Experience with KINGSNAKE Website

[DD Reptiles]

I too am growing quite tired of Kingsnake, I recently purchased an account and even just yesterday I had an ad that had been active for weeks be pulled down for no apparent reason. They didn't send me a specific reason, just their TOS. The ad had been active for a few weeks as I said and I had not changed anything in it, just re-listed it, yet all of a sudden it was deleted.

They have also deleted my ads for things as picky as mentioning a show I was attending where the animals could be picked up at.

I have had friends banned off the site, just for selling their animals below the "big breeders" prices, with no refund for their account.

Thanks,
Derek Dunlop

 

[Wrongbeach]

Seems to be a pattern the more I look into it....

I would love to get emails stating the situation and contact info from anyone that has had this problem, specifically if they have taken their money and closed the account...thks again everyone...keep them coming...Im getting a lot of private emails, so if you feel more comfortable sending it that way please feel free....if you feel confident you should post it here for all to see but I do understand people being scared of these guys for fear of being blackballed...thankfully I dont care anymore, and am very glad for a website like Fuana for letting people say their say without censorship...i will do all I can to support this website...its nice to have an alternative...bottom line is there are more people that just like snakes then there are "big breeders", so maybe a backlash can be made to bring traffic here and let the breeders that feel like they own this hobby play amongst themselves...to clarify this is not all of them....I have met some very straight forward and honest people that stay out of this nonsense...the Barkers, Kahl, Stone, and many more.....however I just cant resist a fight....

take a look at this blog from Jeff Barringer the owner of Kingsnake....kind of scary reading...thank god this guy isnt in office...wow...

http://kingsnake.typepad.com/kingsnake/2006/04/fighting_online.html

Come on Jeff Barringer....give me a call...

Paul Harb

 

[SPJ]

I had an ad pulled once a few years ago because I didn't use accepted market prices or something to that effect (I forgot the wording used).
Don't know what the hell that means except someone must have emailed them taking issue with me having a lower price on something.

 

[Wrongbeach]

Im trying to find that in their TOS

Do you have a copy of the email they sent to you when they pulled it? I cant imagine its in their TOS that they can pull ads if they feel it is below market price...thats criminal...Im going to have to read that TOS very carefully....keep them coming everyone....thks..


Paul Harb

 

[jglass38]

I have the answer to your questions...Jeff is a pompous ass who feels KS is the end all be all of the herp industry.

 

[Mckenzie_river_reptiles]

Kingsnake is terrible! Unfortuantly it is the place to sell. If we could only gradually move over to here. But I don't like the way they do there classifieds.

Just a few days ago they pulled one of my ads that was in the for sale section. I had stated in my add that I was open to trades for other geckos.

KS pulled it and told me that I can only say I am open to trades, but not what type of trades or what I am looking for!???

Luc Cauthorn

 

[Wrongbeach]

I know how I can affect this guy

Well I guess i am in luck...call it fate...this guy thinks he is a photographer of live events...rock shows to be specific...that is a world that I know very well and have a lot of connections in...this might be a lot easier than i thought...thks you guys, keep them coming....there sure are a lot of stories of people straight up getting ripped off by this guy with no reason except that he is trying to have a monopoly on this hobby....let me repeat...HOBBY...i wish I didnt even have to get involved with this...I have better things to do...but Im not letting it go until I get my money back.

Paul Harb

 

[callak]

lol

I have the answer to your questions...Jeff is a pompous ass who feels KS is the end all be all of the herp industry.

ROFL!

 

[SPJ]

Don't mention the BOI in your ad or it will be pulled.

Dear Sir or Madam

Your recent classified ad entitled "Bearded dragons for Ball Pythons, Corn Snakes, Crested Geckos, similar quality Beardies" has been removed due to a violation of our Terms of Service.

Excerpt from the TOS:

Cannot place this in your ad:

All traders will be thoroughly checked out on the BOI prior to any deal being made, if you are a shady seller don't bother.

You may check if you wish, but cannot say it here.



Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please do not take this note personally, we are only trying to enforce our rules equally. There is no need to respond to this email it is supplied to you as a courtesy.

Classifieds Coordinator
[email protected]

Below is a copy of the advertisement for your reference.

The thread about it.
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showpost.php?p=204825&postcount=3

 

[Mckenzie_river_reptiles]

What that is ridiculous. They have so many stupid rules! Why can't you mention anything about the BOI!

Why doesn't the owner of KS come one here and explain. Is Jeff the owner?

Luc Cauthorn

 

[SPJ]

Is Jeff the owner?

Luc Cauthorn

Yes, but he would never post on this site.

 

[Gary O]

Just to help out Paul Harb. When the Snows and the Snowglow was born I was informed of the breeding loans. So Paul is on the up and up. Them snakes are his.

Just incase anyone needed another person to back him up. I have never spoken to Paul either. But i know them snakes are KILLER!

 

[David Reid]

I think once a site gets large enough to rival KS, changes might be made on KS. Until then, it is the largest classifed page for reptiles. There are alot of ads, and alot of people that frequent the site, to look at the ads. People want to pay their money, and some will beg to be allowed to pay their money. Jeff is in a good position.

Dave

 

[Gary O]

I think once a site gets large enough to rival KS, changes might be made on KS. Until then, it is the largest classifed page for reptiles. There are alot of ads, and alot of people that frequent the site, to look at the ads. People want to pay their money, and some will beg to be allowed to pay their money. Jeff is in a good position.

Dave

It is not up to someone to build a site to rival KS....... Lots of sites are already out there. it takes th epeople to make the change.

 

[shrap]

PS I HAVE AN AMAZING LAWYER FOR THIS...n/p

Why waste money on a lawyer since it has only been two weeks. Just call your credit card company and have them reverse the charges.

 

[critical bill]

Why waste money on a lawyer since it has only been two weeks. Just call your credit card company and have them reverse the charges.

Bingo! We have a winner ladies and gentleman.

 

[David Reid]

Gary, name some sites other than Fauna, that are even remotely as well trafficed as KS.

It takes the people to make the change, sounds nice and cliche, but has no bite unless there is a true rival to KS.

I have made $1000 this month selling two snakes on KS. I am a small time breeder, without a website of my own. KS is almost a must for me. Until there are several huge sites, to rival KS, I have no choice but to pay my money and hope I do not get booted for some small print thing I had no clue that I did.

Fauna is a nice secondary site, but until there are three or four Faunas, KS will keep going about business as usual.

I am actually surprised that from the large number of people booted from KS, that nobody has tried to open up a rival site. I think Jeff should have a month long period where he allows people to voice their opinions without fear of being booted, and takes the critiques and uses them to better KS.

 

[lcchavez]

Gary, name some sites other than Fauna, that are even remotely as well trafficed as KS.

It takes the people to make the change, sounds nice and cliche, but has no bite unless there is a true rival to KS.

I have made $1000 this month selling two snakes on KS. I am a small time breeder, without a website of my own. KS is almost a must for me. Until there are several huge sites, to rival KS, I have no choice but to pay my money and hope I do not get booted for some small print thing I had no clue that I did.

Fauna is a nice secondary site, but until there are three or four Faunas, KS will keep going about business as usual.

I am actually surprised that from the large number of people booted from KS, that nobody has tried to open up a rival site. I think Jeff should have a month long period where he allows people to voice their opinions without fear of being booted, and takes the critiques and uses them to better KS.

That will never happen! I'm sure he(Jeff B) does not want to hear that their are problems with his business. As long as the money is still rolling in it's business as usual. Just MHO.

I have ads pulled myself for violation their TOS some with explanation others with none.

Louie Chavez

 

[Wraith]

What that is ridiculous. They have so many stupid rules! Why can't you mention anything about the BOI!

Take your pick of possible reasons for why they don't allow it:

# Posting "discussion" messages or messages of any nature that are not specifically advertisements for products, animals or services, is prohibited, and the post will be removed.

# Anyone using pethobbyist.com, or its other related sites and/or features to post pornography, profanity, possibly libelous or slanderous, racist, or threatening messages will immediately have their account terminated.

# Persons using Pethobbyist.com to post warnings or notices about other persons or businesses, whether Pethobbyist.com vendors or not, will immediately have their account terminated.

------------

Just a few days ago they pulled one of my ads that was in the for sale section. I had stated in my add that I was open to trades for other geckos.

KS pulled it and told me that I can only say I am open to trades, but not what type of trades or what I am looking for!???

Pretty clear. You said you listed what you were up for trading and you can't do that.

# Trade Ads - No "trade" ads are allowed in the sale-type classified sections. We have classified sections for these and they need to be placed there. You may mention in a sales ad that you will accept trades, but if you list what you want to trade in the ad, the ad will be removed.

-------

They have also deleted my ads for things as picky as mentioning a show I was attending where the animals could be picked up at.

# Event Referencing - Referencing upcoming "Events" in the subject heading, name field or location field, in ads is prohibited. You may mention in the body of an ad that you will be at an upcoming event, but it cannot be the focus of the ad itself. The exception to this is if you are posting an event-only ad in the "Events" classified section.

I'm guessing you mentioned the show in the wrong place or put too much emphasis on it within the ad itself.

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Do you have a copy of the email they sent to you when they pulled it? I cant imagine its in their TOS that they can pull ads if they feel it is below market price...thats criminal...Im going to have to read that TOS very carefully....keep them coming everyone....thks..

If I remember correctly, there was NO price fixing involved. That general fisaco was when a few people were attempting to sell ball pythons "by the gram" and not giving an actual price for the animals in question. It's kind of common sense that advertising animals "by the gram" when the weight of that animal is constantly shifting on a day to day basis is only going to open up the playing field for scammers and KS was not having any of it. The sellers got in a snit about it.

# All ads must have a realistic price or price range listed.

 

[Wraith]

I am actually surprised that from the large number of people booted from KS, that nobody has tried to open up a rival site. I think Jeff should have a month long period where he allows people to voice their opinions without fear of being booted, and takes the critiques and uses them to better KS.

http://market.kingsnake.com/tos.php#12

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