Bad Guy Jon Boone (Bad business agreement)

[Geitje]

I have inquired about many different species of gecko from him that i was interested but extremely hesitant to get into due to their higher end nature of care since I didn't have experience with them at the time.

I just want to post something that addresses the issue of “high end nature and care/only for advanced hobbyists” of some species that I offer. Experience has dictated over the years that nearly ALL desert dwelling species can be kept essentially the same: warm, dry, vertical provisions for arboreal species, preferably kept individually (at least periodically) for terrestrial species, no wetness, generally 90/75 (night/day) breeding season; 75/60 off season. This principle applies for nearly 150 deserticolus species that I currently keep. The proof is clear to anyone who has seen my collection – nearly everything is housed in identical enclosures, in the same room and thereby the same conditions. The rest is value (or, “must be harder to keep!”) based on supply/demand. The recipe for breeding Chondrodactylus is not any different than most other terrestrial desert dwelling geckos (ex. leopards, which are harder, because one needs a moist place for egg deposition which is not necessary with Ptenopus or Chondrodactylus.). So, while a person might feel that greater investment into a species that might have greater investment potential dictates that the species MUST be harder to keep is simply not true. A care sheet, or simple advise (such as above), should be as applicable as following a recipe in the kitchen for a very flavorful meal that one hitherto believed was only “for the experts”. The reality is that my recipe for nearly all desert species is essentially the same.

Over the past 30 years I’ve seen a lot of “high end geckos” that I believed might be harder to keep, because the price tag was harder to swallow, only to find out later that they too were easy to keep and breed. Desert dwelling species are internally wired to breed when there is an abundance of food, increase in temps and encounters with the opposite sex – not very complex at all. So, nearly all problematic gecko species are so due to one of two reasons:
1. “Dietary specialists” such as Rhynchoedura ornata, Hemitheconyx taylori and Diplodactylus conspicillatus which are termite specialists. The frequency for this occurring with any arid adapted OR tropical species is about 1-2%.
2. “Environment/micro-habitat specialists” such as Uroplatus, Cyrtodactylus sp’s and Naultinus sp.’s. The frequency of this occurring with a desert species is less than 1%. The frequency for this occurring with a tropical species is about 95%.

Desert dwelling gecko species are, simply put, some of the easiest and undemanding terrarium subjects in the entire clad of geckos. No necessary moisture, many deserts get scorching hot during the day and freezing cold at night (=no specialized temp needs), subjected to erratic food supply (paradoxically low metabolic rates), etc. It’s incalculably easier for me to maintain a collection of 150-175 desert dwelling gecko species than it is with 150-175 Uroplatus, Cyrtodactylus and Naultinus species. The desert gecko species that Chaz had agreed to purchase are no different.

Jon Boone

 

[reptilebaby]

That is very good to know!

 

[lauraleellbp]

Sorry to resurrect a bad guy thread, but this is the only one I see for you, Jon.

I will counter with my own very positive experience.

I purchased a male P. standingi from Jon a few weeks ago. He was prompt, courteous, professional, and even disclosed and warned me that the male I was purchasing had been part of a bonded pairing previously so may or may not accept a new mate.

Jon graciously accepted a payment plan (and I paid off the entire amount within two weeks, I can't imagine expecting someone to hold an animal for a YEAR unless that was agreed to up front, and even then, that would be going well above and beyond for a seller!) and the whole transaction progressed quite smoothly.

I very promptly received a gorgeous, well-fed, and healthy looking animal. He is still in quarantine so I do not yet know whether he'll take to either of the two females I have- but either way, I'm very happy with him, and with Jon as a seller.

Thanks again, Jon.

 

[smigon]

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.