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    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Tony Cueto Bad Guy! (reptile shows)

DAVE, you may very well be right,

Tony, may not even want to speak to you, or even see you for that matter, but he is the promotor, and I am sure his headaches are substantially greater than yours in assuring that these shows run smoothly. Granted from all that Ive read, he certainly has some problems, but the answer is not to add fuel to the fire by stopping payment on a check that you had given him. If anything, you would have been wiser to resolve the matter prior to writing the check, or disputed the problem right their. Assuming that you were unhappy or dissatisfied with the way it was handled, you could have contacted him after the show. The difficulty is not paying reflects that you dont have the money in the first place. This is the perception that you leave. Its a no win situation.........for you. Can you imagine if all the other vendors took their own methods of dealing with Tony everytime something happened. I have never spoken to Tony nor even seen him, but apparently he has some business difficulties that really need to be addressed. This of course has nothing to do with BRIANS, situation, but even if you both were right, his stick right now is bigger than yours, and although my sympathies may be for the both of you, he has limited your access to the public through his shows. That can hurt you in the longer run than stopping a check, or vendor jealousy as in the case of Brian.

JERRY TRESSER
 
Jerry, that "stick" you're talking about is not all that big any more. Tony's shows were successful because Alex held them together. Alex is gone. Alex now has his own shows which will soon put Tony out of business, at least here in FL. Dave's drug allegations are not the first I have heard. Generally, I don't care what people do on thier own time, but when things start to fall apart, like they apparently did at Tampa, one has to wonder what is going on.

Tony continues to hold the shut-up or you'll never get back in stick over my head. But, what I don't think he's figured out is, I've moved on to other promoters and other shows. My only goal now is to let people know what an a$$ he is, and to hurt his business as much as he hurt mine. I feel my name has been "cleared" in this thread, so I really have nothing left to do except make people aware of what went on.

I think it was Darrin who wrote it doesn't make him a classic "bad guy." Well then I have to ask, what does? He lied about what happened w/ me. He took people's money for a product, (the show), and then when people got there, they got substandard service. He mistreated a friend, (Alex). And he's tried blackmailing and lying to me to get me to be quiet about all this. I understand people are unwilling to come here and really lay into him about all this because they don't want to get banned as well. But, at some point, you have to look at the people you choose to be associated with folks.
 
WELL SAID BRIAN,

That is the point I am trying to make, it is no secret that Tony has been trying to move Brian out for a while now, it is known amoung the other venders. I have known that I was also on his list. When Brian said that there are other promotors out there he is correct I have done shows with other people and they do know how to treat the venders. Alex is a friend of mine and I will be doing his show as time permits. I am not the only person that feels this way and I am not the only person that did not get what they paid for with Tony.

Rob, as far as Susin paying for my tables at the Fire show or her having animals at my tables you are wrong and since you remember where I was then you should remember that I did not have a end- cap. The only time that I had her animals on my table was in Tampa in March if I remember right she had like 3 pairs (6 snakes) on my table.

Jerry, I had the money I just have I problem not getting what I ordered and that Had been promised to me, I did try to resolve it then and there but Alex could not fix it with out Tony's say so and Tony was busy with other priorities. I Guess he got what he wanted.
 
I am happy if your happy,

Brian, if you feel at this point that this overextended thread has worked for you and Alex will be your choice for future shows, I am glad things worked out for you. I just thought that originally you were looking to resolve the matter with Tony, but at this juncture with the above thread and the fact that you want to " move on" to other shows and promotors is probably the best choice. I would advise against attempting to hurt Tonys current operation, as he has done a good job of that on his own.

Now just out of curiosity Dave, if you dont mind answering one final question for me. Did you stop payment on the check or did it bounce for insufficient funds? JERRY TRESSER
 
Jerry, I'm in no way "happy" about any of this. I'm "moving on" because I have been forced to do so because of what Tony has done to me. He's lied to me. He's publically accused me of things I did not do. And he's banned me from doing his shows. Shows which made-up a good 70% of my schedule.

I'll be happy, if either one of 2 things happens:

1. Tony comes here and pubically apoligizes for doing what he has done, and then allowes me back in. Then, and only then, we can start to repair the damage that all this has caused to both of us. That would be one way to make me happy.

2. The other way, probably the most realistic way, as I don't think Tony will eat that much crow and admit that he had me confused with someone else, will be for Tony to go away. If Tony's not doing shows in FL anymore, then Alex's, Lauren's, and Repticon's will be that much better. Further, once comsumers start to patronize these shows, and they see what a truly free market system has to offer, then these good and reasonable promoters can work to shut Tony down in his other venues. That would be the other way to make me happy.

In business you have either friends or enemies. Tony choose to make me the latter. I am still willing to work to fix that, but I don't think Tony will do so.
 
I don't know anyone involved in this thread personally nor have I been to any show in Florida.... For arguments sake lets assume that everything Dave has said is correct since noone has disputed it too much (except for the bounced or stopped check issue).
Was someone really trying to say that Dave was in the wrong for cancelling his check???? He did not recieve the tables he paid for.... His name was listed wrong on a banner he purchased from Tony........ His phone number is listed wrong on his banner.... He cannot get ahold of the promoter no matter how much he tried.... Possibly caught him doing a pretty gross drug (who cares what he does if hes taking care of business) while avoiding him...
What exactly would you do in this situation???? Should everyone get all simpathetic and nice and worry about the headaches of the promoter???? Or should they worry about the money coming out of their pocket to pay for services and products that are not available (tables) or completely incorrect (banners)???? If you ordered business cards from Kinko's and they showed up with the wrong biz nam and phone number... Would you still pay and wait for the manager to contact you even though hes avoiding your calls and is not in the office?? I doubt it... Would you say no problem Kinko's.... I heard you contract out your printing so I'll just pay and hopefully we'll work it out in a time that is convenient for this manager that is avoiding me??? My opinion is if I paid for anything that is more or less misrepresented (for whatever reason) and this person is not being straightforward (unavailable) than I need to take action, not hope he will do the right thing..
Thanks, Tom Baker
 
"I think it was Darrin who wrote it doesn't make him a classic 'bad guy.'"

Brian,

Actually, I believe I said I wasn't sure he was a classic "Bad Guy" based upon the usual definitions you see here (stolen money or stolen animals). However, I did say that you would have to question his honesty and his judgment in these matters.

It appears that he has given sub-standard service to several individuals, based upon what it was for which they paid. If that holds true, and he refuses to make it right, I think he would then have crossed the line and become a "Bad Guy."

I was not then trying, nor do I now try, to make it sound as if Tony has handled this well at all. It may very well be that he is a Bad Guy. I just did not believe that it had been proven to be the case at the time of that previous writing.
 
Hey Tom

their is no sense in being hypothetical with your above post. When Rich Z. posted the list of vendors at the show, Dave Lawson was listed as "bouncing bad checks" that is hardly what I would call stopping payment because of some difficulties. I would appreciate Dave responding, but he has not done so as yet.

Your argument falls flat on its face. I dont think a good show or a show that is run by a promotor in several states should be callously denied payment by the claims Dave made or you seem to accept as a legitimate reason for stopping payment on a check. Even if what Dave claims is correct, their are avenues for redressing the issue without cutting your own throat with a spoon. That is what Dave has done. I think its embarrasing, and humiliating to find ones name on a list as banned because of bouncing checks to other vendors, etc. Secondly it is guaranteed that Dave will never be allowed in any of Tonys future shows. Whether you like him or not, or whether he has another show or not, I would not count Tony out so quick. Nor would I discount the fact that other promotors would want cash from Dave, in future shows. The fact that you cannot get in touch with the promotor is no justification for that kind of action unless you DONT HAVE THE MONEY. Its that simple. That is why I am inclined to believe that Dave may not have been as straightforward in his thread when he claims he stopped payment on the check because of the difficulties he encountered with Tony. I hope I am wrong in my assumption, but Dave would be the best person to acknowledge that or possibly Tony.

Personally, your kinko approach would cause chaos if everyone followed your line of thinking when a problem arises. JERRY TRESSER
 
Jerry, please take the time to re-read my post....If you do you will see that Tony was paid in full for the services I got from him. He was paid $500.00 in advance and that left a balance of $370.00 (If my memory serve me) it was for a 6 table end-cap and a banner. I got 3 tables middle row and a banner that I can not use so Tony was more then paid for what I got. The other promotors I do shows with have never had a problem with my check nor have my suppliers, brokers or other venders. I do not care to do any of Tony's shows now that Alex and the rest of the staff is gone. Now I am done with this thread before it turns into a flamer I have made my point so do with it what you will....
 
DAVE, thanks for responding, but

I am still a bit confused about the $ 370.00. Did you write a check to Tony for that amount and stop payment, or did the check bounce for insufficient funds. I am not trying to put you on the spot, but your sidestepping a simple yes or no question.

I fully understand what you paid him, and I read your post carefully enough to realize that their was also a balance due that you were unhappy about. I also realize that you felt that you were unjustly slighted with the banner and the tables, but your name appears at the bottom of a list of vendors that indicates that you have been banned for " bounced checks", to other vendors no less!!!!

How about addressing that instead of telling me about your relationship with other promotors. I know I would be quite upset receiving that kind of information. It certainly would border on some kind of litigation. Regardless, I made this request not to start a flame war, but to point out that sometimes things are not what they seem to be. In this particular case you have left some serious doubt in my mind about your truthfullness in this matter.
JERRY TRESSER
 
Reply to Jerry

Jerry,
First off, if it was a bounced check issue, then that is a whole different story... But if it was a cancelled check, I think you have it all wrong. I believe that it would be called misrepresentation. I will sell you an end lot with six tables for "said price" and I will also sell you a banner with your company name and phone #. Well, you end up with 3 tables and a banner that is completely useless. Do I think that everyone should cancel a check the minute a problem arises? No! That is not the issue... The issue is the promoter avoiding Dave and leaving him no way to resolve the issue. Were his employees not notified that Dave was looking for him? So you believe that a show promoter who runs shows in several states can misrepresent a sale and somehow not be available for comment until he is ready if at all??? I wouldn't want to sign up for that show, if that is a common practice.... Maybe I'll give you what I sold you and I'll avoid you if I dont? That is fine with you Jerry? Your also promoting a "Godfather" like attitude with saying it is ok to misrepresent sales because this guy promotes alot of shows and if he screws you over just take it, because he is who he is???? My "Kinko approach" would not cause chaos near as much as your "hes an important guy dont slit your own throat with a spoon when misrepresented approach". Many people make purhases on their credit card for a specific reason. If they are ripped off in anyway, the credit card company will stand up for them. It keeps people honest when dealing with credit cards... This isnt my line of thinking, this is the way it is... I'm sure you would prefer it differently, but that leaves alot of room for a self-important person to rip people off. Like I said before, I donot know anyone involved in this... I am from California, so I have not had the oppurtunity to visit any out of state shows as of yet... I am not counting Tony out of anything or claiming he has done anything wrong.. I'm not personally standing up for Dave and claiming he is telling the truth.. I'm just sayin that from what I have read here, without Tony responding (simply on Dave's issue), that your viewpoints are way off base, not mine....
Thanks, Tom Baker
On a side note.... Last week my Mom picked up 2000 business flyers.. Their logo has shading underneath it that was about 3 times darker than the "proof" that was sent out. The printer didnt catch it and otherwise the flyer was perfect. You could barely read their logo. Well, she called and complained and they said their really was nothing they could do about it other than discount this group if she bought another 2000. My Mom said that this was unacceptable and she wanted these 2000 replaced and that was the only option. Do you not think for a minute that these people did not know that she could dipute these charges with the credit card company and they would lose to her overabundance of proof of their error? I know my Mom knew this... After their first responce I believe that is the only reason that they decided to reprint them... Sure seems like chaos to me....
 
TOM, until we know for a fact,

whether Daves check bounced , as you indicated " would be another story. " I have a suspicious feeling that it did. The question is not if you have been treated improperly , but in this case, Dave, wrote a check that had no funds and gave it to Tony. This could very easily be construed as theft. Depending on the amount of the check and whether he knowingly attempted to defraud Tony could result in a felony. It happens to be a crime. Banks can verify very easily if the monies were there at the time the check was written. If this is not the case, then you and I have no argument.

Now insofar as promotors not paying attention to your needs. As Ive indicated these issues can be addressed through a different venue. Dave would have been in a stronger position had he paid the monies that apparently were due, and maintained his good name and persued the matter either legally or by dealing with Tony once the dust settled.

Unless I am mistaken, I have not heard a single person on this thread complain that Tony ripped any vendor off. He may not be the smartest businessman when it comes to this business, but I doubt you could call Tony a thief , a ripoff artist, etc.
So going back to your first sentence, I do think this is another story altogether, and has nothing to do with a payment that was stopped. Dave for sure, seems NOT, to want to answer my simple question, which would put a closure to your argument as well. JERRY TRESSER
 
Jerry

He has said no less than 5 times in this thread that he stopped payment. Either believe him or don't but the question has been asked (repeatedly) and answered.

My real problem with this whole story is that Dave is claiming he could not locate Tony to speak to him. I hope everyone reading this thread realizes that this was a two day show.

I have worked every single Tampa Show Tony has put on as well as the FIRE show. On any given day I have seen Tony dozens of times either while I was out looking around or when he has walked by my tables. To claim that Tony was, at no time during the entire weekend available to speak directly to is patently ridiculous.

This sounds more like Dave was pissed and decided after he got home to stick it to Tony because he felt that he did not get what he paid for. I would also like to point out that it is illegal to stop payment on a check after you have accepted services or goods. They call that check fraud and it is a felony
 
I am not a vendor however I will be soon I am a customer. I would like to start by saying that I am discusted with the way everyone has been treated including myself but more for the vendors that have been negatively impacted because of an individuals lack of fairness.
1) I want to start out buy informing that I was not a spectator that I spent over 3000.00 at the tampa show and if I would have know this was ahppening I would have just purchased directly from the breeders since I was already in contect with them. Including a ghost ball, 2 baby albino het balls and a albino redtail from jamie quick.
2) I was a vip ticket purchaser that I paid for 1 month prior to the show and I never received the packet before but when I got home nov 1st it was in the mail postdated oct 30th, what the heck is that?
3)The back right of the building did smell of foul death and I know tony was arawe of this because I was right there when he surved food there and a customer said how do you expect someone to eat with that smell.
4) I cannot beleive the service tony has expressed in this forum, obviously we have full anticipation from brian but none from tony and he is fully aware that this is being discussed. He should discuss this in the open because I beleive that there are paying customers like myself that would like to witness his reploes to his accusations.
5) due to his lack of participation and information I have gathered I will no longer be attending his show and neither will anyone that I am in association with from prior discussion. We have been watching this forum unfold and are discusted.
6) This is america and as a customer I am looking for the best price and if there is someone that has lower price of corse I will evaluate buying from them. If the way it is going now continues everyone will have the same prices and there will be no sales. only because the prices there were quite expensive and honestly I could get better online or just from looking in my local area.

I and about 14 others are behind brian at this moment. I know that isnt much but we promoted this show and I will gaurantee it will stop and hopefully our thoughts will spread.

Please Tony make this an open discussion as to why you are treating people this way so maybe we can understand because you representation is very week and is only supported by a handfull that cannot speak on your behalf!
 
JOHN, thank you for the post, and you

absolutely correct, I dont believe him! Nor do I accept the fact that Tony would be stupid enough or jeapordize a potential lawsuit by listing that Dave was banned for bouncing bad checks, unless it actually happened. Dave has skirted the issue, and I will leave it at that.

Insofar as your other observations, although I am not a vendor at the Tampa shows, I am one at the Daytona show. Even with over 500 vendors, I see Wayne several times a day. I know that if I had a problem, I would feel comfortable enough to address Wayne after the show, and I am sure the problem would be resolved. You are absolutely correct as well as what I have heard from other vendors, Tony is accessible, and visible. Sometimes promotors cannot for whatever reason resolve a problem right their and then. Sometimes it may require addressing the problem after the show when things simmer down, and cool heads can prevail. JERRY TRESSER
 
Not defending Dave (don't know him)

But, if I get a check and try to deposit or cash it after somebody stops payment on it, I would call it a "bad" check.

Maybe that's Tony's translation of a bounced check.

Unless Tony can post a picture of the check with the BIG RED NSF stamp on it, I have no problem believing that Dave cancelled payment on it, not that there were nonsufficient funds.

Regardless, Dave gave his testimonial about Tony's show, the service he received or didn't receive, the quality of the show, and the apparent attempt of Tony to avoid Dave.

Perhaps this is why you were always able to see him, John, he wasn't avoiding you?

Anyway. Whatever questions arise in regard to Dave's truthfulness, nobody has really complained about WHY he cancelled the check. I for one, find his description of the show and Tony's professionalism to run parallel to what most others are saying.
 
Well, I was at the FIRE show as well, and I had a couple of things I needed to talk to Tony about during our setup. Every time I walked to the main entrance, where the check-in tables were set up, Tony was there and I had no trouble at all talking to him. Maybe my timing was just extremely good, but Tony was clearly at hand from what I could see.

Also, it has been my experience that when you get a bounced check from the bank, it is CLEARLY marked as such and there is no mistake about it. I sincerely doubt the bank would annotate a stopped payment check as one being returned for insufficient funds in the overdrawn account.

Quite simply, what does it say on the check that was returned to Tony?
 
You are absolutely correct as well as what I have heard from other vendors, Tony is accessible, and visible.
Click to expand...

Jerry, I don't know if I would go that far. Here is a good example of what happens if there is problem. Tony disappears! He knows this thread is here, he's posted on it. Yet, now when his replies could help bail him out, he's no where to be heard from. As Alex said in his post, Tony does not deal w/ confrontation, he always made Alex do it (the phone call about the JP issues). Tony likes to stay in the background "behind" his employees.

I can't remember where Dave was in Orlando or I'd post it. And I really have no comment about the check situation, other than to say that, IF Dave stopped payment for the reasons listed, I have no problem with that. If Dave bounced all these checks to all these vendors, where are they? We've already shown that Tony will bend/make-up stories as needed. Maybe this is just one more example.
 
I have to say again, at least regarding Dave's situation, that I personally find it hard to believe that Tony was completely inaccessible. I have done both the Atlanta show and the Columbia show(vendor and joe schmoe customer) and have ALWAYS seen Tony walking around and checking with vendors. The couple of times I had questions or problems as a vendor, he would always get my question answered or the problem fixed with no fuss.

And if I remember right, Rob Trenor said that he saw Tony and that he stopped by Rob's tables. And Rob said that he was in the same room as Dave and could see Dave's tables from where he was. So, if that was the case, then Tony was right there in the same room with Dave, yet he still couldn't talk with him?

And to me, regardless if the check was stopped or NSF, I don't feel it was right on Dave's part. For a $870 purchase that was screwed up, I would darn well MAKE SURE Tony made time for me. I just find it very unbelievable that there was no way whatsoever that you could talk to Tony about this. Had you not cancelled/bounced the check to him the day after the show, perhaps you would not have been banned. As Jerry said, cool heads can prevail. Cutting off your nose to spite your face is never a good option.
 
And thus we have the problem faced when two people, who have both damaged their credibility by lying, are calling each other a liar! One of them is telling the truth, but both of them have made it difficult to believe that either of them is doing so in any particular situation.

What it all boils down to is, "Who is the bigger liar?"

Well, Tony has apparently lied to protect his reputation and to make his side of this story look better. Dave, to one degree or another, lies in almost every thread in which he has ever posted here.

I don't know; you'll all have to decide for yourself. Someone is NOT telling the truth, though!
 
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