Reptster.com experience with show sponsorship not good

[GottaLuvHerps]

Wow, I go away to do the mom thing for awhile and look at all that has happened. I am going to address quite a few things.

Terry - your attacks started on me way before I said anything about how you acquired your show. It was even seen by everyone else. You started the insults, not me. I, like my husband, would still like to know how he is off base with his comments however. You seem to be able to comment on everything else, why not answer this question?
Also, as Joshua asked, what is your vendetta against us? We aren't even any show to consider competition for God's sake! What did we do to YOU (not to David in your opinion) that makes you so against us?

I want to say that I have never said I do not LIKE David, and that I do not think his service is beneficial to the community. As a matter of a fact, I have stated specifically that I think his service is VERY beneficial to us breeders, and what he has done is wonderful. In this very post I have said it. And I still hold to that, even through this situation. But the point that I am trying to make with this entire thread has NOTHING to do with his shipping services, or his forums, or anything related to his website services AT ALL. My issue is with the fact that he has reneged on a SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT, and it has NOTHING to do with my personal feelings about him. He's a nice guy, a very busy person at that, and I understand that with all he has to do. But it does NOT excuse him not taking the time to fix this situation. As a matter of a fact, I can't remember one other case on the BOI that I have seen that "I am busy and have lots going on" has ever been a valid excuse, even from someone with a good reputation. Why is that being allowed by some now?

To Tyler (and others who disagree with us receiving the full $750) -
Mr. Young agreed on a $750 sponsorship. Part of that agreement on a higher price was because we would have to do some extra work at the show for him. No, we have NOT done the work as the show HAS NOT HAPPENED YET (it goes on October 11 for those that are wondering). Now, the reason I feel we are still entitled to the entire fee is because THAT IS WHAT HE AGREED TO PAY. We were willing to complete our services offered, including the extra work at the show, and if it would not have been for this issue, we would STILL do it. But Mr. Young breached the contract (YES email is a binding contract in this day and age, and by him agreeing several times, or at least not questioning or denying the amount, he AGREED).
You also ask if I have thought about the idea that we may have benefited more from his name than he did from our advertising. I have never stated that we did not benefit from his name, and that is one reason we decided to do a sponsorship with him in the first place - his reputation. But he benefited quite a bit from our advertising (whether by website, fliers or word of mouth), and that was proven on a very small scale by one person here who even said the reason she signed up was because of my advertising. I am not going to play the 3rd party info game, but I do know FOR A FACT of many people, small and bigger breeders, that have signed up for his service BECAUSE OF MY ADVERTISING. SO in my mind, he has gotten a lot more benefits, as people who had NEVER heard of his website or service signed up for his site simply because of what I had done for him.

Tosha - this is much more than a "check is in the mail" situation. Yes, I sent him a lot of emails, but that is because he agreed to a certain fee, I put out my services before payment AS WE AGREED, and he never returned a phone call or email. I feel I was completely right in trying to contact him several times. Maybe I just don't give up as easily as some.

Was I naive in taking him at his word? I say AGAIN that YES I WAS. I have stated several times WHY I took him at his word and started the advertising. I have owned that mistake and HAVE learned from it already. But that point is moot - Mr. Young agreed to something, and because he did not follow through, I had to stop my advertising and cancel his part of the sponsorship officially.

As Cathy said in her last response that I saw, I have to plan everything in advance for this show, including payments. I am not allowing my vendors to sign up and paying me at the door, I am not allowing my other sponsor to wait to pay until after the show, and I am not allowing my customers to wait to pay until after they walk around the show. Why should David be any different that his payment should not be made in full before the show? And since Mr. Young decided to not contact me any longer, and did not send the money several times as promised, I could only come to the conclusion that he was not following through on his end of the deal, ESPECIALLY after the last few emails were not even acknowledged.

I think the biggest thing I find interesting is that in the beginning, certain people were saying "of course she advertised without payment, he agreed to it," but now suddenly I am seeing "you shouldn't have advertised without payment" from some of those same people. And all of this change simply because David is CLAIMING to have emails and interesting information in phone calls that I supposedly left out. But where is he to show this proof - MAYBE tonight, after over 48 hours of the beginning of this thread he MIGHT have time to address this? I understand that the BOI works on proof, and although none of mine has been called into question (yet), his simple statement of "I have proof" is suddenly good enough for the people who usually have higher standards before accepting that statement.

Kelly Kordek

 

[KathyLove]

I am so sorry and disappointed to see this thread!

I met David at the Ft. Myers Repticon show and spoke with him at great length. I was quite favorably impressed, and have been to his site. Although I haven't yet used the shipping feature, I have sent a lot of potential shippers to the site to check out both the site and the shipping, and have generally talked it up among my customers.

Because of my positive opinion of David and his business, I have really wracked my brain, trying to think of a good reason why he would agree to some particular deal (doesn't matter what the deal was, or whether it was for $1 or $1,000 - it is a matter of keeping your word), and say the check is coming, and then avoid contact after that. I just can't think of good reason, unless there was such animosity that communication was too stressful. But I see no evidence of that in any of the emails, or from the posts of either party. So I am unable to figure it out. It just seems so simple to email or call to say you want to back out of the agreement, for whatever the reason (whether you think the cost was too much, you're too broke, or any other reason), but EARLY in the deal. But to let it go on and on, while avoiding communication is something I can't figure out.

I did read his post on Reptster about BOI type forums. And I can somewhat understand if he just doesn't want to come here. But if there is more to his side than we get to see, what can we think?

David, if you don't want to come here, please contact the OP privately to figure some resolution out - I could care less what it is, as long as it is agreeable to both. Or if you really did not agree to the deal, and the emails are misleading and have misrepresented you, please let us know. I really want to continue to be as impressed with you and Reptster as I was when I met you, and to know that you would keep your word if given. I am really hoping there is a reason for all of this, and that I just haven't thought of it yet. I can't really think of anything else to say on the subject.

Good luck to both of you in resolving this.

 

[Suncoast Herpetological]

I met David at the Ft. Myers Repticon show and spoke with him at great length. I was quite favorably impressed, and have been to his site. Although I haven't yet used the shipping feature, I have sent a lot of potential shippers to the site to check out both the site and the shipping, and have generally talked it up among my customers.

Because of my positive opinion of David and his business, I have really wracked my brain, trying to think of a good reason why he would agree to some particular deal (doesn't matter what the deal was, or whether it was for $1 or $1,000 - it is a matter of keeping your word), and say the check is coming, and then avoid contact after that. I just can't think of good reason, unless there was such animosity that communication was too stressful. But I see no evidence of that in any of the emails, or from the posts of either party. So I am unable to figure it out. It just seems so simple to email or call to say you want to back out of the agreement, for whatever the reason (whether you think the cost was too much, you're too broke, or any other reason), but EARLY in the deal. But to let it go on and on, while avoiding communication is something I can't figure out.

I did read his post on Reptster about BOI type forums. And I can somewhat understand if he just doesn't want to come here. But if there is more to his side than we get to see, what can we think?

David, if you don't want to come here, please contact the OP privately to figure some resolution out - I could care less what it is, as long as it is agreeable to both. Or if you really did not agree to the deal, and the emails are misleading and have misrepresented you, please let us know. I really want to continue to be as impressed with you and Reptster as I was when I met you, and to know that you would keep your word if given. I am really hoping there is a reason for all of this, and that I just haven't thought of it yet. I can't really think of anything else to say on the subject.

Good luck to both of you in resolving this.

Excellent. Best post on the thread Kathy

 

[shrap]

I understand that the BOI works on proof, and although none of mine has been called into question (yet), his simple statement of "I have proof" is suddenly good enough for the people who usually have higher standards before accepting that statement.

I think you need to take a big step backwards and cease putting any kind of words in my mouth or any one else's.

David said he would come back later and give his side of things. No one has said that was good enough. People are just waiting to see what David has to say. Which is only fair and just. Sorry that we all did not rush to lynch him on your word alone, but many of us have been around the block a time or two and have learned not to rush to judgment.

 

[LauraB]

Tyler ... Kelly

Tyler, excellent posts! My thoughts as well.

Kelly, you have presented compelling emails indicating an agreement David made to sponsor your show in the amount of $750.00 and also indicating a total breakdown in communication from his end. A very bad business practice if that is how he normally conducts business, I must say.

While I don't dispute an agreement was made, and not fulfilled monetarily by his end, and I am not intimating you would lie, all I do see posted are your emails to him. Are there NO emails from him at all in response to any of yours (except for the one where he sent his logo)? Is there NO one email where David actually agreed to the $750 or agreed to send a certain amount of money (whether a lump sum or a portion thereof each week)?

I noticed in the email to him dated Aug 29, you've X'd out the dollar amount of the check he indicated he would send, but in your very next email to him dated Sept. 3, you do indicate there was "a verbal agreement on $750 for the show sponsorship". You did not X out the dollar amount. You also X'd out the dollar amount on a subsequent mail of Sept 15 (the amount he was to send each week until paid in full).
Is there a reason you X'd out the dollar amount on the Aug 29 & Sept 15 email, but not the Sept 3 email? I realize you stated in your intial post you blocked out the info of the exact amount of the agreement because you felt it was not relevent, so perhaps it was just an oversight on your part. Still, I am a curious creature

David has stated he will post additional emails and information. I ain't holding my breath, but since you have obviously saved the written correspondence, perhaps you could post any responses from him (other than the one you did post where he simply sent his logo) as well just to provide further insight.

 

[GottaLuvHerps]

Tyler, excellent posts! My thoughts as well.

Kelly, you have presented compelling emails indicating an agreement David made to sponsor your show in the amount of $750.00 and also indicating a total breakdown in communication from his end. A very bad business practice if that is how he normally conducts business, I must say.

While I don't dispute an agreement was made, and not fulfilled monetarily by his end, and I am not intimating you would lie, all I do see posted are your emails to him. Are there NO emails from him at all in response to any of yours (except for the one where he sent his logo)? Is there NO one email where David actually agreed to the $750 or agreed to send a certain amount of money (whether a lump sum or a portion thereof each week)?

I noticed in the email to him dated Aug 29, you've X'd out the dollar amount of the check he indicated he would send, but in your very next email to him dated Sept. 3, you do indicate there was "a verbal agreement on $750 for the show sponsorship". You did not X out the dollar amount. You also X'd out the dollar amount on a subsequent mail of Sept 15 (the amount he was to send each week until paid in full).
Is there a reason you X'd out the dollar amount on the Aug 29 & Sept 15 email, but not the Sept 3 email? I realize you stated in your intial post you blocked out the info of the exact amount of the agreement because you felt it was not relevent, so perhaps it was just an oversight on your part. Still, I am a curious creature

David has stated he will post additional emails and information. I ain't holding my breath, but since you have obviously saved the written correspondence, perhaps you could post any responses from him (other than the one you did post where he simply sent his logo) as well just to provide further insight.

Laura,
I have no problem answering these questions. They are very valid and I take no offense to them at all.
Yes, not x'ing out the dollar amount in the Sept 3rd email was simply an oversight on my part, and did not even realize that it was not done until someone pointed out that it was in the emails I had posted. I was NOT planning on divulging the amount of the sponsorship, as I did not feel it was relevant at the time, and honestly still do not feel it is relevant (as many have stated, it could have been $1 or $10,000).
As far as having any other emails from David, I would love to post them - if there were any. David never once responded to my emails except for the ones you see posted. As I pointed out in my post highlighting the phone conversations, some of the holes were filled there.
I hope this clears up any questions you have, but please feel free to ask if you have others.
Kelly Kordek

 

[kmurphy]

Well I logged in this morning expecting to see the post from David. Evidently he has a little trouble following through on what he says. I guess that's the point of this thread.

I don't agree with Tyler's post. IMO whether he owes 750 or 200 is just as irrelevant as Dixie's posts about overcharging. The fact is that he said he would send a check and NOTHING was sent. If he had talked to Kelly and said that he was backing off; "How much do I owe you for what you've done so far?", then this thread probably wouldn't be here. Kelly would have been free to possibly find another sponsor and move on.

When you agree to a figure that amount is counted on as coming in. If this was an established show (like Dixie's) then maybe it wouldn't matter so much but this isn't. So when funds don't come in as planned it causes problems. At this point my opinion is that David owes the $750 regardless of how much work has been done.

 

[Chandler Reptiles]

I waited to respond and I really did expect to read David's response this morning. I know from his site he would prefer you just to be able to hit a button like ebay but sorry I really don't care how a person on ebay treats my painted bird house I just bought nearly as much as I care about the person who is raising an animal I want. This open forum is a way to find out how a person conducts business. There are 8900 views on this thread so far and I am sure it is not from the 10 people who have responded just sitting around clicking on this thread repeatedly.

I also don't believe with this partial payment thing. An amount was agreed on so that is what is owed. Granted this is going off of one side of a story but that's just what I have to work with.

 

[GottaLuvHerps]

I think you need to take a big step backwards and cease putting any kind of words in my mouth or any one else's.

David said he would come back later and give his side of things. No one has said that was good enough. People are just waiting to see what David has to say. Which is only fair and just. Sorry that we all did not rush to lynch him on your word alone, but many of us have been around the block a time or two and have learned not to rush to judgment.

Sammy, you know what, you are right. I just sat and re-read this entire thread to get a new perspective on things since I am in a better place mentally this morning than I was yesterday. And my comment was out of line simply because I was wrong. The ones saying I should have started advertising when I did were NOT the ones who said I should not have advertised without payment. Yes, people did say this, but not the same ones who were in support of the situation before. To anyone that took offense to my comment, I sincerely apologize.

Hopefully David will find the time today to respond.

Kelly Kordek

 

[deborahbroadus]

I have been following this for a while and, I, for one, have decided not to become a customer simply on the basis of:

1. The time involved before he deigned to respond,
2. His apparent lack of understanding how powerful "word of mouth" is (even if the word comes from Fauna)
3. His disrespectful treatment of the people that are giving him the benefit of a doubt by waiting for him to respond AND
4. His disrespectful treatment of the OP by ignoring her emails and attempts to communicate.

I am not going to suggest that he lied, but I was/still am waiting to see the "missing" parts of the puzzle that he implied he had and would post. His apparent belief that he isn't answerable to the posters here shows me that he probably doesn't understand/realize/care (insert preferred word here) that the Reptile community is a self-policing one.

So....I won't be giving up my FedEx rights anytime soon. He may not think this issue is "business" related..but it comes under the heading of "customer service" in my opinion and part of that is showing respect for others time and efforts.

I wonder how he would like it if he had a "Big" customer say that they wanted to use his new shipping facilities to ship a cart load of animals. They agree on a price...let's say 10K..that's expensive, but the customer agrees though e-mails and phone calls the business is conducted as most are. Dave might start depending on this money and the name to jump start his business, so he goes ahead and gets out the boxes, gets the trucks repaired and gassed up on his credit card, may have run out of something so he goes into his own pocket and lays out some cash on top of all that; all so that he will be prepared when the customer is ready to ship the animals. He starts working getting out boxes, labels and wow..after all this work that he's done on the basis of the customer's word, out of the blue this customer decides that Repster is not the shipping facility that they want to use (the customer may have decided that Repster doesn't have a big enough name...or it's too much of a risk..whatever reason), so...without even a by your leave, without warning, they don't send the animals and they don't pay..........we know how the story would end.

 

[deborahbroadus]

Dave = David
Reptster? Repster.. sorry not sure which way it's spelled

 

[Kingetula]

Hopefully David will find the time today to respond.

Kelly Kordek

Ummm. If it was important to him I think he would have last night like he said he was going to do. (Another false promise IMO)

If I was in David's shoes I wouldn't have let this go on for so long. Do I owe anyone buy GottaLuvHerps an answer? No but I would at least contact Kelly to work some kind of an arrangement out.

On that note Kelly, he didn’t contact you for a long period of time so you came here and he is still playing games. Not very professional IMO and I think most everyone here would behave differently but this is David's choice and I guess he got one over on you. You live and learn. The damage towards his business and personal reputation has been done. I guess he figures people will still use his service regardless of all this and he's probably correct. Has he lost business because of this; I'm sure he has along with a slick Willy reputation while others may not see the big deal in all this. It is what it is.

IMO court is over... Good luck Kelly.

 

[Kingetula]

Dave = David
Reptster? Repster.. sorry not sure which way it's spelled

I had that problem too. I just call it RIPster now

 

[GottaLuvHerps]

You know, I promised myself I would not respond to this thread again until either I was asked a direct question or until David responded. But I do have one thing to say. David was here reading this thread this morning, I saw him on here for about 30 mins. He is no longer here. Apparently this is not important to him even in a public instance.
I was (and still am) hoping for a resolution. Maybe I am still being naive to feel that one can be found, but it takes David communicating, either here or in private, and for some reason he chooses not to do so.
Such a sad game to play between adults. Much more sad to play between business professionals...

Kelly Kordek

 

[Mooing Tricycle]

You know, I promised myself I would not respond to this thread again until either I was asked a direct question or until David responded. But I do have one thing to say. David was here reading this thread this morning, I saw him on here for about 30 mins. He is no longer here. Apparently this is not important to him even in a public instance.
I was (and still am) hoping for a resolution. Maybe I am still being naive to feel that one can be found, but it takes David communicating, either here or in private, and for some reason he chooses not to do so.
Such a sad game to play between adults. Much more sad to play between business professionals...

Kelly Kordek

Have you tried to call him again today?

 

[MDC_Ophiuchus]

I think I may close my user account on Reptster now...if this is how Mr. Young treats "the little guy."

 

[Kingetula]

Have you tried to call him again today?

Why? We al see David's hand now.

 

[GottaLuvHerps]

Have you tried to call him again today?

Alicia,
No, I have not emailed or called since the email sent on 9/16 informing him of this thread. As stated in my last email, I am leaving the contact to him, as I feel I have done my part in trying to resolve this situation.
Also, at this point, I would like all communications to be done in writing as I stated in my first post, that way there are no issues with "he said/she said" things or the possibility for misunderstandings, as apparently David is implying that there were misunderstandings on the price agreed to.
Kelly Kordek

 

[shrap]

Sammy, you know what, you are right. I just sat and re-read this entire thread to get a new perspective on things since I am in a better place mentally this morning than I was yesterday. And my comment was out of line simply because I was wrong. The ones saying I should have started advertising when I did were NOT the ones who said I should not have advertised without payment. Yes, people did say this, but not the same ones who were in support of the situation before. To anyone that took offense to my comment, I sincerely apologize.

Hopefully David will find the time today to respond.

Kelly Kordek

Kelly, thanks for understanding where I was coming from. But dont get me wrong. I think you have been very professional through most of this and have presented your case in a factual manner rather than an attacking manner. Kudos to you for that. It aint always easy to do.

Anyway, I have already said that there is absolutely no excuse for the complete and total lack of communication on David's part. I dont care how busy someone is, you can ALWAYS get back to someone within a day or 2. Barring a major injury/illness, death, etc.

And I really cant see where David can possibly say he didnt have a deal with you. Or deny that you have spent money out of your own pocket and a fair amount of time exclusively on Reptster.

Now with all of that said, anyone can look like a good guy when everything is running smooth. It is how one handles situations when they go bad that truly defines us.

At this point I am very disappointed in what I have seen from David. Particularly that he has not tried to contact you even after this thread was started. But I am still hoping that David shows himself to be a stand up guy and starts making some attempts to work this out with you.

What I really hope for is to not see another post by you or David on this thread other than to say "Thanks folks, we have came to a mutual decision that we are both happy with". That is what I really hope to see.

 

[Mooing Tricycle]

Alicia,
No, I have not emailed or called since the email sent on 9/16 informing him of this thread. As stated in my last email, I am leaving the contact to him, as I feel I have done my part in trying to resolve this situation.
Also, at this point, I would like all communications to be done in writing as I stated in my first post, that way there are no issues with "he said/she said" things or the possibility for misunderstandings, as apparently David is implying that there were misunderstandings on the price agreed to.
Kelly Kordek

Scott... I have my reasons for asking such questions.

Kelly:
Totally Understandable.

It would be interesting to know if he answered the phone, but will not address you here. The phone goes two ways.

Im disappointed and hoped that he would come here, or contact you privately. I dont see whats so difficult about it honestly. if this is not addressed today, i know what side of the fence i will be on. There are absolutely no excuses now.