Bad Guy PAUL EDWARDS- [email protected]

[Suncoast Herpetological]

Interesting defense..to paraphrase:

"I am a lousy businessman and fully intended to honor all agreements and timelines but, instead of using the funds sent to purchase the materials to build the items my customers paid for, I used the money sent to me to pay my personal bills. The resulting delay was therefore unavoidable."

I also like (also paraphrased)

"All refunds promised will be made once I have some money to refund"


The truly amazing thing is that you have the nerve to state it as though admitting it makes it reasonable.





Look...it's a 12 gun "Shot Yourself in the Foot" Salute

 

[Suncoast Herpetological]

21 would have been more appropriate but 12 is the most you can put in a post

 

[Jim@SW]

Oh my

Paul glad you came on to respond how you do business. After reading your reply I am glad I never did business with you. Our ways are different in my opinion. I like to think I do business with people who know the difference between right and wrong.

 

[ljsreptiles]

Paul,

Thanks, I'm having a great day now. Keep responding a digging a deeper grave.

Leslie
LJS Reptiles

 

[taumau]

I don't understand why you wouldn't pick a product that needs improving, and make it better, other than creating a structurally-poorer copy of the best (as i am looking at my chinese-made generator which cost 100$, v.s my identical-looking Honda generator which cost 1000$--OHH ..NOW I GET IT!!)

There are people in this business a person wouldn't dare copy their product and sell as their own; henchmen would be at your door if so...Tom is a forgiving, non-aggressive peaceful guy, I think this played into the plan.

 

[tyrrell109]

O paul im glad your finally reaping what you have sown. I loved your last defense in the statement "have a nice day" way to go business man im sure your heading for the stars(hopefully because the ppl u owe money to catch up with u) I also enjoyed how u pretty much just told everyone u suck at making these products, by saying that u are getting better with each attempt. Just a little FYI for a business to be successful u must "FIRST" have a product u can build successfully by not using others money to get better
Tom im sorry u had to be so trusting of a lieing ,cheating, peace of crap like Paul, but thats life sadly to say.
Ohh by the way Paul u can spray as much perfume on a turd as u want, but in the end its still just a turd.
P.S. your the Turd
Stephen

 

[mvite]

Not only does he make CRAPPY cages and incubators. He lies and steals.I paid in full for 2 incubators and one (48 slot) rack. He said 6 weeks for delivery. 12 weeks passed and I called . He was almost done with the incubators but not the rack. I told him forget the rack I needed it in a more timely manner, just return my $1100. He then offered to send a used rack he had at his house, no thanks I said. He then told me he spent my money to pay his bills and was unable to return my money. I suggested he make payments . He still has not returned ANY money.
When I set up the incubators I was bummed to find out they fluctuate by about 7 degrees overnight. When I told him he said he would build me a shelf with another heat source with scrap materials he had at home. That was abut 5 or 6 weeks ago and still nothing. Last time I contacted him he told me he didn't want to REHASH this conversation.
Now I am stuck with 2 worthless incubators and out $1100 extra in cash.
Originally he told me he was just bad with money and should have known better than to mix his personal expenses with his business. Now I know the truth . He is a LIAR and a CHEAT(ask Habitat Systems)

Since Mr. Edwards has admitted to spending your money, etc. can't you report this transaction to Kingsnake--so at least he won't be accidentally stealing from other people in the future? I thought they yank accounts for TRUE crimes.

Also---Did I read the part about losing $1000/month for the foster kid?

Maybe I should get like 15 foster kids---they sound profitable?

 

[tyrrell109]

Well at least your ex-foster kid is smart enough to get away from a bad thing to bad u didnt say im going through tough times with my foster son leaving me(maybe u could have played your pitty card)but instead u bring up the money which is all your concerned about, not him/her, that just says all i need to know about u right there.
Stephen

 

[MikeRusso]

""I told him forget the rack I needed it in a more timely manner, just return my $1100. He then offered to send a used rack he had at his house, no thanks I said. He then told me he spent my money to pay his bills and was unable to return my money.""


Although the "I already spent your hard earned money" excuse is often used, it is quite possibly the weakest excuse on planet!! Of course none of actually believe the grade school lie that that Paul did not have $1,100 on hand, but even if it is true this really is the FIRST rule of doing business.. DO NOT SPEND MONEY THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU!!!

Bases on this statement alone, I would NEVER do business with Paul and I encourage everyone else to stay clear of him as well.

~ Mike Russo

 

[Lucille]

I don't know if everyone who see's this saw that there have been several inquiries and Good Guy posts about me over the years

Apparently Tom Weidner is no longer a fan of yours after he helped you along and you turned around and tried to use the very info you got from him to compete with him.

There are 2 kinds of bizzes. Both seek to make money and there's nothing wrong with that. One fits into the community, developing relationships and helping others.

The other is the rip and tear kind of competitive, bottom line based biz. Actually, there's nothing wrong with that either.

But don't turn and try to rip and tear and out-compete a former buddy, and then try to make like you are the cuddly kind of biz that is helpful and considerate.

If you rip and tear others in your attempt to get to the top, don't expect cuddles and hugs from anyone when you stumble and fall and head back to the bottom.

What goes around comes around.

 

[Jim@SW]

Of course none of actually believe the grade school lie that that Paul did not have $1,100 on hand, but even if it is true this really is the FIRST rule of doing business.. DO NOT SPEND MONEY THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU!!!

If the guy is really "in the business and here to stay" and does not have $1100. I am sure he probably does not have any kind of product liability insurance. So if his cage/rack has a problem and cooks someones reptiles. I am sure he will not be there for anyone either. I plan on staying with Habitat cages. Sorry Mr. Edwards

 

[Paul Edwards]

Actually, Tom is not the one who discovered this material. A very good friend of mine did. And it was that gentleman who started building cages out of it with the vinyl plastic fencing for face frames. Tom took the idea from him frankly, and built his company around it and my friend has never got a dime out of it. Not even a discount. Yes, Tom has helped me a lot with reptiles, general herping, photography, veterinary care, all kinds of stuff over the years, and I have more respect for Tom and what he has achieved in his life than probably anyone. I've also bought thousands of dollars worth of reptiles from him over the years, and have promoted their company in talks I've given and in countless personal conversations simply because I believe in this material. When I wanted to do this, we talked on the phone, and we talked about him getting either a piece of my business, or to become a franchise of their business and they declined, based mainly on the fact that I would be out here selling cages made out of the same material, at a much cheaper price, even though the vast majority of their business does not come from the herp world, it comes from the zoo world, because they are the only ones who can afford their products.

I'm not trying to come off as all warm and fuzzy as you say, I am trying to be professional. I appreciate everyones opinions that have been voiced here, and their rights to do so, even those who know nothing about me, or my business, or my products. I run a respectable business, I work hard, and I am working hard to make this the best company I can make it. I am a one man show and I am always trying to make what I make better, and get things out in a timely manner. Has there been mistakes made along the way? Sure there has, but I have always stood by my products and I always will.

I knew Tom wouldn't like me out here making cages out of this stuff. But you don't not go into business because someone is not going to like it. Anytime someone goes into business, there are going to be some that don't like it. Is everything we as consumers purchase a total 100% original? I don't think so. Look at the Freedom Breeder knock offs, or all the sheet goods manufacturers out there selling cages and racks. The clothes you wear, the electronics you enjoy, the cars you drive, to the hamburgers you eat - somebody else did it first. I'm making products simular to theirs at a fraction of the cost...I've heard that called "the American way". My goal in all of this, and the reason I started the company, is because I don't think it is fair that you can't get cages made out of this material unless you are willing to pay an exorbitant price, and so that people can get this level of quality that I'm able to produce at a price that is reasonable. Otherwise it is simply not available, unless, again, they want to pay literally 3 times what I am charging. That's it. That's what I am trying to do, and make a living in the meantime doing something I love. My only offense is not getting some customers products out in a timely fashion. Everything else is simply not true. All of my customers have got what they paid for. Even Leslie.
I did a little survey 2 nights ago. I got on the phone and called almost everyone I had done business with since I started this, just to find out if they were happy with my products, and to the man, everyone I talked to is extremely happy with what they bought from me. The incubators that Kyle Millsap and Santo got from me that they are complaining about, are the exact ones pictured in my adds (3'x2' and the 3'x3'). Everyone else that has got those sizes from me report them working fine. If not, like Kyle and Santo, I will take care of it.
Thanks,
Paul

 

[ljsreptiles]

When Mr. Edwards spoke to me on the phone, and told me how great his company was doing...he told me about a $10,000 deal that went through for him. So, how does that happen and you don't have $1,000 for a refund? He didn't tell me he didn't have money for a refund, he just said he wouldn't give me one.

According to him, it was the crating company that had such a huge delay. He said it usually takes them about 3 days to crate the products and get them out. All of a sudden it took weeks and weeks for them to do this. Now, maybe I'm wrong...but if that was true, most people would be getting a refund from the crating company for their major delays. Which should be passed on to the customer in this extreme situation. When I asked for a refund on my shipping costs...he refused.

That just made be me assume he didn't finish it, and it had nothing to do with the crating company.

The one thing that was wrong with my incubator, which i fixed myself immediatly. There was a gap between the doors in the middle. Not a huge gap, but enough to let heat and air out. It was an easy fix with some very thin weather stripping from the hardware store.

I will update with what happens to the eggs I have inside the incubator.

 

[mvite]

Actually,blah..blah....blah....mumbojumbo.
Thanks,
Paul

Talk is cheap.

Put your money where your mouth is.

There are some people out there who just talk and talk and talk---but never actually say anything. I'm not saying that's you--because I'm just skimming your emails for $$$ signs and talk of REFUNDS.

Can you get a credit card to pay this gentleman back?

I understand that this is a free market---by all means--build a better mousetrap---more cost effectively with long-term customer service. So far, I've seen none of those qualities exhibited here, although--you really can go on and on!

Your personal impromptu poll doesn't pull much weight about the $1100 REFUND YOU OWE YOUR CUSTOMER.

Lastly, since you tossed it out there---It is my belief that it costs waaay more than $1000/month to have a kid. To look at it as money you'd use on something other than the kid is ridiculous.

Please refund this money so we can let this thread die. It's really bothering me that you can say soooooo much but never give specifics about the RETURN OF THE OTHER PERSON'S MONEY THAT YOU HAVE.

 

[mvite]

Why am I so fired up you may ask? I guess because I have been reading the KS ads thinking that there was a new affordable cage manufacturer.

I don't want it to be someone with good writing skills instead.

I think immediate refunds would put Mr. Edwards on the right path to building a company.

 

[Jim@SW]

When I wanted to do this, we talked on the phone, and we talked about him getting either a piece of my business, or to become a franchise of their business and they declined, based mainly on the fact that I would be out here selling cages made out of the same material, at a much cheaper price, even though the vast majority of their business does not come from the herp world, it comes from the zoo world, because they are the only ones who can afford their products.

I hope Tom comes on here. When i told him about Paul`s ads on KS he seemed to know nothing about Paul`s new business.

I knew Tom wouldn't like me out here making cages out of this stuff. But you don't not go into business because someone is not going to like it. Anytime someone goes into business, there are going to be some that don't like it.

It is called patent laws. Paul we all remember hanging out in Tom and Linda`s garage years back while Tom played around on what glues would work and not work. How to make a jig to hold the product. I have made a few things out of the same product, but I would never consider selling anything. For two reasons. One I lack experience in build the stuff, and second respect to a good friend like Tom.

 

[Paul Edwards]

I go on and on because this is important to me. It takes years to build a reputation and minutes to tear one down. I tend to think in terms of concepts, not details. I have always had a hard time with details. I have told Kyle and Santo repeatedly they are going to get the refund. And this has not gone on for months or anything like that either. In fact, I made an arrangement with Kyle BEFORE he posted on the BOI with dates and amounts that he will be refunded. I also sent out some heat shelves to him too for his incubators as promised. He promised me that if I did what I said I was going to do he wouldn't post on here. He lied. There are those that have said I shouldn't have even refunded him the whole amount and just sent the rack when it was done...after all, he did order it. There was nothing said or written that if I didn't get the product to him by a certain time then he was entitled to a refund. His argument wouldn't stand up in a court of law. I decided to do it so as to not have any bad feelings out there. Kyle and Santo are young guys who don't know me and I'm sure they thought they were getting ripped off. But both of them have called me up (I've always been available) and called me every name in the book and left extremely nasty voicemails including threatening me with physical harm. I could have filed for a warent for his arrest for threatening me. That's why I cut off communication with them. We have agreed that I'm to get a $204 payment to him by the 18th of this month. He also said that if I do he'll come on here and post that I did what I said I was going to do. We'll see. But I've been nothing but professional with them and honest and they were extremely unprofessional with me.
I am a licensed thearaputic foster father. My foster son, when he turned 18 last September opted out of the program. he had been with me for 2 1/2 years. It didn't take anywhere near that $1000 to have him here. In fact, he worked at a restaurant and ate there a lot.

 

[Paul Edwards]

Thanks mark for the compliment on my writing skills...i do enjoy writing, and the oratory...having been in outside sales for a lot of my life. I'm 3 for 3 in small claims court...should have been an atty! Oh well. I also like building things with my hands and manufacturing. Love manufacturing. And there is a new company making a better mousetrap on KS. Mine. I can send out to anyone who questions the quality of my workmanship, pics of just about everything I've built in the last several years out of this stuff. Maybe I should try and have my happy customers post on here on my behalf, like Toms friends have...I haven't yet. Jim, have we met? I don't remember ever meeting you and don't remember ever being in Toms garage trying to figure out how to use this material with you...maybe that was someone else? I remember the jigs that the guy who started the company with Tom made. Can't remember his name, but he was a natural gas welder if memory serves. BTW, I have taken in a couple roommates to make up for the $1000 in lost income. I'll do whatever I have to do to make thing thing work. But every time I get a PT job, I always get a bunch of orders in and can't do the job!

 

[Jim@SW]

Kyle and Santo are young guys who don't know me and I'm sure they thought they were getting ripped off. But both of them have called me up (I've always been available) and called me every name in the book and left extremely nasty voicemails including threatening me with physical harm. I could have filed for a warent for his arrest for threatening me.

Paul I think most of your customers are young guys that do not know you. Seems as us older guys that know you. Know NOT to do business with you. My daddy always said if it stinks like shit? It must be shit!

I am a licensed thearaputic foster father. My foster son, when he turned 18 last September opted out of the program. he had been with me for 2 1/2 years. It didn't take anywhere near that $1000 to have him here. In fact, he worked at a restaurant and ate there a lot.

Paul did you have money to even feed the growing boy?? Oh my god. I can believe you would make a statement like that.

In my opinion there is no place for law breakers in this business. With HR669, and stupid people keeping a big snake that kills an innocent child. Things are tough enough without stupid crap like this.

 

[jayefbe]

Paul, you're an idiot. Being a professional means meeting deadlines, offering refunds when requested, and not stealing other people's patents. It's amazing the level of incompetence that you have achieved in this "company" of yours.