Bad Guy NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM GENERALEXOTICS.COM!!!

[MikeCurtin]

I've got a pretty good idea as to who his suppliers may be...not positive, but a pretty good hunch. If I'm correct, these suppliers are held in very high regard by some, and very low regard by others.

That is neither here, nor there. Internet "drama" aside, I take issue with someone advertising animals for sale under very misleading pretenses. His website certainly implies that animals are going through his facility under his supervision, which is not the case. Perhaps he will not tolerate his customers receiving dead animals from any of his suppliers for very long, but how many buyers are going to get dead stuff before it becomes apparent that he's dealing with the wrong supplier?

Furthermore, to address how things used to be done, I remember sending for price lists back in the day, and getting w/c animals shipped to me. I knew what I was buying, and I knew the risks associated with it. If I bought an animal based upon a stolen website photo and a claim that the person selling it was the person who actually had the animal and that it had been inspected by a vet, and instead received a random animal from a drop shipper, I wouldn't be too pleased.

The bottom line is that Eric Endsley is offering all of the promises of quality reptile breeders and suppliers of today's standards, while providing the animals and drawbacks we all remember from the mail order price lists of the 80's and 90's!

 

[wes smith]

Suppliers/Vet checks.....

I could be way off base but.....IF eric has some type of contract with his suppliers IT MIGHT prevent him from disclosing his sources (if his suppliers want to sell on a wholesale level only and not the general public and he discloses them, it would leave those suppliers open to general inquires about animals for sale). On the same token I'm not sure what exactly Eric could do to prove the vet visits (other than the statement he's already made)....just sayin'.

And Eric, I too think you have done a great job so far with your replies and professionalism....but I have to ask:

This statement from your website does sound like the animals are shipped directly from your facility (red text ). Have you thought about re-wording these statements also?:

About Our Shipping Standards:
"All animal shipments are recemmended to be shipped Priority Overnight directly to your door.

Our packing standards are the highest in the industry. We don't throw your order together with cheap supplies and hope for the best. We expect a successful animal delivery and it starts with proper packaging. We have three full-time expert packers with 30 years of experience between them. Two of them have been with us for 17 years each. They inspect every box before it is closed up."

I won't ask how they have been with a 15 year company for 17 years....


-Again, I think you've done a good job so far (refunding Jade completely), but some of these statements are misleading IMO.

 

[MikeCurtin]

I could be way off base but.....IF eric has some type of contract with his suppliers IT MIGHT prevent him from disclosing his sources (if his suppliers want to sell on a wholesale level only and not the general public and he discloses them, it would leave those suppliers open to general inquires about animals for sale). On the same token I'm not sure what exactly Eric could do to prove the vet visits (other than the statement he's already made)....just sayin'.

And Eric, I too think you have done a great job so far with your replies and professionalism....but I have to ask:

This statement from your website does sound like the animals are shipped directly from your facility (red text ). Have you thought about re-wording these statements also?:

About Our Shipping Standards:
"All animal shipments are recemmended to be shipped Priority Overnight directly to your door.

Our packing standards are the highest in the industry. We don't throw your order together with cheap supplies and hope for the best. We expect a successful animal delivery and it starts with proper packaging. We have three full-time expert packers with 30 years of experience between them. Two of them have been with us for 17 years each. They inspect every box before it is closed up."

I won't ask how they have been with a 15 year company for 17 years....


-Again, I think you've done a good job so far (refunding Jade completely), but some of these statements are misleading IMO.

Oh, man....this just keeps getting better! Now he's claiming that they have packers that have been with them for 17 years! After what has been brought to light here, wouldn't it be more accurate to say that his off-site suppliers have 17 years experience? But, wait, this company has only just been opened, so has he or has he not been working with these suppliers for this long?

 

[Southern Wolf]

Plot thickens.

Eric... where are you?

I had never even went to the side links so missed the shipping info completely. Way to contradict yourself with lies on your own website.

Here's another one for you to ponder

Carrier Errors:
We do not guarantee any problems related to mistakes made by FedEx or UPS. We expect you to contact us first on the day your shipment arrives (or is supposed to arrive). If the problem was caused by a Shipper Handling Error, we will instruct you to contact FedEx or UPS to file a claim.

First of off..... if you are actually certified with FedEx then you will know there will not be a claim because of the waiver you had to sign. (I dont know about UPS).

Second... why is it my job to take care of a problem with shipping when I am paying you for an animal and a service?

 

[Southern Wolf]

The further I dig.... the funnier it gets

Hey Eric... from your terms of use page

Copyright. The content, organization, graphics, design, compilation, magnetic translation, digital conversion and other matters related to the Site are protected under applicable copyrights, trademarks, registered trademarks and other proprietary (including but not limited to intellectual property) rights. The copying, redistribution, use or publication by you of any such matters or any part of the Site, except as allowed by Section 4, is strictly prohibited. You do not acquire ownership rights to any content, document or other materials viewed through the Site. The posting of information or materials on the Site does not constitute a waiver of any right in such information and materials.

So explain to me again why you were stealing photos from another breeders website?

 

[Southern Wolf]

DISCLOSURE OF YOUR INFORMATION

The information you provide to us may be accessed by or given to third parties some of whom may be located outside the European Economic Area who act for us for the purposes set out in this policy or for other purposes approved by you. Those parties process information, fulfil and deliver orders, process credit card payments and provide support services on our behalf. We may also pass aggregate information on the usage of our website to third parties but this will not include information that can be used to identify you.
Where you have consented when providing us with your details, we may also allow other companies in our group, to contact you occasionally about products and services which may be of interest to you. They may contact you by e-mail. If you change your mind about being contacted by these companies in the future, please let us know at [email protected].
Finally, if our business enters into a joint venture with or is sold to or merged with another business entity, your information may be disclosed to our new business partners or owners. Countries outside the European Economic Area do not always have strong data protection laws. However, we will always take steps to ensure that your information is used by third parties in accordance with this policy.

Unless required to do so by law, we will not otherwise share, sell or distribute any of the information you provide to us without your consent.

Eric... .you keep mentioning the European Economic Area. What does that hae to do with those of us in the gold ol' US of A! We aint in Europe.

ACCESSING AND UPDATING

You are entitled to see the information held about you and you may ask us to make any necessary changes to ensure that it is accurate and kept up to date. If you wish to do this, please contact us at [email protected]. We are entitled by law to charge a fee of $10 to meet our costs in providing you with details of the information we hold about you.

Really... you want me to give you another $10 so I can see what info you have on me which by the quote above... your sharing with others as well. I DONT THINK SO!

 

[Southern Wolf]

Eric... .you keep mentioning the European Economic Area. What does that hae to do with those of us in the gold ol' US of A! We aint in Europe.

Wow... my typing is bad today

Eric... .you keep mentioning the European Economic Area. What does that have to do with those of us in the good ol' US of A! We aint in Europe.

 

[MikeCurtin]

I've got to say, it still blows me away a little that he has more "Good Guy" than "Bad Guy" votes on his certification poll....especially considering the new information that has come to light.

Eric hasn't been on since just a little while after Kevin posted the vet information, so maybe he has a whole bunch of tweaking to do to his site. Ether that, or he realizes that trying to defend lies and inconsistencies will only dig his hole deeper.

 

[Jadenkisses]

After reading some of the more recent posts, I would just like to address a few things:

1.) MiamiExotics, pets are NOT products - PERIOD.
2.) I purchased my frogs from GE, not because I wanted a "generic pet", although that may be the case for others. I purchased from them for 2 main reasons: one was because I am breeding Red Eyed Tree Frogs, and I needed a specific sex to add to my group. They were one of the only people I could find who even gave the option of choosing sex (otherwise, I would've probably purchased from LLL, who I've ordered both animals and supplies from). I wasn't very concerned with seeing a photo of the actual animal I was ordering, because in the case of these frogs, there aren't a whole lot of variations among this species, and I was looking for a heathly, adult male. I wasn't concerned about how many blue bars it had on it's side (one of the few variations). And I was also not worried about it being "wild caught", because they were labeled as "captive raised", which I took to mean they were origionally caught in the wild and have been in captivity for sometime. I did not take this to mean "freshly imported", which I'm fairly sure that's what my frogs were, especially since it took me so long to get the surviving one to eat something. And also, the fact that they were wild caught would be good to introduce new bloodlines into my group. The second main reason I purchased from them is because of all the guarantees: live arrival, 7 day replacement, checked weekly by a Vet, 98% success rate with live arrivals, etc, etc...
3.) Now that everything is settled between Eric and I, personally, my consern now is that nothing will change and what happened to me will continue to happen to other people, and just cannot stand around and not say or do anything about it. I won't be fully satisfied until Eric changes a lot of what witten on his website, and it is more closer to the actual truth. I think it's unfair to mislead people in the way he has done. The last thing I want is for someone else to experience the horrific sight I had to upon opening my package.
4.) And now, I have a new thing to worry about: my information being shared with some third party somewhere.

 

[Southern Wolf]

I've got to say, it still blows me away a little that he has more "Good Guy" than "Bad Guy" votes on his certification poll....especially considering the new information that has come to light.

Here's what I dont understand... and maybe my way of thinking is a bit skewed. To me.... a "good guy" is someone that doesnt

*Steal photo's from other breeders website
*Mislead the public using their website with a play on words
*Flat out lie on their website eluding to being in business for 15 years then say they have 3 packers that have been with the company for 17 years
*Lie about vet's coming to THEIR facility which according to Eric they are just a broker and ship directly from their suppliers.

How can anyone in their right mind rate General Exotics as a good guy Yes... they made it right with Jade after public outcry here on the BOI... but that doesnt mean they are a good guy. There are too many negatives with this company to warent a good guy cert.


[qoute]
Eric hasn't been on since just a little while after Kevin posted the vet information, so maybe he has a whole bunch of tweaking to do to his site. Ether that, or he realizes that trying to defend lies and inconsistencies will only dig his hole deeper.[/QUOTE]


He definitly wont answer questions. Even simple questions like... how long have you been in business. He has avoided that question twice from myself and at least one other member here.

 

[brianm616]

He definitly wont answer questions.

very true. i sent him a couple of emails a few months back asking about certain colubrids offered on his site.

no response.

 

[MikeCurtin]

.....Now that everything is settled between Eric and I, personally, my consern now is that nothing will change and what happened to me will continue to happen to other people, and just cannot stand around and not say or do anything about it. I won't be fully satisfied until Eric changes a lot of what witten on his website, and it is more closer to the actual truth. I think it's unfair to mislead people in the way he has done. The last thing I want is for someone else to experience the horrific sight I had to upon opening my package.
4.) And now, I have a new thing to worry about: my information being shared with some third party somewhere.

Valid concerns, Jade. This bothers me as well.

very true. i sent him a couple of emails a few months back asking about certain colubrids offered on his site.

no response.

A blessing in disguise, maybe??

 

[Jadenkisses]

Good news everyone: I looked at GE's website to see if Eric had taken any of our suggestions. I noticed that he re-worded somethings, and added a disclaimer that he's a broker and doesn't have the animals in his possesion.
I'm glad he has taken all of this to heart, and has made some changes to his website.
Thank you, Eric.

 

[Southern Wolf]

would be nice if he would come back here and address our concerns

 

[generalexotics]

would be nice if he would come back here and address our concerns

Sorry, wanted to spend the weekend reflecting and getting a couple things done, both personally and professionally. Let's address the issues.

Pictures - we are now taking steps to document on each page who took the photo and what permissions we received to display them. This should fully eliminate that deal.

Vet - This was placed on there as a result of an interview with my supplier. A vet does visit but obviously they don't look at each individual specimens, only the ones that have been observed by the experienced staff members to have abnormal behavior. I'll add that bit to it so it is more clear.

References to Me or We that really should be They or my suppliers - I erroneously viewed my suppliers as an extension of my own company. In simple terms, what they have is what I have or can deliver. I realize I didn't spell out the difference and I am working on the site to make the relationship more clear.

I will look back trough the postings and see what I've missed.

 

[generalexotics]

Business Advice

Very true... I can see the point there and we were just waiting for GE to come back on here and explain the vet situation to us. His website makes it sound as if he sees the animals that are being shipped to the customers so hopefully when he changes around his site and clears up the wording it will make people feel better! In my opinion (and it's just that) if he wants to do business with the public he should have a section set aside just for public selling to make sure that those that are new to the hobby or inexperienced will get healthy and well feeding animals. Pet Stores will know what to expect but the unknowing new hobbiest may be in for some surprises. That's all I'm concerned about. I can understand that he may have reliable suppliers but does he really know the condition of the animals that he's sending out to the public? It doesn't seem so. THe BOI is here to help with a person's business practices so I hope that Eric can take some of this to heart and understand where we are coming from. That's all I have to say right now and hopefully Eric will come back and let us know what he's going to do.

He has been very professional and that helps the situation a whole lot! I give him kudos for taking the critics the way he has (myself included) and that shows someone who wants to be successful in this industry!

Absolutely, I am taking this to heart. I can't even pay someone to give me all the great advice found here. Granted I am gathering some bad guy votes and probably lost sales because of it but I guess I had it coming and need and deserved to receive these lessons learned the hard way.

By the way, I've been listing Wild Caught long before these threads ever come about.

Also keep in mind I am not the only drop shipper. There are several. Some you might not even realize.

 

[MikeCurtin]

Eric, while I do not agree with your business model (obviously), I do commend you for addressing the issues here. You have done so with dignity, and I hope you are able to make the needed corrections to your site so that you may be able to advertise and sell animals honestly and with transparency.

 

[generalexotics]

Giving Back

Eric, while I do not agree with your business model (obviously), I do commend you for addressing the issues here. You have done so with dignity, and I hope you are able to make the needed corrections to your site so that you may be able to advertise and sell animals honestly and with transparency.

Thanks Mike,

If you find another business that needs to be picked apart and rebuilt in the forums let me know and I'll help. I've got experience in this area now.

 

[lanceheads]

I'll give (two) for Eric's honesty and willingness to come on here and address his issues!

Randal Berry

 

[wes smith]

I'll give (two) for Eric's honesty and willingness to come on here and address his issues!

Randal Berry

Eric, you sir conducted yourself with the type professionalism we would all like to see more of on the BOI.

-Thank You for the follow-up post.