kingsnake.com Bad Business practices.

[MorphCapital]

I have gone through the Verification Process with KS and it was fairly simple and easy, I just had to fax them our legal paperwork and we were verified the same day. I personally support the new policy.

Here is the list of Acceptable Documentation off their new policy statement:

Copy of DBA/Assumed Name Certificate issued by State or County
Copy of Certificate of Incorporation
Copy of Federal Payroll Tax forms 940/941 in business' name
Copy of State Sales Tax form in business' name
Copy of State Income Tax form in business' name
Copy of Federal Income Tax form in business' name
Copy of County/City/State/Federal Permits or Licenses in business' name
Federal or State Trademark Registration or Application Documentation
Other Government Issued Documentation as reviewed

 

[ravensgait]

Jim, though it's not fullproof you have to pay them with a CC or mail them a check to pay for your account.

It is interesting to see the number of what I thought were businesses that are now just peoples names at the top of adds on KS....Randy

 

[kmurphy]

Kmurphy:
I am not disputing you, as I have no knowledge of the situation in Maine...but a business "license" isn't a stated requirement. Is there a DBA, or some similar method of registering a business name? Without that, you could have multiple businesses operating under the same name.

Not really. Now there are industry specific license requirements, day care centers, pet shops and any other business that are regulated.
If federal tax forms and sale tax certificates are acceptable then I would think any business should be able to be verified.

 

[Amspoet67]

Jim, though it's not fullproof you have to pay them with a CC or mail them a check to pay for your account.

Like you said it's not foolproof, they can just buy a money order.
I too do not have a problem with the rule, I just think there needs to be something in place to protect consumers against individuals that rip people off.

If businesses have to be verified then individuals should have to somehow be verified too.

Then you have the individuals that use their name to register but then in their ads they direct you to their business website.

Anna
www.homegrownherps.com

 

[bcherps]

I am no longer a user of Kingsnake as they refused to allow my price schedule on ball pythons and a post about it here led to Jeff Barringer threating me with a lawsuit. So anyone complaining here about Kingsnake be warned that you may be in for abusive and threatening emails from Jeff and his moderators.

Although I will agree with thier policy change about being a legit business. I am, and it costs a ton to be legit. I have to pay all sorts of taxes from sales(can collect from customers), to tangible property on all my equipment that I use, income tax at the end of the year. I have to pay for my listing as a s-corp, I have to pay for my ESC liscense from Florida. I have a ton of time and effort in paperwork to keep all my transactions. This amounts to thousands of dollars a year, and hundreds of man hours on my and my accountants part.

It does burn me when someone can go down to joes import basement and buy a 100 balls, then open a fake email, and undercut the market to make 50 cents an animal, then screw them out of 40 shipping and send it 2nd day mail and then burn the customer when it all goes sour. It makes us all look bad. Together with a friend we self produce 2000 snakes a year, and I sell another couple of thousand on top of that, but new hobbyist/customers won't buy my hets because of scammers like TopShelf-which are basically hand fed the unwitting consumer by the internet.


The scammers/playtime jobbers and the problems they create are a major reason that the market is currently under fire from shipping companies, insurance companies, paypal, major retailers, lawmakers, and people concerned with animal welfare.

In my opinion if anyone is unwilling to be legit will probably be unwilling to stand behind thier product when there is a problem.

Thanks
ben cole

 

[Cheryl Marchek AKA JM]

Thanks for the document list~ that is very helpful. I actually am a tax paying business in CA but did not file a DBA. According to the county I didn't need to mess with that unless I wanted to accept payments made to "The Red Dragons Den"~ so my business name with the state is "Cheryl Marchek aka The Red Dragons Den".

I thought I had to have the DBA to use The Red Dragons Den on KS~ so last time I advertised I left it out and just went with my name rather than deal with getting a DBA just before moving states.

 

[Wraith]

Kmurphy:
I am not disputing you, as I have no knowledge of the situation in Maine...but a business "license" isn't a stated requirement. Is there a DBA, or some similar method of registering a business name? Without that, you could have multiple businesses operating under the same name.

I don't think a business lic. is the same as a DBA. To me that is two separate issues. At a minimum, KS is looking only for legal documentation that a person can legally "do business as".. i.e. DBA. Some states it's at the state level and other places it's at a city or town level. Just fill out a piece of paper with your information and the business name you want to "DBA" and you are good to go. A separate DBA must be submitted for each "business" name you wish to advertise under..which means you have to be registered with your local government for each of those 3 names. And according to kingsnake, you must pay for a separate business account for each business. 1 person with 3 legal businesses advertising on KS must purchase 3 separate accounts.. one for each business name...they cannot have one account and then post ads under 2 or more different business names. They have to prove they can legally do business as under each of the mulitple names. And, just because you have a DBA does not mean you have to file separate taxes as a business. You can still file under your personal taxes if it's still more or less within the realms of a hobby. For some people, once a hobby-business becomes big enough that the tax work goes beyond the simple stuff they then think about separating their personal and business stuff into separate tax filings and then register for a business lic or whatever.

For an indivdiual account... the person who buys/pays for the account is the only person allowed to advertise with that account and the ads must be made under their name. Joe Schmoe cannot buy an account for his best buddy Bob and allow bob advertise under the account. Only Joe can advertise what he has to sell. Bob would have to buy his own account. And while this is not perfect, most accounts I think are likely paid for with a credit card or check so there is some method of verifying who has purchased the account.

 

[hhmoore]

If businesses have to be verified then individuals should have to somehow be verified too.

In a perfect world, perhaps...but unless people can demonstrate that this is a standard in other advertising venues, it isn't going to happen (unless you mean you want the individuals to have to verify that they are not a business, <snicker>)

Then you have the individuals that use their name to register but then in their ads they direct you to their business website.

Judging from the OP's complaint - this is being addressed. Again to KS for closing that loophole

hmmm, I'm wondering why this is on the BOI, as opposed to General Business Discussions...granted, the OP seems to think that KS is wrong because he can't continue with...well, business as usual, but it was a well announced policy change.

 

[hhmoore]

hmmm, I'm wondering why this is on the BOI, as opposed to General Business Discussions...granted, the OP seems to think that KS is wrong because he can't continue with...well, business as usual, but it was a well announced policy change.

Ahhh, nevermind - I guess it can't be General Business because he is addressing Kingsnake.com by name, and if the content were to change slightly, it could become a BOI thread. Sometimes I really wish there was an edit button here.

 

[homegrownherps]

In a perfect world, perhaps...but unless people can demonstrate that this is a standard in other advertising venues, it isn't going to happen (unless you mean you want the individuals to have to verify that they are not a business, <snicker>)

Then you have the individuals that use their name to register but then in their ads they direct you to their business website.

Judging from the OP's complaint - this is being addressed. Again to KS for closing that loophole

hmmm, I'm wondering why this is on the BOI, as opposed to General Business Discussions...granted, the OP seems to think that KS is wrong because he can't continue with...well, business as usual, but it was a well announced policy change.

No , not in the perfect world ..just on Ksnake.
Does it really make sense to make some people prove they are legit, and not others?
I think what K-snake is doing is a good thing , but - It should be all or none.

 

[hhmoore]

Believe me - I do understand the points being made about individual accounts, and the benefits of verifying identities...but IMO it isn't the same thing as making a ficticious name business prove they are a business. I guess the question is what does KS do if the name attached to the payment method doesn't match the name on the account? Will they allow Jim Keenan to register/pay for an advertising account in the name of Harald Moore? (btw - thanks, buddy!!!! ) I really don't know the answer to that...but if they do, then it adds more to those criticisms.

 

[sixgunsun1177]

No , not in the perfect world ..just on Ksnake.
Does it really make sense to make some people prove they are legit, and not others?
I think what K-snake is doing is a good thing , but - It should be all or none.

There should be verification for individuals if real businesses are being for to do so.
FYI I post using my name with no problems as soon as KS instituted the rule.

 

[sixgunsun1177]

Matthew, have you gone through the verification process with Kingsnake?

I have not because I'm not attempting to post with a business name. I began using my full name immediatley after receiving the first warning of these changes.

I honestly haven't attempted to get a business license either. I'm the first o admit I'm no big breeder, nor do I use my website to pretend to be. The forums on my site are free and have classifieds sections for users, it's far more a resource than a retail shopping site.

My complaint was about not being able to use my logo associated with my website or list the URL. Which I can now understand would be misleading as many private or hobbyists breeders never indicate their current business status on their sites.

Again, I'm all for the protection of online herp shoppers, I've been buying online for almost ten years and only been burned twice, maybe 3 times.
And a logo in the ad or lack thereof, is the last thing that would have helped prevent my financial loss.

 

[Kingetula]

I have not because I'm not attempting to post with a business name. I began using my full name immediatley after receiving the first warning of these changes.

I honestly haven't attempted to get a business license either. I'm the first o admit I'm no big breeder, nor do I use my website to pretend to be. The forums on my site are free and have classifieds sections for users, it's far more a resource than a retail shopping site.

My complaint was about not being able to use my logo associated with my website or list the URL. Which I can now understand would be misleading as many private or hobbyists breeders never indicate their current business status on their sites.

Again, I'm all for the protection of online herp shoppers, I've been buying online for almost ten years and only been burned twice, maybe 3 times.
And a logo in the ad or lack thereof, is the last thing that would have helped prevent my financial loss.

I see your point.

Hummm. I see how the new rules help and hurt.

 

[DISCERN]

I say Thumbs Up to Kingsnake for implementing this new rule!

 

[homegrownherps]

I say Thumbs Up to Kingsnake for implementing this new rule!

Thumbs up to a rule that only applies to some of the people, and not all

 

[ravensgait]

Here's the first sentence in the page the link shows
"""By law to advertise commercial goods or services using any name other than your own as an individual, you must register that name using any one of a number of government mandated registration methods.""

Sounds to me like they are just covering their backside not going after anyone... Randy

 

[Wraith]

No , not in the perfect world ..just on Ksnake.
Does it really make sense to make some people prove they are legit, and not others?
I think what K-snake is doing is a good thing , but - It should be all or none.

They are making it all or none. If you want to do business under an assumed name and can't prove that you can legally "do business as" under that assumed name then you are relegated to doing business under your own name only.

 

[ravensgait]

And Jim before you say it. It's likely they would catch all kinds of hell if they tried to make everyone prove who they were and it might not be legal to do so.. Randy

 

[Wraith]

forgot to add.. anyone can legally do business under their own name, but to do business under an assumed name (any name other than your own), then that assumed name has to be registered to be a legal DBA.