• Responding to email notices you receive.
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  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

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    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.....

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    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 NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM GENERALEXOTICS.COM!!!

generalexotics said:
I thought I was pretty upfront on my About Us page. I may not have used the word "broker" but I stated that I use a wholesale operation that has been in business for 15 years. I actually need to update that a bit because now I've got a couple of companies I can go to for quality animals. I will specifically insert REPTILES in there. Wow.

I then said "These quality pets are then shipped to stores and dealers all over the world and now... directly to you through this website!"

To me I thought the "and now..." was pretty indicative of me not being in business for 15 years. I'll put my start date in there for all to see.

As far as selling over 600 species - of course they are not all available at any given time. We just have that many listed on the website and sell them throughout the year as they become available. I will review this to see if it actually needs to be changed.

I don't feel I need to disclose my sources. I recognize we are dealing with live animals but in a similar manner, grocery stores don't disclose upfront where they buy their fruits, vegatables, meats. I mean, you are eating that food. Aren't you worried about where the food comes from that enters your body? No, because you trust the grocery store to take care of you. On the other hand, if you are one that needs to know this kind of information, a company such as mine will not be able to take care of your needs.

I can see where the "we see" might not be the best thing to say so I will update that.

Thanks for reviewing my About Us page.
Click to expand...

I was going to give you Good Karma for this response, but the system is warning me that I need to spread it around (can't give you tooo much):D

One thing that bothers me (actually the ONLY thing that bothers me) is the lack of quality control over shipping. I hate seeing animals arrive dead, it's just such a waste.

*I am aware that frogs (and other reptiles) are fragile, but to me that only means that MORE care should be given to their shipping needs and hence a need for quality control to reduce deaths.


*off my soap box.:eek:
 
GE... My quick question is... Have you been wholesaling reptiles to Pet Stores and Jobbers for 15 years? Would that be why you worded it that way and just now you are offering to the Public? Just curious because that's how I interpreted it?

If the animals from your suppliers are fresh Imports then YOU need to make sure that you have a stock of animals that is kept quarantined from the rest... treated for parasites and whatnot make sure they are feeding correctly then offer them to the Public... I can see offering fresh imports to pet stores and jobbers because most would know what they are getting... doing what needs to be done (making sure they are feeding and treated for any parasites) then offering them up for sale in their shops!! Those pet shops that just get the animals in and throw them on the sales floor usually don't last long!! Just a suggestion!

Just my .02 :)
 
chamgirl99471 said:
GE... My quick question is... Have you been wholesaling reptiles to Pet Stores and Jobbers for 15 years? Would that be why you worded it that way and just now you are offering to the Public? Just curious because that's how I interpreted it?
Click to expand...

I asked that direct question right above his last reply.... and he avoided it. Im leaning towards NOT!!!!

Im thinking he somehow managed to get into a group of buisness's (like a co-op) and they have been doing this for 15 years.
 
Yeah... I noticed that he avoided it... I figured I would give him another chance to answer that ONE question alone!! I'm leaning towards the same answer as well but I was hoping that he would come here and be completely Honest about it!
 
(1.) Company Overview
"General Exotics utilizes a large wholesale operation that has been in business for over 15 years.
Click to expand...

Seriously, some of you need to step back and re-read the sentence that you seem to be so intent on debating. It does not say General Exotics has been wholesaling for 15 years. It says the wholesale operation he utilizes has been in business for 15 years. It's pretty obvious that at the time of his drafting of his overview he was getting his reptiles from someone who had been in the business for 15 years.

Utilize- To make use of; To find a practical use for; To make do with something not normally used for the purpose; To use to its fullest extent, potential, or ability

utilization - Use of services and supplies. Utilization is commonly examined in terms of patterns or rates of use of a single service or type of service...
 
Thank you for pointing that out and I understand where you are coming from and I guess we didn't really take that into consideration or interpretted it in that way!!

My concern is if he's offering wholesale animals to the Public then he should have a seperate storehouse set aside where he can take proper care of the animals and make sure that they are feeding and healthy before he offers them up for sale on the Website!

Just my .02
 
chamgirl99471 said:
Thank you for pointing that out and I understand where you are coming from and I guess we didn't really take that into consideration or interpretted it in that way!!

My concern is if he's offering wholesale animals to the Public then he should have a seperate storehouse set aside where he can take proper care of the animals and make sure that they are feeding and healthy before he offers them up for sale on the Website!

Just my .02
Click to expand...

Catharine, I agree completely. I have no love for "brokers", "flippers", or wholesalers of imported animals, I just didn't think that, with everything else he is being called out on, he should be put through the wringer for something he wasn't saying...
 
Gecko_Den said:
Seriously, some of you need to step back and re-read the sentence that you seem to be so intent on debating. It does not say General Exotics has been wholesaling for 15 years. It says the wholesale operation he utilizes has been in business for 15 years. It's pretty obvious that at the time of his drafting of his overview he was getting his reptiles from someone who had been in the business for 15 years.

Utilize- To make use of; To find a practical use for; To make do with something not normally used for the purpose; To use to its fullest extent, potential, or ability

utilization - Use of services and supplies. Utilization is commonly examined in terms of patterns or rates of use of a single service or type of service...
Click to expand...

I think this answers the question. Let me know if not. I think once I add on there our founding date this will be cleared up even further for everyone who visits my site.

I will also point out that I am listing wild caught animals as such on my website so a potential customer knows exactly what they are getting. I've seen others avoid it by simply listing nothing. I want people to know they are buying a wild caught animal so they can prepare accordingly or avoid it if it is not in line with their tastes.
 
First off, I would never buy groceries without looking at them. Can you imagine ordering groceries offline sight unseen? Sounds like a nightmare scenario to me.

Secondly, Catherine, understand that Eric is unable to quarantine the animals he sells. Just like he is unable to assess their health, acclimate them, ensure that they are packed properly, or even see them for that matter. This is the issue, and this is what needs to be added to his "about us" page. It has a much more honest ring to it than ".....through the doors every day from reputable breeders all over the world.....are then shipped......", because nothing comes through his doors at all.
 
Exactly what I'm saying... He's replied on here stating that he will be letting his customers know that they are receiving WC animals but I bet the sales will go down for his company by doing so! Being Honest is a step in the right direction!! GE... If you want to sell public then you would be better off purchasing wholesale from a supplier and caring for the animals yourself and then offering them for sale a few months later. Knowing that you are shipping healthy specimens will up your business in the long run!! Why stake your public reputation on suppliers when you don't see the animals in person is just beyond me! Just My Opinion...

I know some breeders out there will purchase WC/LTC animals for new blood in their breeding groups so keep the animals for several months Yourself... Package them Yourself and then you wouldn't have these issues pop up!! Just a suggestion :)
 
generalexotics said:
I think this answers the question. Let me know if not. I think once I add on there our founding date this will be cleared up even further for everyone who visits my site.

I will also point out that I am listing wild caught animals as such on my website so a potential customer knows exactly what they are getting. I've seen others avoid it by simply listing nothing. I want people to know they are buying a wild caught animal so they can prepare accordingly or avoid it if it is not in line with their tastes.
Click to expand...

Maybe its me... but it seems like your pages on your site are a bit misleading. First... you make it seem like your housing these animals and sending them out... when in fact if Im correct your just taking the orders and contacting your suppliers and having them ship out the animals.

Then you make it seem like your business has been in the reptile industry for the past 15 years.

Why all the play on words.... just call it like it is. I can promise you this.... I would have respected you and your business more if you'd just come straight out and said... Im new to the reptile world and trying to make a go of it.

Yes.... I dont like your business model because your dealing with life animals.... but I will say publically here and now.

I do like the fact that your willing to list your wild caught animals as such and not trying to hide the fact that they are just that.... Wild caught.

Do I expect you to tell me who your suppliers are.... NOPE. But I also see a potential problem. There are several individuals that we (fauna members) have decided not to do business with because of either their attitudes here... or their business practices. How do we know that your not doing business with these individuals and thus us doing business with them unknowingly if we did business with you. To put it bluntly... there are individuals that I refuse to do business with to the point of... Id pay 6 times the going price from someone else if it was just between the high priced animal or the bad guy (in my book).

Now Im not trying to say your a bad guy.... the fact that you are listing the wild caughts on your site as such does improve my outlook towards you.... but trying to get some info from you is like pulling teeth.... and then you have the "creative wording" on your website.
 
MikeCurtin said:
Secondly, Catherine, understand that Eric is unable to quarantine the animals he sells. Just like he is unable to assess their health, acclimate them, ensure that they are packed properly, or even see them for that matter. This is the issue, and this is what needs to be added to his "about us" page. It has a much more honest ring to it than ".....through the doors every day from reputable breeders all over the world.....are then shipped......", because nothing comes through his doors at all.
Click to expand...


Not only that... but there is no way for him to answer even simple questions like... when was the last time it fed? What did it eat? Will it eat F/T?

He would always have to contact his suppliers first for the info (or just out right lie)... and contacting his suppliers then also delays the response to his customers which effects his customer service. :shrug01:
 
Ok, update everyone:
I just checked my account, and all of the money has been credited to it.
And I was in fact wrong about the amount: I was saying it was $145, but it was actually $160.
So the entire amount of $160 has now been returned, and Eric and I are squared up.
That doesn't mean I agree with brokering, or would have purchased the frogs if there was some sort of disclaimer on his website that states he in never actully in possession of the animals being sold (which I think there should most definatly be such a disclaimer).
And it unfortunatly doesn't change the fact that 3 frogs died, which I am still undoubtably upset about - I hate to see any animal die, especially when it is so un-nessisary and completely avoidable, as I'm sure everyone here does.
So Eric, thanks for making this right (and for the returning the correct amount insted of taking advantage of the fact that I thought it was less), but I really hope that in the future, you somehow warn potiential customers that you are, at no time, in possesion of any of the animals you offer for sale, because that was obviously not clear to me when I looked over the information written on you website. I'm sure I'm not the only one either, since there are a lot of new beginners out there who are don't know a whole lot about the exotic pet industry. I've been kepping exotics of all types for 4 years and I was still fooled by the "play on words".
So please just try to be more upfront on your website.
Thanks.
- Jade Langlinais
 
Excellent Point Kevin... I would like to know that info when purchasing an animal as well. I just hope that Eric takes all this into consideration. He seems professional enough and has responded to and taken most of the suggestions put forth by the members here. He just needs to take a little more time and interest in what he sells to the public so that issues that arise can be handled as smoothly in the future!
 
Jade... .that is good news.

Eric.... I'd like to also say thanks for refunding the larger (I assume correct amount). To me that speaks of your character. You could have just as easily just refunded the 145 and called it good. :thumbsup:
 
Eric... explain something to me.

On your about us page http://www.generalexotics.com/about-us-page-3 there are some things that are unclear to me.

Correct me if Im wrong here. Your a broker right... and from what has come forth in this thread you ship directly from your suppliers. So how can you explain the following I have in bold


About Us
General Exotics mission is to provide healthy, happy, beautiful exotic pets at affordable prices. We have over 600 different quality exotic pets listed on our website and look forward to serving exotic pet enthusiasts in all 50 states in the U.S. (excluding Hawaii).

Features and Benefits

Experienced Care
You can rest assured that we will be selecting the best of the best for you. An exotic animal veterinarian stops by at least once a week for checkups and what he recommends is what is exactly what is done. A healthy diet is provided to each and every animal. The rooms and cages are clean and sanitary environments. We never ever ship pets that we know are not 100% healthy.

Packing and Shipping Expertise
The facility is located just minutes for an International Airport. The packaging exceeds industry standards and has been designed to protect your animals and withstand the stress of ground and air travel. Depending on the animal(s) being shipped, heat and cold packs are used to add to the comfort of the animal. The animals are in their shipping packages for less than 24 hours in most cases.
Click to expand...


How are you going to have an exotics vet check these animals out once a week... when you never see these animals? Those of us that have had to take our animals in know that an exotics vet is not cheap.... so a weekly visit? I find this a bit hard to swallow.

If these animals are not in your possession... how can you say how/what they eat and how they are taken care of?

If these animals are never in your possession... then how are you going to say they are located just minutes from an International Airport? Im pretty sure this one thread has proved that at least one package has went out BELOW industry standard as far as packing goes.

Since you didn't want to answer mine and Catharine's question directly... I went and did some more digging.

Your website is registered thru godaddy.com and I found the following dates tied to it.

Creation Date: 06-jul-2009
Expiration Date: 06-jul-2015

Care to explain what APPEAR to be bold face lies in the part that I quoted above.
 
I would like some clarification on these statements as well.
After all, it was these exact statements that lead me to believe he had animals in his possession, and that they were well cared for.
What he has on his website, and what we then says here just doesn't add up. It's flat out contridictory. I think that it's wrong to mislead people in this way.
 
@ Eric
Regardless of everything else Id like to compliment you on handling all this criticism and detailed analysis of every facet of your business extremely well. I would bet that half the people dishing it out wouldn't have handled it as graciously as you have. Just my opinion and not meant as a dig to the critics just giving the guy props. A lot of people start swearing and getting personal when their business is under this kind of scrutiny or at least become very defensive.
 
MikeCurtin said:
Eric, I'm glad to see you took care of Jade. You certainly did the right thing.

I'm interested to hear about your vet, though.
Click to expand...

:iagree: Glad to hear the money went through and Eric payed back the correct amount. Says a lot about his character.

I am also wondering about the vet seeing as a vet visit for one or two animals costs an arm and leg let alone having one come to your facility (suppliers facility in this case) and look at every animal they have! You would have to sell the animals for twice what they are worth just to pay the vet bill :eek:
 
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