Wisdom from Isis Reptiles (Shannon Brown)

[habanero]

Hello my name is Jim Duffy from San Diego. I have been a monitor person for about 5 years but this August decided to embark on a snake breeding project mainly colubrids to do with my 12 year old son. So in these last few months me not being a snake person sought out the advice of many breeders on Kingsnake. Also along the way purchased about 120 snakes or more. Now you see the title on this thread so you may think I might have had a bad dealing with Shannon Brown. But I have heard of some of his dealings but cannot confirm them or deny them either. Lets just say that we all can learn from them whether they be true or not. I have had 2 conversations with him regarding a possible purchase but changed my mind because I just don't want too many Thayeri right now. I am a beginner although a fast learner and cannot have too many picky eaters but do love Mtn Kings and Thayeri nonetheless.

Anyways I had the greatest pleasure of getting to know Mike Madec (Isis Reptiles) an extremely good guy in this business. If you ask Mike an opinion or question be prepared to get a straight and honest answer. An answer you might not like but no sugarcoating. Mike does things in his business that others may not do and this keeps him out of trouble. From what I know of Shannon people gave him animals with a promise of I will pay you later. Or let me take these and I will produce animals and pay you. So I do not think Shannon had the intention of any wrongdoing but was in a bind and thought these dealings might get him out of the other family/financial problems he was in.

Kind of like the habitual gambler who borrows money not to pay off the debt but gambles again to win the big one and pay everything off and have profit too. Gambling like any other addiction has casualties. Not just the person involved but those close to him and those he got to buy into his cause and made a bad investment in him. So I now go back to Mike Madecs wisdom. And I quote him "There is no guarantee you will produce baby snakes no matter what you have" Now I do not defend Shannon but why would any knowledgeable breeder give animals to someone in this situation? Also we all know that life can throw us some curves so why are experienced breeders giving valuable snakes to people on credit??? Or consignment??? What if that individual totals their car! Falls ill! Gets divorced! Honestly folks I am new at this Reptile business but non refundable deposits and payments over a few months and a written terms of service regarding deposits and payments seems a heck of a lot smarter and there would be no Shannon Brown situation on this site if thats how we would all conduct our business!!! Again I am not saying Shannon is guilty and I am not saying he isn't. And I am not saying the people who did business with him were stupid. Just they may have erred a bit in business judgement.

Look do you leave a bottle of booze around for a small child to have acess to! Do you lend money to a habitual gambler? So why give valuable reptiles or any other commodity to anyone on credit. Let them make payments!!!
Can we especially the new breeders on this site learn from this!!! More of Mike Madecs wisdom.
1.Do not take deposits from anyone unless you have already produced the animals and they are ready to go (eating/healthy)
2.Do not count on producing anything until it is produced.
3.Don't spend the payment until your animals are in your customers hands safely.
4.Buy quality animals, What you got is what you produce.
5.If you breed quite a few pairs keep feed and shed sheets otherwise how will you be able to keep track of your stock and babies.
6.Better to cool your animal over winter then sell it if it is not ready.
7Thoroughly check out the reputation of the breeders you buy from.

Now I know I am rambling on here but I finish this off with my thanks to Isis Reptiles and Mike for helping me with so much information. I visited his facility. He had over 1,000 snakes. He had feed sheets for all of them. Every time I opened up a tub to see one of his snakes it was sooooo clean. He and his wife Isis check every snake every day. I have never seen more beautiful Blackheads, Patternless Pines, Brooks Morphs and Womas than his. He gave me very, very good deals on groups of animals and his 4 Pitbull Terriers almost licked my son and his friends to death.To you people on Fauna who read this Mike and Isis are not just Good guys but Great Guys. I consider him a mentor to me in this hobby and also a friend!You may not always agree with his opinions and neither may I but he is doing this business/hobby the way it should be done. I will buy from him again and again. On a final final note I list the other Good guys who sold me quality stuff and also shared knowledge with me. Thanks to Tom Sierra (Colorado) for Hondos and Irian jayas. Tom Hanasien (Mass.) Hondo Morphs, Scott Micheals DVM (Chicago) Sinaloans, Pyros, Knoblochi, Chris Baubel CA. Thayeri, Santa Ritas, Jonel Lopez CA. (Thayeri), Lower Ground Reptiles Cal Kings, Pyros, Kammooks (Cal Kings)
Joey Muggleston Utah (Cal Kings), Karma Kritters Fla (Nelsons, assorted Milks)
Susan Hardy CA. (Mex Milks, sinaloans) Northwest Herp (Bullsnakes), Aubun Reptile Robert Bissell (Pyros), John Domke CA. (albino Nelsons), Richard Ceniceros (Hondo Morphs) and Isis Reptiles Black Mexican Kings, Black Milks, Brooks Morphs, Speckled Kings, Nelson Morphs etc.
I would buy for all of these people again. They worked with me to give me a fair price and all of the animals listed were in good health.
Take care!
Jim Duffy

 

[Dennis Hultman]

Mike and Isis are wonderful people. I've also been to their place and it was a great experience. They even put up with my children. That’s stating a lot. I called to ask Mike questions about a clutch I had from a snake I purchased from him three years earlier and he was extremely helpful and more than willing to share his experiences with me. He has to be the easiest person to talk to. I have recommended Isis reptiles to many people because of these experiences.

I wish this were a straight good guy thread about Isis Reptiles without Shannon’s name on it. Mike doesn't really post on forums and I hate to see someone else's name that isn't in good standing tied to his name on a BOI thread.
Everything you stated was extremely accurate. Buy from Isis reptiles with confidence.

 

[habanero]

Wisdom from Isis Reptiles

Hi Dennis,
The reason I mention Shannon is that if people who breed animals and sell animals would follow the example Isis sets on how to do business then we would not have all these threads about Shannon. If Shannon did do what people said he did it could have been prevented by breeders being more business smart. Mike Madec from Isis runs a tight ship. If we follow Mikes example then we do not give an opportunity to someone who will take advantage of us because of their desperation. It's kind of like if you leave your car unlocked items may be missing when you get back. So why give a bunch of animals to some one when there is absolutely no guarantee they will produce and be able to pay you back?
Maybe some of us are too trusting sometimes. But if I ever do consignment or deliver now get paid later. It will have to be someone local.
Thanks for replying.
Jim

 

[Wilomn]

Hi Dennis,
The reason I mention Shannon is that if people who breed animals and sell animals would follow the example Isis sets on how to do business then we would not have all these threads about Shannon. If Shannon did do what people said he did it could have been prevented by breeders being more business smart. Mike Madec from Isis runs a tight ship. If we follow Mikes example then we do not give an opportunity to someone who will take advantage of us because of their desperation. It's kind of like if you leave your car unlocked items may be missing when you get back. So why give a bunch of animals to some one when there is absolutely no guarantee they will produce and be able to pay you back?
Maybe some of us are too trusting sometimes. But if I ever do consignment or deliver now get paid later. It will have to be someone local.
Thanks for replying.
Jim

Some people still, in this day and age, trust. They actually expect others to do what they say they will.

shannon preyed upon it apparently. I know for a fact he is still buying animals. I know for a fact he still owes money. I know for a fact that he won't be seeing any of mine, money or animals.

Mike is Great, through and through one of the good guys. I've done business with him, talked to him, and admired a lot of his stock.

 

[critical bill]

Am I reading this right, that this Duffy guy is trying to lay partial blame on Shannon's victims because they sort of helped him to be his victims?

I just knew this was going to be a really weird night on the BOI.

 

[monkeywrench133]

Am I reading this right, that this Duffy guy is trying to lay partial blame on Shannon's victims because they sort of helped him to be his victims?

You're reading it right. Sounds like someone needs Al-anon.

 

[Jim O]

Mike is one of the truly good guys in the business. I was fortunate enough to acquire to a pair of beautiful BHP's from him a couple of years back and everything was flawless. Mike was a pleasure to deal with and talk to throughout and I would do business with him again in a heartbeat.

 

[starwarsdad]

I bought a pair of black pines from Mike and Isis 3 years ago. I asked them for the darkest, closest to patternless animals they had.

I would take current pictures, but they are brumating for the first time. These animals are incredible and blow away nearly every black pine I have seen.

The deal was flawless.

Thanks Isis and Mike!

 

[Dixie Reptiles]

Jim,I am friends with Mike and know what he would have told you about Shannon.Get real ! If we all did business the way you suggest no one could ever buy anything on time .What we are trying to accomplish is to let trusting people know Shannon is full of crap.He cries divorce my kids my job and all the other poor me woes and then spends money on himself the he owes others.In Rodney,s case he built trust by paying for small amounts of snakes and then when he got several thousand dollars worth in credit he struck.Do me a favor and dont put Mike Madec,s name in the same sentence or thread with Shannon Brown.Terry

 

[habanero]

Wisdom from Isis Reptiles

Noooooo Waaaaay am I trying to lay any blame on someone for what Shannon did or did not do. Sellers and Breeders from this point on can save themselves a lot of heartache if they just have a policy of no delivery until they get paid. I knew when I wrote this post some people would say I am taking some blame off of Shannon by saying the individuals who did business with him mad a bad decision. Now from what I know whoever was the first person that did not get paid had absolutely any clue that they would not get their money. But once they did realize it and they made it known to other breeders why did these other breeders take the risk. I guess some of us can be tooooo trusting. But I do imagine that some also thought by giving Shannon a deal they would be helping another breeder get back on his feet. But the bottom line is sellers and breeders can protect themselves. Now buying is a different story. Many of us buy animals from across the country and are always at risk of getting taken unless we really do the research.

Now without taking sides here I do not think anyone that owes anyone should buy anything else until their debt is paid! At the very least if the debt cannot be paid in money then it should be paid in the value of animals!!! And we all know that the Bad guys on these posts may not have money to pay back but they do have animals. Now I do not know much about the law. But I do have a legal insurance plan that costs me about $29 a month called Pre Paid Legal. I have friends that have used it in cases like this. Those of you who have been ripped should check into this. Especially if the guy who ripped you is still selling, buying and has breeding stock. Legally until you get paid back you can stop him from selling on the web and shows and even sue him for the value of the animals he owns. So literally $29 a month on a month to month basis you can quit anytime can get a major legal firm after the guy who ripped you. So you can write all you want about Shannon and others because that informs us that may not be informed. But if you want to get paid and we all want to get paid $29 a month is worth a shot to get back thousands lost. Especially when you know these guys have thousands of dollars in breeding stock. So in a nutshell my original post was to share what I learned from Isis so I do not get burned and others do not get burned. Also to share and be thankful to all those that really helped me these last few months especially Isis.

Oh and by the way. I am not some bleeding heart sympathizer. If I had my way their would be jail time for those that rip off a breeder. Most breeders do this part time. So one bad transaction could kill their hobby and supplemental income from that hobby. And I look at that as taking away a man's livlelyhood
even his family's financial security. So with that being said everything and every means necessary should be used to get paid back and yes punish the individual.
Jim

 

[ChaosCat]

Hey Jim, thanks for the recommendation. You're pretty awesome yourself, so are the animals you sent me. Isis Reptiles is a great business, I still need to get down to Ventura to see them again, but last time I was down there, Mike and Isis had no problem showing me their animals and setup. It was awesome!