Neil Gubitz - Good guy

[gila7150]

The most sickening part of this whole thing was that this uro was sold as a pet for a child. (to replace a pet that she had already lost).
Why the hell would anyone sell a sickly, imported uromastyx that is being force fed to a child as a pet?
Then he say's if it dies I'll send you another one but you pay shipping. While Neil may view his reptiles as inanimate objects that can be so easily replaced, a child becomes attached to a pet and suffers a loss every time one dies.

That goes beyond bad judgment and is just plain old sleazy in my opinion.

 

[Rob @ RK Reptiles]

Not to defend Neil, but I am the one that sexed those Mellers and I am 80% sure they are sexed as what they are. The Mellers Chameleon (Chamaeleo Melleri) is a non sexually dimorphic species which means there are no physical differences between the sexes. The 3 ways of knowing 100% are 1.) seeing a pair breed, 2.) seeing a female lay eggs, 3.) or having an endoscopic procedure performed on them to see the sexual organs inside the body cavity. I sexed those animals by subtle differences that I have witnessed and found in the years of my dealing with the species. Now there is always a chance that they are sexed incorrectly and that is why they were not sold to him as 100% sexed and he is not selling them as 100% sexed animals. I hope this clears up a little on this situation and this has nothing to do with the situation on hand about the Niger Uro.

 

[Stardust]

Chris,
I can't even describe what my kids are feeling. There are so many emotions that are going through them right now there is just no way. I can tell you anger is a big emotion.
I can tell you that all the other reptiles we have are getting even more attention (if possible).
This has been my one and only bad business dealing. Thank goodness for others out there that really do care!
I have learned a valuable lesson, unfortunately through my kids as well, but a lesson none the less.
I will take definite heed when someone says someone is a bad guy, I will not give the benefit of the doubt again.
Valuable lesson.

 

[Darin Chappell]

Way to stand up, Rob!



For everyone else,

I understand and share your disgust with what was seen in that picture, and my heart strings too are pulled by children having to lose ANOTHER pet because of shady dealings. HOWEVER, appealing to Neil's sense of shame or ethics is like throwing a bucket down an empty well . . .it may seem like the right thing to do at first, but it just won't quench your thirst!

I'd just say that this is all a lesson learned for ANYONE who might come along later and be confused by the VERY FEW "Good Guy" posts you can find here on Mr. Gubitz!



Rozann,

I don't have any lizards, but if you'd be interested in a baby corn snake, I'd be happy to work something out for your kids and you. Let me know, if I can help!

 

[sputnik]

And that Neil was force feeding it and that some had died already.

What a wonderfull seller he is, selling animals that don't even eat on their own for a child, VERY sad.

He said if it died he will send me another one but I pay shipping

Doesn't this imply that he pretty much knew it would die?

He really doesn't care, does he?

His now permament banning is a great gift to fauna and its users. I don't think it will be too long before he is off kingsnake as well and out of business, which is a GREAT gift to the reptile community and will save a lot of animals their lives!

As Seamus suggested, file charges wherever possible. This person should be out of animals full stop! He is clearly incapable of looking after them. ABUSE!

 

[KelliH]

Amen to that.

 

[Stardust]

Darin, thank you for the offer, I have PM'ed you.
I also want to thank everyone who have written here on this, and the messages thru e-mail and PM's. I have shown the kids all of them as well as these postings. They know that there are way more good out there than bad, so this lesson has also became a good one. They as well as I are heartwarmed by it, thank you all again.

I have been talking with some of the people who have been bitten by this same person and going to start dealing with it.
Thank you for the suggestions, they are useful.

Gosh, thanks again.

 

[sputnik]

Darin's offer is a VERY kind one and a positive note on this thread.

I hope all works out for you.

 

[Dragondad]

Sorry

Sorry Rozann for the trouble that you and the kids have faced with just a simple purchase of a birthday present. Its good to see the good guys step up and offer not only other animals but support in trying to help with the situation.

It is the people like Neil that have given the industry the black eye, and its continued abuses of the animals that we all have to watch out for, situations like this are what ends up getting laws passed that prevent us from owning, selling or breeding.

But as you can see from this thread the guys that really care about the animals far outnumber the Neils of this world. And its great to see so many caring about a situation that they were not involved with.

 

[screamdreams]

Thanks Rob

I appreciate the info on sexing Mellers, I was just curious, like I said I'm not an advanced chameleon keeper, and only have experience with the Veileds, Panthers, and a little w/ Jacksons, all easily sexed. The 80% through me off so thanks for your expertise.

Yes, I know I was somewhat off topic, but the URO thing got "hot" pretty quick, and quite a few replies were posted before I got mine in.

This thread has changed "subject" matter more than once, and hopefully concentrating on this animal will help people realize how important it is to stay away from anything with the word "pit" in it. I just typed a whole bunch of negative BS, then I deleted it because I don't like getting too involved, but I will say this...there all sellers in this hobby making a living destroying the hobby. It's that simple!! Not only do we have the new proposals within our Gov't to worry about, we also have people selling sick or dying reptiles to newcomers in the hobby!! Do you realize just how important these people are??? They are the keepers of tomorrow, the one's that will continue with our passions and make them their own. One bad experience is sometimes all it takes to detour a would be "lover of Reptiles" or at least keep them from experiencing the joys of keeping/breeding them. It's sad...very sad. You know what else sucks??? It will never end, they'll always be somebody, I see it at every show!! It's pathetic.

To all of those contemplating purchasing a reptile off the internet...please, do all of your homework, trust your gut, demand better quality!! Look closely at every enclosure (in the pics) come to the BOI and head what they say!! Why buy ONE, unsexed (why is it unsexed?? you're in the biz...take two seconds and pop or probe the dang thing!! Or are you scared you'll be selling another mis-sexed animal??) Albino Burmese for $250 from someone with a less than impressive set-up-when you can buy TWO from Mark Bell (the undeniable KING of captive reptile propagation) that are born in immaculate conditions and stay in immaculate conditions for the life of the animal in their care for the same amount of money?????


Listen to my words...
Mark S. Bell...Mark S. Bell...Mark S, Bell...LOL!!

Of course there is a TON of others out there, big & small that will treat you (the customer) and their animals very, very well at ALL times!! No name calling, no near death experiences, no sick animals, no worries...there's alot of 'em right here at the BOI, and over there at KS...USE THEM!!!

And Oh yeah...REPORT HIM TO KS!! It's your responsibilty to protect others that may get burned!!!

 

[screamdreams]

Sorry Dragondad

I submitted my reply before reading yours. You said evrything I wanted to say, only nicer. You're exactly right!!

 

[Stardust]

Troy,
When I finally quit arguing with myself and decided to write this I fully intended on following through and being responsible. I have indeed written to KS and saved what I wrote as I have saved everything

 

[screamdreams]

Good for you!!!

Again, I'm very sorry that this has happened to you and your family. I applaud your character, and please continue to have faith in the hobby, and the internet!! I'm sure you'll have many positive experiences in the future!! That's a promise!!
Stay well, keep us posted!!

 

[The BoidSmith]

Just to clarify TOS

Several days ago before being banned Neil Gubitz send me the following PM:

Neil Gubitz wrote:

This is a message from Neil Gubitz at FaunaClassifieds Forums (
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/index.php ). The FaunaClassifieds
Forums owners cannot accept any responsibility for the contents of the email.

To email Neil Gubitz, you can use this online form:
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/member.
php?action=mailform&userid=840

OR, by email:
mailto:[email protected]

This is the message:

Daniel.... If you'll notice.... MY GUARANTEE AND SHIPPING statements are
EXACTLY like theirs, also.... Why? you ask??.... because *I WROTE
THEM!!*.... Moonlite Media did MY website, too, and they liked my wording so
much, they asked if they could use it.... it's the best one I've seen, so I said yes....
and, why not??
Everything's a conspiracy with you, huh??

Neil Gubitz
www.TampaSnakePit.com

So if in the future someone has any doubts with regards to this matter, the TOS of Upstate Exotics, Southern States Exotics, and The Tampa Snake Pit are similar because they were all written by Neil Gubitz. Hope this helps clarify things up.

Regards.

 

[napavalleysnakes]

Breeders/Brokers and Little Fish : )

Rozanne - Really sorry to hear about your situation. If it's a lizard that's good for children you're after, drop me your address and I'll send out a surprise (on me) that will not only look good, but thrive for them.. Just call it a late birthday present : )

I've stayed out of this thread up until now, but it seems like the Neil situation just continues to create issues so here I am (by the way, unbelievable that someone could send a child a lizard that looks like that Nigerian Uro did as a birthday present).

Here's my take for what it's worth on the Neil Gubitz Situation:

On Fauna, Neil enjoyed a celebrity status (for what reason I'm still unsure). He was highly visible, in every thread trying to add his two-cents, or constantly a topic of discussion trying to defend his rather poor track record on sales (usually by belittling his competition or dropping names).

When Neil lost his ability to post here, that pretty much ended his ability to sell reptiles on the internet. I know he has a Kingsnake account, but seriously, if you've seen the animals he posts for months on end (Jurassic Milks come to mind), then you realize just how far he is out of his league over there.

Neil is the classic Reptile Broker.. He buys the fruits of other's labors to display a product (much like a Carnival Barker). Neil is not a breeder in any sense of the word. Now, not all brokers are bad, as I'm sure everyone (certainly myself included) that's been in this business any length of time has purchased animals from others to display, resell, etc.
But what distinguishes one broker from another is the quality of animal they choose to sell.

A good broker doesn't choose to sell his sick or dying animals. They absorb the losses as part of the risk of selling animals they didn't produce themselves.

An unscrupulous broker is someone who takes advantage of customers (usually one-time sales) to make a quick buck. They send out animals as quickly as they receive them, without any regards for the life of the animal. They see all animals in the same color, green, and how much green can they get..
If the animal doesn't eat, oh well, not their issue once they've received their cash for whatever they need it so desperately for..

So I'll echo the sentiments of several others on the board, report this to Kingsnake !

Stephen Emerick
Napa Valley Snakes

 

[Wilomn]

Well, here it is the end of June and it seems I'll not be hearing from neil. Gee, I'm sooooo surprised. And he even promised me I would. neil, since you don't seem to know what a promise is, just like you don't seem to know what honesty or responcibility or consideration are let me difine it for you.

When you tell someone you will do something, as in send them a healthy lizard for thier kid's birthday, it is reasonable to expect that you will do just that, send a HEALTHY lizard. Not one knocking on death's door. Well, that didn't work out too well did it. Let me try again. When you send someone a snake, a yearling rosy boa that is 18 inches long(rather large for a yearling) and captive bred that is eating and it turns out that the snake never ate, pooped green the day it was recieved, and then died......oops, that was round one in the Rozann saga, the first animal you sent her daughter so it could die on her instead of you. FUnny now that I think on it I have heard the same thing about many WILD CAUGHT ROSIES, not eating , pooping green, then dieing. Hmmmmm. Let me try one more time. A promise is coming through with what you say. Whether it is to send a healthy animal the first or second time to a newbie kid is irrelevant. Seems you just don't care about anyone at all, not the people you prey on or the animals you sell them.

A man's word is his bond, no wait, you don't seem to be much of a man either, so you may not get the connection I'm making here, this is really hard to explain to someone like you.

You promised I would be a test case for you. I guess your lawyer informed you that it would not be to your best interest to persue the matter of my telling the truth about you. Well, there are a few hours left in this, the last day of June, but I'm really not expecting any visitors at this point, and in reality I never did. Promises Promises Promises

I think the fun part of the ride may well be over for you now that Rozann and Dawn and some others are actually speaking out about how you treated them and the animals you sold them, over and over again.


B B B B B BYE neil, won't miss you at all

Wes Pollock

 

[sputnik]

Gubitz is there for the money and nothing else. Animal welfare and customer service mean NOTHING to him as he has proved time and again.

I know he has a Kingsnake account, but seriously, if you've seen the animals he posts for months on end (Jurassic Milks come to mind), then you realize just how far he is out of his league over there.

Yes, he is out of his league! Over priced animals mean he doesn't compete with other sellers!

Selling sick or near dead animals means people won't buy from him again.

A good business is one that generates return customers, but as Neil once said in a pm to me, "I will never change my business practices."

Pretty much says why his sales are dying and his business with it. I don't know of many businesses (except upstate exotics) that single handedly make every effort to destroy their own reputation and sales as quickly as possible.

 

[sputnik]

When you tell someone you will do something, as in send them a healthy lizard for thier kid's birthday, it is reasonable to expect that you will do just that, send a HEALTHY lizard. Not one knocking on death's door.

Wes, this lizard was NOT knocking on death's door. It simply didn't have the life left in it to so much as raise a toe nail to knock with!

That is, if it even had toe nails! (coming from Mr.Gubitz) it is doubtfull.

 

[ms_terese]

Several days ago before being banned Neil Gubitz send me the following PM:

Neil was banned? Or are you referring to the fact that Webslave asked him not to post?

 

[The BoidSmith]

Terese,

He was banned for the last time. Reason: sending a harrasing e-mail to a BOI member.

Regards.