• 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.

What to do?

M

montezuma

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To start off an individual emailed me regarding APTOR crosses, asking me questions such as are the 100% hets and such and telling me he wanted to hold out until it got larger. After 15+ emails later he tells me he wants it but cannot afford to pay all of it at once and asks if I can hold it till it reaches size. I directed him to my terms page and told him if my terms are suitable for him then I would reluctantly put a hold on it for him. My terms clearly state that I will hold the gecko for 30 days with a 25% non-refundable deposit. On the 13th of July he sent me $100 out of the total which would be $350. On the 18th (after another 15 or so emails!) he sent me another $100 and told me he would send the rest "whenever I am ready for it" (whatever that means)... NOW, 2 days later I recieve an email from him stating he needs all of his money back due to major car problems. By the way, I forgot to mention he was considering an additional gecko... he decided to wait and get one from someone else to diversify.
Any ideas on what I should do? I can certainly understand car problems, they suck. But I had 2 other people that inquired about that specific gecko that I turned away and how do I know he isn't just wanting the $$ back to buy from someone else?
 
Thats a tough one Gene, Since you clearly state that 25% is due to hold it for 30 days and its been 7 and that would be $87.50 that by your terms he agreed would be nonrefundable you should be entitled to that amount.

Im a softy though, Id refund it but that leaves the door open for others to demand a refund if you do it this time, saying Oh your terms say that but I know you refunded so and so.

So I don't know why I posted cause I just don't know.
 
Problem solved....
Thanks for the input Wendy. I called him and discussed it with him on the phone, we agreed to a partial refund and holding the $$ as a deposit for later use... beneficial solution to both parties!
 
Gene that is great! And a good way for him to get what he needs for his car repairs and neither of you lose out, you get to keep something towards him purchasing a leo and he will get his car fixed and an awesome leo from you when he is in better shape money wise!
 
Be careful Gene, there are some bad people out there. I know, bad people have hurt me and I'm still a kid. I would be very careful, I dont mean to say anything bad about this guy but bad things can happen to good people. I already saw a couple red flags go up and your suspicion is sensible. I really hope everything works out with this guy!
 
I used to be a "softy" as well when it came to deposits and such. For quite some time we stopped taking ANY payment plans and/or deposits due to a string of bad experiences. Enough was enough....

But It was not fair to those who actually held up their end of arrangements... And with some newer more expensive morphs showing their heads a lot of people simply cannot make a large lump sum purchase. You have to accommodate your customers.

Now we require 25% non-refundable deposits. Depending on the arrangements we accept 20,60, and 90 day plans. Some weekly payments, and some on a honor system where as long as payment in full is made by a specific date we're happy. And by non-refundable I mean non-refundable. Customers may not like it if something legitimate does occur in the lines of a hardship but them are the breaks.... If they attempt to back out of arrangements they immediately forfeit their 25% deposit. Any funds paid in addition to the initial deposit are then refunded and no further questions are asked. You'll find that most who try to back out of such arrangements act as if it is a shock even though they are made completely aware of the terms before entering an agreement. They will almost always usually try to pick up the transaction as if nothing happened......

You would be surprised how many people do this in order to snag a deal they find elsewhere and they are literally shocked when the nonrefundable deposit they gave actually turns out to be NONREFUNDABLE. Soon as they realise you will REALLY take their deposit it quickly snaps them back in line. And in some cases they are simply ignorant and hostile. Them are the breaks....

I look at it this way, if you put a downpayment on a piece of real estate and back out do you get it back?

If you put money into a lease automobile and default on your payments are you refunded?

Can you make a partial payment on your utility bills and find you're unable to complete the full payment and get a refund for what you've paid into it thus far?

Nope.

I used to bend BIGTIME on deposits, in fact until last year I cannot recall one single customer I kept a deposit from who backed out for any reason. Now however... It's a new ballgame. Live and learn.... Eventually you'll find out the hard way after a few potential sales have passed and some big losses have hurt you in inopportune times.... I operate a business. It puts food on my table and pays my employees. I cant allow the irresponsible actions of a few people looking to bend and twist policy to affect those who depend on me in any way shape or form. Granted there will be the occasional hard luck story that will turn out to be 110% legitimate, but when these people enter into these arrangements they know exactly what they are getting into. Most people who REALLY run into hard times will not even bring it up or let it be known. Why? Because they are responsible individuals who realize what they have agreed too and know it is not an option.

Good luck with your customer, and good luck in the future. I hope you never have to deal with one of these messes.... It always pulls at your heartstrings.... Especially when you try to enforce your rules equally and you're unsure of who's legit and who's simply trying to give it to you without lubrication.

:)
 
I've got to agree with Chris on this one. You've got your terms there for a reason. I'm gald you were able to work something out.

-Alice
 
Chris you are basically saying to keep the 25% and as stated by Gene he is holding a deposit for later use and only refunded a partial amount. The guy paid $200 towards $350 where 25% deposit would be $87.50 not $200. Thats up to Gene if he kept the $87.50 and refunded the rest or not but he DID NOT refund the entire amount.

So Gene worked this out to best benefit him and a potential customer without either loosing out completely if the deal never goes threw Gene keeps the amount they agreed upon during the phone call.

What more could you ask for? He did enforce the rules, he kept a portion of payments and probably has a life long customer too.

So Im guessing you are referring to me as the softie and thats cool, I am, have been and just can't help it at times, but I also do not take deposits, its sold or not, no deposits to pay on as I do not have animals of the higher $$$ that some do.

I have held animals for a week or 2 a couple of times when someone said they wanted them and waited for a reply since they were very sound in their emails that they were going to purchase them, I no longer do that, so I am trying to be a better hard@ss, just takes me more time :dgrin:
 
Yes, had it been me I would have done the same. If an agreement such as Genes could not be decided upon we would have kept the 25% ( $87.50 ) and refunded any additional funds the seller paid into the purchase and sent him\her on his way. I'm glad Gene was able to come to a resolution with the buyer, it does not happen very often. Usually no matter what they agree too these types want thier money and accept nothing else.... Amusing considering they are more than willing to agree to the terms in the begining when it benifits them. :)

I try to come to arrangements with those having problems meeting the terms they agreed upon but in most cases people are usually just out to take advantage of you and have no interest in following through with a purchase at that point. Gene got lucky... In a sense.... Very few of those types of situations turn out "pleasant" unless the customer gets exactly what they want regardless of what they may have agreed upon.

PS. I'm not sure if your were disagreeing with what I had stated in my previous post or if you thought I was directing anything specifically at you by saying "softie". This is not the case.... I'd re-read it to make a better determination but my head hurts :)

Either way I hear where some of you are coming from.... Its a tough thing to tell someone who may possibly have a legitimate motivation to back out of a deal that they are forfeiting thier depsoit, but policy should be enforced equally. Given the experiences I've had with these particular types of incidences I'm a firm believer now......
 
It is hard Chris and I only thougt you referred to me as the softie since I admitted to it in my beginning post, and I do agree with you, it is hard at best, there are some people who will do anything to get out of a sale, I even had one last spring that paid in full, received the tracking number and the morning he was to get them he said oppps, my wife is p-oed and I have to get a refund and they were delivered within an hour of him sending the email.

When I explained to him that he had to keep them for at least 5 days being chameleons to hydrate them and make sure they wre ready to be shipped back and pay return shipping and only be refunded for the animals alone, no shipping to him or me, his wife all of a sudden a couple of hours later had fallen in love and he was able to keep them. Could all have been true on his side but who knows!

But there are and always will be those that are impossible to deal with and thankfully there are the ones that you can work out an agreement with that makes both parties happy.
 
BTW, the amount that is not being refunded is actually higher than the 25%... just thought I would add that in there... and it was at the customers request.
 
Thats great Gene, its always nice when things like that can be worked out well for both sides!
 
I must be hardcore. Except holding for a couple days - I don't let people deposit. I get too many kids who called, trying to get me to hold things. I have too much other stuff going on in my life. I might lose some sales, but in the long run, I live a much less complicated life.

Gene - i'm glad it worked out for you. You are a peach!!!
 
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