• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

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    Posted 08/15/2025
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    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

About the Good Guy Certification Program

Maybe, I'm just not rational at the moment (hit yet another road block trying to get my car fixed and I'm fit to be tied. Literally...), but the purpose of the GGC program was to be something similar to a Good Housekeeping seal of approval or Better Business Bureau wall plaque that would be displayed on or in a person's business. If they don't have a website, are they even really a business in any sense of the word for the PURPOSES of promoting INTERNET business? Does it make any sense at all to offer this to everyone just producing a handful of animals once a year and really not any sort of "business" entity at all?

There is a tradeoff implicit in this program in that a BUSINESS can display their certificate on their website for visitors to their website to make note of, and in that fashion hopefully feel a bit more comfortable about doing business with them. The emphasis is on BUSINESS, as you can see. In return, that certificate helps bring people to this site to view the information resident in the polls about that business and perhaps even register here and possibly become an active member. Which, I believe, helps EVERYONE here. This is also beneficial in that people visiting this site can view those certificate entries and potential use that form of advertising by those businesses to then visit their website with the intention of possibly doing business with them based on the feedback they see in the polls.

Quite honestly, without the business websites being in the equation to sport those certificate banners on, I really don't see the sense of running this program. It just becomes a one way street that, in my opinion, negates he real usefulness that I envisioned from it.

So what am I missing here? Am I just overlooking something that is obvious to others about how I wanted this to work?
 
It doesnt seem like it would make it a one way street to me. First of all, the person still has to be a contributing member, therefore they have made a donation to this website. Secondly, if they are advertising their status, weather on a website or not, they are still bringing attention to this forum and bringing traffic here. I do not see what difference it makes weather the person has a web site and sells hundreds of animals a year or weather they have only a facebook page and sell only dozens.
 
I actually see Rich's point...and consider it a very good one. That was the intention of the GGC program (though I had somewhat overlooked the business focus earlier). Small businesses come and go, today's internet businesses probably more so than ever. That is to be expected...especially in such a volatile area as reptiles. Many of these people don't have a long term interest in the animals - they see the prices when they start, get discouraged that they aren't making their money back hand over fist, struggle against heavy competition, and lose interest. Even people that do have the history sometimes move on - whether due to retirement, health issues, life changes, or whatever.
Looking back to when I started on this site in 2004, it seemed like there were a lot more contributors...and a lot more "real" businesses. The GGC program started in mid February of 05, had a big hiccup (IMO, at the time) with the fall from grace, but still had 133 participants by the end of the year. Another 47 were added in 2006....
Only 17 of those 180 still have their certificates active (14 of those are from 2005)...but more telling is that only 125 certificates have been processed in the next 5 yrs.

What's to blame, though?
Different attitudes - For sure.
Fewer contributors - I think so.
Fewer actual businesses - Probably.
Decreased awareness - Yes.
Fewer people pursuing business in the "traditional" way - Yup.
It is as hard for me to fathom, as it is for you, believe me...I just don't get the social networking craze. I have a Facebook page (2, actually, because my whole purpose was to start a KBI Herpetoculture page; and it wouldn't let me do that without a personal page. I wasn't smart enough to just enter my name as KBI Herpetoculture :shootfoot), but I hate it. I rarely post, and don't even look at it for weeks at a time. But that's me - and I'm tired and cranky, so people expect that of me.

I agree that dwindling numbers are telling a story...but that doesn't necessarily have to be the end of this. It would be easy enough to write it off as a good idea that was under appreciated; but let's consider decreased awareness. Rarely is the GGC a topic of conversation; and it isn't really advertised that I recall seeing. There are 2 accounts sitting there in red, due to a negative score on their poll, that only have one vote. I don't have time (or the desire) at this moment to review the polls, but I'm quite sure there are a number of them with no votes. I'm guessing that only contributing members can vote(?), but how are we keeping people aware that this program exists & encouraging participation?
I'm as guilty as the next person - I haven't voted on a poll in years; but that is partially because I don't most of these people even by reputation, and I don't give my recommendations lightly. Heck, near as I can tell, a lot of them don't even have reputations (no offense intended to those people).

We can scrap the idea, or try to do something with it - which might entail reconsidering the vision, but it definitely means figuring out what we can do to make it appeal to people. My only reason for suggesting the option of not holding fast to the website requirement was because fewer people are going that route...I had lost site of the BUSINESS focus; but you raised a very valid point on that front, so I'm reconsidering. I suspect that if we were to extend the audit to the un-highlighted names, we would find more without websites (or certificates posted) - which further raises the question.

Odd that none of the expired certificate holders have chimed in on this thread :shrug01:
 
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I think many people just don't know about it. When I had one, I had to send people over to it to vote, most couldn't, but that was after I tried to get a trader rating and a BOI update. There are a lot of options to leave feedback and I just ended up settling for the two that are used the most.

What I do breed, I breed from my home and that's the address that's listed along with my phone number and email. After persuing truth in the BOI, I have received numerous calls from block numbers and have even had my email spammed. Nothing that has hurt my feelings, but I didn't want to see how far the criminal mind would go with access to my home address. That's why I asked for mine to be removed.
 
Is there a banner type advertisement we can place on our websites now instead to attract their attention and send them over to Fauna?
A shame this program did not work. I know that most of the people who bought from me were not on the contributor level and could not leave feedback.
Guessing we remove the good guy banner on our sites?
 
I'm not really in any hurry to take anything down on this end, so you can leave it up as long as you would like.

I don't think there was any notable effort to convince me that I should keep the program. Or did I just miss it?
 
As one of those who's really been proud to have the banner up, and has been using it for the intended purpose, I do hope it stays around. It's been rough patch for everyone financially. The only issue I've seen with the program is the lack of participation in the polls--I have plenty of trader ratings, but no poll responses. I think perhaps people just didn't think of it. I do like the program.
 
WingedWolf said:
As one of those who's really been proud to have the banner up, and has been using it for the intended purpose, I do hope it stays around. It's been rough patch for everyone financially. The only issue I've seen with the program is the lack of participation in the polls--I have plenty of trader ratings, but no poll responses. I think perhaps people just didn't think of it. I do like the program.
Click to expand...

I agree Donna.
In our industry word of mouth and reputation is everything. I really was hoping this program would stay around and bring about a good feeling for that person who is new to online buying or to you(me,us) as a seller.
I too am proud of it as I am my reputation and wanted to show that off a bit, as well as promote Fauna and BOI. I have my small banner ad, I have Fauna in my website as "we support".

Just know that a couple of us wanting it and really using it won't do much to keep it here.
Unless we really beg??:D
 
WingedWolf said:
As one of those who's really been proud to have the banner up, and has been using it for the intended purpose, I do hope it stays around. It's been rough patch for everyone financially. The only issue I've seen with the program is the lack of participation in the polls--I have plenty of trader ratings, but no poll responses. I think perhaps people just didn't think of it. I do like the program.
Click to expand...

I also have the code for the banner on my site and maintain my contributor level of membership. Perhaps having a button to the GGC post for that member (kind of like the BOI button) that people could click to go place votes on way or the other may direct people there and the feature would be used more?
 
I would also have to agree that it has been a financially trying time for many folks over the past few years. Lots of the folks on this site are hobbyist breeders and with the job market being the way it is, may have experienced a loss of a full time job which forced them out of the reptile business.

Just my two cents.
 
I think that is more an issue of awareness. I think that only a relatively small number of members know that there is such a thing as a Good Guy Certification....and probably an even smaller number know that there is a poll involved. (Of course, fewer paid members means fewer people eligible to vote, too).

I think that feedback from some of the yellowed names could be valuable - without it, we're just guessing about the reasons - and that is still conspicuously absent.

I personally don't like the idea of adding a GGC button - but I wouldn't object strenuously if one were added. Anybody have any other ideas on how to increase awarenss of the GGC, and spur some participation? I'd be more than happy to start contacting the expired members....but if the plan is to let it die, there isn't much point.
 
I guess I would first want to make sure that my understanding in the overall goal of the program is was correct. When I applied, I wanted it to do two things really. First beings as a way for folks of this site as well as anyone who ordered from me directly, had a place to view and leave feedback. Since you have to be a contributor to vote, that narrowed down that idea a bit.

The second was for folks not familiar with Fauna would have the opportunity to come poke around a bit and see what it is about. If I didn't have what they wanted, perhaps they could find someone here who did. Having a place to answer their questions and what not also.

I think that most of the more recent folks, take the trader rating as what they base their "buying comfortability" on. While I do think it is a handy tool, I have asked customers to please leave feedback, good bad or ugly. Sadly, they rarely follow through.

Thinking out loud here, and I am sure that much of this is easier said than done, when a seller lists an ad and finds a buyer here on Fauna, have some form that is sent to both parties. If that seller has a GGC post, have that as well as the trader ranking link in the form. I am just trying to get a more "in your face" approach to bringing awareness to the GGC.

I do think you are right Harald that many folks have gotten away from the business for one reason or another. I also think many of the newer folks aren't aware that the GGC even exists. Perhaps instead of a button a sticky post with a link to GGC forum on each classified section?
 
Unfortunately, most people don't look at the stickies :(

I think you're running into the same issue with Trader Ratings and the GGC poll - both require paid membership to access...while that rules out a lot of people, I wouldn't want to reverse it. Of course, posting to the BOI is free - and that is probably the first place I would recommend somebody to look to check on a seller (or buyer), because Trader Ratings only tell a piece of the story.

I like the GGC...and I will be disappointed if the program is canned; but if it is to be continued, I think some things need to be changed:
More regular audits, applications should be processed at regular (and timely) intervals, and notifications sent to anybody that is out of compliance when audited.
I also think the program needs to be in the open - discussed and promoted - so people WANT to participate.
 
hhmoore said:
Unfortunately, most people don't look at the stickies :(

I think you're running into the same issue with Trader Ratings and the GGC poll - both require paid membership to access...while that rules out a lot of people, I wouldn't want to reverse it. Of course, posting to the BOI is free - and that is probably the first place I would recommend somebody to look to check on a seller (or buyer), because Trader Ratings only tell a piece of the story.

I like the GGC...and I will be disappointed if the program is canned; but if it is to be continued, I think some things need to be changed:
More regular audits, applications should be processed at regular (and timely) intervals, and notifications sent to anybody that is out of compliance when audited.
I also think the program needs to be in the open - discussed and promoted - so people WANT to participate.
Click to expand...

I agree. I would also add that it is a one chance deal. If you apply and are granted a certificate, you are responsible for keeping in compliance with the program. If you fall out of compliance and do not fix the issue(s) in a set time, you are no longer eligible to participate.
 
joshjtd said:
I would also add that it is a one chance deal. If you apply and are granted a certificate, you are responsible for keeping in compliance with the program. If you fall out of compliance and do not fix the issue(s) in a set time, you are no longer eligible to participate.
Click to expand...
That seems a bit self defeating, don't you think? What if you had a problem with a customer, and your poll went negative for a while - how would you feel about not being eligible to participate if things got resolved? (there's more than one way to be out of compliance.)
 
You would have to have a thresh hold for each criteria. Say 30 days for contributing member status and 180 days for negative feedback status. Perhaps have an appeal form that you can have to appeal a ban from the program that can only be used once?

My thought with the stay in compliance is to make sure that the program is used and promoted as well as less adminstrative time for Rich and you mod types. Not sure the amount of application traffic that goes through that forum but perhaps have a person that handles just that part?
 
There is nothing automatic about the GGCs - everything is done manually. Applications have to be reviewed for eligibility, then people are sent the code and processed (including entry into the GGC forum and setting up the poll). Two of the audited items are now covered by programs, which makes it a lot easier; but there are other things that still need to be checked by people, like verification of website and placement of the "certificate". Problems with accounts have to be addressed manually, as well - including removing or reinstating them, and any necessary contact with the members.
I agree that reducing administrative time would be a plus, but I doubt that Rich wants to sink much into custom programming...especially now. I'm willing to take on certain task oriented portions at reasonable intervals - but I try to stay realistic about what I agree to. I've got a lot on my plates already, and things are going to get busier from April - October when house and yard season kicks into gear. (I'm going really light on breeding this year, so baby season shouldn't be too overwhelming)
 
I am thinking a lot of those yellowed people may no longer be in business.
I would be more than willing to help in whatever way possible. Manually saves a lot of money.
Going through and contracting people who are out of compliance, maybe finding out why and then forwarding info to the next person who does whatever the next part would be.
Even in this thread here, only a couple people have responded. Not sure if being it does not apply to most they skim over it, or they don't care about it.

I am not a creative person and can't come up with anything that will help bring awareness to this topic. :(
 
Just a note about this, I'm going through the certificates now, weeding out all of those that are now apparently out of business, and making note of those that are still apparently with active websites sporting the banner but are no longer paying members here. I've had a couple of people request that I keep the GGC program running, so what the heck. Things are tough for a lot of people, so I guess many just found that they can't keep on doing this kind of business. No sense penalizing everyone because the economy has socked a lot of people right on the chin.

So yeah, I'll go ahead and keep this running. At least until I discouraged about it again...
 
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