SouthernStatesExotics.com

[David Reid]

Bottom line...

If you are a business, selling a product, you better be d@mn sure you know what you are selling. I think most of us here are tired of seeing, "100% het albino boa for sale", and when asked about it, the owner says it was from a het to a het breeding, which will not produce a 100% het albino boa. If you do not comprehend genetics, stick to selling anoles, iguanas and savannah monitors.

Dave

 

[Darin Chappell]

Boy, now THAT was sincere! I'm sure everyone's qualms about your attitude are completely satisfied now!

By the way, I appologize, if I mistook what you wrote as being an appeal to Scripture. It was your word for word quotation of the passage that threw me there . . .

Look, you obviously had a bad day with this. Fine, but be man enough just to admit you were wrong, rather than turning it back on those who pointed out your error to you. Writing people back and cussing them is completely unprofessional, and I think you probably know that in your heart of hearts.

If you don't, this post won't do any good at all. However, believe it or not, I hope you are a good guy, who made an honest mistake. I also hope you're going to be big enough to admit it and leave the attacking of those trying to help to the bad guys.

 

[SthrnStExotics]

I did admit it

I do admit making a mistake. As far as a bad day yes I have them here too. I changed my page to reflect what I know about them.I really dont have a bad attitude, I just get tired of having to justify everything to people who twist and turn things around. I do not know everything about Gecko's. I will admit that. As far as scripture. I am athiest so I wouldn't know about that. But let me make one thing clear. I am not trying to mislead anyone at any time. He could have been a little nicer in his letter as well. You must admit that. That is what put me on the offensive. As far as cussing goes. I am a marine so sew me. Sorry for the mistake.

Steve Smith

 

[The BoidSmith]

Steve,

Do you know if your source still has more of those "true genetic stripe boas" he obtained from breeding Argentine's to Colombian's? Do you know what's their current price?

Regards.

 

[The BoidSmith]

Sorry, by source I meant "supplier".

Regards.

 

[SthrnStExotics]

The Supplier

They came from Shawn Skillings at The Vipers House. The last time I talked to him he had the brother to the 2 I had which had a complete stripe. I do not know if he still has him or not. I think he was asking $800 for it, but I am not sure.

Steve Smith

 

[Rob @ RK Reptiles]

Steve,

First off His e-mail to you was not a bad, rude, or out of line. He was informing you of the truth about the genetics on those animals and you chose to act like a child with your response. Your entire attitude (yes you do have an attitude) regarding this situation is not professional. If you truly are a buisness and want to be a successful buisness I would suggest that you take a closer look at the way you handle situations like this. If you don't know the first thing about genetics then by all means as the breeder for exact information rather than trying to wing it. You may not think there was anything wrong with your reply to his e-mail but it was unprofessional, rude, and out of line. Even if his e-mail had been rude (which it was not) that would not be a reason to respond with profanity and act the way you did. I get e-mails and such from people whom do not like prices I sell some animals at all the time some of which are rude, use profanity, and more. I do not react like a child and go off on them in the same immature fashion. I respond even to them in a professional manner and let them know the information I wish to express to them. Whether you think or not with actions like that it looks very poorly on you and your buisness specially when brought up on a site such as this for everyone to see. And your continual attacks at the people on this site for bringing your mistakes to your attention is another way of showing un-professionalism.

So now I APOLOGISE to all the superior intelect who endows us with their presence here.

Just a bit of friendly advice.

 

[herpcondo]

A NEW SAGA WITH SOUTHERN STATES EXOTICS AND STEVE SMITH,,,

I looked through all the threads with Southern States Exotics on it,, and they were all bad so this one is as good as any to post this new installment with Steve,,,
I got an email from Steve on a pair of Tremper albinos i had on reptibid,,, it goes like this:

Hello,

Hello,

I was looking over repti bid and noticed your Albino Gecko's and they caught my attention. I have several pair here, but am always in the market for another pair. I am also looking for a nice quality adult male dragon breeder. If you have any other leo's that I may be interested in let me know.

If you remember our last chat? I am in Meridian so I could come pick them up if we can work it out.

Thanks

Steve Smith

Southern State Exotics
________________________________________________


So I replied with a reply i thought was professional and straight to the point,,,,
___________________________________________________
Hey Steve,,,
I have to be honest with you,, i read and contribute to the Board of Inquiry, and i read all the threads with your dealings with Sal and Alison,, and i am not impressed by you ability to do business, in a way that is positive for the reptile industry. You strike me as a guy who is in this for the "quick buck" and I am not one of those people. I contributed to the thread on you and Upstate, as my name on the Fauna Classified is "herpcondo". I still think Sal and Alison sold you animals that were sub par,, but i also think you tried to turn right around, and sell those sub par animals, to unsuspecting people and make a quick buck! I am choosing not to do business with you based on the BOI experiences, and the fact i personally don't like the way you do business,,, I have never met you, and i have never met Sal and Alison either, but i know nothing good could come from me selling and sending my superior quality animals to you. I hope you don't think i am personally judging you, as i am not, but i work really hard to produce the best animals available,, and my choice to not do business with you is based on the fact that you ( in my opinion) don't care about the animals,,, and don't care about the customer having a good experience. You give the reptile industry a bad name with your actions, and i will not "infect" my quality name with ever doing business with you. I hope you understand this is not a person decision, but a business decision i have made, and i wish you no harm, and good luck with your endevours...
Joe Regan
Sunset Dragon Ranch
____________________________________________________


So then Steve Sent this,, a really nice Reply,,,
Everyone has their own opinion about thinks, and you are indeed intitled to yours as well, but let me tell you one thing. You are very much mistaken in the judgement of me or my ethics. I made a bad mistake dealing with Upstate, and probably would have made another dealing with you. So you can keep your opinions and judgements to yourself. It is really sad to see someone in the state of Mississippi with the messed up mindset of the other judgemental people of this nation. If you would have taken the time to ask instead of jumping on the great self ritious gunship of judgement I could have given you a long list of quality buyers and sellers that I deal with, have delt with, and will deal with in the future. Which will by the way hear of this little session with you. One day when someone judges you first remember what you just did when you run home crying...

Steve Smith
___________________________________________________

So since Steve wats everyone to know of this session with me,,, I thought i would post it right out in the open! for everyone to see!!
Here is my reply back to him right now!
Hey Steve,,
you know what is sad is that you tried to screw people,,and then when it all came to light,, you acted like you did nothing wrong! if it walks like a duck,, quacks like a duck,, and looks like a duck,,, must be a duck,,, and you sir are a person who is trying to make a quick buck and don't care how many people you have to screw to do it!
one last thing if you had so many people who were "so happy" with your service,, then why did not even one of them come to your side and say something good about you in that thread,, 2,751 people read that thread,, and not one had a good thing to say about you in the business dealing with you,, actually i have not read anything ever good about you,, but lots of bad,,,, I guess all the threads that are posted about you ,,,( all bad by the way) are just a conspiracy against you right...? i don't think so,,,,so you lay in the bed you made,, and as for me ,, i sleep well at night knowing i provide good quality captive raised animals by me,, that a custoemr can be happy with, and get there moneys worth for there hard earned money,,,, you have not seen a bad guy post on me have you...? no because i do people right,, and that is what you need to learn to do,,, I am embarassed you are in Mississippi with your business practices. and as for "running home crying", Steve i am a guy who does people right so what do i have to be afraid of...?
Joe Regan
____________________________________________________


SO i thought everyone would enjoy this,, and since Steve wanted everyone to know about this "little session" with me,, i thought i would post it,,, as I said Steve i have Nothing TO Hide,,,no Bad posts on ME!!!!!

Better luck next time Steve,,,

 

[SthrnStExotics]

And this means what

What are you trying to say.. I cant stand up for myself without getting blasted for it. I was actually pretty nice considering all.

All I was doing was offering to buy some gecko's.

This really blows me away. Sometimes the human nature really amases me.

You know Joe you could have just as easily been a little nicer, but I am sure no one will see it my way.

Again the wheels of human ignorance roll again.

You all have a nice nite

Steve Smith
Southern State Exotics

 

[SthrnStExotics]

The more I think about it

The more I think about it the more it pisses me off. Exactly what part of this matter makes this anything to bring up here. I have done nothing wrong. Besides trying to buy a gecko. I really feel that there was no reason for this to even be brought up here, and muchless for me to be attacked by Joe Regan and his wonderful business that he seems to have (as not to want to associate with me or mine).

If I do something wrtong. Ok blast me, but if I don't then leave me the hell alone, and I will leave you alone as well. If you do not want to do business with me. Then fine just tell me and I will not ever try to do any with you either, but to send a threatning e-mail like this and then bring it up here..Come on..I mean really..We are all grown here..I would hope anyway..Those who aren't are excused from this post.

Goodnite

Steve Smith

 

[herpcondo]

IT CONTINUES,,,,

HERE IS THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF THE STEVE SAGA,, FROM STEVE TO ME VIA EMAIL<<
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You should read the post on there the so called bad posts you are talking about have nothing to do with what you are acusing me of. I probably take as good if not better care of my animals than you do. I do not ask anyone to take up for me nor would I. I don't care what Upstate said or anyone read. It seemed like when confronted with it they sure seemed to want my money really fast when I offered to pay them for the good animals that they sold me.

You should really not throw stoned when you live in a glass house pal....It is completely your choice not to do business with me, but that wont hurt my feelings a bit. I know what is done here is right by me and by the animals that I keep and breed. As far as being in it for a quick buck. I don't want to do this to make any money. I simply love to breed and raise bearded dragons and leo's. I just make enough monry selling anything else to fund my breeding projects. I have been in the business for 10 years, but have only started doing internet sales in the last 2. So you can take your quick buck scheme and stuff it. I ahve a collection worth over 10k in bearded dragons and leopard gecko's. It has been a passion of mine since high school. But I work for a living as well so I don't have to rely on riping off people for my living.

You should really think about thinmgs a little before you let your mouth do the talking for you Joe. It may appear that you really don't know what the hell you are talking about after all.

You can lay your head down now soundly knowing you have saved your well known reputation from being marred by assocating with scum like me.


You sleep good now

Steve

and then this one also,, after that,, it must really be bothering him,,,,
___________________________________________________
Real impressive Joe....Try to mar my good name a little more...Keep on throwing those stones...Oneday someone is going to do you the same favor....See you in the funny papers..Laughing all the way...

Steve Smith

__________________________________________________

First off I am not your"Pal"... don't ever confuse me of being that,, i want to stay as far away from you as possible,, especially business wise...
Second of all My "house" is a brick house,,, i don't try and screw people so I don't have to worry about someone throwing stones,,, as you put it,,,,

Mar your name..? I think you did that all by yourself there Steve,, didn't need my help.....

the only reason I brought it up,, was simple,, you said you were gonna tell people about our "little session" as i have nothing to hide and sent you a reply that was straight to the point and professional,, it does not bother me at all,,, see Steve this would have never shown up here if you had not tried to in some sort of wierd way threaten me with telling people about the emails between us,, so I just posted them,, in all there glory,, for everyone to read,, so now "everyone knows". just what you wanted right...?
I will sleep good,, thanks

 

[Darin Chappell]

". . . but to send a threatning e-mail like this . . ."

Steve,

I guess I am confused. Where, exactly, did Joe threaten you in those emails? I just don't see it, but I would be happy for you to show it to me.

TYIA

 

[ms_terese]

Steve,

I'll attribute it all to instincts, but as I've said before, I really think you're a decent guy who got caught up in some mistakes. With that being said, please stop and think about what is going on here.

Joe gave you a reply, and took the time to explain his reasoning. He stated several times that he was basing his opinion on previous actions. If he had simply replied with, "I don't wish to sell to you", I think you would have appreciated it even less.

You replied with your opinion, and you had a right to do that as well. However.....

I could have given you a long list of quality buyers and sellers that I deal with, have delt with, and will deal with in the future. Which will by the way hear of this little session with you.

followed by

Exactly what part of this matter makes this anything to bring up here. I have done nothing wrong.

If you felt that Joe's opinion was so relevant to whether or not he was worthy to do business with other people that you were going to make others aware of it, then he had just as much right to post your opinion HERE so that the people HERE could make the same determination.

Right or wrong, this is a "what's good for the goose is good for the gander" thing. You cannot determine that Joe has "the messed up mindset of the other judgemental people of this nation" and tell him that you're going to make sure others know about his opinions, then cry foul when Joe makes both HIS and YOUR opinions known to others.

Additionally, at what point did Joe send a threatening email to you?

Then fine just tell me and I will not ever try to do any with you either, but to send a threatning e-mail like this and then bring it up here..

You're correct, you did absolutely nothing wrong. You tried to buy some animals. Joe did not assert that you did anything wrong by making an offer on those animals. Joe simply said that since you wanted to make your conversations known to others (and it was clear that you meant to do that to Joe's detriment), he would go ahead and put it out there for the world to see.

Steve, your feelings are hurt. Understood. In your spot, most people would feel defensive. Yet, each of us have to live with mistakes we've made. The past events brought up in other threads may haunt you for a long time. You have to simply deal with that.

 

[herpcondo]

You know what is funny,,

I guess the funny thing to me is,, I don't dislike Steve,,, I don't Know Steve,, The whole reason I sent him the email reply telling him who i was, and why i chose not to do business with him was out of respect and to make sure he understood my reasoning..
Not to Publish it here,, it was for me to explain my point, and to most of all let him know why i chose not to do business with him,,,
When he told me he was gonna let everyone know about our "little session" is the only time I even thought about bringing this whole thing up in this venue,,,I even told Steve I wished him no harm and "good luck in his endevours". Steve do you agree i have the right as to who I buy From and Who I sell too..? I feel like there are a ton of good people out there who I would love to do business with,,, either to buy from or sell to,, but there are a ton who i would rather not do business with also... and all i was trying to do,, was let you know the reason behind my decision,,, nothing else,,, I could have ignored your email,, or I could have said" no i don't do business with scum" but i didn't,, i tried to take the high road and explain my decision to the best of my ability,,not for it to be posted here,, but for your benefit,,,
Again I will say,,, I wish you no harm,, and good luck with your endevours,,

 

[herpetological]

First I have to say that I commend Joe on his regard for his animals. Good to see these days. Steve, it seems you get yourself in trouble by allowing your responses to be off the cuff and emotional. That seems to be how your hanging yourself. I'm not judging you however, you may want to take a deep breath before you touch the keyboard. Once it's said that's it and it's there for all to see in the future. No one and I mean NO ONE has 100% customer satisfaction. You just try to do your best and maintain your integrity. Anyone who can maintain there cool, avoid name calling and use their intelligence can always win a debate. There have even been times that I was right but, just for the sake of "good business" I did what I had to make the customer happy. Don't get me wrong.... I WILL stand my ground. However, It has been said before, "choose your battles carefully".
Some are not worth it. Sometimes it's better to just grit your teeth and say ok Thanks! In business you have to be a politician as well as............ a business man. Ray HBR

 

[Jerry Dorgan]

Steve Smith,

We do not know each other. And I would not have replied to this but the word athiest caught my eye. Reason being is in two of your posts you state "As for me i think that screwing with genetics is like screwing with nature and god. It just isn't ment to be. Hitler tried it too." and "Let he without sin cast the first stone"

I guess I am confused, quoting the Words of Jesus Christ as written in the new testiment, and even though you don't capitalize the G in God, you sure enough refer to Him...

The only comment I have for you is think and calm down before you hit the keyboard. Good luck.

 

[Stardust]

Ummmmm, not to be rude, but didn't this thread start out with you not knowing about the genetics of geckos?
How is it you have been working with them for so long and still do not know the genetics of them?

 

[herpcondo]

A VERY GOOD POINT,,, STARDUST,, AND BRINGS ANOTHER QUESTION TO MIND,,,

If you collection is as extensive as you say, and have been breeding them for all those years,,, why were you buying $5.00 geckos from Galen at captive sciences...? I mean with a collection in the $10,000.00 range just for leopards and dragons,, i am sure you could raise enough to sell.... right...?
Also why would you want an adult male dragon from me, when anyone who raises dragons end up with a hundred or so "extra males" at the end of a breeding season,,,I sure do,, As the females sell much faster than the males,,,
You should really work in a swiss cheese plant as the cheese is as full of holes as your stories Steve,,,

 

[Python Dreams]

As far as Steve's reply to the original information, I found it to be way out of line. Their was no need for a verbal attack due to receiving information that was unwanted or unknown.
But as far as Joe's response to his inquiry. I find the response to be more out of line than Steve's following rebuttals. All he did was inquire about animals... You say that it is not personal, but you would not want to "infect" your name by doing business with him? Sounded personal to me... You basically were saying that due to things you've read on the BOI you would not want to do business with Steve... That would of been an acceptable response to me, but I saw no need to drag it out and rub in your opinion. You get into the theory as to why he does business and how he probably treats his animals and so on and so forth. Seemed kinda antagonistic, but I guess I am the only one that saw it that way.
Thanks, Tom Baker

 

[gila7150]

You basically were saying that due to things you've read on the BOI you would not want to do business with Steve... That would of been an acceptable response to me

I agree...it should have been left at that. I really don't see how Steve's reply was any more insulting than your first email to him. You have every right to refuse to do business with him (I probably would have done the same)....but the guy was just inquiring about some snakes you were selling. You really couldn't expect a nice, cheery response to your first email, could you?