparts would and should feel intimidated for fear of people hijacking the ad or post with unfair feedback. I will continue to purchase animals from Markus and suggest others try to separate the negative feedback of Garrett from Markus and draw your own opinion of Markus based on "your own personal experience once you've had a financial interaction with him".

Thank you for your response, Franklin. I have to agree with you that Markus took a positive step and personal risk by waiting to take payment until after the animals had been delivered to you. I feel it's unfortunate that Markus uses Garrett to do his USA shipments, and I hope his business decision doesn't hurt him in the future given that he seems to be an honest fellow. I think he would do better by separating himself from a convicted wildlife smuggler, even if Garrett Smith held up his end of the bargain in this particular transaction. Again, thank you for sharing your experience.

Good Guy Markus

Thank you for your non judgemental response. It became uncomfortable to explain when you feel like you may be ridiculed for a decision. I had a good experience. I can only hope others will have the same outcome.

snowgyre said:

Thank you for your response, Franklin. I have to agree with you that Markus took a positive step and personal risk by waiting to take payment until after the animals had been delivered to you. I feel it's unfortunate that Markus uses Garrett to do his USA shipments, and I hope his business decision doesn't hurt him in the future given that he seems to be an honest fellow. I think he would do better by separating himself from a convicted wildlife smuggler, even if Garrett Smith held up his end of the bargain in this particular transaction. Again, thank you for sharing your experience.

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DITTO!


Lynn Peterson
Big Time Reptiles

Well said Ryan.

We had animals going to 4 different customers on that shipment and all arrived in perfect condition. 2 were Markus's customers and 2 were my customers.

If anyone would read the BOI started on me you will see that Mike and I had an agreement to go in on a deal. He wants out because he can't wait until the transaction is complete and thinks I should buy him out. Thats not a scammer.

Lynn Peterson is a friend of Mikes and so he will keep commenting on the post to stir things up.

Vanessa Lane and Alexander McKelvy I have called out before on their BS before so now they are on this ban wagon. They will get their own BOI's at a later date.

When the time is right I will post a current background report that I had to take for a new job position and you will see a clean record. The majority of the people that we have sold things to can see exactly what this is and are sending Markus or myself money no problem.

But this post is about Markus and how he is a GREAT GUY! He already has over a dozen happy customers and I helped in everyone of them.

Ryan Johnson said:

Thank you for your non judgemental response. It became uncomfortable to explain when you feel like you may be ridiculed for a decision. I had a good experience. I can only hope others will have the same outcome.

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All we wanted to know was if Garret was involved, no pulling of teeth was necessary. Thanks for clarifying your deal, that's all I wanted to know.

A lot of this hobby and life in general is the company you keep. If Markus continues to use a convicted smuggler with a poor grasp of the English language, yet a firm grasp of ethnic slurs and personal insults, as a middle man in the US, that reflects on him. Potential customers should be aware of this, and that is what these boards are for.

Frogman11 said:

When the time is right I will post a current background report that I had to take for a new job position and you will see a clean record.

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This must be someone else then?

United States v. Garrett Smith, No. 2:07-CR-00573

"On February 10, 2009, Garrett Smith pleaded
guilty to conspiracy to smuggle wildlife. Smith
originally was charged along with an unknown
international co-conspirator, known as "Turtle Man,"
with a variety of wildlife smuggling violations. The
21-count indictment charged both defendants with
conspiracy, smuggling protected tortoises, false
labeling of wildlife, unlawful sale of wildlife, and
money laundering. Smith was further charged with
one count of destruction or removal of property to
prevent seizure during execution of a search warrant."

Frogman11 said:

Lynn Peterson is a friend of Mikes and so he will keep commenting on the post to stir things up.

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Garrett,
You DON'T know me from Adam, and you NEVER will.

As far as Mike, I've talked to him by phone over the past 5 to 6 years when he calls for availability of reptiles, and I've posted on your BOI asking Mike a question or 2, so does that make us friends? I think not. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't be his friend.

I've taken the time with your BOI, as I do with most BOI posts that involve a scam, to follow and see if the one being scammed is made whole. Because when any one goes around scamming good trusting folks, it gives the rest of us, HONEST breeders/keepers/dealers/hobbyists, in this great industry a "BLACK EYE".

I don't have to comment & stir things up, you've done a GREAT job of that all by yourself.

I don't give a rats behind, what you think, do, or say, you mean absolutely nothing to me, in addition you wouldn't make a pimple on the behinds of the folks I deal with.

Besides, there's no room for the likes of you in my sandbox, anyway.

Lynn Peterson
Big Time Reptiles

Frogman11 said:

If anyone would read the BOI started on me you will see that Mike and I had an agreement to go in on a deal. He wants out because he can't wait until the transaction is complete and thinks I should buy him out. Thats not a scammer.

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You stole money from him in the form of a deposit that was never returned after you couldn't follow through on a sale that was initiated in January 2015 (8 months ago). How long do you expect someone to wait to complete a transaction? Why don't you go back to your own BOI to address and resolve this issue? Here's the link again in case you've "forgotten" about it: http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=538607

As the above topic does not directly involve Markus, this will be my last post in his BOI. Apologies to both Markus and Franklin for drifting off topic. I recommend we carry on Garrett's issues in Garrett's own thread.

Wow, WTF is wrong with people. Is nothing sacred anymore. Why destroy this man's thread. Please don't defend yourselves either because I'm not listening. I know I know you apologized. This crap is shameful nevertheless. There's a time and a place, and this sure as heck wasn't and isn't it, and there's already a thread about all of this. Good Lord. Plus Ryan even pm'd, as he understood it would probably be in poor taste to be public with any of those conversations you were all digging at here; and rather than take him up on the offer, instead, that was thrown out in favor of a public attack on Markus and his character. Meanwhile, this is a good guy thread, from a happy customer, who obtained all of his animals through Markus legally.

Plus, Markus and Ryan, both had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the business deal going sour between Garrett and the other fellow. The irony is thick enough to cut with a knife.

I myself recieved animals from Markus, legally, via Garrett. Key word ... Legally. So I am am confused, but I understand why. It is because apparently Garrett, and I don't know this for a fact, but apparently Garrett made a mistake years ago, not on any transactions with Markus or Ryan or myself mind you ... Yet the early summer 2015 absolutely legal shipment they did on this one order and shipment of Ryan and my animals, is somehow being misconstrued and wrongly fashioned into some sort of current illegal activity, which never occurred. Markus had all of the paperwork in accordance with my last order. And has everything in occordance with today's delivery! And all of the orders for everyone else he does. The only reason bigger names aren't in here defending Markus right now is because they don't want to give up their connect(Markus) to you. Wildlife Customs just cleared a shipment from Markus for me and others this past Thursday. Okay I'll wait for that to sink in ...

I am up early eagerly anticipating, and prepping for today's delivery, and to see this thread like this is a pitty.

Furthermore, as Ryan already alluded to, Markus has multiple contacts here stateside, because he does big business, because he has the right upper echelon animals. Assuming Garret is/was his right hand man is just shortsighted.

It also seems Garrett is doing everything by the books as well. So if you hate Garrett for a past mistake then don't deal with him. Currently though, it seems he's corrected his ways. I don't know, I don't even know if Garrett was that guy who got convicted. Point is, I purchased my animals from Markus, and he delivered absolutely gorgeous specimens, and I couldn't wait to shop again. So if you have a problem with hard to get, and near impossible to source legally imported reptiles, then Markus is not for you. Today's order isn't even coming via Garrett at all. And speaking of Garrett, people make mistakes. If Garret payed the price and learned from his mistakes, then good for him. Should he have to give up a profession/hobby he loves if indeed he learned from his past transgressions, felt disappointed in himself, and corrected his ways.

In any event, the only thing you've all exposed here, is a few legal deals, a few extremely happy customers, and a good guy thread about Markus Schaub which is well deserved and earned. I just want you readers to know, that whatever issue these people have with Garrett, has nothing to do with Markus and doesn't belong here.

Enough said.