Inquiry ATTENTION ANTHONY OF AC REPTILES.

[Shadera]

I never said I wanted to buy squat from you. To be brutally honest, I was merely being friendly and conversational. I traded off all my geckos around that time and wasn't even working with cresteds. Don't work with them now, either. I just wanted to know why you were calling me and figured gecko talk was an easy in.

It's a darn shame that a customer has to come to the BOI with a problem to get you to respond. That's the issue here. Not your apparently still simmering a grudge for me. Although I love you too.

 

[Talkenlate04]

I have to say, Ryan - this isn't exactly what I'd call an "inquiry". But yeah, thanks for not posting a bad guy thread.

I got busy and didn't follow up..that's the most embarrassing part of this whole thing. I don't understand this either...why would you not explain the situation about the gecko?

Go ahead, man - post a link to the two videos and let's see what everyone thinks.

Hey you wanted it you got it.

I bought a gecko from AC in March for $300. When I got her I noticed she was behaving erratically. I decided to observer her for a few days and let her settle down because I figured she might have had a rough trip or something. When she never stopped acting funny I emailed Anthony.
I stated exactly what I was seeing. Anthony looked at my video and said what was happening seemed normal to him. I disagreed but Anthony agreed to extend his health guarantee to 120 days.

On May 1, 2010, at 2:22 PM, Ryan Nefcy <[email protected]> wrote:

She is acting funny for sure. I was more curious to get your opinion more than anything else.

She lives alone and is eating well, but when she jumps she lands on her back and just sits there. She also tends to cock her head in funny positions I have never seen my other geckos do. Her favorite position is with her head tipped all the way back like she is trying to touch her nose to her spine and when she walks she tends so tilt her head on one direction or another almost dragging her chin on the ground. In general she is uncoordinated and a bit lethargic she has a very hard time climbing anything and rarely lands her jumps.
Here is a video of her letting me flip her over and just sitting there this is usually how she lays when she misses a jump and ends up on her back.

Here is the video and what Anthony said in response to the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5Qd52NtuX4

From: Anthony Caponetto <[email protected]>
To: Ryan Nefcy <[email protected]>
Sent: Sat, May 1, 2010 8:53:24 PM
Subject: Re: Anthony Caponetto Reptiles: Order #11051 has shipped

Hey Ryan,

Honestly, I have cresteds, gargoyles, leopards and even tokays that will lay on their backs in my hand. Usually they're especially tame/laid back specimens that will do this, but I've also seen really nervous fresh captured anoles do that down in Florida when we went field herping. I've also seen crested geckos do the "chahoua cannon ball" ... By that, I mean they will jump off my hand and curl up when they're in the air and then land on their side/back. I wouldve thought something was wrong, but that's textbook defensive behavior in their cousin species.

I wouldn't sweat it with a fatty like her. She looks awesome and I will extend her health guarantee fo 120 days if that makes you feel more comfortable.

Of course, you can always return her for credit towards another female (or whatever) if you want.

Thanks!
Anthony Caponetto
www.ACReptiles.com
www.Ciliatus.com

I was more than happy with the extension of the health guarantee so I went about my business for about three weeks and I kept close eye on my girl.
On April 20th I sent another email stating I did not think she was getting better and that I was not happy with her.

From: Ryan Nefcy <[email protected]>
To: Anthony Caponetto <[email protected]>
Sent: Sun, June 20, 2010 9:54:03 PM
Subject: Re: Anthony Caponetto Reptiles: Order #11051 has shipped

Hey Anthony, just an update from me. Here is another video of the female I got from you. She is caught laying flat on her back when I open her setup. She poops flat on her back, and even tries to jump from on her back. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBLJleBWOIo

I waited a few days and sent this,

On Jun 22, 2010, at 7:24 PM, Ryan Nefcy <[email protected]> wrote:

It's been a few days since I emailed you, I know you are a busy person but I figured I would prod you again for your opinion.

Thanks,

~Ryan

I got this email,

From: A Caponetto <[email protected]>
To: Ryan Nefcy <[email protected]>
Sent: Wed, June 23, 2010 12:33:16 AM
Subject: Re: Anthony Caponetto Reptiles: Order #11051 has shipped

Hey Ryan,

Sorry man...meant to email the other night and then discovered snakes hatching.

Something isn't right. It almost seems as if theres neurological damage...like maybe from some pesticide or other chemical she may have come into contact with in transit. Happens with snakes occasionally.

If you want, I will just send a replacement or issue you credit for something else. I'm really sorry about this. Definitely never seen anything like that in geckos.

Thanks!
Anthony

Then me,

On Jun 23, 2010, at 3:54 PM, Ryan Nefcy wrote:

I was glad I caught her doing that stuff in her tank because I was doing a bad job of describing it with words by themselves.
You know what that is interesting you mention in transit exposure. That happened to me a few times when I shipped tarantulas over the years. I eventually called the airlines one summer and made it my mission to find out if they used pest killing chemicals. I never found out what chemicals were used but I did find out each plane is sprayed out with pest sprays on some sort of schedule.

A replacement would be awesome if you had any females of equal quality, but what would you want me to do with her? I am glad she at least eats and drinks in a somewhat normal pattern so I am not watching her waste away, but I intend to breed her and obviously I won't be doing that now.

Then him,

From: Anthony Caponetto <[email protected]>

To: Ryan Nefcy <[email protected]>
Sent: Wed, June 23, 2010 7:03:08 PM
Subject: Re: Anthony Caponetto Reptiles: Order #11051 has shipped

Hey Ryan,

If you want to keep her (along with a replacement, of course), that's fine. In my opinion, and this is not a line of bull, she probably was exposed to something toxic - meaning she'll probably end up getting back to normal eventually, breeding and all. Crested geckos are literally the toughest species I've ever worked with, so I'd actually be surprised if she didn't recover - it's just not something that will happen over night.

If you don't want to keep her around, you're obviously welcome to send her back too - I'm easy.

And me again,

From: Ryan Nefcy <[email protected]>
To: Anthony Caponetto <[email protected]>
Sent: Wed, June 23, 2010 10:22:15 PM
Subject: Re: Anthony Caponetto Reptiles: Order #11051 has shipped

Well I am interested to see if she recovers. I observe her a few times a week just to take notes. I don't take that as a line of bull, I actually agree that she was exposed to something in transit. I could not see you sending a gecko acting like this knowingly. Just let me know then, I am free to receive this coming Tuesday if you can send Monday. If not that is no big deal just let me know, I am not in a hurry.

And me again,

From: Ryan Nefcy <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wed, July 7, 2010 1:11:01 PM
Subject: Fw: Anthony Caponetto Reptiles: Order #11051 has shipped

Hey Anthony. I sent the message below over two weeks ago and I have not heard back from you.............Just checking in I guess to see what is going on.

Thanks,
~Ryan

Me again,

From: Ryan Nefcy <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tue, July 13, 2010 4:59:44 AM
Subject: Fw: Anthony Caponetto Reptiles: Order #11051 has shipped

Hey Anthony,

Just checking in again. It has been three weeks since I sent the email below and I have not heard from you. Get back to me when you can.

~Ryan

And me again,

From: Ryan Nefcy <[email protected]>
To: Anthony Caponetto <[email protected]>
Sent: Fri, July 16, 2010 11:12:27 PM
Subject: Re: Anthony Caponetto Reptiles: Order #11051 has shipped

It has been almost a month since I have heard from you last and I have still not received a replacement. Just checking in again, this is the third email I have sent you since 06/23/10.

Thanks,
~Ryan

And me again,

From: Ryan Nefcy <[email protected]>
To: Anthony Caponetto <[email protected]>
Sent: Tue, July 20, 2010 2:45:31 AM
Subject: Re: Anthony Caponetto Reptiles: Order #11051 has shipped

Hi Anthony,
It has almost been a month now and I have not heard a single thing from you.
I really do get being busy, I am busy myself, but a month is an awful long time to ignore someone.
Please get back to me.
~Ryan

And me AGAIN,

From: Ryan Nefcy <[email protected]>
To: Anthony Caponetto <[email protected]>
Sent: Thu, July 22, 2010 11:25:13 AM
Subject: Re: Anthony Caponetto Reptiles: Order #11051 has shipped

Hey man, I am really not trying to be a dick but you have been ignoring me for a month. I have sent 4-5 emails in the last month and none of them have been answered. I am tempted to post a BOI to get your attention, but I am still clinging to the thought that you have been super busy and not had the time to get back to me.

Please respond to me when you get this.

Thanks,
~Ryan

After that last email I posted this thread the next day, and early this morning I sent an email through is website. That email apparently got his attention and I got this reply.

From: Anthony Caponetto <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tue, July 27, 2010 3:24:40 AM
Subject: Re: Inquiry from ACReptiles.com Online Store

Ryan,

I'm sorry man - I've been extremely busy with breeding season...I tried to staff up going into the summer, but I've had trouble getting help that will show up on a regular basis (I've fired two already). I actually did try to email you, but it may have been from my iPad, which wasn't sending outgoing messages there for a few weeks (had it set up wrong). I will absolutely replace that gecko, but I would appreciate if you would post a follow up to your "inquiry" on Fauna.

Please send me the order number so I'll know what we're replacing (I'm thinking a female red or red dalmatian?). It's over 90 here tomorrow and wednesday, so shipping will be unlikely this week, just FYI.

Thanks,
Anthony

That email above irks me because as we all know someone else already posted that they did business with Anthony while I was still waiting for a reply.
I replied with this, and while I was replying he was sending another email already.

From: Ryan Nefcy <[email protected]>
To: Anthony Caponetto <[email protected]>
Sent: Tue, July 27, 2010 4:02:51 AM
Subject: Re: Inquiry from ACReptiles.com Online Store

Anthony,

I will post a follow up the second things are resolved for sure, I state that in my thread on fauna too. The mob on fauna tried hard to get details about the transaction but I pretty much told them none of their business unless I could not contact you.
I appreciate you getting back to me so quick this go round.
We are replacing a full pinner female adult that I bought with the intentions of breeding this year. Order #11051.
I am mainly into clean pinstripes with no spots.

Keep me in the loop on the weather and possible shipping dates. Any chance I can see a few pics of what you might replace her with?

Thanks,

~Ryan

I hit send on that email above and I had this email waiting in my inbox,

From: Anthony Caponetto <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tue, July 27, 2010 3:53:46 AM
Subject: Re: Inquiry from ACReptiles.com Online Store

Hey Ryan,

I'm looking at the video again and honestly, I only looked for about 10 seconds before and I didn't notice that she was hanging onto a piece of foliage - I just thought she was writhing around on her back. After looking at it again, she's clearly hanging onto the foliage, so I'm wondering if the foliage didn't just fall backwards when she went to climb on it - or if it was on the ground, she may have tried to climb on it and then fell over. I'm not trying to question you at all, but I've worked with a lot of these geckos and I've never seen anything neurological before.

I'll still replace her, but I would like to get her back so that I can see her in person. I will pay shipping both ways, of course. I can send you a prepaid label and you can just drop her off at the UPS store this coming Monday (should be cool enough).

I admit her behavior seems odd, but I just don't think it's severe enough to affect her permanently and I could definitely use her as a breeder if she recovers.

Thanks,
Anthony

I responded with this,

From: Ryan Nefcy <[email protected]>
To: Anthony Caponetto <[email protected]>
Sent: Tue, July 27, 2010 4:39:24 AM
Subject: Re: Inquiry from ACReptiles.com Online Store

Anthony,

So you are going back on what you said below back in June? I just want to be clear that is what you are saying before I formulate my response back to you.


Hey Ryan,

If you want to keep her (along with a replacement, of course), that's fine. In my opinion, and this is not a line of bull, she probably was exposed to something toxic - meaning she'll probably end up getting back to normal eventually, breeding and all. Crested geckos are literally the toughest species I've ever worked with, so I'd actually be surprised if she didn't recover - it's just not something that will happen over night.

If you don't want to keep her around, you're obviously welcome to send her back too - I'm easy.

I get this when I got off work and home.

From: Anthony Caponetto <[email protected]>
To: Ryan Nefcy <[email protected]>
Sent: Tue, July 27, 2010 6:49:18 AM
Subject: Re: Inquiry from ACReptiles.com Online Store

Ryan,

Just so you know on a personal level, I'm not trying to be a jerk about this. The thing is, like any "big name" reptile breeder, I have a big red bullseye on my head for people who like to get free stuff by complaining - and by going to the BOI - and in this economy, more and more are doing just that and I'm about fed up with it. I've never had anyone complain about an unhealthy animal until this year, and now there have been three. One was made public on Fauna and the customer was blatantly trying to milk me (and she got reamed by everyone as a result), the second complaint was a snake that wouldn't eat - she had snake mites when she was returned, and now there's this one - another that just doesn't make any sense to me.

In this situation, I have nothing to go on except for my memory of the gecko when I shipped her out (she was fine), two questionable videos and your word. Unfortunately, I don't know how much experience you have or how honest you are, and I don't see anything in either video that would make me think she's anything other than a healthy animal.

I'm not even asking you to prove anything in order for me to honor my terms - if you're not satisfied, then that's enough for me to replace her with shipping all to be done at my expense. I just can't send out another gecko like that, and let you keep that one, when I see absolutely nothing wrong with the first gecko I sent. If they were $100 geckos, I wouldn't care, but this gecko is valuable and will have to be replaced with a gecko that I was going to keep.

If you want to fault me for not watching the video before opening my mouth and offering to let you keep her, then I can live with that. That was entirely my mistake, and I've learned a lesson from it, but I don't think it should cost me $300 and that is why my terms and guarantees are in place. If and when I choose to go above and beyond those terms, that is done at my discretion and there is nothing legally binding about it.

My word means a lot to me, so I will do this. Send the gecko back and if what you're saying is true (something is actually wrong with her motor control), I will just send her back to you when I ship out your replacement. This way, nobody will be left wondering and you'll get everything you were supposed to get. If the gecko is fine, I can take a video of her chasing crickets and we'll let the public decide if that's what you want. Sound fair?

Thanks,
Anthony

Up to now I only have three real issues. One, the communication timeline has sucked really bad, there is no way to deny that fact. Two, Admitting something was wrong, agreeing she was acting funny, then trying to claim that you did not see she was holding leaves the first time you watched the video, but that you only watched the first 10 seconds of the video. You see the leaves in the first millisecond of that video. The leaves she is holding are always on the ground so she did not try to climb it and fall or anything like that. And my third issue is you stating you want her back because if she recovers you want to use her as a breeder, the fact that you want me to ship her when she is not acting right to being with bothers me. I do know how to assess a geckos health. I can get a video right now of her not being able to climb and still acting wrong. Matter of fact I think I will do that. Bottom line I am not comfortable shipping a sick gecko back to you. I know I have more time in my life to care for her better than you. That is a fact.

I realize you are more than likely going to ban me from spending money on your geckos now, you seem to take that approach with everyone that does not fall in line with you but at this point I don't care anymore.

I am sure Ill have more do add to this later.

~Ryan

 

[ajc]

I never said I wanted to buy squat from you. To be brutally honest, I was merely being friendly and conversational. I traded off all my geckos around that time and wasn't even working with cresteds. Don't work with them now, either. I just wanted to know why you were calling me and figured gecko talk was an easy in.

It's a darn shame that a customer has to come to the BOI with a problem to get you to respond. That's the issue here. Not your apparently still simmering a grudge for me. Although I love you too.

Oh, you're a real treat. You didn't want to buy anything - you just wanted to know if I'd sell to you?

The message I left on your phone was from three months earlier - there's no way you could've thought it was new. Unless nobody calls you...like ever.

Jeez...I don't know if I'd want to buy from a seller who only checks their voicemail every three months.

The fact of the matter is, I'd be long out of business if this email stuff were commonplace. If you add up the half dozen or so people I've pissed off over the years, they still wouldn't amount to 1% of my customer base.

That's alright Shadera - just know I'll be here to embarrass you every time you open your mouth.

Now you keep doing what you do (being generally miserable?) and I'll keep producing the best looking crested geckos known to man.

 

[Shadera]

That's alright Shadera - just know I'll be here to embarrass you every time you open your mouth.

Oh yeah, you told me!

There's nothing for me to be embarrassed about, Tony, and I refuse to let your tactics get me down. There are many people out there afraid to stand up to you - I am not one of them.

And now, I believe you need to address the OP and his issue..

 

[ajc]

Hey you wanted it you got it.

I bought a gecko from AC in March for $300. When I got her I noticed she was behaving erratically. I decided to observer her for a few days and let her settle down because I figured she might have had a rough trip or something. When she never stopped acting funny I emailed Anthony.
I stated exactly what I was seeing. Anthony looked at my video and said what was happening seemed normal to him. I disagreed but Anthony agreed to extend his health guarantee to 120 days.


Here is the video and what Anthony said in response to the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5Qd52NtuX4


I was more than happy with the extension of the health guarantee so I went about my business for about three weeks and I kept close eye on my girl.
On April 20th I sent another email stating I did not think she was getting better and that I was not happy with her.




I waited a few days and sent this,



I got this email,


Then me,


Then him,

From: Anthony Caponetto <[email protected]>


And me again,

And me again,


Me again,


And me again,


And me again,


And me AGAIN,


After that last email I posted this thread the next day, and early this morning I sent an email through is website. That email apparently got his attention and I got this reply.



That email above irks me because as we all know someone else already posted that they did business with Anthony while I was still waiting for a reply.
I replied with this, and while I was replying he was sending another email already.




I hit send on that email above and I had this email waiting in my inbox,



I responded with this,



I get this when I got off work and home.




Up to now I only have three real issues. One, the communication timeline has sucked really bad, there is no way to deny that fact. Two, Admitting something was wrong, agreeing she was acting funny, then trying to claim that you did not see she was holding leaves the first time you watched the video, but that you only watched the first 10 seconds of the video. You see the leaves in the first millisecond of that video. The leaves she is holding are always on the ground so she did not try to climb it and fall or anything like that. And my third issue is you stating you want her back because if she recovers you want to use her as a breeder, the fact that you want me to ship her when she is not acting right to being with bothers me. I do know how to assess a geckos health. I can get a video right now of her not being able to climb and still acting wrong. Matter of fact I think I will do that. Bottom line I am not comfortable shipping a sick gecko back to you. I know I have more time in my life to care for her better than you. That is a fact.

I realize you are more than likely going to ban me from spending money on your geckos now, you seem to take that approach with everyone that does not fall in line with you but at this point I don't care anymore.

I am sure Ill have more do add to this later.

~Ryan

Ryan,

I'm sorry, and yes, the communication sucked, but this "health problem" smells of complete BS. I'm not saying for sure that it is, but it's looking like it.

I told you that I would pay for all shipping and that if what you say is true, I would send her right back to you along with the replacement.

If you're not lying, then there's no reason you should be worried about this. She looks like she just ate a Buick in those pictures and you're trying to tell us she's not going to make the trip? I'm the one who does this for a living, and I can assure you that gecko will make the trip just fine.

I was maybe 40% sure this was a sham - now I'm at 90%. Do us all a favor and let me pay to ship that gecko back here so I can see it for myself. This is all at my cost and you have nothing to lose - unless you're just trying to get a free gecko.

 

[chamgirl99471]

Those communications speak for themselves!

 

[ajc]

Oh yeah, you told me!

There's nothing for me to be embarrassed about, Tony, and I refuse to let your tactics get me down. There are many people out there afraid to stand up to you - I am not one of them.

And now, I believe you need to address the OP and his issue..

Please - you wouldn't put so much energy into trying to berate my business if that were true.

It's crystal clear that you're screwing with me out of spite because I wouldn't sell to you. Keep BS'ing though - I'm sure four or five people will believe you. lol

 

[Chrisw]

Ryan, why not send the gecko back and get a replacement. It seems like Anthony is willing to pay for all the shipping.

 

[ajc]

Those communications speak for themselves!

So let me get this straight - If I agree to go above and beyond the 30 day guarantee outlined in my terms, I don't have the right to change my mind when I get the feeling (by way of video proof) that the customer is not being truthful about a so-called health problem?

I'm offering to ship everything at my expense AND let him keep the gecko if she really is having problems.

Excuse my ignorance, but how is this in any way unfair?

 

[Utta]

What if he doesn't get her back?

 

[Utta]

Sorry, hit send early.

If he doesn't ship her because he forgets, how long will it take to get her back if ever?

If he does find something wrong, what's to stop him from keeping her anyway to see if she recovers?

 

[chamgirl99471]

I just said they speak for themselves.. I didn't in any way go for one side or another You're defending yourself fevereshly and I didn't say that it isn't fair for you to change your mind.. You have every right to do whatever you want. I agree that it's fair that if he wants to ship her back to you at Your Expense then he should but the Videos look pretty clear about her situation to me. Just my opinion.. take it as you will! If perhaps something happens to this gecko during transit back to you then what are the options for the buyer? Your lack of communication until there is a thread posted here is not good and the fact that you were making deals while this transaction had yet to be settled.. well.. you get the point! Whatever you two agree to I wish you the best! Good Luck with your future dealings!

 

[Talkenlate04]

Oh, you're a real treat. You didn't want to buy anything - you just wanted to know if I'd sell to you?

The message I left on your phone was from three months earlier - there's no way you could've thought it was new. Unless nobody calls you...like ever.

Jeez...I don't know if I'd want to buy from a seller who only checks their voicemail every three months.

The fact of the matter is, I'd be long out of business if this email stuff were commonplace. If you add up the half dozen or so people I've pissed off over the years, they still wouldn't amount to 1% of my customer base.

That's alright Shadera - just know I'll be here to embarrass you every time you open your mouth.

Now you keep doing what you do (being generally miserable?) and I'll keep producing the best looking crested geckos known to man.

Maybe its just me, but you lack tact. I bet my left nut if these people met you in person you would not fire your mouth off the way you are here. Is the weather better up there where you are standing?

Ryan,

I'm sorry, and yes, the communication sucked, but this "health problem" smells of complete BS. I'm not saying for sure that it is, but it's looking like it.

I told you that I would pay for all shipping and that if what you say is true, I would send her right back to you along with the replacement.

If you're not lying, then there's no reason you should be worried about this. She looks like she just ate a Buick in those pictures and you're trying to tell us she's not going to make the trip? I'm the one who does this for a living, and I can assure you that gecko will make the trip just fine.

I was maybe 40% sure this was a sham - now I'm at 90%. Do us all a favor and let me pay to ship that gecko back here so I can see it for myself. This is all at my cost and you have nothing to lose - unless you're just trying to get a free gecko.

And to back up my tact observation there you go again. Are you like this in real life? Are you always taking people who have great reps and calling them liars based on what you smell? I may be new to the gecko world but I have worked hard to have a flawless reputation selling online. I have 100s of independent reviews linked below and I have no way to control what they post in that thread unlike you. You screened my review of you on your site because I mentioned my shipment was a week late and you threw in a freebie hatchling to make things up. Heaven forbid someone tell it like it really was right?

I am not some kid off the block trying to make a buck and steal a gecko from you. I could give a woot less about that. Its the principal of the matter which clearly you do not understand. I stated in my first email to you she was eating and pooping like normal but was still acting funny. So her weight has nothing to do with it. I had a student at the Gecko research lab here at Lewis and Clark collage witness this behavior first hand, would you like to call him out and discredit him as well?

The fact remains you offered to replace her with a healthy gecko because you point blank AGREED she was acting funny. AND you said I could keep her. Now you are changing your mind, and I assume it would be because of this threads appearance, anyone with a 1/2 mind can see the cause and effect here.

Let's take a trip away from Anthony can't be wrong land and assume for one second I am right and she is sick.(we know that cant be right because I am not you) Why in the hell would you think the next course of action would be to throw her in a box and ship her across the country?

And another thing, why would I waste so much damn time trying to contact you and keep you update on this matter? I am producing very nice geckos here myself, a few 100 babies this year, and really could do without this hassle. (I know its not the 1000s and 1000s that you sell so I apologize in advance.) How many people have kept with polite non threatening emails for FREAKING MONTHS trying to resolve a problem with you and keeping things very civil? I bet that answer is a big fat 0. Why? Because most people would have flipped out on you by now for stringing them along.
Is my attitude starting to change with you, absolutely. Am I going to blow over like some of the others you have managed to step on in your rise to gecko vendor fame? Hell no.

I have more videos loading now and will illustrate more of what she does that is not right for a healthy gecko.

Please - you wouldn't put so much energy into trying to berate my business if that were true.

It's crystal clear that you're screwing with me out of spite because I wouldn't sell to you. Keep BS'ing though - I'm sure four or five people will believe you. lol

Unless you have another account to log into to post on your behalf I doubt anyone is going to agree with you. You actually think anyone would be that hurt that you did not sell to them? Really?

Ryan, why not send the gecko back and get a replacement. It seems like Anthony is willing to pay for all the shipping.

Because she is sick. Ill be damned if I am going to willingly ship a sick gecko. He can call me a liar all he wants. I will always put the well being of the animal before my own personal vendetta to be right. If that means I have to suck this up and get nothing so be it. I will know at the end of the day I did good by me.

I'm offering to ship everything at my expense AND let him keep the gecko if she really is having problems.

You did? Where? I thought you took back that offer and said I had to ship her back? Wait you must have had a freudian slip of the truth, oops I mean fingers because you did take back that offer.

 

[ajc]

Ryan, why not send the gecko back and get a replacement.

Because he's afraid that to ship a "sick" gecko - that he admits is eating, drinking and defecating just fine.

I've already said that I'll replace her no matter what (in the name of customer satisfaction) and that I'll send her right back if there really is something wrong. I just want to see for myself because the videos both make the whole story look questionable to me. There's no good reason for him not to go along with this unless there's nothing wrong with her.

Bottom line, this isn't about money - it's about the principle. I'm tired of being milked and I'm tired of the BOI being used as the preferred tool to do it.

 

[Talkenlate04]

Because he's afraid that to ship a "sick" gecko - that he admits is eating, drinking and defecating just fine.

I've already said that I'll replace her no matter what (in the name of customer satisfaction) and that I'll send her right back if there really is something wrong. I just want to see for myself because the videos both make the whole story look questionable to me. There's no good reason for him not to go along with this unless there's nothing wrong with her.

Bottom line, this isn't about money - it's about the principle. I'm tired of being milked and I'm tired of the BOI being used as the preferred tool to do it.

I am not scared of anything in this situation Anthony. Matter of fact to add more weight to my side I am going to schedule a visit with my reptile vet. I am sure he won't be good enough for you, he's only been working EXCLUSIVELY with reptiles for 20+ years.

I know some of you will wonder why I did not go to the vet before but that answer is simple, when I presented the issue to Anthony the first time he agreed with me and offered up a resolution that made me very happy as a REPEAT customer.

Yes lets not forget that part. I have ordered two other times from Anthony one gecko for $900 bucks alone. And a special side note for both those orders BOTH of them were shipped late with no emails telling me the shipment was not coming. One excuse was he read the invoice for the requested shipping date incorrectly, pretty big mistake for the man that produces the best geckos in all the land imo, and the other one I think was a snowstorm, which if true is fine but once again no emails telling me the female was not coming.

Bottom line, this isn't about money - it's about the principle. I'm tired of being milked and I'm tired of the BOI being used as the preferred tool to do it.

Tired of being used as a tool or being a tool?
You talking principal. That is amusing. This BOI was a last resort. I did not jump right on this site and air this out the second I did not hear from you. I waited and waited and waited and WAITED and continued to use polite communication. So don't even try to elude that I am using the BOI as a tool against you.

 

[ajc]

Ryan,

Your point is that I lack tact? You're attacking my personal character and this has what to do with your gecko story? Nothing - it just takes pressure off of you to explain why you won't just ship the gecko back for me to take a look at.

So back to the problem - yes, I said she's acting odd - what I didn't say is that she is "sick". There's a difference. Hanging upside down from a branch on the ground is odd, but that doesn't make her sick. I've had geckos that get scared and run in circles or dive onto the floor and curl up in a ball. That's odd, but not sick. I've even had certain geckos that seem to prefer doing what they do in the "reverse cowgirl" position - again odd (and totally hilarious) but not sick.

I don't care what your gecko research student says. When he comes up with a diagnosis for what's wrong with her, that he didn't just make up, then I'll listen. My God...I'm actually laughing about that one. Not to keep throwing numbers around, but when you produce thousands of a particular species, you tend to see just about anything and everything that can happen with the species. If your student boy can teach me anything about crested geckos, I'll kiss his bare butt.

Here's the email I sent at 8:49am....you should've probably read this before you totally pissed me off.

Ryan,

Just so you know on a personal level, I'm not trying to be a jerk about this. The thing is, like any "big name" reptile breeder, I have a big red bullseye on my head for people who like to get free stuff by complaining - and by going to the BOI - and in this economy, more and more are doing just that and I'm about fed up with it. I've never had anyone complain about an unhealthy animal until this year, and now there have been three. One was made public on Fauna and the customer was blatantly trying to milk me (and she got reamed by everyone as a result), the second complaint was a snake that wouldn't eat - she had snake mites when she was returned, and now there's this one - another that just doesn't make any sense to me.

In this situation, I have nothing to go on except for my memory of the gecko when I shipped her out (she was fine), two questionable videos and your word. Unfortunately, I don't know how much experience you have or how honest you are, and I don't see anything in either video that would make me think she's anything other than a healthy animal.

I'm not even asking you to prove anything in order for me to honor my terms - if you're not satisfied, then that's enough for me to replace her with shipping all to be done at my expense. I just can't send out another gecko like that, and let you keep that one, when I see absolutely nothing wrong with the first gecko I sent. If they were $100 geckos, I wouldn't care, but this gecko is valuable and will have to be replaced with a gecko that I was going to keep.

If you want to fault me for not watching the video before opening my mouth and offering to let you keep her, then I can live with that. That was entirely my mistake, and I've learned a lesson from it, but I don't think it should cost me $300 and that is why my terms and guarantees are in place. If and when I choose to go above and beyond those terms, that is done at my discretion and there is nothing legally binding about it.

My word means a lot to me, so I will do this. Send the gecko back and if what you're saying is true (something is actually wrong with her motor control), I will just send her back to you when I ship out your replacement. This way, nobody will be left wondering and you'll get everything you were supposed to get. If the gecko is fine, I can take a video of her chasing crickets and we'll let the public decide if that's what you want. Sound fair?

Thanks,
Anthony

 

[Talkenlate04]

I already posted that email for all to read several hours ago. You know what cracks me up? You have now spent 10 times the effort on this thread than you ever did with me in private. THAT is the damn problem. Your customer service BLOWS. The second there is a problem all you do is resort to telling every single one of us we cant be right because we are not you. That is a line of BULL.

So back to the problem - yes, I said she's acting odd - what I didn't say is that she is "sick". There's a difference.

What the heck, Really?
What are you saying down here then? Chemical/pesticide exposure is not being sick? Sure is is not the metabolic disorder type sick but it is still sick.

From: A Caponetto <[email protected]>
To: Ryan Nefcy <[email protected]>
Sent: Wed, June 23, 2010 12:33:16 AM
Subject: Re: Anthony Caponetto Reptiles: Order #11051 has shipped

Hey Ryan,

Sorry man...meant to email the other night and then discovered snakes hatching.

Something isn't right. It almost seems as if theres neurological damage...like maybe from some pesticide or other chemical she may have come into contact with in transit. Happens with snakes occasionally.

My videos are loading, which will just add more proof.

Your point is that I lack tact? You're attacking my personal character and this has what to do with your gecko story? Nothing - it just takes pressure off of you to explain why you won't just ship the gecko back for me to take a look at.

Sorry man you are destroying your personal character all by yourself. Are you really that full of yourself? I was in the Marines for 8 years and met some people that were pretty darn sure of themselves but you take the cake! Best geckos known to man, oh how heavy your crown must be.

The fact of the matter is, I'd be long out of business if this email stuff were commonplace. If you add up the half dozen or so people I've pissed off over the years, they still wouldn't amount to 1% of my customer base.

Now you keep doing what you do (being generally miserable?) and I'll keep producing the best looking crested geckos known to man.

 

[Talkenlate04]

First video of the girl showing off just how well she can't climb. And yes Anthony I took another video of a gecko climbing the same surface just fine with no problems so you could see it is not some awesome trick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i2b6ShzQOo

 

[Talkenlate04]

Second video of another gecko walking the same surface up down left and right without a single problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FND4NbkG4_E

 

[Talkenlate04]

And the third video I took of her this morning as she jumped off the couch and landed on her back and just sat there before turning over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjHWMCPnZXY