• Responding to email notices you receive.
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    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.

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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
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    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....

BEWARE! Ron Billingsley left me hanging!

oregonboas

oregonboas

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I contacted Ron on August 10th regarding some acrylic displays that he builds and sells. We spoke on the phone, the conversation was short, simple and to the point. I asked if he could build and ship me one of his 12x12 towers. I also made it very clear that I needed it for a local show on August 25th. His answer was yes, he would ship it out before he left for Daytona. I paid him via PayPal before the call even ended. The Monday following Daytona I had yet to recieve any packages or tracking info. I called him and he answered, I asked if my order had shipped. His answer was "It should have, I left it with so and so to do it. I will get a tracking number and call you right back." To my surprise he did not call back... at all! From this point on his customer service went from poor to downright shady! He would not answer my calls, return voice mails I left or even respond to my emails.

Of course I did not get my display in time, which was very disappointing. He offered no apology or explaination for leaving me hanging. The only thing I can say decent about the transaction is that at least he refunded my money on the same day I filed a PayPal dispute... Pretty bad that this is the POSITIVE part of the transaction! I would of much rather had a nice display for the show.

If you need any acrylic displays, I would strongly urge you to contact someone else!

Thanks for nothing Ron Billingsley!
 
Hmm. He missed a ship date on me too a while back. There was a small window of opportunity that would have allowed shipping a gravid female before the extreme cold temps came back.
I never got the animal but he did issue a refund right away.
Seems like he gets distracted and overwhelmed a bit.

Here is what went on with my deal with Ron.
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94222
 
Well I tried to purchase a ball from him earlier this summer - After negotiating the price with shipping, I also requested the snake be "held at location" via Fed-Ex, so I could go and pick it up myself before work in the morning rather than waiting for the 10:30 delivery...

He failed to tell me up front that the snake was not sent priority overnight, but was sent standard overnight for afternoon delivery, and also set it up as a home delivery instead of a hold at location.

Perhaps I was an ass to assume that the snake would be sent "priority rather than standard" - but he also screwed up the "hold at location part" as well...

In the end, he went back to Fed-Ex and picked his snake back up, and did refund my money that night - I too believe he may have been overwhelmed, but that's when you need to hire the extra help.

Short and sweet - "in my view", if shipping is included in the price, than that's "Priority Overnight" - If not, than be up front about it - and if you know how to set it up as a hold at location "which I was informed that it would not be a problem", than get that right too...

He did refund my money promptly though...
 
though this is not specifically related to your issue with Ron, it deals with the FedEx portion of things. For a Hold At FedEx package, in many (if not most) cases it doesn't matter if the packages are "Priority" or "Standard". Those classifications refer only to the delivery process from the local FedEx to the recipient. Think about it - If I am shipping overnite from my location to, say, Denver, CO, all overnite packages leave FedEx at the same time. They go on the same plane to the main hub, then on to their final destination. It isn't until they get there that they are sorted for delivery, which is when that designation comes into play. It may play more of a role if the package is not being held at a FedEx station (for example, if it is to go to a FedEx Kinko's).

As for Ron, I have purchased from him in the past, with no problems. I recently placed an order for a 12" tower and some trays for my 9" tower, after being told he could get it out to me "by next week". I never got tracking info, and the package didn't arrive. Since, in my initial contact, I had specified the show dates for which I needed the tower, and I knew he was gearing up for Daytona, I waited til after the show to contact him. He notified me via email that he would be shipping the tower, and it should go out (this past) Friday...I should be able to update this by the end of the week with yay or nay.
 
While this certainly was not a big deal in any way it rubbed me the wrong way how inconsiderate he was.

I advertised 100 weanling/small live rats for sale. Ron emailed me initially about them and then we talked by phone about them. He wanted them but was busy and could not meet me that day. Said he would not be free for 2 days. No problem.

2 days came and I called to reconfirm our meeting place and time right before I was walking out the door to meet him. He said something came up and he still could not meet me but he still wanted them. He said to call him again in 3 days and we would work something out. I called and Ron never answered. So I emailed him as well. I got a reply a couple of days later simply saying, "I already picked up some rats from someone else". That's it. No apology of any kind. No attempt what so ever to at least show a little remorse about wasting my time.

Again, while this is no big deal, it was enough for me personally to not bother dealing with Ron as a buyer or seller anymore. There are too many good folks out there that have respect for people and their time and dont treat people with complete disregard.
 
hhmoore said:
though this is not specifically related to your issue with Ron, it deals with the FedEx portion of things. For a Hold At FedEx package, in many (if not most) cases it doesn't matter if the packages are "Priority" or "Standard". Those classifications refer only to the delivery process from the local FedEx to the recipient. Think about it - If I am shipping overnite from my location to, say, Denver, CO, all overnite packages leave FedEx at the same time. They go on the same plane to the main hub, then on to their final destination. It isn't until they get there that they are sorted for delivery, which is when that designation comes into play. It may play more of a role if the package is not being held at a FedEx station (for example, if it is to go to a FedEx Kinko's).
Click to expand...

My question about that is - Will they both be available for pickup at the same time, or since standard carries the lower price tag, are they than processed after the priority overnight shipments ? When I receive priority overnight - held at location, Fed-Ex states that they are available for pick up by 9am - I have been there by 8:15 after they open the doors and my package was ready to go. It's nice to be able to go down there 1st thing in the morning before work, rather than waiting for delivery...
 
As a rule, yes, if they are being held for pickup, it will be available at the same time. I have had people ship Standard Overnight & picked them up when the doors open at 0830. That might not be the case it all locations, though - depending on where they are sorted, and how many stops it takes to get to the facility that is holding your package. Typically, though (at least in my experience) Priority and Standard Overnight packages leave FedEx at essentially the same time in the morning. The difference is that Priority deliveries are loaded on a different truck that follows a different route (yes, I have had both delivered to me on the same day...both showed, via tracking, to be out for delivery - scanned within 10 minutes of one another...the Priority package arrived at around 0940, the Standard was about 2 hrs later, with a different driver.)
 
Mike - I am more than willing to continue this discussion, but it is not part of the topic at hand here. Feel free to initiate a thread in either Shipping or General Business.

back to Ron Billingsley
 
I've purchased from Ron at a couple of shows (and he from me), and never had any problem with communication on some follow up issues. I think he's a good guy, but probably needs to hire some help. Not an excuse for the poor communication/service, just an observation.
 
I have dealt with Ron a lot. All my displays are from him. I buy animals from him. He is always upfront about whaat he is selling me. He will say that just came in. Or I got this from so and so. I have never had an issue. I talk to him atleast once a month.

I do know he was really really busy with all the daytona stuff. when My Brother called about some displays he said he had so many going that he could not get them to us before daytona.

I will be getting more from him. I LOVE the new style. And his towers are great.

I am sure Ron will make this right.
 
This, like most people, is my busy season. I try to do the best I can. Do I fall short at time? Yes.
I try my best to make as much as I can for vendors who want my product. Problem is, no matter how many I make, I never can forsee the demand.
Not that it is always the case, but a fair amount of people, way to the last minute, to call and order, and though I try as hard as I can, I fail to satify all the orders.
Like this week, I've turned down more then a dozen orders for the Aniehiem show. Just no way of getting them made, and shipped before next weekend.
Easy to say, just hire someone to help, that would increase the cost of the displays, and the next complaint would be that I am charging to much!
Just plain and simple, I am a one man show, trying to do my very best. I fail at times, I succeed at times. Anyone who ever had a business, will understand, that with success and growth, there will be problems that will araise, and how one tackles those problems will determine one's outcome in the long run.
I have a product, that is in demand. I need to figure a way to have those products ready, when the orders come in. But, we all know, the show season is a short season. No one is ordering acrylics in Januray. For me to spend tens of thousands of dollars, to just sit and wait for orders in August, is not a reasonable answer.
I am working on this. I do not think having unhappy customers is profitable. But, in closing, I would like to just metioned, that when anyone is unhappy, they do get a full refund.
 
Ron Billingsley said:
This, like most people, is my busy season. I try to do the best I can. Do I fall short at time? Yes.
I try my best to make as much as I can for vendors who want my product. Problem is, no matter how many I make, I never can forsee the demand.
Not that it is always the case, but a fair amount of people, way to the last minute, to call and order, and though I try as hard as I can, I fail to satify all the orders.
Like this week, I've turned down more then a dozen orders for the Aniehiem show. Just no way of getting them made, and shipped before next weekend.
Easy to say, just hire someone to help, that would increase the cost of the displays, and the next complaint would be that I am charging to much!
Just plain and simple, I am a one man show, trying to do my very best. I fail at times, I succeed at times. Anyone who ever had a business, will understand, that with success and growth, there will be problems that will araise, and how one tackles those problems will determine one's outcome in the long run.
I have a product, that is in demand. I need to figure a way to have those products ready, when the orders come in. But, we all know, the show season is a short season. No one is ordering acrylics in Januray. For me to spend tens of thousands of dollars, to just sit and wait for orders in August, is not a reasonable answer.
I am working on this. I do not think having unhappy customers is profitable. But, in closing, I would like to just metioned, that when anyone is unhappy, they do get a full refund.
Click to expand...

That is all fine and good, but he deciding factor of weather you overcome or fail due to these "problems arising" is how you handle them... Ron, IMO you were not even man enough to answer the phone or send an email and tell me that you dropped the ball, you at least owed me that. Avoiding calls, not returning messages and ignoring emails from customers that have already paid seems downright shady... If you cannot meet the rquest for whatever reason... you need to just communicate that to the person. As I said before you never even offered an apology or a reason for leaving me in without the display I needed....
 
Just a suggestion.......

One suggestion for Ron would be to manufacture the units during your "off-season" when orders are few and you have the time to create a surplus of stock. Then you could be a little more ahead when the rush comes.

I ordered a 9" tower from Ron Billingsley on July 28th so I could have it for Daytona. He indicated that he would deliver it to me at the show. I was looking forward to meeting Ron at the Expo and I told him so. When delivery came, it was another guy and not Ron. I never did meet Ron.

Customer service is an important part of business as well as having a good product. With a little more organization and planning, you might want to include a personal delivery, a handshake and a "nice to meet you" with your great products!

Susan Sentman
SSNAKES Reptiles
www.ssnakes.com
 
I ordered a 9" tower from Ron Billingsley on July 28th so I could have it for Daytona. He indicated that he would deliver it to me at the show. I was looking forward to meeting Ron at the Expo and I told him so. When delivery came, it was another guy and not Ron. I never did meet Ron.
Click to expand...

Ron was at the show and at his booth most of the time.
 
I don't know Ron but was hoping to do business with him after I saw his advertising on Kingsnake. I was looking to order a few displays and maybe a tower or two. I did have a few questions for him first though. Well I have several calls and a few emails into him, all with no response. So at this point I am not sure what to think. Thanks, John Martino of John Michael Reptiles
 
Sorry to hear you didn’t get your displays in time.

I have purchased displays from Ron before, I didn’t have any problems but that’s just my experience. I am planning on picking up a couple towers from him at some point.
 
For the record - I checked the tracking info, and my tower is en route and on schedule. Thanks Ron!

Jeff - I understand you being upset, but you did wait until two weeks before you needed them...and you placed your order at what you knew was a very busy time. I know that the natural response is that if he couldn't deliver them by the date you needed them, he should have informed you - and there is no argument against that....but a bit of foresight on your end could have saved you this aggravation
 
Mr. Moore,
I told him I needed it by the 25th. I flat out asked if that was going to be a problem... He responded nope, I will get it out before I leave for Daytona. Not, well, it will be close but I think so... or no, I am sorry that is too short of notice. Nobody forced him into commiting to the order, had he said no, we would not be having the discussion.
 
hhmoore said:
For the record - I checked the tracking info, and my tower is en route and on schedule. Thanks Ron!

Jeff - I understand you being upset, but you did wait until two weeks before you needed them...and you placed your order at what you knew was a very busy time. I know that the natural response is that if he couldn't deliver them by the date you needed them, he should have informed you - and there is no argument against that....but a bit of foresight on your end could have saved you this aggravation
Click to expand...


Harold,

How you can even begin to place any of the blame on Jeff is beyond me. Ron made a commitment and didnt follow through with the commitment he made to Jeff. If Ron was too busy to meet that commitment then he should not have made the commitment. Period. It is not Jeff's fault in the slightest that Ron did not do what Ron promised to do.

Jeff inquired and said he had a time frame for when he needed them. Ron said he could in fact meet that time frame. Ron failed to meet the time frame he said he could meet. No matter how you try to spin it, that is pretty black and white to me. None of this is Jeff's fault.

And to top things off Ron never felt he owed the man any kind of apology or explanation of any kind. Ron may be good with his successful transactions, but he sure dont know how to handle transactions where he drops the ball.
 
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