Brian Smith-Inquiry

[GinoInDaBronx]

Anyone who reads the Burmese, Retic, Python
and Crocodilian forums on KS will be very familiar
with this guy. He gives tons of seemingly good
advice. He also makes numerous preposterous
claims. He purports to be a massive breeder,
with huge amounts of sales. Yet, he has no
website, wont say which state he is in, can
provide no references and even admits to
using a false name.

Can anyone vouch for this guy?

Sincerely,

Gino 'In Da Bronx' Beniquez

 

[BWSmith]

Just to be clear, this guyis not me

 

[Thomas Jones]

His real name is Damon. He lives in Cali. He was using a false name to protect himself. The whole story is on the forums at KS.

I have sent him several e-mails and he has helped me out alot. Most of his stock is from Bob Clark. He helped me pick out a tiger from Bob Clark. He sent pics of one he had gotten and Bob picked put out one closest to it for me. I plan on ordering from him this coming up year. I hope this helps.

 

[Mark and Aimee]

He was using a false name to protect himself.

What the HECK does he have to protect himself from? Why is he hiding behind a fake name?

If he has really purchased all these high end Burm and Retic morphs from Bob Clark, I'm 100% positive Bob would know who he is. But still....

The admins at the Bob Clark forums will not talk about him, Kingsnake deletes ANY post questioning his true identity, and you can NEVER get a straight answer out of the guy as to WHY he has to lie about who he is.

He also claims to have some "secret" about the big breeders in the industry, and when he comes out with his secret, everyone's going to lose their minds (or something to that effect).

As far as I'm concerned, he's a big head somewhere in California that claims to have a lot more experience than he really does... And as long as he keeps up with his constant lying, he'll never amount to anything in this industry.

 

[Mark and Aimee]

The whole story is on the forums at KS.

If this is the case, would you please provide a link to the "whole story" that has not been deleted by moderators?

 

[Thomas Jones]

I am not sure why the story has been deleted. Damon has always been nice to me and helped me out. Bob Clark knows him cause when i ordered from Bob he knew exactly who i was talking about. My e-mail is [email protected] . I do not own alligators nor do i hunt them. Does that make me a bad guy. No it does not.
There is alot of shady stuff going on with different big breeders. At the local show in Raleigh NC you can here them talking Junk about each other. Alot of this stuff may or may not come out.

I think what you should judge Damon on is his knowledge of herps and his willingness to help others out. When he has babies for sale and they are advertised look at his animals. If they are anywhere close to his adults then they will be hands down the best looking animals out there.
Do not judge him for using a different name or not saying where he is located. I would not want everyone to know where i was located if i had a load of money in snakes at my location. You are looking for trouble.

The big breeders are scared of competition and will do anything to keep it to a minimum. They should be looking to create something new. I belive in honesty and there are some big breeders out there who are NOT honest at all.

 

[Mark and Aimee]

When he has babies for sale and they are advertised look at his animals.

How will we know it is him, if he won't tell anyone who he is??

So... the same questions remain unanswered.

What do he need to protect himself from? What has he done that is SO bad?

 

[Mark and Aimee]

What do he need to protect himself from?

Someone must have moved the keys around on my keyboard. I meant...

"What does he need to protect himself from?"

 

[BWSmith]

Welcome to Witness Relocation Program Herpers

 

[Thomas Jones]

There must be something going on. Damon is tight lipped about it. But other breeders are also having there share of problems with different BIG breeders and have openly e-mailed me about it.
I like to know who is a good one to do businees with and who is not.
I am not sure why it got deleted off KS. So there must be something going on that certain people do not want to get out.

What is the big deal if he used a different name or not. He has stated his name is Damon and lives in Cali. He has posted numerous pics of his animals and are hands down some of the best out there. So he fessed up admitted he used a different name he had his reasons. I guess people where trying to ruin his reputation in order to hurt his sales. But that s just a guess. I have only e-mailed him never met him or seen him in person. I live on the opposite coast he does. I am just going by the way he treated me in the e-mails. He sent pics of his cages and answered the snake questions i had.

If you were in a situation to where you could possibly compete with the big name burm and retic breeders then you might see where he is coming from. I am not so i have nothing to worry about. You can feel free to e-mail me and give me your number and i will call and talk about this or anything else.

 

[BWSmith]

What is the big deal if he used a different name or not. He has stated his name is Damon and lives in Cali. He has posted numerous pics of his animals and are hands down some of the best out there. So he fessed up admitted he used a different name he had his reasons.

Personally, I feel that in this business, reputation is everything. If you don't even go by your real name, then what good is it? If you HAVE to go by a different name, then stay out of the business and out of the limelite.

If you were in a situation to where you could possibly compete with the big name burm and retic breeders then you might see where he is coming from.

Luckily, that is one thing I never have to worry about since I have no respect for Burm breeders as it is and will never ahve to compete.

Maybe I am biased because his bad name may be mistaken for my good name.

 

[meretseger]

If I were trying to compete with big name burm breeders, I'd be telling as many people my real name as possible. People not knowing your name makes it sort of tough for them to buy from you. I'm not saying the nom de plume is bad, I'm just saying that's a bad reason for having one.
Unless there's a secret society of big breeders kicking people's doors in and taking their snakes. No wait, that's the DNR!

Erin Benner. Benner Benner Benner! Big sand boa breeders Beware! Benner is the wave of the future!

 

[Mark and Aimee]

What is the big deal if he used a different name or not.

His entire existance is based on a lie - starting with his name. It's not like he just came out and said 'My name is not really Brian Smith". He got CALLED OUT... And was forced to admit that he had been lying to everyone for some time.

THIS is why I have no respect for the guy... And never will.

 

[Thomas Jones]

OK OK. I see you are upset cause he used a different name.


Would you be up set to know that a well know breeder had almost his or her entire breeding stock wiped out by sickness and lies that they have not had any deaths. The deaths included a possible new morph. Then they fall back on the shoulders of another breeder to help keep them afloat.

Not to mention on here(BOI) where Savannah accused Bob Clark of threating her. He never denied this. He is still respected by some and he has to threaten an 18 yr old girl cause his panties got in a wad because Jeffery Miller shipped some snakes for her. I understand Miller owes him money. But no need to to threaten a girl.This is alot worse than telling a different name.

I have nothing against any of the breeders. I have not dealt with them enough to really know them. If Bob Clark is the top man in breeding snakes then i am at the other end. I am the lowest man on the totem pole. But i still have my opinions.

 

[Mark and Aimee]

Would you be up set to know that a well know breeder had almost his or her entire breeding stock wiped out by sickness and lies that they have not had any deaths.

So... is THAT was happened to Brian er Damon er whatever?? Or are you trying to change the subject?

He is still respected by some and he has to threaten an 18 yr old girl cause his panties got in a wad because Jeffery Miller shipped some snakes for her.

Threatened WHAT? Can you blame the guy for not liking someone associated with the person who stole his ENTIRE stock of albino Ball Pythons??

I understand Miller owes him money.

Uh, yeah. Like over a million dollars. This is not exactly chump change. For ANYONE.

I have nothing against any of the breeders.

I would think otherwise.

But i still have my opinions.

Yes, yes you do. They're a little messed up, but at least they are yours. Or are they Brian/Damon's??

 

[NEWReptiles]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Damon the one who ripped of prehistoric pets. This is why he calls himself Brian.

I read all the KS drama and most of it is true from what I hear.
He has a poor attitude and has even been rude to quite a few people on the Retic forum at KS.

I will gather more info after the holidays.

 

[Thomas Jones]

I have never met Damon. Never talked to him on the phone. Never seen him in person or pics. All this i type is my thoughts and my feelings.

It was a big breeder whos adult stock died off and will lie about it. I read where Damon's stock was wiped out but he admitts they why he took a break from breeding for a decade or so ago.

Mark and Aimee you guys are like me small time. If you want or have plans to get bigger be very care full who's side you take. It can make or break you.

Someone posted here about Brian Smith. I was stating he has his reasons for using a different name. What ever it is, is his business not mine.
I was stating Damon has answered my questions and was very helpful. I have not bought from him ,never sent him any animals. If someone is nice to me i say so.

I do not have the complete story it was on KS forums. Why it got deleted i do not know, ask who ever is in charge there.

 

[Hues1]

Mark and Aimee you guys are like me small time. If you want or have plans to get bigger be very care full who's side you take. It can make or break you

Making it to the "big leagues" is all about your customers and how you treat them. Honesty, integrity, and "doing the right thing" for the people who make you who you are are the way to go....it's not about who's butt you're kissing this week or the next or who's team you're on.

The cool thing about this business and any other is with hard work, ANYONE can make it "big".

Most people tend to see people for what they are in this industry...big or small.

 

[Sybella]

Brian and I have been friends for a year or two, on and offline. He has an incredible mind, where he plans and constructs and builds major projects before he puts them to paper. It's absolutely amazing!

Some find him arrogant, I know, I've seen it too. But, if you look past that, you see a very nice, helpful, generous, tender and romantic man underneath. (You should hear the way he talks about his wife!) Most of his "arrogant" comments are just jokes that some people don't get. His sense of humor is different. That's all it is.

Yes, he did lose his entire collection and it still tears him to pieces. Because of that, he now has a closed colony, after using strict quarantine methods. He even takes it as far as not feeding previously rejected feeders to other snakes, bleaches all the dishes once a week, and more.

As far as secrets...we all have secrets. He does like his privacy, as do I. You see, I hide from an abusive ex, for the sake of my children. Maybe Brian has a good reason too. Please give him the benefit of doubt and leave him be.

...off to go call Brian now. LOL!

 

[CaptainSlackass]

I've never met him personally. but he has threatened me online. He said that he would rip my head off and put it on a spike. He also said in an email that he would spend thousands of dollars to hunt me down and "take care of me".

Make up your own mind, but I'm personally convinced that he's a lunatic.