• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Bad Guy Maelstrom reptile ranch BEWARE

I see a "maybe" not a "here is what I will do". Just because you said you'd like roaches doesn't mean you were entering into a deal.

Now, Mike says he was going to send you a replacement and that your fiance and him had come to an agreement on that, care to comment?

Miss Willis Fiance and I had a nice reasonable phone conversation where we agreed to replace the animal with another at my cost for shipping
I promised to make a partial refund upon first notification of the broken tail
This escalated as time went on as Miss Willis was extremely emotional and impatient.
She told me she was having the animal treated at a vetrinarians to the cost of over $500.00 for a nipped tail.
So... the settlement went from our origionally agreed 1/2 cost of $120.00 shipped (replacement $60.00)
to a replacement, no problem here, I make good on all refunds or replacements.
Click to expand...
 
I apologize for how long its taken i have been sick for 2 days and havent been at work either. Sorry for the delay. My concern is that no one has to go through the hurt of losing an animal then more broken promises on top of that. Thank you for reading and understanding the situation.
 
Amanda...where does it stand now? It seems like he said he would refund you on May 5, or ship a replacement animal, or (?). In your opinion, what is the next step...I mean, did you come to an agreement with him as he stated?
 
Serenescales said:
Fixed the formatting because I'm a tad an-l.

The original poster, not Amanda (weird how this wasn't posted by her but someone else for her...), claimed that the package wasn't insulated but the photos posted by Amanda (and seen in your album Mike) clearly show otherwise.

I see a healthy animal. I do not see a tail caught in the lid of the cup, rather a tail against the rim of the cup).
I do not see poor packaging.
I see clear documentation of shipping by Malestrom, but nothing from Amanda showing any images of the animal while under her care.
Plus, she's disappeared and hasn't posted since so this does nothing to help her case.

Its a shame you're considering leaving the rescue business over this little event. My fiance lives in Philly and says there aren't many reptile rescues up there, despite the one of the larger shows being held in the area (I mean Hamburg of course).
Click to expand...

She did not have a fauna account, my husband made this BOI for her. I am not happy about this thread and my name dragged in but there is not a whole lot I can do now that it was made. I don't think she was familiar enough with the fauna BOI's.
 
Mreynolds101110 said:
She did not have a fauna account, my husband made this BOI for her. I am not happy about this thread and my name dragged in but there is not a whole lot I can do now that it was made. I don't think she was familiar enough with the fauna BOI's.
Click to expand...

She didn't have a Fauna account, but her account was registered March 25, 2013? Had she forgotten about her account or was she just unsure of how to post on the BOI?
Your husband made this thread, so its safe to assume he posted from your account? That's trouble waiting to happen, I'd just be careful with sharing in the future.
I don't blame you for not being happy about your name being here, it definitely brings up a few questions but I'm glad you covered why she didn't make it herself, thank you.

I'd like to know if Amanda agreed to the refund/replacement on the 5th of May as Mike is saying, that's all still unclear.

MagicalGeckos, why would you buy from someone who you knew wasn't able to properly care for the animals he had?
I don't blame you for paying his asking price, rather than "fair market value" for a rescued gecko (I'm assuming it was rescued), that's on him for choosing to sell at that price.
Do you happen to still have proof of him badmouthing you? If you do then it might be worth screenshoting and sharing here.
 
Thank you for that, Melissa. Now, if we get beyond the 'drama', there seem to be a few issues:

1. Mike agreed on a resolution which has not been met/ is pending (?)
2. Mike may/ may not be in over his head.

I'd really like to see Mike come and try to work this out with Amanda. Amanda, what is it that you are seeking in terms of being made whole?
 
Okay here is our conversation, as you can see he did not ship very well.

and the last post is after he was bashing me on his page for underpaying after paying his full price
 

Attachments

  • 1.png
    1.png
    52.3 KB · Views: 366
  • 2.png
    2.png
    51.3 KB · Views: 364
  • 3.png
    3.png
    40.9 KB · Views: 366
Serenescales said:
She didn't have a Fauna account, but her account was registered March 25, 2013? Had she forgotten about her account or was she just unsure of how to post on the BOI?
Your husband made this thread, so its safe to assume he posted from your account? That's trouble waiting to happen, I'd just be careful with sharing in the future.
I don't blame you for not being happy about your name being here, it definitely brings up a few questions but I'm glad you covered why she didn't make it herself, thank you.

I'd like to know if Amanda agreed to the refund/replacement on the 5th of May as Mike is saying, that's all still unclear.

MagicalGeckos, why would you buy from someone who you knew wasn't able to properly care for the animals he had?
I don't blame you for paying his asking price, rather than "fair market value" for a rescued gecko (I'm assuming it was rescued), that's on him for choosing to sell at that price.
Do you happen to still have proof of him badmouthing you? If you do then it might be worth screenshoting and sharing here.
Click to expand...

That what is what I was told, I didn't even see when she registered. We had 2 or 3 accounts at one point but they were deleted by the admin because it was the same IP address so we ended up with this one. I've already addressed this with Andrew, I doubt he will ever use it again.
 
Thanks for the screenshots, Dennis!
I think its interesting that he'd ask for a price and cover it up as "just trying to learn". Even a rescued animal worth $1000, in perfect condition, shouldn't be adopted out for nearly as much as that as it is a rescue. I can understand charging certain prices, in order to cover resources needed to keep doing rescues, but getting angry over someone paying your set price isn't justified.
 
NO my husband doenst have an account and i made one to look at feeders but never knew how to do the thread or forums ...and as of now it remains to be seen we had dicussed a replacemtn animal but due to shipping issues and finding out (yes hearsay) other thing i chose not to take the risk in getting another animal from him and have asked for the money back instead. Mind you we talked about half refund on April 7th he informed me however he didnt have any money but then he later said oops i get paid on the 5th and just noticed it was the 7th so inturn i expected some sort of money and nothing has been returned at this time
 
Im willing to come to an agreement as i know he said hes on alot of med and disabled im not trying to be unreasonable i would still in fact if it would help and make this easier on him i would agree to $60 vs $100( im not counting the shipping in with this due to regardless shipping cost money no doubt on that) I just feel since he has admitted several times it was the shipping(and he is responsible for the shipping) that half of the price in which i paid is fair.
 
Dennis, that seems irrelevant. Amanda paid $120 and has nothing to show for it. But, the animal arrived alive. Mike seems to have admitted fault and told Amanda that he would replace/refund/ etc. Amanda is willing to accept $60.00. Mike may be unable to pay until May 5.

Is that a fair summary?

How much the animal is worth, whether or not it had sufficient insulation, several vet visits, questionable history...all that stuff will turn this into a 100-page thread.
 
yes fair summary do you think im being reasonable with taking his financial state into consideration as most buyers wouldnt. But i do have a heart and yes mine was broken but that was no reason to act wrongly. 2 wrongs dont make a right in my book. I also asked that if he could have something in my paypal by this past friday...anything just to prove he was going to work on refunding my money. At this time nothing as been posted to my account.
 
Im faster said:
even in perfect shape that geko was worth 300 from a known breeder.
Click to expand...

I doubt even known breeders would ask near that as a sort of "rehoming fee" for a rescued animal in need of a new home.

I think the problem is finding the line between being a rescue, a rehabilitator, or a supplier.
If people are giving you their animals, they no longer want but are in otherwise fine condition, I could understand charging close to market value, but it is still an animal you got for free.
But, if you're getting a sickly animal who won't be anything but pet quality, it'd be best to charge a rehoming fee. Even an animal you've had to rehabilitate to get up to weight and get healthy shouldn't be tagged with a fee near market value for its morph/species. Costs of care will always outweigh the "revenue" brought in by a non-profit rescue, which is why donations from the community are important for these rescues.

Dennis, that seems irrelevant. Amanda paid $120 and has nothing to show for it. But, the animal arrived alive. Mike seems to have admitted fault and told Amanda that he would replace/refund/ etc. Amanda is willing to accept $60.00. Mike may be unable to pay until May 5.

Is that a fair summary?

How much the animal is worth, whether or not it had sufficient insulation, several vet visits, questionable history...all that stuff will turn this into a 100-page thread.
Click to expand...

I feel that's a fair summary of Amanda's problem, but it seems Dennis had an issue with Malestrom as well and would be relevant to the thread currently. Granted, it wasn't losing an animal but an attitude/personal problem but a problem nonetheless.

I also asked that if he could have something in my paypal by this past friday...anything just to prove he was going to work on refunding my money. At this time nothing as been posted to my account.
Click to expand...
Did he agree to having something in your PayPal account by last Friday? I mean, you could ask me right now to put money in your account but that doesn't mean I have the means to do it.
I think your best, and possibly only, option now is to keep in contact with him, be as civil as possible, and wait for May 5th.
 
he said he would try i said even $1 just some kind of proof. I always kept in contact with via phone calls, pics, and pms via fb. Now i have heard nothing in a few days from him personally i have seen him posting that he has a permit to carry and such so there for i feel hes being hostile(opinion). But I'm waiting ....I mean in reality there is nothing more I, myself can do, but to wait...
 
laterob said:
Dennis, that seems irrelevant. Amanda paid $120 and has nothing to show for it.
Click to expand...

My testimony was only to give character to him.
My deal is over with. I have blocked him on FB and have no further contact. just letting you knoe what kind of person he is.
isnt that what this thread is for?
 
I personally have rescued 3 beardies 2 in which were given away for free the other all she had to pay was the shipping to get her from FL or NC. All the other 2 had to do was come pic them up.
 
Dennis, you were contacted to help me set the prices for 6 geckos.
You priced only 1 and offered $50.00 for it, I said ok trusting you, yes I got mad when I saw the posts on your page about the killer find you made, I felt cheated so I yelled at you and posted about my disatisfied use of my trust, water under the bridge to me, I feel you showed your colors, im still waiting on prices for te other 5 lol!
Amanda, May 5th isnt here yet. I promised a resolution shortly after receiving my next check. You will find my resolution to be quite amicable, I refuse to state it here yet because some good stuff is coming out of the woodwork. Our discussions stopped when you threatened me with legal reprise, that is only prudent, however unneeded as I am a man of my word.
There is not one soul here who knows me so I will state this unequivocally
1- I have no unresolved issues other than the sting of hurt feelings between myself and maybe 4 people
2- all were either replaced or reimbursed
3- I challenge anyone to take on a reptile rescue and then develop the attitude of' gee I dont know about that species sory take it elsewhere'
I count on my contacts to educate me, these were my first geckos and i have rehomed several since,
I have a network for rats, birds, turtles and hots. all animals I dont have the space or time for but none the less found places (other rescues) to take them in ans regularly send animals their way.
4- I believe the measure of a man is how he resolves disputes, even at personal cost to himself.
 
Thank you for your response, Mike. I look forward to hearing from Amanda in a few weeks. Hopefully, you will both be pleased with the outcome.
 
Back
Top