Bad Guy Dishonest guy Jon Boone (User name Geitje)

[Chris Kennard]

Let me also add that it costs less than $1000.00 to do an import from Germany usually. Thats F&W inspections(cites isn't much more about $70) broker fees and frieght. So your part of that shouldn't have been much.

Also people should be thanking Wai(Ken) Lui for having the backbone to stand up and post here because if he hadn't you would never hear the other stories being told. It's like the Catholic church. Noone says a word about Father so and so. But eventually someone speaks (sometimes 20-30 years later) and then, all of a sudden, people start coming out of the woodwork. And just like here,the community is shocked!

You hit the nail right on the head. I can tell you from experience, it's been going on since early 2 thousands. I second kudos to Wai! Hopefully his effort will save others from the arrogance and inconvenience he so easily shares with his victims.

 

[Avangel Reptiles]

We should make this a sticky lol

 

[DD Reptiles]

Derek,

I had no idea you got burned but i am not surprised. It was bound to happen.

You know very well that i have extensive experience with hundreds of species of gecko. I have dealt with gracilis a lot over the last 20 years. I can promise you that your animals were not LTC. This is more likely what happened and completely fits within the M.O. and pattern of the seller in question. He was offered fresh W.C. animals to be picked up in Germany on his next trip. He took you for a sucker. He probably paid about $75.00 U.S.(the usual wholesale price for gracilis) and then told you over $300.00 per pair so he could cash in. He got to Germany and the animals looked like crap but he wasn't about to lose your money so he took them even in their terrible condition. Imported them and shipped to you. He knew you would be upset but didn't care because he already had your money. He then did his typicla promise to make it right in the future.As we all can see that day never comes. Then he proceeded to try to bully and intimidate you. Yes it is absolutely a fact that gracilis is more sensetive than masobe and every other Paroedura but everyone i have ever gotten imported from Madagascar was actually in very good health and i have gotten many.good weight etc. I think we all have a relatively similar understanding of what LTC means. It means healthy and well established.

So as I said earlier there are so many examples of this seller ripping people off. He tries to bully people and he tries to get people black balled from the gecko hobby. And he is usually successful because most don't stand up to him. So as i said before he will screw you if you do business with him long enough. He has screwed over everyone he has ever been friends with in this hobby. He has zero integrity,zero loyalty and zero conscience. You notice NOTHING is ever his fault! Ever! always deflection,passing off the blame and condascending attacks. Like i said if you are a supporter and you have not yet been burned don't worry. You are not a member of some elite club. You just have not gotten screwed YET. Don't fret it will happen. So remember that when you attack people on his behalf to get brownie points. Remember that when you come to his defense. You are being played and you are in denial.

So many more examples of people all over the world who, unfortunately , don't have the courage to post because they are holding out hope...or are non confrontational.

Jay,

I agree with your post. I know that several other reputable gecko breeders told me nightmare stories regarding there dealings with Jon. I will admit I was hesitant to post as well, but being that I am taking a break from breeding geckos, I don't have anything to lose.

Since the gracilis deal, I got my own import/export license and shipped a few dozen shipments to/from Europe. The process is not that complicated, and not nearly as expensive as one would think (assuming you have a large number of animals to split costs).

I managed to import on my own a number of other Paroedura gracilis. Some CB and some LTC...even some fresh WC. All these animals thrived beautifully. I never received any animals that were anywhere near as bad as the ones Jon sent me. I produced a number of babies before I sold my group off. They are not that much different than P. masobe. Just a little bit smaller, but essentially bred the same way. They can get quite chunky if they are actually cared for properly!

Derek Dunlop

 

[DavidBeard]

I really think applying the words "pompous" and "arrogant" to Mr. Boone would be insulting to those words and a massive understatement of his true demeanor.

 

[Jay Sommers Reptiles]

I need to make a correction. When i said this

"He probably paid about $75.00 U.S.(the usual wholesale price for gracilis) and then told you over $300.00 per pair so he could cash in"

I meant he charged you over $300 per animal not pair.A much bigger payday.

And yes absolutely gracilis is very close genetically to masobe.

 

[Jay Sommers Reptiles]

I thought I would give an update to the O.P.'s rugosus issue.

A couple of weeks ago I had Wai meet me at The Reptile Super Show in L.A. with one of his male rugosus. I brought a few juveniles and we looked them over together to see what we both thought the sexes were. I brought one in particular i thought was a female. We exchanged animals and i am fairly confident his new animal is female. It worked out well because i had a friend who needed a male so i sold him the male for the juvenile. All worked out.

I know it doesn't remedy the real issue here and it doesn't let the seller off the hook. I still feel he owes something because i didn't do it to help him.My exchange with Wai to help him out has no connection what so ever with his transaction with the seller.

But I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[Jay Sommers Reptiles]

I thought I would give an update to the O.P.'s rugosus issue.

A couple of weeks ago I had Wai meet me at The Reptile Super Show in L.A. with one of his male rugosus. I brought a few juveniles and we looked them over together to see what we both thought the sexes were. I brought one in particular i thought was a female. We exchanged animals and i am fairly confident his new animal is female. It worked out well because i had a friend who needed a male so i sold him the male for the juvenile. All worked out.

I know it doesn't remedy the real issue here and it doesn't let the seller off the hook. I still feel he owes something because i didn't do it to help him.My exchange with Wai to help him out has no connection what so ever with his transaction with the seller.

But I wouldn't hold my breath.

That should say I sold my friend the male for the price i would have sold the juvie for. So Wai got a female(hopefully) my friend got a male and i got the money i needed out of the juvie. Everybody is happy

 

[Tankster]

That should say I sold my friend the male for the price i would have sold the juvie for. So Wai got a female(hopefully) my friend got a male and i got the money i needed out of the juvie. Everybody is happy

Jay, thank you very much for your help, it was a nice meeting with you as well as your friends at the show, hopefully I will see you again in July at San Diego Super Show !!

Wai

 

[SofaKing]

That's a quick assumption to make. Why would you think Jon doesn't have a species named after him?

He does, it's the toiletosous, or better known as " The Jon ". I think they are much more common then you would think.


It was nice that Wai had a friend to help, doesn't excuse Jon one bit...

 

[rhacadank]

I had the honor of meeting Mr. Wai at the Reptile Super Show in Pomona, California. What a nice and humble person he is. It is truly a shame and disgrace that Jon Boone would take advantage and mistreat Mr. Wai and others in this post including myself. That was awesome of Jay Sommers to come forward and help out the situation and offer his own animals to help out Mr. Wai. We need more Jays and less Jons in this industry. Shame on you Mr. Boone!!!

 

[Tankster]

I had the honor of meeting Mr. Wai at the Reptile Super Show in Pomona, California. What a nice and humble person he is. It is truly a shame and disgrace that Jon Boone would take advantage and mistreat Mr. Wai and others in this post including myself. That was awesome of Jay Sommers to come forward and help out the situation and offer his own animals to help out Mr. Wai. We need more Jays and less Jons in this industry. Shame on you Mr. Boone!!!

Hi Ramy, it was a meeting with you, and what a GREAT show !!!
I am so looking forward to see the San Diego Super Show later this year, and hopefully my friend in China and I can get a booth at the super show !!

Wai Lui

 

[smigon]

We should make this a sticky lol

I just read the other "novel" that you started, I am glad you are back and hope all is okay with you. I hope you don't beat yourself up too much about what happened, you thought you were in the right, but there just wasn't enough communication and a CONTRACT between you two, and that is what made the deal go bad. I sided with you for 10% of the decision, if that makes you feel better, but I think a breeder with as much experience as Jon has should know better and have had a written and signed contract with you, but you were too soft on contacting him about when payments needed to be made. I posted a response, you can read it there.

Whatever happened, did you take him up on his offer of putting the money toward geckos or did you just forget it completely?

I, too, have made a bad decision regarding a car deal with a "great guy", a "friend", who took off with my car in 2009. Thankfully I had made an airtight contract with him and he did pay me at the 2 year mark when the note was due (could have knocked me over with a feather), regardless of an addendum he signed agreeing to make monthly payments with a balloon payment at the end. We ended up on the "Judge Alex" show, it made him look like a total fool and a tool, but my case was dismissed without prejudice since I was going on the Addendum and not the original contract. I could refile after the two years were up if he hadn't paid, and even Judge Alex said "I expect to see you both back here next year", showing his lack of faith in Tony. I told this clown all he had to do was shut his piehole and admit he hadn't paid me and the show would have paid his note in full, plus the money we got for being on the show, but his Napoleonic Syndrome pride got in the way and he couldn't help blurting out things like "it's not due yet", "I never said I was a good person" and "she's the crazy cat lady from around the corner" (I confided in him when we were friends I had three cats who were like my kids since I am unable to conceive.) Judge Alex was REALLY pissed when I explained that, that part didn't air but J.A. made him look EXTREMELY foolish on national TV. I had really hoped Judge Judy would have picked up our case first, I would have loved to see her rip him apart.

Here is part of the video, the reason I refused to go to a Western Union was I knew him too well and knew he wouldn't send the money. I wasn't going to waste my time since there was no W.U. within 30 miles of us and I knew it wouldn't be there anyway. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfJkunxfqlo

Anyway, bottom line, Karma is a bitch. What goes around comes around, I am a firm believer that how you present yourself in your daily routine defines you as a person. You may not think that people notice, but they do. I am a well-liked and happy person in my personal and work life, not that life is a popularity contest, but in the end I think that the more lives you touch in a positive way the better the bar seat in heaven. I'll buy the first round!
You learn something new every day!

 

[Jay Sommers Reptiles]

^^^^^^^^^^^^What?

 

[LauraB]

Jay, I didn't get Michelle's post either, till I back tracked.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1683260#post1683260

The post above is relative to Jon Boone and originally posted in 2011 by Chaz Stewart/Avangel Reptiles; Michelle decided to resurrect on 1-23-14, with the following: (and please pay attention to the person and date who last posted before Michelle, link above)

I just started reading the BOI this week, and I know how old this is, but it has been like reading a mystery but at the end you still aren't 100% sure whodunit!

What I mean is, yes, OP waited WAY too long to pay, but there was never a SIGNED contract for a specific date that the agreement would be null and void and the deposit forfeited. By "signed" I mean an e-contract that is either faxed or where OP fills in the spaces of a contract that says "I have made a deposit of $900, I will pay in full by XX-XX-XXXX for (gecko's species and amount of each here). Signed, ________________" and emailed, leaving each party with proof of the agreement.

This could also include a payment plan. It wasn't until page 8 that anyone (Clay Davenport) mentioned the word "terms", which still isn't a complete contract. I hold Chaz to be 90% at fault, but the seller, as much as he breeds and sells, should know better and should hold some accountability at his lack of communication. Jon did not reply to Chaz's asking in June if he could pay, I really can't hold Chaz responsible for that, he definitely should have been up Jon's business more when asking to make the payment, not just an email every few months, but Jon should have given the courtesy of a response, especially knowing that this guy wasn't a pro at this (given his track record for asking too many questions at first) so I feel Jon should learn from this too. Now, granted, I did read the OTHER novel about Jon, the more recent one, but I read this with a business mind, not with a sympathetic mind.

Bottom line, there needs to be a clear, concise contract that could hold water in any court, and that should be the seller's duty. I wouldn't enter into ANY contract and hand over a deposit without a signed receipt and terms of sale.

Just my $899 worth.

I suppose that is why she posted here as well, quoting Chaz' comment about a sticky and reminding readers to get a written contract.

As for the lengthy, irrelevent Judge Alex and Judge Judy story and the video link ... sorry, but apparent self-promotion?

 

[LauraB]

And just to be clear, professionals like Wai (Ken) Lui and the other honest, upstanding, reputable contributors to herp science and industry do not need to be reprimanded like children re: contracts.

If Jon Boone can't honor and respect fellow herpers and maintain a professional base, then he should not represent those who can and do. (In my worthless opinion)

 

[Magic]

If Jon Boone can't honor and respect fellow herpers and maintain a professional base, then he should not represent those who can and do. (In my worthless opinion)

Quote for truth!!!!!!!!

 

[smigon]

Laura, I am sorry that if "resurrecting" a thread means responding a day after the last post to it, I wasn't aware that was bad etiquette. If it is, what do you call your response two weeks later?

As far as "self promotion", what am I promoting? The fact that I am a generous person with a big heart who had to learn the hard way not to do anything without a contract and wanted to give advice to that matter? I don't breed or sell reptiles, I have a small corn snake collection and happened upon the BOI. I am sorry if reading recent posts and responding with a question to the OP a day after the last comment was posted is a bad thing. I thought all were welcome here.

 

[Lucille]

had to learn the hard way not to do anything without a contract

A contract is an agreement for the breach of which the law gives a remedy; and it seems that there was in fact at the inception a contract here, money for lizards.
A contract does not have to be a single signed dated piece of paper with all terms spelled out, although such contracts are easier to enforce.
A spoken agreement can be a contract, and proof of a contract can be gathered from the writings of each party to the other. Here from what the parties have written to each other one can clearly gather the agreement made for the initial transaction.
The UCC article 2 section 2 will provide direction for every term left out of a contract except quantity, in a sale of goods.
Of course there are a lot of rules in contract law, and some kinds of contracts must be in writing and the parties must be capable and all, but here in this case it does seem that there was a contract.

(In my worthless opinion)

I wish you would stop saying that. Your opinions are valued by many, certainly by me, as always being well thought out, well researched, and well written. Your detective skills are awesome too.

 

[smigon]

Lucille, I value and respect your opinion. You are absolutely correct, verbal contracts and are contracts too, but my point was that having a written contract with firmly set dates and outlines of exactly how the two parties are responsible should be written in stone from the get go. You stated "A contract does not have to be a single signed dated piece of paper with all terms spelled out, although such contracts are easier to enforce." That was my point, that it is easier to enforce said contract. I am sorry if I didn't make myself clear.

 

[Jay Sommers Reptiles]

I knew exactly what he was referencing. What perplexed me is why Smigon didn't post this all on the thread that was relevant to his reference (the thread started by Chaz not this one) And what was really throwing me was the irrelevant and completely useless rant about Judge alex.

When money is exchange for a product or service you are officially entering into a binding contract. And the fact that there are many emails substantiating Wai's and everyone elses issues is all the evidence needed. I mean what more do you want? For both parties to sign a contract in front of a notary? and mail it to each other before proceeding with the purchase? thats ridiculous.

Jay, I didn't get Michelle's post either, till I back tracked.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1683260#post1683260

The post above is relative to Jon Boone and originally posted in 2011 by Chaz Stewart/Avangel Reptiles; Michelle decided to resurrect on 1-23-14, with the following: (and please pay attention to the person and date who last posted before Michelle, link above)


I suppose that is why she posted here as well, quoting Chaz' comment about a sticky and reminding readers to get a written contract.

As for the lengthy, irrelevent Judge Alex and Judge Judy story and the video link ... sorry, but apparent self-promotion?