Bad Guy Mikee Gallignani deceptive sales :(

[88Snakes]

On 10/30/13 I ran across an ad for a 1.0 Chocolate pinstripe for $125 shipped on a Reptile Classifieds page from Mikee Gallignani and left a comment that I was interested. He almost immediately and asked if "I want the Pin?" I thought that was odd and replied " It is a Chocolate Pin for $125, correct? If so then yes" he then replies back that he would need to check shipping ...which I also thought was odd considering the $125 was "shipped" price in the ad but it turned out to only be another $18.01 so I still felt it was a good deal and agreed to pay it. At this point we agree and go through the shipping details at which point I stated that he should have it held at my local Fedex due to the cool temps in NY at this point, and he agreed and stated that he be sure to use heat packs. So, later that night I checked Fedex and notice that not only did he not ship by Priority Overnight he did not have it held at my local Fedex terminal so I proceeded to put in a request to hold through their website. OK, so on November 1st I run over to pick up my new snake to discover that once I opened up the box that the poor snake was ice cold and that Mikee merely used a tiny little hand warmer (temps dropped into the low 30's that night and the heat pack was also ice cold ) I proceeded to remove the cold snake to realize that this was clearly not a chocolate Pinstripe but a very common looking Pinstripe. I decided to go home to double check the add, just in case Mikeee sent the wrong one, only to discover the add was gone. I decided to look over all of the other auction/reptile sales pages only to discover that he used this VERY same photo in several ads, some of which were selling a Pinstripe for $150 shipped or b/o and other ads advertising a chocolate Pinstripe for $200 or b/0....again the VERY same snake and photo. To add to the shady practices, he understated the box dimensions and weights to Fedex, did not follow Lacey Act guidelines in regards to labeling the package, and risked the health of the snake by not utilizing a proper shipping heat pack. After all of this, he refuses to respond to any of my requests for refund
Even though he is clearly ignoring my PM's at this point I will send another to notify him of this BOI post

Michael A Johnson

 

[88Snakes]

Awe, Mikee finally replies after I mentioned the BOI post: and this is how he wants to handle business I suppose


"It was sold to me as a c pin and I called paypal about a refund they said they dnt cover live animals and since you want to slander me I'll file a report

I still even have the recite from the store witch it was sold to me as a chocolate pin I never promised anything about genetics or refund

PayPal said it is not my problem

Or there's for that matter they do not deal in animals"


There is NO slander on my part...lol simply a statement of facts. If he has/had a receipt then why not respond all this time and simply say so? Still wouldn't explain why he had this same snake advertised as a Pinstripe elsewhere. Still wouldn't prove that THIS very snake was a chocolate pin...just that he had a receipt for one. At this point he either closed his FB account or blocked me entirely cause I can't even respond to his PM at this point oh well...didn't expect to get the money back from a scam-artist anyhow

 

[hhmoore]

While it is always unfortunate to read things like this, there is an old saying about things that seem too good to be true...

 

[Lucille]

Awe, Mikee finally replies after I mentioned the BOI post: and this is how he wants to handle business I suppose


"It was sold to me as a c pin and I called paypal about a refund they said they dnt cover live animals and since you want to slander me I'll file a report

I still even have the recite from the store witch it was sold to me as a chocolate pin I never promised anything about genetics or refund

PayPal said it is not my problem

Or there's for that matter they do not deal in animals"


There is NO slander on my part...lol simply a statement of facts. If he has/had a receipt then why not respond all this time and simply say so? Still wouldn't explain why he had this same snake advertised as a Pinstripe elsewhere. Still wouldn't prove that THIS very snake was a chocolate pin...just that he had a receipt for one. At this point he either closed his FB account or blocked me entirely cause I can't even respond to his PM at this point oh well...didn't expect to get the money back from a scam-artist anyhow

If he SOLD this critter to you as a chocolate pin, and it is not, he has misrepresented what he is selling. What he bought it as is irrelevant.
If your credit card was involved in the Paypal purchase, call your bank.

Thank you for bringing your experience here, he sounds like the kind of seller no one should buy from.

 

[rcarichter]

He certainly doesn't come across as the brightest bulb in the box. It's irrelevant what his "recite" says. He must realize there's considerable impact associated with being brought up on the BOI, or he wouldn't have suggested slander. (Which, if anything, would be libel. But if it's true, then it's neither). So he deletes all accounts and disappears, having sold his reputation for $143.01. Sad.

Noelle

 

[JCCS]

At some point people are going to figure out that not being able to use the English language in any semblance of a proper manner has a high correlation with shady business practices and personal problems. I'm sorry this happened to you, but I would never trust someone that types like a 10 yr old with my money or the well-being of an animal.

 

[88Snakes]

Unfortunately, it appears that live animals are not covered under PayPal or credit card Buyer protection programs. I am going to contact my bank in the am and see if there is any way to resolve this. And yes, Harald, I totally agree. To be honest I was a little concerned but lately I have seen a LOT of really good deals in regards to Ball Pythons because people are either getting out of the hobby or they are trying to make a quick deal online before it gets too cold to ship. Either way, it turned out to be "too good to be true."

 

[Chris Kennard]

No reflection on the OP, but I am shocked that the usual columbos here have not requested an ounce of proof. Texts, e mails, photos etc. Interesting. Far from the norm here.

 

[88Snakes]

This conversation started with me replying to an add on The Reptiles Classifieds page that I was unable to get a copy of as he removed it. The ad simply stated " 1.0 Chocolatr Pinstripe for $125 shipped"

Michael Johnson


Mikee Gallignani
10/30, 9:23pm
Mikee Gallignani

Hey man you want the pin ?
Michael Johnson
10/30, 9:25pm
Michael Johnson

It is a chocolate pin for $125 shipped, correct? If so, then yes
Mikee Gallignani
10/30, 9:26pm
Mikee Gallignani

Wht is your zip so I can check shipping

Yes I bout him from a pet store called Reptoxica for $200
Michael Johnson
10/30, 9:26pm
Michael Johnson

Jamestown,NY 14701
Mikee Gallignani
10/30, 9:28pm
Mikee Gallignani

It's going to be 143.01 with shipping and fess is that ok ?
Michael Johnson
10/30, 9:33pm
Michael Johnson

If I paid tonight, would you be able to ship him out tomorrow? Thanks
Mikee Gallignani
10/30, 9:34pm
Mikee Gallignani

I dnt see why not soo as I get it of work I can

Here's my paypal
Mikee Gallignani
10/30, 9:43pm
Mikee Gallignani

Shipping info I can get him out tmrw waiting on payment so I can get the shipping label
Michael Johnson
10/30, 9:46pm
Michael Johnson

OK, so Facebook just locked me out until I changed my account to my real name Anyhow, i will send payment in just a few moments. thanks

Michael Johnson

With the cooler temps, you might want to have it held at my local Fedex hub and I can pick it up. It is only 10 minutes from my house.
Michael Johnson
10/30, 9:46pm
Michael Johnson

phone is email is
Mikee Gallignani
10/30, 9:47pm
Mikee Gallignani

Ok and I'll be sure to put heat packs in also
Michael Johnson
10/30, 9:49pm
Michael Johnson

I assume that he is healthy with no issues? What is he eating?
Mikee Gallignani
10/30, 9:49pm
Mikee Gallignani

Yea he is eat adult mice every 3-4 days live or ft
Michael Johnson
10/30, 9:52pm
Michael Johnson

OK, ..payment was just sent. Thanks Again
Mikee Gallignani
10/30, 9:52pm
Mikee Gallignani

Np
Mikee Gallignani
10/30, 11:21pm
Mikee Gallignani

http://www.fedex.com/tracking?tracknumbers=797044593355
Friday
Michael Johnson
11/1, 6:55pm
Michael Johnson

OK Mikee, I guess I will just get to the point......Please feel free to refund my payment of $143.01 TODAY. If you would like me to return your PINSTRIPE (clearly NOT a Chocolate Pinstripe as advertised !!) , I will gladly do so if you add $33.01 to to my refund of $143.01 to cover the PRIORITY OVERNIGHT shipping through Reptiles Express. In return I will gladly add a free SHIPPING heat pack that will actually provide sufficient heat to survive the trip unlike that tiny cheap hand warmer you sent me that was cold as ice ....as was the pinstripe And, yes, I do have screenshots of the ads where you use the VERY SAME photos of him advertised as both a Pinstripe and a Chocolate Pinstripe.
Sunday
Michael Johnson
11/3, 3:35pm
Michael Johnson

I'm sorry Mikee, I did not see a refund...... or any response for that matter. Do you intend on doing the right thing and refunding my $143.01 for sending a Pinstripe instead of a Chocolate Pinstripe that you advertised and I paid for?
Michael Johnson
11/3, 4:17pm
Michael Johnson

Just so you are aware, I do not appreciate being scammed and since you have decided to ignore any/all requests for a refund I have decided to post the details of our transcation on Fauna's BOI and any/all feedback forums I can find on Facebook. I sure hope it was worth scamming me over a mere $143 dollars. Good luck with any future sales.

Here is a link to the Fauna BOI: http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=441417
Bad Guy Mikee Gallignani deceptive sales - FaunaClassifieds
www.faunaclassifieds.com
Bad Guy Mikee Gallignani deceptive sales Board of Inquiry®
Mikee Gallignani
11/3, 4:18pm
Mikee Gallignani

It was sold to me as a c pin and I called paypal about a refund they said they dnt cover live animals and since you want to slander me I'll file a report

I still even have the recite from the store witch it was sold to me as a chocolate pin I never promised anything about genetics or refund

PayPal said it is not my problem

Or there's for that matter they do not deal in animals

You cannot reply to this conversation. Either the recipient's account was disabled or its privacy settings don't allow replies.

 

[88Snakes]

I only removed the personal details (phone# , address, emails)

 

[88Snakes]

I also have screenshots of 2 other ads he had listed elsewhere. The first ad had the BP listed as Pinstripe for $150 or B/O and the other ad had the BP listed as a Chocolate Pinstripe for $200 or B/O. Both ads used the very same photo. I'm not quite sure how to attach photos here but I will figure it out tonight when I get home from work so you can see.

 

[Lucille]

I only removed the personal details (phone# , address, emails)

Please provide those. They help verify the conversation, and the identity of your seller, should he choose to sell under another name, those details will help make future prospective purchasers safer.

 

[88Snakes]

So, I was able to contact Repxotica and asked them if they happen to sell a Chocolate Pinstripe to a Mikee Gallignani...... well this is how it went


Michael Johnson

Hello, I was just checking to see if you could confirm selling a 2013 1.0 Chocolate pinstripe to a gentleman named Mikee Gallignani? I recently purchased said animal and have strong doubts that is is anything more than a Pinstripe and was hoping you could confirm one way or another. If by chance you did sell one to him, would you happen to have a photo of it still? Thank You for your time, Michael
Repxotica
4:39pm
Repxotica

Never sold a chocolate pinstripe to anyone.
Michael Johnson
4:40pm
Michael Johnson

I had a feeling Thanks for the update

 

[Occidentalis]

I understand you're unhappy with misrepresentation, but giving the seller more than 42 minutes to respond to you is probably a good idea. It's been just over 24 hours at this point since the seller was notified. Hopefully they will make it right for you.

 

[chazzz]

I understand you're unhappy with misrepresentation, but giving the seller more than 42 minutes to respond to you is probably a good idea. It's been just over 24 hours at this point since the seller was notified. Hopefully they will make it right for you.

While I do agree with you that the OP should have given the seller more than 42 minutes to respond prior to posting a Bad Guy thread. For me it's more a a general rule to follow since not everyone checks their email with the same frequency. I might go a day or two sometimes without checking my email while others might be very diligent about checking their email throughout the day. I most certainly would have done things different but that really doesn't matter as it's not my thread and not my money that is at stake. But 42 minutes does seem like an unrealistic amount of time to expect a response from the seller which also included an immediate refund. There are quite a few threads on here in which someone had jumped the gun and labeled someone as a "Bad Guy".

Anyhow, with that said I still believe in this case that the OP did have enough cause for posting this thread just on shipping methods alone. As well as the other ads the seller posted with photos of the same animal that the OP had already purchased labeling it as two different morphs. I'm sure seeing this was the push the OP needed to believe the misrepresentation wasn't a mere mix up or oversight.

While this situation could have easily gone the other way with an apology from the seller as well as a remedy the OP was happy with, it did not. The seller did respond and basically said the OP was out of luck, as seen in the quote below. The sellers response really shows his character and that he knew what he was doing regarding the misrepresentation IMO. Instead of figuring out a resolution he states he already contacted PayPal and he won't be held responsible due to it being a live animal. To me this is not the course of action a concerned seller would take. It's more like someone who already knew PayPal's live animal policy and knowingly misrepresented the animal as he wouldn't be held accountable for a refund if a dispute was issued. You also got to love the seller's statement about never promising anything about genetics or a refund, a real class act!! I don't know about anyone else but when you label an animal you're selling as a certain morph that is a promise of the genetics.

Whether the OP waited 42 minutes or 42 hours to post this thread I don't believe it would have made a difference.

To the OP, I hope you find some resolution to this mess, and sorry this happened to you!!

Awe, Mikee finally replies after I mentioned the BOI post: and this is how he wants to handle business I suppose


"It was sold to me as a c pin and I called paypal about a refund they said they dnt cover live animals and since you want to slander me I'll file a report

I still even have the recite from the store witch it was sold to me as a chocolate pin I never promised anything about genetics or refund

PayPal said it is not my problem

Or there's for that matter they do not deal in animals"


There is NO slander on my part...lol simply a statement of facts. If he has/had a receipt then why not respond all this time and simply say so? Still wouldn't explain why he had this same snake advertised as a Pinstripe elsewhere. Still wouldn't prove that THIS very snake was a chocolate pin...just that he had a receipt for one. At this point he either closed his FB account or blocked me entirely cause I can't even respond to his PM at this point oh well...didn't expect to get the money back from a scam-artist anyhow

 

[88Snakes]

I'm sorry, The way the time stamps are listed I understand why it looks like only 42 minutes but it was actually it over 3 days with no response. In addition, I come to find out that he had already contacted PayPal on 11/2 to get them to "verify" that I received the shipment yet Mikee still made no contact with me. To me it appears that Chazzz is correct in that Mikee knew the PayPal policies in regards to live animals and after seeing the responses I've received from others, I am confident that he knew them Unfortunately, I've come to learn that PayPal ( and your bank/credit card company)will not protect ANY transactions involving live animals so please keep this in mind when making purchases. Anyhow, The first contact in regards to a refund occurred at 6:55 on 11/1 where I suggested he refund that evening. This pm was "seen" at 7:00 pm according to FB. I did not receive a response on 11/1 or 11/2, so on 11/3 at 3:35 I sent the 2nd request stating that I still did not receive a refund and again it was "seen" on FB at 3:42. Seller still did not reply. I also contacted the admins on that page and Carson Phelps attempted to make contact with him with no success , so it was at this point I decided to move forward with the BOI feedback. Hopefully that is a little clearer

 

[allesuberschildkroten]

88 Snakes

Repost the emails, with the times and the other info

 

[allesuberschildkroten]

And the screen shots of the other ads

 

[TeguBuzz]

Call your credit card company. I have received misrepresented animals in the past, while paying through PayPal, and of course - they said they can't do anything. So I call my bank, explain to them the issue, and they refund me.

Screw the guy over, get your money back - and spread the word about his shameful acts. Make him come crawling back to you begging for the snake back, and then you decide what happens.

Best of luck,

Manolis

 

[hhmoore]

Call your credit card company. I have received misrepresented animals in the past, while paying through PayPal, and of course - they said they can't do anything. So I call my bank, explain to them the issue, and they refund me.

Screw the guy over, get your money back - and spread the word about his shameful acts. Make him come crawling back to you begging for the snake back, and then you decide what happens.

Best of luck,

Manolis

I've got to say - any advice that begins with "screw the guy over" is automatically bad, in my opinion.