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Responding to email notices you receive.
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IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed
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Posted 08/15/2025
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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....
Bill Obston- Poor Business Conduct!
- Thread starter thegeckohut
- Start date
Chameleon Company
New member
Hey Derek,
I'm all for the higher standards too, and have posted with great frequency in more than one thread where I thought that the "evidence" painting someone as bad, or attempting to cast their business in a poor light, was weak if not fabricated. I think that my very first post in this thread, while sympathetic to the disappointment of the almost-buyer, did mention that I saw nothing here that would cause me to recommend to someone else that Bill was to be avoided. I do not have a problem with both complaints being here though.
I want to put out one other consideration, that happens more than many might realize. It has to do with the advertising and sale of animals that aren't quite as healthy as the seller would want to indicate. Maybe the pictures are a week or more old, and maybe the animals aren't maintained well or checked on often. Once a sale is made, the seller looks at the critters again, and for whatever reason, they are now unsellable. Could be dead, could be a more pronounced flaw in health, or it could be a cricket-chew wound, etc. In all cases, the seller may decide that the best choice is to say that the animal sold elsewhere, rather than tell the truth and cast doubt on their husbandry practices, or acknowledge that they would advertise an animal in less than perfect health. Not saying it happened here, as I have no clue. But based on my experience, I do suggest that it probably happens more often than animals actually being sold out from under someone else.
I'm all for the higher standards too, and have posted with great frequency in more than one thread where I thought that the "evidence" painting someone as bad, or attempting to cast their business in a poor light, was weak if not fabricated. I think that my very first post in this thread, while sympathetic to the disappointment of the almost-buyer, did mention that I saw nothing here that would cause me to recommend to someone else that Bill was to be avoided. I do not have a problem with both complaints being here though.
I want to put out one other consideration, that happens more than many might realize. It has to do with the advertising and sale of animals that aren't quite as healthy as the seller would want to indicate. Maybe the pictures are a week or more old, and maybe the animals aren't maintained well or checked on often. Once a sale is made, the seller looks at the critters again, and for whatever reason, they are now unsellable. Could be dead, could be a more pronounced flaw in health, or it could be a cricket-chew wound, etc. In all cases, the seller may decide that the best choice is to say that the animal sold elsewhere, rather than tell the truth and cast doubt on their husbandry practices, or acknowledge that they would advertise an animal in less than perfect health. Not saying it happened here, as I have no clue. But based on my experience, I do suggest that it probably happens more often than animals actually being sold out from under someone else.
Alias47
Statistic
Wow...never really considered that...
I guess the bright side is they didn't still SHIP the animals...
I guess the bright side is they didn't still SHIP the animals...
crotalusadamanteus
Brother Infidel
Bill has no need to come and defend himself................It seems to be getting done for Him already. At least that's how it is appearing to Me.
But it seems like, and let me get this straight, that If I made an agreement with someone, and set a price, and agreed to it, and worked out the details of payment, and when the animal would be shipped, (phone call or email ended here. Deal done.)..................................that it is good practice, or ethical of Me to sell that same animal to Joe Blow cus he has cash in hand? Knowing that money has been sent? GIVE ME A BREAK!
Be it PayPal, CC, or money order, once it's sent, it's out of the senders hands, and should warrant some amount of time for the transaction to clear, arrive, whatever. What the guy did was just plain bad practice, and this thread, IMO, is rightfully placed in the BOI.
Why this guy wont respond, I don't get at all. Now if a week, or more had gone by, and emails or phone calls made to inquire, "hey, where's My money?" then I could see selling the animal to another buyer. That doesn't appear to be the case here. I do agree about the time line being critical, and I am interested in this also, but I still think this is the right place for this thread.
And i agree with Michael on the merge if possible. This back and forth is like a flashback to the 70's. Hed spinning trying to keep up.
Rick
But it seems like, and let me get this straight, that If I made an agreement with someone, and set a price, and agreed to it, and worked out the details of payment, and when the animal would be shipped, (phone call or email ended here. Deal done.)..................................that it is good practice, or ethical of Me to sell that same animal to Joe Blow cus he has cash in hand? Knowing that money has been sent? GIVE ME A BREAK!
Be it PayPal, CC, or money order, once it's sent, it's out of the senders hands, and should warrant some amount of time for the transaction to clear, arrive, whatever. What the guy did was just plain bad practice, and this thread, IMO, is rightfully placed in the BOI.
Why this guy wont respond, I don't get at all. Now if a week, or more had gone by, and emails or phone calls made to inquire, "hey, where's My money?" then I could see selling the animal to another buyer. That doesn't appear to be the case here. I do agree about the time line being critical, and I am interested in this also, but I still think this is the right place for this thread.
And i agree with Michael on the merge if possible. This back and forth is like a flashback to the 70's. Hed spinning trying to keep up.
Rick
Alias47
Statistic
crotalusadamanteus said:
If you read the first page you will see that that, by Dan's own admission and timeline, there never was an agreement, by phone OR email. Dan inquired...Bill sent him a reply stating an amount...a date that would be good for shipping and that he was not interested in a trade. Several hours later Dan sends money via paypal without contacting the seller...or replying that he was, in fact, planning to purchase them. A couple hours after that his money is returned...there was never an agreement...verbal or written.
As for Erik's claims...they seem to be much more substantiated by communications as well as timeline...although email header information is not present...
I am NOT defending Bill...he may be unethical...he may be a bad guy...I really do not know.
I am just defending the idea that people should have verifiable evidence before attacking someone on the BOI. Coming here and pointing fingers and saying "He hurt my feelings!" is something my 3 year old does. Not something for a forum that deals with ethics and morality in our industry...
Cold hard facts...thats all I want to see...until then...how can he be found guilty of bad business practices?
On someones word?
Because someone else I've never met or talked to, have never heard of, and doesn't have a reputation which proceeds him to judge by states that he is a bad guy?
That is ridiculous...
Anybody can makes those claims against anyone else with no proof at any time...for any reason. Without the general public here making a stand and requiring proof of these actions...the BOI becomes worthless...
crotalusadamanteus
Brother Infidel
HA HA HA.........See, now herein lies the problem of the extra thread. 
I was actually posting My comment to the other one, but was still linked to this one.
No worries though. My point is still valid. If this guy is doing this stuff habitually, than it should be made aware to people who do online purchases of this type. What better place than the BOI? I thought that's what it's for. ???
Rick
I was actually posting My comment to the other one, but was still linked to this one. No worries though. My point is still valid. If this guy is doing this stuff habitually, than it should be made aware to people who do online purchases of this type. What better place than the BOI? I thought that's what it's for. ???
Rick
ReptileAddictions
The ONLY Reptile Store in
I just want to point out that the two people that purchased the animals and got refunded purchased the SAME 2 animals. Dan was refunded and give the "local reason" and the other guy bought them AFTER Dan was refunded. Then given the same "local" reason 8 days latter.
None of this is any longer speculation to me. It's a scam! And Bill does just what the title of the thread says "Bad Business Practices".
None of this is any longer speculation to me. It's a scam! And Bill does just what the title of the thread says "Bad Business Practices".
Chameleon Company
New member
Wendy,
You got a few of us laughing a little bit again. Sorry !! Whatever really is going on, I don't know, and I and others would agree that it is "bad business practices". But whoa just a little bit there hombre ... a scam? When money is promptly refunded, whatever the prior circumstance, it kind of finds a label of definition elsewhere besides that of scam. This BOI is littered with examples of scams, and this t'ain't one
You got a few of us laughing a little bit again. Sorry !! Whatever really is going on, I don't know, and I and others would agree that it is "bad business practices". But whoa just a little bit there hombre ... a scam? When money is promptly refunded, whatever the prior circumstance, it kind of finds a label of definition elsewhere besides that of scam. This BOI is littered with examples of scams, and this t'ain't one
ReptileAddictions
The ONLY Reptile Store in
You are correct, bad choice of words....scam is not exactly what I meant. I need you to proof read for me.
I wonder what it is that he is doing when he keeps taking payents long after he "sold the geckos locally" Then refunding them later??? Kinda makes you go hmmmmm Paying a loan shark till he cashes his check? Paying a bookie till the next game is over and he wins big? LOL
I wonder what it is that he is doing when he keeps taking payents long after he "sold the geckos locally" Then refunding them later??? Kinda makes you go hmmmmm Paying a loan shark till he cashes his check? Paying a bookie till the next game is over and he wins big? LOL
EriksReptiles
Member
spokanelizardlady said:You are correct, bad choice of words....scam is not exactly what I meant. I need you to proof read for me.
I wonder what it is that he is doing when he keeps taking payents long after he "sold the geckos locally" Then refunding them later??? Kinda makes you go hmmmmm Paying a loan shark till he cashes his check? Paying a bookie till the next game is over and he wins big? LOL
Thats how I feel.... Like I gave him a "Loan" until he had the money to pay me back...
I just want to know why I had to wait 8 more days for my "refund" then geckohut...Thats all.............
Thanks Erik