Vincent Russello, attempting a scam

[screamdreams]

My thoughts exactly -

I just don't get it, and like you said, I'm all for any positives that can come of this, but personally - I am completely sick and tired of the Vince's in the industry. ALOT of hardworking, knowledgable, dedicated, well deserving individuals have put years of hard work, money, education, etc. into making this their business, and I for one don't like seeing the plethora of scabies that seems to be spreading like wildfire in various classifieds, auction sites, expos, and what not. It's sad when people tarnish a beautiful thing, and in the end, it will ultimately come down to us against them. I'm 110% in support for national reptile improvement guidelines - that would make it much more difficult for someone like this to deal in live animals. The hobbiest and collectors would not be affected, but the people who obviously don't belong on the business side of selling live animals- would disappear. He keeps harping on 11 feedbacks?!?!?! What is that all about?? There's people in this biz that do more sales than that in a day.

FORGIVE BUT DON'T FORGET.

 

[E2MacPets]

Thanks for your understanding and support. I no longer have a reptibid account for now so there is no problem there. Once again things went way to far due to the way i have acted and i am sorry for all of it.

I can't help feeling the only reason Vince is so apologetic is that he no longer has an outlet for his scams.

 

[DAND]

I can't help feeling the only reason Vince is so apologetic is that he no longer has an outlet for his scams.

His reasoning is more likely to avoid becoming the cellmate to someone called Bruno. Right about now Vince will admit to and apologize for anything and everything. Meaning it is a whole other story.

 

[JJFOUTZ]

I'm 110% in support for national reptile improvement guidelines - that would make it much more difficult for someone like this to deal in live animals. The hobbiest and collectors would not be affected, but the people who obviously don't belong on the business side of selling live animals- would disappear.

Be carefull what you wish for. Once something like that gets started, who knows where it will end up and who will be effected. There is no way that I could see making them disappear without effecting everyone involved in one way or another. That may be one of those things that start out with good intentions and end bad for all with no way to stop it once it gains momentum.

 

[screamdreams]

I do agree with you 100% JJFOUTZ and your opinion and mine are one in the same when it comes to outsiders governing our hobby, and I've witnessed first hand what it can do. However, I've talked with many people directly and indirectly involved with this idea, and in all honesty, I think it would work. It is being written with the help of many respected names in the hobby, and they have expressed deep concern about the consumer or the industry's customer base so they (we) would be protected. If recognized nationally, it should lift more than a few current "bans" throughout the US, and I'm confident the "guidelines" for improvement would do just that - improve the hobby. Do we honestly need 7000+ "vendors" posting live harmless reptiles up for auction?? How about the expo that has 80+ tables with 50 or so vendors but only 12 are worth buying from...why not just have the 12?? Reward those that have taken the time to establish a legitament business, with quality animals, and obtained all proper tax id's, liscensing, etc???? Why should we concern ourselves with the other 38 that buy and resell junk, never paid taxes on $hit and don't know where Cornsnakes live, let alone how to pack one up in a box and ship it 700 miles away from there crusty old basement?? I may be off-base here, and I honestly wish we could "govern" ourselves as a community, but I am seriously fed up with the way things are going downhill. If people like Upstate (Sal), Beardedpets, Reptile Pit, Vince, etc keep doing what they do - there may not be much of a customer base left for the aspiring breeders of tomorrow.

 

[dwedeking]

and obtained all proper tax id's, liscensing, etc????

You realize that the only real way to raise the bar on the entry level backyard breeder is by charging for all the above, right? These costs will be passed onto you the consumer. This probably won't effect the price of the higher end animals (for example piebald pythons) but will make your average cornsnake that regularly sells for $25 into a $50 animal (both due to the increased fees and removal of the large number of breeders that do these animals increasing supply.) This will also decrease demand as it will remove a lot of the customer base who are looking for investment type animals (who hasn't told the wife that if they get XYZ reptile it will make back what we put into it?).

I have little faith in a government agency decreasing the number of regulations. From my experience it just doesn't happen.

Anyways here's a thread where Knobtail and I go over all this with a difference of opinion.

Observations of a closed society

 

[JJFOUTZ]

I have little faith in a government agency decreasing the number of regulations. From my experience it just doesn't happen.

I completly agree that once the government puts something in place, it will never go away. That is what scares me with this type of subject, Everything sounds good right now and then after it is in place and everyone realizes the problems in the system, it is too late to go back to the way it used to be.
I as a rule belive in freedom first. The free uncontrolled market will have its downside but if you are the honest ones in the bunch and have solid contacts for what you need, inevitably you will build a solid customer base because of your honesty and product. If customers get ripped from others out there, that is all the more they will return to you next time.

 

[Rob @ RK Reptiles]

UPDATE?

Vince,

How about an update on the donation of the Leopard Gecko to the school. You need to let us know what is going on as this will not totally go away until then.

 

[DAND]

Re: UPDATE?

Vince,

How about an update on the donation of the Leopard Gecko to the school. You need to let us know what is going on as this will not totally go away until then.

Yeah Vince,

You were last here today at 3:30 pm and yet you didn't respond. That is very unlike you Vince. You usually have at least a word or two for a response. Ignoring the post will not make it go away. Quit procrastinating and take care of what you said you were going to do.

 

[Sasheena]

Hey, Vince, you can always send it to me. I'll keep it in my classroom as the class pet, take lots of photos, and I'll even provide it with its own aquarium. My kids always get a kick out of the animals I bring into my classroom... and even though they say it's "Gross" to have a snake in the classroom, they frequently say "When are you going to bring back ..." and mention whichever animal I've had in the classroom most recently. I was going to get a pair of sand boas, but that deal fell through. Heck, I'm even sure that Dennis Thomas or someone else local here in Phoenix would volunteer to be here when the box was opened. It's a thought. I don't breed any four-legged critters (well... I do mice, rats, and gerbils, but no reptiles). It would just be here, being admired and enjoyed, and spreading the love of Herps to all my high school students.

 

[reptichic911]

Do you really believe Vince is going to give up a Leopard Gecko?
Heck he only said he would in hopes that this thread would get buried in all the other threads.
What webmasters really need to do is ban IP's so scammers can't open new accounts.

 

[dirt hawk]

same old crap again?

You could tell how insincere he was as soon as you guys gave him a little breathing room. I am not saying "off with his head" but, he did try to pull some sh!t and got caught. I know first hand that this is not an isolated incident. Do you really think that he has learned his lesson? He doesn't even have enough respect to update us the donation situation. In my opinion, I would at least have had him ship the "red" leo to Sasheena the teacher at his cost, and donate the amount of the last true bid he had on reptibid to a reputable herp research organization or something along these lines, with documented proof. He is like a child. until he is punished he will continue to do this kind of stuff. I really think that he thinks if he waits this out, this will go away.
I am sorry, but I am tired of scammers interfering with the honest people in this trade! I agree with reptichic ban the ip address.

 

[ARKON]

As the saying goes...

Keep your friend's close and your enemies closer!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you ban a person it then becomes a little more challenging to keep track off his/her offense's and or possibly good deeds leading to an unlikley but hopeful positive reform!!!!!!!!
I can understand one's frustration with certain folk and
their very questionable behavior pattern but it is better to "OBSERVE & STUDY" such a person looking through the front windshield then to have to keep checking the rearview mirror to see whats going on out on the road!!!!!!!!!! A very corny anology but affective if you know what I'm saying!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Gromph Baenre]

I would like to submit this piece of information, Vince stated the following on the 14th of April. This comes from page 110.

That sounds very good to me, This whole thing has been blown way out of proportion. I have donated to schools in the past and know the perfect place to donate ether a bearded dragon, or one of my leopard geckos. I am just glad we can all put this to rest. I will have school contact information available in lets say 10 days. The school year is close to being over with here in florida, so maybe I can set something up this year for next school year.


His statement above outlines 10 days. I would see ten days from the posting being the 24th of April. Perhaps he should be afforded the opportunity to stand by his statement. Just my thoughts and views on the situation.

Best regards,

Carson Grindstaff

 

[Snakebyt]

geez man, please trade some of your geckos for a decent camera... i dont see how people expect to sell an animal with such bad pics... sorry, this kind of thing just annoys me

 

[Darin Chappell]

Good point Carson!

I think everyone ought to be given enough rope to either pull themselves from the pit of deceitfulness or hang themselves in it. Whichever it is to be, is entirely up to Vince!

 

[DAND]

I would like to submit this piece of information, Vince stated the following on the 14th of April. This comes from page 110.

That sounds very good to me, This whole thing has been blown way out of proportion. I have donated to schools in the past and know the perfect place to donate ether a bearded dragon, or one of my leopard geckos. I am just glad we can all put this to rest. I will have school contact information available in lets say 10 days. The school year is close to being over with here in florida, so maybe I can set something up this year for next school year.


His statement above outlines 10 days. I would see ten days from the posting being the 24th of April. Perhaps he should be afforded the opportunity to stand by his statement. Just my thoughts and views on the situation.

Best regards,

Carson Grindstaff

The problem with giving Vince an inch is that he will take a mile. He was here again this morning but still hasn't given an update. This is unlike Vince not to respond. Are you avoiding us Vince?

Vince, how about a one word response to the following question, have you started the donation process of the "red gecko" to the school?

Yep?

Nope?

 

[Vince]

Re: UPDATE?

Vince,

How about an update on the donation of the Leopard Gecko to the school. You need to let us know what is going on as this will not totally go away until then.

whoaaaa easy big fella. i was going to wait untill everything was done to post, but my popularity seems to exceed some peoples patients. brb with updates on the donations, all i have to do is figure out how to attach emails

 

[Vince]

Subject: donation to school
Date: 4/16/2004 4:23:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Vince3325
Reply To:
To: [email protected]

I would like to donate a leopard gecko and all needed equipment and food to the science department at cape elementary, including books and care information, to help educate the kids on keeping reptiles as pets, I believe caring for and learning about this species of lizard will help build responsibility in students, and spark there interests in animal science. I also have a few books on this species that you can include in your library for student to check out. I know the school year is winding down so if we cant do anything this year maybe we can work something out for the next school year.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________


Subject: gecko donation
Date: 4/23/2004 8:14:56 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: [email protected]
Reply To:
To: [email protected]
CC:
BCC:
Sent on:


Sent from the Internet (Details)

Hello!

Thank you for your kind offer of a class pet! Could you tell me briefly what kind of care a gecko would need? Daily? Weekly? I am considering your offer for next fall.

Thanks,
Barb Hardcastle
5th grade teacher
Cape Elementary



Subject: Re: gecko donation
Date: 4/23/2004 8:26:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Vince3325
Reply To:
To: [email protected]

Hi barbara, The daily care of a leopard gecko would include giveing it fresh water, it drinks from a bowl, and adding a few meal worms also in a bowl. It is a very clean lizard but once or twice a week use a little paper cup to remove the waste and substrate attached. this type of lizard is nocturnal, but they are very tame and love to be held. the mealworms that it eats should be refrigerated becuse in the life cycle of the worm is the larva and they stay dorment when kept cold, if you keep them at room temp they will turn into beatles , that is also something the kids might enjoy watching and learning about. my name is vincent , and if you have any other questions, please just email me.

____________________________________________________

here is another interested teacher:

Subject: Leopard Gecko
Date: 4/23/2004 7:06:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: [email protected]
Reply To:
To: [email protected]
CC:
BCC:
Sent on:


Sent from the Internet (Details)

Dear Vince,

I am a fourth grade teacher at Cape Elementary and I would definitely be interested in a leopard Gecko for my class. We currently have a hamster and a gerbil, as well as a fish, so a reptile representative from the animal kingdom would be wonderful. The students in my class are responsible for the care, feeding and cleaning cages of our class pets, because like you I think this is a great way to show responsibility. Every time we've added a class pet this year we have checked out books from the library to read about them and the care they need, so the books you are offering along with the pet would be fantastic to have. I hope to hear from you soon.
____________________________________________________

my reply:

Subject: Re: Leopard Gecko
Date: 4/23/2004 8:34:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Vince3325
Reply To:
To: [email protected]

Thanks for your reply , I am also currently talking to a 5th grade teacher at your school, and am concidering makeing 2 donations now. is there any information you would like to know on this species? I think what would be great is giveing you guys a baby, it wont be very handleable but they would be able to watch it grow and change into an adult, it only takes about 9 months. we can talk more about it any time.
___________________________________________________

I also provided them both with links to the E-book on leopard geckos at Kingsnake.com. and now i am waiting on a reply. I dont belive any actual donation will be made untill next school year. The last day of school here is May 29th.

 

[Sasheena]

Wow Vince, I have to say (without ANY sarcasm) that you've impressed me. If you could only speak to people online with the same level of maturity and calmness that you evidenced in your emails to those teachers, you would be considered a valuable member of this society. It's just too bad that you haven't been able to keep that level here. Seems that something good (You when you are on your best behaviour) has gone to waste.

I'm not trying to say something to make you angry, but rather to compliment you on your beautiful emails and on the promise of what you could be if you only gave it a try.