• Posted 12/19/2024.
    =====================

    I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?

    So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.

    But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.

    Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.

    I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.

    =====================
    Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.

    And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
  • Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

Scott J. Michaels of SerpentCity poor business ethics and just plain rude ~ AVOID

The timeline in the records Jim found is interesting:

1980 - Gets his Ill. state license as a registered pharmacist

1988 - Gets his state license to practice veterinary medicine

1991 - Vet license expires, he does not renew it (odd)

1995 - Was back practicing as a pharmacist; license suspended because he did not report to the state that he had been fired because "controlled substances" were found missing on his watch.

2003 - Gets his pharmacist license back, with probation

2005 - Pharmacist license suspended again; vicodin found in his system on a drug test

This has the makings of a 20/20 report, or at least some riveting drama here on good old Fauna.

Someone get this guy on here to tell his story. It will undoubtedly be some great free entertainment.
 
Well I have now seen his new ad

That was supposed to be the big deal. Seems Matt and I are still cheaper on the flexwatt, he still charges for the 25 seconds it takes him to make the connection and he is now the "evil addict doctor" or some such s***. I am still waiting for the obligatory " I will kick your ass at the next show" or similar remark. I don't know about Matt but I could use a good ass kicking. :raspberry

I will have to say I don't see what his career or personal troubles have to do with this wave of business stupidity he seems to be enjoying other than to make good gossip here. He has also been carrying the "DVM" flag for as long as I can remember. I think he and Evan Stahl had a bit of a blowout on here awhile back over that and some other things. If he went to school for it, worked hard for it and got it then good for him. He isn't the only person to go to school and get a degree and I personally think it a bit tacky to use it (especially when not practicing) anywhere but on the door to his office or where it applies but that is up to him. I don't think it applies to heat tape nor does it make him immune from acting like an ass.

Rich Goldzung
Reptile Basics Inc
www.reptilebasics.com
 
Reptile Basics said:
I will have to say I don't see what his career or personal troubles have to do with this wave of business stupidity
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It does when he bills himself as a veterinarian and a pharmacist as if it gives him credibility. He opened the door for that. If he doesn't mention it in his ads and e-mails then I would agree that it is not relevant. JMHO.
 
Hey Rich,

I am sure that many of us feel as Jim O. mentioned, that the good doctor opened himself up to this. I'll reckon that you are probably in agreement with us too, and it is quite the good gossip, as you mention. When this thread began, many of us were scratching our heads wondering how a "professional" could stopp to such pettiness and unprofessionalism. I was half expecting to hear that someone else had hijacked his computer as a prank. In the end, the adage is that "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones", and the ex-doctor's glass house gets bigger with every revelation. I would also hope that he would someday finally elevate himself again from the morass he has fallen into.
 
Well, I believe that it has plenty to with whether or not I would want to do business with the guy.....if his ethics/morals are poor enough to cause him to have his license revoked....more than once.....he's not the kind of person I'd EVER choose to do business with.

Of course, the ludicrous emails didn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling about him either....
 
Jim O said:
It does when he bills himself as a veterinarian and a pharmacist as if it gives him credibility. He opened the door for that. If he doesn't mention it in his ads and e-mails then I would agree that it is not relevant. JMHO.
Click to expand...


When someone does that they try to seperate themselves from the rest. I have bought flexwatt and supplies from both parties. Both parties customer service was an A+!!! BUT, when someone trashes another person because they aren't charging what they think the price should be, now that's just plain anal. Hell, it's just flexwatt. Look at the BP market, people with certain morphs charge way less and advertise as such.

This could go on forever, but the bottom line is that Matt has proven himself to this community as well as other communities as a stand up business savy man. I'll keep sending my $$ to Matt. :santa:
 
That reminds me........I gotta email Matt and see if I can pick his brain about a putting new Flexwatt in a small rack I just got.

To me, that's what REALLY makes someone like Matt the person I want to do business with.....yeah, his prices are great (uh, when did that sale end again?? LOL) but even if his prices were the same as this Scott Michaels, I would choose to deal with someone as personable and helpful as Matt any day. I feel like Matt is someone you can call up and ask questions without him telling me I'm a complete idiot....LOL. Especially in this day and age, that's something.
 
Surprised no one has mentioned to good Dr.'s little paypal surcharge. That was the reason I ordered from Matt and not from S. Michaels. I agree paypal nickles and dimes sellers to death, but it is against their TOS to charge for using the service...why not just say there is a minimum order?

Ro Hill
 
I thought the charging on fees only applied to EBay auctions?

About a month ago I went to Paypal's site and it said you could not charge a fee to EBay auctions. I don't know ho far that applies though.
 
Scott J. Michaels DVM RPh (the evil addict doctor!)
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(Quote taken from Scott Michaels' new ad!)

How could that possibly in ANY way help his business? If someone has read this thread, then they'll get the "joke," but I would assume and hope that they would also see his "questionable" character and avoid him. If someone has NOT read this thread -- why would anybody want to buy from someone who claimed to be an "evil addict??"
 
Reptile Basics said:
I will have to say I don't see what his career or personal troubles have to do with this wave of business stupidity he seems to be enjoying other than to make good gossip here.
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It defines his overall character. If his career and personal life are in the toilet, do you think his business is thriving?
 
Well I havent received any nasty emails today.. Not yet anyway.. I did post my classified for the last day of the sale though so I am sure I will be getting an enevelope in th email with some white powder it in..lol.. Apprently from what I am hearing that most of his income was from flexwatt at one time and now he cannot afford to buy his pills because of me or something..lol.. I didnt make his customers leave and come to me, He did that himself I am sure.. I just dont understand whay it has to be so cut throat.. Good Lord its a heating element not a 25k ball python...
-Matt
 
Wow. I can't believe I'm reading this. I've done a lot of business with Scott and never knew he had it in him to be like this. He was always polite and professional to me. People are like BP morphs, they never cease to shock and amaze you. LOL.
 
StickyTongues said:
Matt,

By the way thanks for the fast shipment on those thermostats. Got them just in time.
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Anytime:) I appreciate the business!!!
 
Look at what he did to me... So disappointed..

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79612 Click that thread and read what he did to me. I HAVE VOICE AUDIO OF HIM DURING THIS!!! After I realized what a scam artist he was I was finally smart enough to record our conversation.. Hope this helps everyone! AGAIN, AVOID SCOTT J. MICHAELS! HE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU AND YOUR KINDNESS!!!
 
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