• 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.

VIN BUCCIGROSSI - BAD GUY? YOU DECIDE

G

gapnda7

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I recently purchased what I thought were 1.1 adult argentine boas from Vin Buccigrossi (VinnyButch). It looked like a good deal. We corresponded which was fine. I sent the Paypal and we discussed shipping which seemed OK.
The ad title was "1.1 Adult Argentines.Gorgeous!"

The box was shipped 4/17 and I recv'd it 4/18 at 9:24am. The box dimensions are 12"x12"x12" and weighed 10 lbs. The box did have a heat pack but was not insulated at all (see pic). Today's weather in Middletown NJ (where the shipment originated from) according to Yahoo is 65 high 48 low. I'm sure it didnt change much from a day or so ago. If it were me I would have used a styro box. Obviously, 1.1 adult argentines do not fit into a 12"x12"x12" sized box and do not weight a total of 10 lbs (for both animals including the box)

I have taken some pics of the animals in a 32quart Rubbermaid with a 13oz. can of dog food as reference. Would you consider these adult animals????

In a email from Vin previous to shipping he states "Both monsters pounding F/T jumbo rats." I hope these guys didnt eat jumbo rats!!

These animals simply are not adults. I expressed to Vin that I wanted to return these to him(for a full refund) and that I would pay for shipping back which I thought is fair. I am being offered a $100 refund to basically shut up and go away from this misrepresented deal.

I have been in the hobby for 15 years. Bought and sold many animals. I have taken animals back from customers with refunds as a customer service issue as any breeder has done. I have returned animals myself to good business people like Pete Kahl and Brian Sharp with no problems whatsoever. It's part of the business.

I hope we can work this out. The animals are nice and I'm sure he can sell them again. They are just not adults nor what I thought I purchased.

---Glenn Polanco

If the pics are too large I am attaching the links below:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v115/Glenn7/IMG_1705.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v115/Glenn7/IMG_1703.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v115/Glenn7/IMG_1702.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v115/Glenn7/IMG_1701.jpg
 
Hey now, those are breeders.

Oh wait, that should read, those are GONNA BE breeders in about TWO years.

Misrepresented for sure.
 
From the best that I can surmise, those are about the size of my 1.5 year old argie's. Those are FAR from being breeders and certainly did NOT take jumbo rats. This is a clear cut case of misrepresentation.

Griz
 
I agree, the are juvies, probably 2 yrs. old at most. At least 2 yrs from breeding. Even if he was unfamiliar with adult Argentines, I do not think they could handle anything larger than a "large" rat w/o problems.
Maybe he will come and explain the confusion. Is he aware of this thread?
 
VIN BUCCIGROSSI - BAD GUY? YOU DECIDE.

Casey, I have been emailing with Vin since I got the animals but have not heard from him in a day or so. I asked him nicely to take the animals back since they are obviously not what they were supposed to be in my eyes and obviously a few people here agree they are NOT adults.

I was told by Vin I was crazy to think that they might be year old boas. I have yealrings they are that big and I know many others that get them that big in a years time.

Again my hope is to just send them back on MY dime and to get my money back. It is a misrepresentation (whether it was on purpose or not) and a customer service issue. I can use my money to get what I really wanted.

---Glenn Polanco
 
Obviously not breeders by a long shot.

You should send him a PM linking back to this page also. Make sure he's getting it one way or the other. Would love to hear what he has to say about it.

Can't blame you though. I'd want a complete refund also. But I wouldn't cover the shipping back to him. I assume you already paid shipping once and never got what you thought you purchased. But that's me.

He should jump on your more than generous offer IMO.
 
There's no way those are more than a year and a half old. I've got a female argy just shy of two years who's about twice their size.

Do you have a copy of, or link too, the ad that he calls them "adult" in?

I agree with Rick, he should refund your money, AND pay the return shipping.
 
Erin, the ad on KS is expired. I did quote the title of the ad in my initial post. "1.1 Adult Argentines,Gorgeous!"

I still have not heard back from Vin. I sent my last email to him yesterday again asking to send the animals back on my dime to get this deal reversed and over with.

Again, my intention is not to bash anyone publicly. If Vin decides to make this right I will certainly let everyone know the case. I just do not feel I was sold what was advertised.

--Glenn
 
VIN BUCCIGROSSI - BAD GUY!

Here is the last email I got from Vin. Apparently he is now ignoring all my emails.

Obviously he is not willing to take care of the situation HE created in a reasonable manner.

Everyone in the business/hobby needs to make it a priority to weed out deceitful individuals like him. It's in our own best interest.

As far as I'm concerned he's the same type as the Nigerian scumbag con-artists that steal money/retirements/lives from honest unsuspecting people here in the US.

Let me point out the lies in his last email -


"Glenn,

We may as well end this if we can. I simply did not misrepresent the animals.(Yes you did, as many of you agree here they are not ADULTS)

I posted them as 5 footers,(I meausre them both and the larger one is just over 4 feet)

specifically stating in the post that there were no guarantees of offspring this season. Only that they were cooled and put together.( I mentioned that I was intending to breed them as soon as possible since they were labeled "ADULTS")

I showed you photos and those are positively the animals in the photos. (I did not agree they were the animals I recv'd. He did send me pics and I accept responsibility for not asking for pics with a reference point in the picture. I will definitely ask of that going forward. Still they are not "ADULTS")

They are not yearlings, regardless of your claim.(I was told by VIN I was crazy to think boas could get to that size in a year. I have albino boas that are that size at a year and a half)

The $100 good-faith refund offer still stands, but that's about it. (Basically he's saying 'deal with it' and keep them even though I am not happy with them and have offered to pay shipping back)

Vin"

I hope this prevents someone else getting taken by this liar in the future.

Also, I would stay away from him as he is on eBay alot under the following email address and user name - [email protected] - VinnyButch.

I have four last word's for Vin - "Karma is a bitch"

-Glenn
 
He put those two together to try to get them to breed? Wow. And for a thick body boa a foot of length does make a difference. Though I might ask for weight in teh future? Might be a better judge?
 
Sorry if anyone was holding their breath waiting for a response to this. I've been away for a few days.

Me and ol' Glen have a bit of a difference of opinion on a pair of Argentines I sold him.

I told them they were 5 feet long. They are. For anyone who needs to see it in print, I'll send you links to a few references that call adults 4 to 8 feet, with breeding being capable in animals "well under 2 meters"

I told him they were adults that were cooled, and had been together for a month, but absolutely could NOT guarantee whether any breeding took place.

I told him they ate jumbo rats. They do.

I showed him two, full body photos of each snake.

He wanted them, and paid for them and I sent them.

He opened the box, decided they wouldn't be breeding this season, (his words)and now wants his money back.

In the interest of being a decent guy, I offered him $100 back. He said no, he wants the whole thing. If that makes me bad, so be it.
 
VinnyButch said:
Sorry if anyone was holding their breath waiting for a response to this. I've been away for a few days.

Me and ol' Glen have a bit of a difference of opinion on a pair of Argentines I sold him.

I told them they were 5 feet long. They are. For anyone who needs to see it in print, I'll send you links to a few references that call adults 4 to 8 feet, with breeding being capable in animals "well under 2 meters"

I told him they were adults that were cooled, and had been together for a month, but absolutely could NOT guarantee whether any breeding took place.

I told him they ate jumbo rats. They do.

I showed him two, full body photos of each snake.

He wanted them, and paid for them and I sent them.

He opened the box, decided they wouldn't be breeding this season, (his words)and now wants his money back.

In the interest of being a decent guy, I offered him $100 back. He said no, he wants the whole thing. If that makes me bad, so be it.
Click to expand...
Even if everything you say is true, what harm is it to return his money in exchange for the animals at his cost? You're not out anything, your name is completely cleared and you've got a satisfied customer. You can re-sell the snakes.

I think that would be the right thing to do, just my $.02

Bill Bowers
 
Ok everyone,

Take your best shots. I deserve them. I had a long conversation with someone who's opinion I trust, (Shawn of the Viper's House) and I got a good education on Boas.
I bought the Argentines in the fall, described to me as adults, and being too dumb to know I got snowed, simply sold them the same way. As I've learned, totally wrong.
Glen, hopefully by the time you read this, you'll have your Paypal refund confirm in your e-mail in box.
I know that an apology isn't worth shit at this point, but besides the $500, it's all I can offer.

Vin Buccigrossi
 
Well Vin takes a big man to own up and that you have... Sad that it had to get brought to the BOI to get your attention but nice to see you do the right thing... Randy
 
Vin, here's a thought for you: post a bad guy thread about whoever sold them to you as adults. Cause, personally, if you did get snowed, I'd like to know who was behind it, so I know who to watch out for.
 
VinnyButch said:
Ok everyone,

Take your best shots. I deserve them. I had a long conversation with someone who's opinion I trust, (Shawn of the Viper's House) and I got a good education on Boas.
I bought the Argentines in the fall, described to me as adults, and being too dumb to know I got snowed, simply sold them the same way. As I've learned, totally wrong.
Glen, hopefully by the time you read this, you'll have your Paypal refund confirm in your e-mail in box.
I know that an apology isn't worth shit at this point, but besides the $500, it's all I can offer.

Vin Buccigrossi
Click to expand...

I give you credit for the above. Its harder to come forward like you did then some think it is. If good, solid knowledge is the lonly thing you get out of this, then there is a least some type of bright side to the transaction.
 
Wish I saw this thread earlier... I JUST finished a trade with Vin a little over a week ago, and I had a really good experience with him. I've also been tossed screwballs before on deals, and had that misinformation come back to haunt me when I tried selling them. Sounds like it may have been just an unfortunate circumstance, but it looks like it's going to be taken care of.
:thumbsup:
 
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