Buyers beware of Gracie aka Diana Mason

[Wilomn]

While this opinion has nothing to do with the problems concerning the geckos in this post, I think it belongs here anyway.

Frequently on this board are people posting who spell or use grammer terribly. There have been occasions when I have been sure the poster was joking only to have the same mistakes repeated in subsequent(?) posts. #### happens. If you are so concerned with someones ability to write correctly, write a book on it , become a teacher, or better yet show by example how it should be done.

This is one instance when a private message or email is MUCH more appropiate than being a jerk here in public and saying something rude.

Just my not so humble opinion.

Wes Pollock

 

[UpstateExotics1]

I felt that since this thread was started on Diana, this would be a place to post here.

I had a situation here on the BOI with Diana. Seems her money problems go farther than spending other peoples money. She had a "problem" with one of our monitors, made a big deal out of it here on the BOI and now, after all this time, the animal is sick and she can't afford to care for it, wants us to refund her money and take the animal back.

Here's a quick recap:

Everyone seemed to jump all over us with the whole Diana Mason thing. We offered her a refund, not good enough for her....then she decided to keep him. He was healthy when we shipped him, besides some "ticks" that she said he had, but has never shown proof of. It just gets me that someone can as a customer come on here and say something, and everyone backs them up, with no proof, just their word. Maybe she had buyers remorse, so came up with some excuse to return him, but then decided to keep him. No one ever thinks that, they think..."oh bad bad bad Upstate Exotics". But she never had to prove it, but we have to come on here as a business and plea not to be fed to the sharks to try and prove our case. We had pictures of that monitor, and a well known monitor breeder had even looked at him in the pictures after this all happened and said he DID NOT look thin or unhealthy at all. I do have the pictures of what he looked like when posted, of exactly the animal Diana purchased from us, that no one, til this day, has asked to see. Nor did Diana ever post any pictures of how "terrible" this animal was. I understand we need to look at both sides, but I feel this wasn't fair that everyone took Diana's side, without proof, and never asked for my proof when I offered it.

Well, WE wanted to come here and now post what has happened. Apparently Diana feels that she was harsh on us here, but feels that since she has all of you here on HER side, she can use that against us to get her way. Apparently, she cannot get the monitor to eat, or so she says. Meanwhile here, he was such an aggressive eater. And NOW wants a refund. I have never received a phone call from Diana since the beginning of all of this, but she uses the whole BOI thing as leverage, which I think is how people can play with members on the BOI.

Here is the email I received from her:

QUOTE:
"The monitor you sold me over a month ago will not keep any meals down. He regurates everything back up and is getting thinner by the day. I didn't say anything to you earlier because I was going to try and fix him myself and avoid anymore dealing with you but I can't get him to keep any meals down and I'm leaving for college soon and can't afford any more vet trips so I'd like to ask you to refund my money ($165) and I'll give you back your monitor. You probably have better access to herp vets up there and are more financialy stable to help this animal. I know I said I was going to keep him and didn't want a refund but I've changed my mind and can't keep him now. Please take into consideration the welfare of the animal and what would be best for him. Let me know if you can help me out and if you will I will make sure to post how you were kind enough to refund my money aftr all this time and state that I was too harsh on you on th boi. I'm willing to drive anywhere to meet y ou. Let me know. Thanks. Diana"

Now all of a sudden this animal is become emaciated but never bothered to contact us until now. So I guess the "RIGHT" thing to do is take back a half dead animal from someone who couldn't care for it and give her all her money back to "save face".

I'm sorry, but I have to draw the line. I offered her a refund but she wouildn't take it becase she "couldn't see the animal being put back into our horrible care"

Looks like you're doing a real good job of caring for it in your care Diana...GODD THING you didn't ship him back to us....hmmmm

 

[gracie]

I live in the very northern part of northeast PA. The weather up here was absolutely brutal for a solid month and I wasn't going to ship in such cold wheather to her. She knew that and understood that. All the rest of the emails exchanged between us other than the ones she posted were very friendly on both sides. I never lied about the temps, the weather in other parts of PA might have been in the 40s but not up here. The temps might have hit 39 as a high but the lows never went above 29 and that's not acceptable to me. As for my cat, accidents happen. He has a "thing" for styrofoam and got into the last two of my insulated boxes and tore them up. The other of the two boxes was for another shipment that was supposed to go out that day and had to be put on hold for the cold as well. And I wasn't going to ship without styro lined boxes. When it comes to not calling Lori's son Nick, the second I walked in the door that night to phone had rang and it was him so I didn't have a chance to call first.

 

[gracie]

The monitor was emanciated when it first got here Upstate! You have no right trying to bash me about an animal you first misrepresented by selling an OBVIOUSLY WILD CAUGHT monitor to me and telling me it's CB then deniing (sp?) it which you still haven't told me why you did, then shipped it to me in extremely cold wheather almost killing it and then letting ME pick the huge ticks out of his nose after arriving! Luckily I've gotten him finaly feeding fine now and is putting some weight back on. You have no right to try and bash me for that! You wouldn't even refund all my money! And why should I need proof? If I was happy with what I got from you then that's what I would have posted!

 

[Christa]

Ok FIRST OFF It would have been one thing if you had said hey look I can't ship them on Monday but you left me in the wings. You say that you have bad weather yup there. Well I have bad weather here and I can understand that but when YOU left me out of the LOOP there by not Informing me of what was going on with gecko's I'd sent you money for that's when the deal went south for me.


I lost a 100 dollars due to you not informing me of what was up. And I think the reason of that is, you didn't want to be honest with me and tell me that you have a FULL time job and didn't have anytime to ship. That's the real getter right there because if you had told me something like that I would have been OK with that. I'm a pretty easy going person. I don't wana see anyone get stressed in life due to ME!

But I know for a fact that if it had been you that had stayed home and had lost 100 you'd be pretty Upset too. And I use UPSET very mildly to how show I really feel.

As far as Upstate: This doesn't clear your Name. You did state that the animal was CB when infact it was WC. And just like Burger King You should always do it the Customer's Way. She wasn't happy you should have given her a refund NO IF'S AND'S OR BUT'S!!!!

And AS far as that monitor isn't this the same one?

Black Throat Monitor, Amazon Tree Boa, Veiled Chameleon, and more for TRADE

I could be wrong that's why I'm asking. If it is the same animal OMG buyer not only beware but WATCH OUT!
(if this is harsh I'm sorry)

She does state that it is LTC so I don't know. Hmmmmm...

BTW, If you wana clear you name in my mind Diana post your zip and I will look at the past forecast for that week. If you are right I will bow my head and eat cold crow for that one.

But not for you keeping me out of the loop. That was the clincher on the deal going bad.

Christa Rucker

 

[Wilomn]

It seems that there are a lot of pots calling a lot of kettles black here.

Upstate, did you not represent the monitor in question as captive born when it was wild caught?

Diana, did you not agree to keep the monitor? Your reasons not withstanding, you said you would keep it. The choice was yours. Now the monitor is yours.

The deals have been done. Maybe it's just time to live with the mistakes that have been made.

Whether or not Upstate sent the monitor they purported to have, you, Diana, agreed to keep it. It's yours and after all this time it is unreasonable to expect any refund from them for it.

Having reread some of the many posts on the monitor issue I would have serious second thoughts about buying from upstate. Having read how diana handles her business I would also have second thoughts about buying from her.

Time to move on. Time to take care of the customers you had, both upstate and diana. Time for everyone to grow up and do what is right for all concerned.

Sell what you say you have. Ship what you have sold when you say you will or be in touch with the buyer asap to tell them why you didn't.

If you agree to abide by terms for shipping or refunds or anything else, you have agreed to abide by those terms, you have agreed to them. Don't go and try to change things later.

Wes Pollock

 

[The BoidSmith]

Diana,

This is what you told Upstate Exotics:

I didn't say anything to you earlier because I was going to try and fix him myself and avoid anymore dealing with you but I can't get him to keep any meals down and I'm leaving for college soon and can't afford any more vet trips so I'd like to ask you to refund my money ($165) and I'll give you back your monitor. You probably have better access to herp vets up there and are more financialy stable to help this animal. I know I said I was going to keep him and didn't want a refund but I've changed my mind and can't keep him now. Please take into consideration the welfare of the animal and what would be best for him.

This is what you posted in your for sale ad:

1.0 ltc 2ft blackthroat monitor. Very tame. Flawless except for a nose rub. Clean inside and out. Great monitor. Originaly paid $165

Care to comment?

 

[The BoidSmith]

What's it going to be?

Well...Is it number 1. "a great, clean, and flawless monitor" as stated in the ad, or 2. "an animal that needs urgent veterinary attention?

Number 2 will sustain your claim with Upstate Exotics, but then what you said in the ad...

Number 1. is what you said about the monitor in the ad, but then what you told Upstate Exotics...

Thus the question, what's it going to be?

 

[Caswell Herps]

Gracie going to college soon?????

Gracie Just a question ......How many times are you going to use the excuse I'm going to college soon........well when is soon???? I have seen it in a few of your replies....???? also in referense to your monitor deal with Upstate Exotics ...Did you ever discuss the refund policy with them???? If you were not happy with the monitor you should of returned it right away not after a few days or even weeks...and then decide you want a full refund...You should of been able to see the animal was sick or not right when you got it... why did you even accept it???... As for my dealings with you I am very glad that the BOI was pointed out to me because people need to be aware of the going ons with the way you and other people seem to do business...I think people who read this will form their own opinion and decide for themselves whether to do business with you and take a chance of not having the item shipped and waiting for their money to be refunded to them or going to a more highly recomended person that is going to be more dependable!!!

Christa I am very sorry that you lost $100 for missing work I am a single parent and raising my son on my own and I know how much you need to track your every penny....All I can say is you had more patients than I did...I am glad we both got our money back but still you lost out on work and the money you would of made. Thanks to the BOI maybe we both can make a differance
for the next person who maybe thinking of purchasing a reptile from Gracie. I know now I will be not so trusting and check things out better first before ever sending money. Again SHAME ON YOU GRACIE!!! You just don't treat people like this. stay in contact with them even if you have to go to the library to use a computer if yours is not working and comunicate with them and don't spend the money until you know they recieved the item and is satisfied with it.

Lori Caswell

 

[gracie]

Christa, my zip is 18457...

Lori, I don't have anything else to say. I admit to what I did was wrong. I can't say sorry enough.

As for the monitor, if you read the post I answered Upstate in, the monitor is fine now. That email I sent them is over a week old, since then I've gotten him feeding fine and starting to put on a little weight so I decided to sell him. I'll be removing that ad and any other ad I have for any of my animals and just try and sell localy so I don't have to bother with shipping.

Again, I admit to my mistakes and I'm sorry to everyone I pissed off. I'm going to bow out of this now, sorry again...

 

[UpstateExotics1]

You sent me the email on the 24th. Explaining how "horrible" it was.

The ad you posted for sale was on the 26th.

How do you explain that? I have a picture of the monitor I sold you, care to show your version?

 

[gracie]

Why are you doing this? Is this some sort of "revenge"? That's not very business like. You never even admitted to selling me a misreptresented animal. I understand what it is that I did wrong and admitted to it and I'm just a hobbyist you on the other hand are a big business and have a larger reputation to uphold not that I don't but you know where i'm comming from.

I gave the monitor 2 small mice on the 26th and he kept them down fine. Since then he hasn't regurged anything, has become very active and is putting on some wieght. That's why I offered him for sale. And I never said he was in "such horrible shape" only that he been regurgitating and is a little thin.

And I was simlpy just asking if you could be an adult and try and help this animal since I will be unable to soon but obviously you are more conserned with youself than the welfare of the animal you sold to me. All you had to do was email me a simple "no" and I would have looked for someone else to take him. But now that he is well I'm going to try and get my money back for him.

 

[The BoidSmith]

Diane,

One final coment. If you say he is now fine I believe you. But you can't claim an animal is flawless, clean, and great because he just started to eat for you a week ago. Again, it's good you recognized your errors.

Regards.

 

[HerpVenue]

Why are you doing this? Is this some sort of "revenge"? That's not very business like.

Upstate is posting their version of the truth. Do not try to answer with a question and accusation. Just answer the question..

You never even admitted to selling me a misreptresented animal.

So....is upstate the only one misrepresenting the animal?
On february 12 you wrote this.

He is also very thin, his hip bones stick out quite a bit and his legs have nothing tem. Point is, be careful of Upstate Exotics.

on the 24 of March you wrote this

The monitor you sold me over a month ago will not keep any meals down. He regurates everything back up and is getting thinner by the day. I didn't say anything to you earlier because I was going to try and fix him myself and avoid anymore dealing with you but I can't get him to keep any meals down and I'm leaving for college soon and can't afford any more vet trips so I'd like to ask you to refund my money ($165) and I'll give you back your monitor. You probably have better access to herp vets up there and are more financialy stable to help this animal. I know I said I was going to keep him and didn't want a refund but I've changed my mind and can't keep him now. Please take into consideration the welfare of the animal and what would be best for him. Let me know if you can help me out and if you will I will make sure to post how you were kind enough to refund my money aftr all this time and state that I was too harsh on you on th boi. I'm willing to drive anywhere to meet y ou. Let me know. Thanks. Diana

On the 26 of March your add stated

1.0 ltc 2ft blackthroat monitor. Very tame. Flawless except for a nose rub. Clean inside and out. Great monitor. Originaly paid $165

I gave the monitor 2 small mice on the 26th and he kept them down fine. Since then he hasn't regurged anything, has become very active and is putting on some wieght. That's why I offered him for sale. And I never said he was in "such horrible shape" only that he been regurgitating and is a little thin.

So as soon as you fed him two mice on the 26 of March he all of a sudden gained weight and you decided to sell them the same day? Are you saying your two magic mice made them gain a lot of weight in several hours time?


So here is a timeline. According to Diana

February 12 the monitor is VERY thin
March 24, The monitor has regurged EVERYTHING and is getting thinner. Even thinner than VERY thin because he has not kept anything down in a month AND A HALF

March 26 the animal takes 2 mice. Keeps it down. And those two little itty bitty mice was able to restore the monitor back to health. He is no longer VERY thin. He is no longer Thinner than VERY thin. He is now just a little bit thin but flawless. So you decide to sell him the very same day he takes the two mice.


I don't know Diane....... Sounds like you got some magic mice.

The animal has not eaten in a month and a half. But within two days you got it to feed on only two mice and it regained most of its weight and is now flawless. Can I please buy some mice from you?

One final coment. If you say he is now fine I believe you. But you can't claim an animal is flawless, clean, and great because he just started to eat for you a week ago.

A week ago? Dan she had him up for sale the very same day she finally got it to eat. He has not eaten in a month and a half. Then all of a sudden he ate two mice and gained most of his weight back.

Diane... if the animal was VERY thin when you got it.
And if it has not eaten in a month and a half since you got it..
I would think it would be thinner than when you first got it.

In other words...those two mice would not have halped him any.


You are also guilty of misrepresenting your animals.

Pot Kettle Black.... you know the saying.

 

[HerpVenue]

But now that he is well I'm going to try and get my money back for him.

I would love to see a picture of this monitor that was miraculously healed with two mice.


Also ...didn;'t you know you were leaving for college a month and a half ago?

 

[gracie]

No I don't have magic mice. When I FIRST recieved the monitor, he was very thin. Since then he wouldn't hold down any mice that I tried to give him but he did eat and keep down some turkey and dog food. So his weight stabalized but what he would keep down wasn't enough. Saying "getting thinner by the day" just ment that he was still thin and will get thinner if he doesn't start holding down his food. The first day I gave him the two mice he was very active and eagerly accepted the mice. Since then I've given him 1 mouse a day and he's been keeping every one of them down. And I said he's put on a little weight since the 26th, not a lot.

 

[Christa]

Ok I wasn't going to post anythig more on here.


First of there was a photo of the Monitor right above the add Diana has sense taken it down. But I want to know how she can claim this is a LTC (long term captive if I'm noy mistaken). Because when she got it from UPSTATE EXOTICS it was a fresh wild caught that they sold to her. It had ticks and prolly internal bugs too!

This is an animail that UPSTATE EXOTICS claimed to be captive breed. Now I Know I'm rehashing but these are two people I will/would never by from ever, or again.

 

[roscoe]

Gracie,
they nailed you honey. All that complaining about Upstate and you turn out to be worse that they are. Just out to make a fast buck on some reptiles. I don't think you give a rats a$$ about any of the animals in your care. None of what you've said in the last couple of posts adds up. You're just back pedalling right now trying to cover your mistakes. If you really are going to college try and register for an ethics course. You could use it.
Ross Buskard

 

[Christa]

Ummm Weather Anyone?

I don't like making people out to be liars, but this is the weather forcast for the days in question. She was to ship them on the 14th and granted the morning lows where in the 20's the daily's where well in the upper 40's.

Lori I'm hijacking this post for a second. I also have a daughter so I know how the penny pinching goes!

 

[Christa]

Opps

I got this information from weather.com

just in case anyone was wondering sorry for doubble posting but you can't edit!