Reptster.com experience with show sponsorship not good

[Cat_72]

Wouldn't that be family twig in this case?

I was leaning toward "family stump", but .

 

[Chandler Reptiles]

I was at Tinley all weekend and never saw any Reptster people there, no kids running around with fake tattoos, no happy people gathered around some booth...

 

[MiIguanaLvr]

I was at Tinley all weekend and never saw any Reptster people there, no kids running around with fake tattoos, no happy people gathered around some booth...

I saw David and two or three people with him all with Reptster shirts on. Davids shirt had his name on it. I never saw a booth though

 

[The BoidSmith]

With over 52,000 members. Total of somewhere between nine hundred to a thousand different registered members that have logged on within each 24 hours during this thread.Over 14,000 that have been active, I think that might be a very low estimate. Considering that doesn't even count the high number of guests logged on viewing this thread during the earlier posts. If you want to know about stats so you can make a halfway decent guess instead of half wit one you should check the feedback forum.

Dennis,

That's interesting. So hoy many actual individuals can one "guesstimate" o a % basis from total views in a thread?

 

[The BoidSmith]

hoy = how

 

[Kingetula]

I was at Tinley all weekend and never saw any Reptster people there, no kids running around with fake tattoos, no happy people gathered around some booth...

My son knew every vendor who had candy, pick a rubber animal floating in water to try and win a prize and vendors who had fake tattoos. Nope, no fake tattoo for my boy at Tinley... at least not from reptster.

 

[GottaLuvHerps]

Matthew you spelled it correctly, You are my bother. You and your wife have blown this way out of the water. Along with your backers. Anyone can decide at any point to not go through with a deal. You have tried to slam David for deciding to not be represented at your show. It was his RIGHT just as it was yours to bring it HERE. David did not tell you to go and print the flyers, You just got ahead of yourself. I think you are really mad at yourself for jumping the gun.
I have spoken with David and I do support him. His idea and business is a huge attribute for our industry and will continue to grow and flourish. It is your business I will not be sending my retirement fund too.
Allen Belcher 706-615-4772

Allen,
Sure, anyone can at anytime decide to not go through with a deal, it happens every day. Does that make them a good business person? Does it make it RIGHT? Does it build trust with your customers? I think that can be answered simply by the numbers of people who have gone and canceled their accounts, or stated here they will never use Reptster.
I did NOT try to slam David for not being represented at our show. I brought out the fact that he agreed to a sponsorship deal and reneged after 2 months of advertising that we both agreed on and never paid. BIG difference. He was not to be a VENDOR (or represented as one with a table if he could not be there), but as a SPONSOR. Big difference.
No, David never said "run out and print up fliers quick" or anything like that. What he did say was (paraphrased) "if you advertise Reptster as a sponsor, I will pay a sponsorship fee of $750 to help you with your show" - BIG difference. He also obviously wanted us to advertise for him since he sent me his logo to put out there, didn't he? He obviously agreed to us advertising him as a sponsor by agreeing to send payment throughout our agreement, didn't he?
Sure, it is his right to decide to not have our show/company/business represent him as a sponsor, but it is not his right to back out of a contract just because he changed his mind (or saw the future or talked to the Dali Lama or whatever) without payment - ask any lawyer or judge. He made a legally binding contract, and he broke that contract, and therefore he is in the wrong. In this day and age, a verbal contract, as well as agreements made in emails, are just as legally binding as a signed piece of paper.
Allen, we have never said our show was going to be as big as Hamburg or any other show. I do not appreciate you coming on here and making it seem like we are trying to hurt another show, especially since we respect what the promoters of Hamburg do, and have a good relationship with them and many other show promoters - sorry if you could not do that when you were promoting shows. We were never looking to take any of their "apples," as we concentrate our shows to a different market than they do. We tell people all the time, we LOVE what the Hamburg show is and represents, but it is more of a "hardcore herper" show, and we wanted something more family friendly out there. If we were trying to cut down their apple orchard, we would go into venomous, and many other things, but we are not, and never will. So do not start casting doubt to the other show promoters out there about our intentions, because they KNOW what it is, just ask THEM.
As far as our vendors not continuing to support us, I would like to know where you get that information from. You already see what Mike Curtin said (thanks Mike!!), and you can go look at our website for the list of vendors who have already started re-booking with us (that list just grew today by the way, I just haven't updated the page yet). They, unlike you, know that sometimes you have to lose a little money to make something good happen, and they are willing to help us grow. I wish I had permission to post the comments we have gotten from the vendor survey we sent out, I really do. Sure, there were some negatives, but we EXPECTED and APPRECIATED our vendors telling us what was good AND bad about the show so we can keep doing the good and fix the bad. This show to us is not about money, it is about helping this hobby and industry grow and expand into a market that might not otherwise be tapped out there - we love what we do, and want to help others develop a love of it as well. Sure, we do plan on making some money at it, but that is simply a smart business decision. But we also know that takes TIME, and apparently, so do the vendors that are continuing to support us and help us grow this show. So Hamburg (and the other shows) are not competition to us, never have been, never will be. Heck, if it wasn't for a huge deal out here in town next weekend where we won't even be able to get out because of the blocked streets, we would GO to Hamburg as customers and have a great time!
You seem to have this twisted view of what is RIGHT and what is A right. I think it is Beth (MiIguanaLvr) who's signature line says it best. Her's and what used to be Harald's that I now believe John (Suncoast) uses that sums up what SHOULD be and what IS. Plus, stop misquoting the Bible to work for you instead of for what it really means - it is not a book that is to be used to fit your purpose or to be twisted to fit your reality.
Allen, you have goaded both Matthew and I into things that we should probably not have even responded to, but I promise you, this is the last time.

Kelly Kordek

 

[Cat_72]

Allen, you and David put together don't have HALF of the integrity and class that Kelly does.

Great post, Kelly.

 

[mlove]

I am a small collector that keeps various snakes, lizards and amphibians which currently totals 26 in number. Many of my animals were bought online through reputable companies and shipped to my home. Before buying any of my animals I always check the Fauna BOI. Although I do not post here often I spend much time lurking and learning. I want to say thank you for this informative post. Not only will I ask future companies that I buy animals from to not ship by Repster but I will also look into the companies/breeders in this post that have stood up for what is right. I always appreciate dealing with honest people and this post shows several people's true colors.

 

[Southern Wolf]

Allen, you and David put together don't have HALF of the integrity and class that Kelly does.

Great post, Kelly.

I was thinking more like a 1/4 of the integrity. I would not hesitate to buy anything from Kelly... simply because of how she has handled herself here.

Im just glad now that I followed my gut feeling 2 mos ago and didnt contact Alan about one of his ads on KS.

 

[hhmoore]

You seem to have this twisted view of what is RIGHT and what is A right. I think it is Beth (MiIguanaLvr) who's signature line says it best. Her's and what used to be Harald's that I now believe John (Suncoast) uses that sums up what SHOULD be and what IS.

You are either mistaking my former signature for somebody else's, or reading a much deeper meaning in it, lol. I'm not really sure how "Now, give me back my dog" has anything to do with these things (I'm all ears, if somebody wants to fill me in)

I only commented on this because I have seen a few different people reference my signature over the past few months

 

[GottaLuvHerps]

You are either mistaking my former signature for somebody else's, or reading a much deeper meaning in it, lol. I'm not really sure how "Now, give me back my dog" has anything to do with these things (I'm all ears, if somebody wants to fill me in)

I only commented on this because I have seen a few different people reference my signature over the past few months

Wow, some days you just stick your foot in your mouth, and that was one of those days for me LOL. I SWEAR I remember reading that John's signature was something he got from you. Apparently, it is a quote from Harlan Ellison, NOT Harald Moore.
Some days it helps if I read with my eyes OPEN. Sorry for the confusion Harald!

Kelly

 

[Suncoast Herpetological]

Wow, some days you just stick your foot in your mouth, and that was one of those days for me LOL. I SWEAR I remember reading that John's signature was something he got from you. Apparently, it is a quote from Harlan Ellison, NOT Harald Moore.
Some days it helps if I read with my eyes OPEN. Sorry for the confusion Harald!

Kelly

Nope...this one has been mine since Mr. Ellison first said it

 

[Dennis Hultman]

Dennis,

That's interesting. So how many actual individuals can one "guesstimate" o a % basis from total views in a thread?

I don't know but approaching 80,000 views and him stating

So your math again is way off and you still give over exagerated numbers. 500 people would be way out there in itself.

Would mean that every single person came to this thread 160 times. I know I haven't. Someone suggested 20 per person. If you gave 20 different visits at 80,000 views your looking at 4,000 people If you gave 40 it cuts it in half. Regardless, stating "500 people would be way out there in itself" seems ridicules and shot at trying to discredit the traffic here, IMO. I know I haven't come back to this thread a hundred and sixty times. Maybe, he has.

 

[cahrens]

I was thinking more like a 1/4 of the integrity. I would not hesitate to buy anything from Kelly... simply because of how she has handled herself here.

Im just glad now that I followed my gut feeling 2 mos ago and didnt contact Alan about one of his ads on KS.

Gut feeling? Do a search on him to see just how right you were. My favorite was the statement about getting regular fecals to check for IBD.

I don't know but approaching 80,000 views and him stating


Would mean that every single person came to this thread 160 times. I know I haven't. Someone suggested 20 per person. If you gave 20 different visits at 80,000 views your looking at 4,000 people If you gave 40 it cuts it in half. Regardless, stating "500 people would be way out there in itself" seems ridicules and shot at trying to discredit the traffic here, IMO. I know I haven't come back to this thread a hundred and sixty times. Maybe, he has.

Hey Dennis,
When you go from 1 page to the next, it has to load the new page. Does it count as another visit each time you go to the next page?

 

[Southern Wolf]

This was before I knew about the BOI... therefore I just had my gut feelings to go off of.

 

[Mooing Tricycle]

Anyone else had any problems with Reptster lately? Still shipping out like normal? ( those of you that are using it?)
Curious because i want to verify something that i am reading on another forum, in regards to reptsters account status.

 

[Mooing Tricycle]

Anyone else had any problems with Reptster lately? Still shipping out like normal? ( those of you that are using it?)
Curious because i want to verify something that i am reading on another forum, in regards to reptsters account status.

Apparantly they will no longer be using fed ex as a delivery service, but will be moving on over to UPS.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=78025&page=2

 

[Dennis Hultman]

It's up on their site as well. Well, the part about no longer shipping with FedEx anyway.

We Are Changing Shippers
10-27-08 20:07
We are switching from FedEx to UPS
It is official we are switching shippers from FedEx to UPS. We have had a few major issues with fedex's services, some to big to overlook. We have made a few major breakthroughs with UPS and they have jumped through many hoops to bring the reptile community a service that we all will appreciate for years to come.

Shipping will be down for a very short time while we make the programming changes necessary to provide a much better service. We will email everyone when we are up with UPS.

We apologize for any issues you have had with FedEx and we see this as the only way to fix the issues. UPS has made a few very big promises FedEx was unable to make or live up to. We also apologize for being down for a short time.

Thanks,
The Reptster Team

 

[John E Dove]

Thank you for the update Ms. Holmes. This turn of events would seem to be most telling.