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Luis Taracena (herphobbiest) bad deal

Matt,
I don't have a problem with the way you handled things, as it was your risk to take. In hindsight, we all would have done things differently. I think in part Neil is stating things as advice for other readers, as so many posts in the BOI are written as much for the uninvolved reader to learn from as for the participants. Some risk is inherent with all trades, more so than with cash, as Ken and others noted. Your situation, in dealing with a "small-time" entity, would suggest to readers that one could still get the other party to provide specific references that are identifiable to you, and that a person would then call these people. A standard that can be used in such deals as to "who ships first" is that if one entity is well-known and reputable, and the other not, or one can at least provide credible and verifiable references, and the other not, then the one without the credentials must ship first. In this way, the newbie would begin to establish verifiable references. If not, then the reputable party has to say "no deal".
My view is that you have no obligation to Luis, that his failure to uphold his end of the deal, or then get a timely necropsy once you made the offer, means he should bite the bullet on this one. I hope the offer of the intermediary helps, but am not optimistic. If nothing else, others can refer to this in researching Luis in the future. Hope you get some restitution.
 
Hey Matt

if you could get Luis to get ahold of me, i could ship your snake for you!! I live about 10 miles from Luis.. I hope everything turns out OK!!! Good Luck and God Bless!!! Mike
 
Michael if you could do that I give you a big thumbs up!! I have e-mailed Luis and gave him a link to this thread.
 
You need to respond Luis

Well, He knows the thread is here. He told Me so in an IM last night. All I can say is that he said He needs to respond. I told him to bring facts/proof to support his side. We didn't talk much about it.
I questioned him about the pics in his account at yafro of a highly contortioned albino listed as matt crabes. PIC (Since My big girl is at his house, ready to pop in less than a month, and that's where he posts the pics of her.)
He responded with it died of intestinal problems. Nothing more was bestowed upon Me about it though.

I wish you'd show up Luis. This is all in your hands. Since You and I are in a current deal, (which so far has not gone too bad), it makes Me more concerned about You taking care of this situation.


Rick
 
I don't question that the snake died. My problem is that he kept putting off shipping his side of the deal due to money problems. He never mentioned that he was having problems with the snake, in fact he put it in with his females without quarantine, so he must have thought it was healthy. Then when it came time to ship again, he said it was dead and he suggested a necropsy. Then he just never contacted me again.

So Luis had my snake for a month and a half and never shipped his half of the deal. He put it with his snakes and then the snake died. I just don't think I should be out 100% on this deal. I would have been willing to split the loss with Luis if he handled this differently, but as far as I'm concerned, he's just a thief.

Also, since I posted this thread, a number of people have emailed and called me telling me how Luis is a thief and has conned numerous people in his own town. I hope all goes well with your deal, but I wouldn't count on it if I were you. If you can get your animals back now, I would do it. Just some friendly advice.

Matt Crabe
 
I recieved a couple of those PM's also concerning Luis. I took it with a grain of salt. For one, the ones I recieved seemed a little bit retaliatory in nature to Me. Hard to take that as total gospel. And when one of the PM senders ups and offers to go get your snake, and ship it for You.........Well, the impression I got from the PM was that they are not friends any more, and makes that seem even more like a vengeful act.

For 2, when I did get the PM's I drove out there and talked to Luis with in a couple days to let Him know I did not like the situation I was reading about, and was ready to pull the plug. I also made clear My feelings about My big girl, and how I would most likely react if something happened to her. For Me it is a little late to be moving her, so I am stuck with it until she pops. Let's just hope He understands what I meant during our conversations.

All that aside, I am becoming increasingly weary about the whole situation. Especially His willingness to blow this off, and put things on the back burner so to speak. He has tried this with Me as well. Believe Me, I am concerned, I just feel it is too late to move her. She is at day 94 of gestation.

I hope You get straitened out here. I hope Luis shows up to at least offer His explanation, and hopefully work something out with you. This is not looking good for any future dealings with Him on My account.


Good luck, I will send Him another message in an effert to get Him here.

Rick
 
Rick,

I truly hope things work out for you.

Some of the people that contacted me are very well respected dealers in the herp industry, so I trust them. If I had known what I know now, I never would have dealt with Luis. My goal was to warn other people so Luis can't do this to them. As far as I'm concerned, Luis is nothing but a thief and needs to be put out of business.

Matt Crabe
 
I have had multiple people email me over the last few days telling me how they have been speaking with Luis through email and PMs. I've even had some people forward emails that Luis sent them regarding this situation. I won't post them here at the sender's request to remain annonymous.

However, Luis has not responded to any emails that I have sent him and he doesn't seem to want to come here to explain either. He must be hoping this situation will go away. Well Luis, it won't. I will continue to bring this thread to the top of the BOI until you make good on your end of the deal. Do you see how many people are reading this thread? Is this really worth your reputation going down the tubes? I won't allow you to do this to more people, so you better get used to seeing your name at the top of the BOI for a long time.

Matt Crabe
 
Matt, If Luis chooses not to defend himself, than so be it. But IMO, it would be in his best intrest to do so.
 
Highendherps

Will whoever Highendherps is STOP IMing me and telling me to fix MY problem with Matt!! I have no problem with Matt. If you read the 4th post to this thread you will figure it out. I thought posting that right away would stop anyone from confusing me with this Luis character. Luis if you're reading this change your email addy so I don't get caught up in your scams. While you are at it pay Matt what he is due because you are 100% at fault!!
 
Who pays attention before they start slinging mud with a keyboard! Sorry Ron, as I am laughing a little bit at the silliness that you have had to put up with. While I would hope that the anonymous wayward "do-gooder" would realize their mistake and stop, I would also hope that they had enough class to apologize to you for their mistake.
 
Hi Ron,
I believe everyone knows you’re an honorable person.

I would like to point out that this Luis guy is also registered here on Fauna as HerpHobbiest compared to your screen name herphobbyist. So besides just his email it’s going to cause some difficulties on the forum as well. I can see how Highendherps could have confused them if he was sending messages through Fauna.
 
Highendherps

Just wanted to say that HEH emailed me an apologized for the confusion. I appreciate that. Hopefully Luis will be run out of the hobby and I will be the only herphobbyist again :)
 
If I Were You Rick

knowing the nature of the beast I'd get your female out of Luis's home regardless of how far along she is. Don't be surprised when you're told all were born dead, she slugged out, or there were only 12 babies when in reality there were 25, or your female died just prior to/after giving birth. How are you supposed to control something like that when dealing with a less than honorable person? At least if your girl's in your hands you know the actual outcome. I don't care if it's day 110, I'd get your animal out of there ASAP.
 
Greg Riso said:
knowing the nature of the beast I'd get your female out of Luis's home regardless of how far along she is. Don't be surprised when you're told all were born dead, she slugged out, or there were only 12 babies when in reality there were 25, or your female died just prior to/after giving birth. How are you supposed to control something like that when dealing with a less than honorable person? At least if your girl's in your hands you know the actual outcome. I don't care if it's day 110, I'd get your animal out of there ASAP.
Click to expand...


Amen to that! I spoke to Rick last night over the phone and I echoed the same sentiments. I would have her back in my hands immediately. Take a heating pad, blankets to cover her enclosure and get her home.

Griz
 
Agreed

Griz said:
Amen to that! I spoke to Rick last night over the phone and I echoed the same sentiments. I would have her back in my hands immediately. Take a heating pad, blankets to cover her enclosure and get her home.

Griz
Click to expand...

I have also been communicating with Rick on this issue.....take all of your written documentation with you (in case the law has to get involved) Go get your Aurora, bring her home, and keep your end of the deal when she delivers her babies.
 
I just got off the phone with Luis, and we discussed this issue at length. I voiced My concerns about this being the 3rd post on Him, and His lack of a responce. Hopefully, He will folow through with what He said, and reply here shortly. I believe playing relay is against the rules, so I wont go there.

I especially addressed My personal concerns of apparantly not following good quarantine practices in this case, and the grief this issue has been causing Me. Aurora is like a daughter to Me. I've been raising her for 7 yrs.

I really appreciate everyones concern, Laura, Bob, Greg, and all who i have talked to about this. I will be going to go get her this Sunday. :hurray: (since I dont always act rationally when upset, I think this is better than going right now.) I made Him aware of this, and My reasons behind it. The deal will go as planned, but will continue right here at My place.

Now I guess We see if He shows up and offers some info.


Rick
 
Matt,

When exactly did I tell you, "Your snake die and you were out of luck???"

I was the one who told you lets do a necropsy and lets figure out what really happen.

At first shipping cost was an issue. Greg Riso has already confirm that I lost my Job since before Thanksgiving... I was not working and Making my Rent, my Motorcycle, and my BMW monthly payments on time was my # 1 priority.

Money is not much of an issue anymore, I got a Job. Now I work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. I have an hour commute each way from Arizona City to Phoenix every day.

I do have Sundays off. What can you really accomplish on Sundays??? Most places are closed on Sunday.

I am doing my probationary 90 days with this company. They have a strict attendance policy. I requested a day off to appear in court for a criminal speeding ticket (Running late going to work). Anyways, my supervisor told me to do what I had to do. But If I miss a day I am gone, and not to worry about coming back.

Do you think I am going to take a day off to take the snake and do a necropsy? I think NOT!

The snake is dead... That is not going to change anytime soon.

1358217ff1fe2e8abb0afd0fcd3bb07f200603060_full.jpg


c2b99c19196503ad55e12a65b5593983200603060_full.jpg


The snake is frozen.

The Necropsy will be preformed at the University of Tucson. I have spoken with them on the phone and they say that there are a few test that can not be preformed. However, to keep the snake frozen and that there are ways to figure the exact cause of death.

My sister is going to Tucson and she will drop off the snake this Thursday, March 30th.

The Ball Pythons are eating and growing.

ecc70626b3674fc81d53b17236091de9200603280_full.jpg


Now you said I probably kill the snake from poor husbandry. How exactly does this picture looks like a husbandry problem?

d76b45eab707d08f26141d708c5fcfec200602200_full.jpg


How can I make a healthy snake do that in 3 weeks?

I am not drawing conclusions as I will posy here the results of the necropsy for everyone to see.

I told you... If I did Kill the snake I would ship you the Ball Pythons as agreed.

If the necropsy find it otherwise, you know you will owe me Necropsy costs... Right?

Besides a damn good apology for calling me a thief !!!

Regards to all, Luis Taracena - [email protected] - 623 693 6248
 
Attn: Ron Radloff, [email protected] "The Crawl Space"

Ron,

My name is Luis Taracena.

My e-mail is [email protected] . I have used this e-mail since 2001.

I have never received mail for you, and I do not see how you are receiving mail for me. If you continue receiving email for me, feel free to delete it.

Best regards, Luis Taracena.

PS You are more than welcome to change YOUR e-mail address.
 
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