Word of Caution!! Miko Ortiz of Wisconsin House Of Reptiles & Exotics(WHORE)

[Jim O]

My company had the misfortune to answer Miko's call requesting rodent caging so he could ramp up operations for a "national supply contract with Petco" he had recently won. Trusting him to his word and promise to execute a irrevocable letter of credit we took his PO and hurried to send him 25 ventilated mouse and rat racks. What an error of naivete. It's now 6 months later, Miko owes us $78,500. He has yet to make a single payment as he has repeatedly promised and continues to dodge phone calls from us and our attorney. After some google sleuthing we've found others in similar situations including his dentist, who had to take him to small claims court for a paltry $900. A word to the wise. Get payment up front, or even smarter, don't answer the phone.

Ian,

Assuming your version of these events is accurate, this guy has clearly done you wrong and perhaps committed a number of crimes. But there are a few questions I would ask and points I would make:

• Did you see this contract with Petco?
• Did you confirm with Petco that it was legitimate?
• Did he execute the letter of credit?
• Did you pull a credit report on him? I ask because any collection activities would be on it.
• Did you do a $20 search for civil actions against him in Wisconsin?
• Did you pull a D & B report on his business?
• Did you ship the first 5 racks so he could "ramp up" and wait for payment on those before shipping the others?
• Did you even do some simple "google sleuthing" in advance? It seems you might have found enough there without needing to do any of the above.

If you did all of that and got screwed then it only goes to show that even when one dots all the i's and crosses all the t's it still can happen.

This was not a simple "you got screwed out of $5000 worth of snakes" situation. It is much more serious than that. This was a very large business transaction and one in which "due diligence" was warranted.

I don't mean to come down too harshly on you as I am sure that you know that there were plenty of opportunities to avoid most if not all of your heartache and loss. I hope that your attorney is looking into this matter and that you have forwarded all of your information to the auhorities as well.

I own and manage residential real estate for a living. I pull a credit reoort and civil action history (not to mention a criminal background check) on every potential tenant. And no one moves in without a one month security deposit and the first month's rent in secure funds in my hand. I know it's a very different business model but my rents average only about $700/month and it only takes about a month to evict, and still I am very cautious.

I wish you the very best of luck trying to get any satisfaction from him.

Miko, where are you? We want to hear from you.

 

[brucestephenson]

$78,500.00?????!!!!!!!

$78,500.00?????!!!!!​

This has got to be a new BOI rip-off record!!!​

 

[NEWReptiles]

Does anybody know if Mikos given name is actually Michael A. Ortiz?

 

[lizfortune]

Does anybody know if Mikos given name is actually Michael A. Ortiz?

Sorry Al, I don't. Let us know if you figure it out and if there is anything relevant to this issue.

Chris, thanks (duhhhhhh!) on the POS.
Brian

 

[NEWReptiles]

My post was supposed to be subtle.

 

[lizfortune]

My post was supposed to be subtle.

Al,
What do you mean?
Thanks,
Brian

 

[NEWReptiles]

HMMMM, maybe my post was there so others knew his given name and could maybe even look him up on CCAP.

Its OK, even the slower folks catch on sooner or later.

 

[NEWReptiles]

This just gets better and better.

Now WHORE is selling rodent cages on KS.

I feel bad for the folks that got taken and wish you all the best of luck in recovering your money.

rodent cages for sale.

 

[lizfortune]

HMMMM, maybe my post was there so others knew his given name and could maybe even look him up on CCAP.

Its OK, even the slower folks catch on sooner or later.

Al,
I guess that was referring to me... ( ), though I am not sure how I was supposed to figure that out, but then again, that could be a little more of your point huh? Lol. Thanks for for the hint though.

Brian Aish

 

[NEWReptiles]

I shouldn't have been rude, but I was just trying to let you folks know who he was.

Let us know if you figure it out and if there is anything relevant to this issue.

I think I may have also misunderstood that quote.

Any who, good luck to the folks that were wronged.

 

[lizfortune]

I shouldn't have been rude, but I was just trying to let you folks know who he was.

Al,
No hard feelings. I just didn't read that from your "subtle" hint. Lol. But, thank you for the input. Anything that can add to the original point which will HOPEFULLY save somebody a lot of their hard-earned money, not to mention their time and aggravation, helps.

God Bless!
Brian

 

[WHORE]

OK now that I can log on I'll reply.

I just became aware of this thread today, so now I will reply.

Brian Aish

Yes I did commit to purchasing your animals the only problem was that with buying the new business it was a bad time, so for that I do appologize. That being said I need to reply to a couple of ther items.

As far as the astronomical 70K+ bill what he does not mention is that one of the shipments of those cages was almost a total lost. There was at least 40-50K in damaged cages that arrived. He knows that this is being worked out with Fedex insurance, I would also like to note the reason for the damage was due to improper packaging when they were loaded onto the semis. So YES I have not paid the bill because when we contacted them and said I would just return them he said that due to interstate shipping laws blah, blah blah I couldnt. So the only solution he left me with is waiting on the insurance company to rectify the solution.

Now isnt that a TOTALLY different picture..

As far as AL hey I dont know you, so I'll just choke it up to you thought you were doing the right thing. CCAP yeah go ahead check me out All but one of my instances are traffic Related I have a lead foot and $_it happens SO WHAT......

 

[Jim O]

As far as the astronomical 70K+ bill what he does not mention is that one of the shipments of those cages was almost a total lost. There was at least 40-50K in damaged cages that arrived. He knows that this is being worked out with Fedex insurance, I would also like to note the reason for the damage was due to improper packaging when they were loaded onto the semis. So YES I have not paid the bill because when we contacted them and said I would just return them he said that due to interstate shipping laws blah, blah blah I couldnt. So the only solution he left me with is waiting on the insurance company to rectify the solution.

Now isnt that a TOTALLY different picture..

Gotta love "spin". Now how about the rest of the story that you casually glossed over? The bill was $78,500. There was $50,000 in damage (upper end of the range that you quoted). That leaves $28,500 that you do owe. Where is the rest of his money?

Did you really think no one would pick that up?

And do explain the rodent breeding cages that you recently advertised for sale. Were they not the same ones that you haven't paid for yet?

And next time you put your word forward that you will buy something, perhaps a phone call (an e-mail even) to inform the seller who is holding something for you that you have reneged would be a good thing. That you only responded when you became aware of this thread indicates that you never would have anyway.

BTW, thanks Miko. I bought those chondros and they are spectacular. Your loss was my gain.

So, as is my custome of late, Miko, here's your sign:

 

[NEWReptiles]

Its no big deal to me at all. I just figured IF you did rip him off he would appreciate the info.

 

[WHORE]

I couldnt return them so until the insurance pays I'm not plain and simple.

 

[Jim O]

Avoiding the questions won't make them go away...

Miko,

What about the BALANCE? This is the second time that I am asking. Even if there was a $50,000 loss (and you are waiting for an insurance payment), what about the other $28,500? Are you telling us that you won't pay for the "good" ones either? There's a word for that and I believe it frequently does show up in criminal reports.

And what about the racks that you were selling? I noticed you avoided that question also. Would any truthful answer would have looked so bad that it's better to gloss over the question?

You aren't helping yourself here by avoiding the questions. It only lends credence to idea that you are a bad guy.

Miko, come clean.

 

[lizfortune]

Gotta love "spin". Now how about the rest of the story that you casually glossed over? The bill was $78,500. There was $50,000 in damage (upper end of the range that you quoted). That leaves $28,500 that you do owe. Where is the rest of his money?

Did you really think no one would pick that up?

And do explain the rodent breeding cages that you recently advertised for sale. Were they not the same ones that you haven't paid for yet?

And next time you put your word forward that you will buy something, perhaps a phone call (an e-mail even) to inform the seller who is holding something for you that you have reneged would be a good thing. That you only responded when you became aware of this thread indicates that you never would have anyway.

Wow! I could not say that any better!

Miko,
I even sent you an email requesting an explanation of what happened and that, if I did not get one, I was going to make a complaint to the BOI. Though Jim made an excellent point. The only reason you are apologizing is because of this complaint which has been going for several weeks!! At any time up until now you could have sent me an email explaining (or not) what happened or at least giving me a sincere apology. As I understood it from yours and my one conversation, you were in the process of closing two stores and remodeling one, not purchasing one. Not a major descrepancy, but suspicious in light of the other issues or concerns that have been voiced.

I sincerely believe you had a full plate (and probably then some), but so do I. And I spent a lot of time in good faith with you (mainly because you were a VERY established businessman). However, that being said, you did not have to come on here and reply. I will accept your apology though I want to re-iterate that I think it has little weight as it has taken you a very long time to apologize.

On the other hand, the above issues that Jim raises are extremely good points. And now that you have created this spark, please help us put out the flame and respond to them as Jim has asked twice and they are both valid issues.

Brian

 

[lizfortune]

Post deleted - Sorry, but people cannot bypass the paid membership requirement of posting on this forum by sending their message to another person to be posted here. That is the equivalent of an anonymous third party post AND a bypassing of the new requirement to post here.

- WebSlave

 

[lizfortune]

Sorry about that... my bad. I think I can explain what was said though. I received a personal email from a gentleman that had made a similar deal with Miko with a trio of boa constrictors and after making the arrangement, failed to follow through. I told him to come on here and post his letter/experience, so hopefully he will. It was almost identical to this one.

Brian

"Past behavior determines future misconduct."

 

[Classic Dum's]

My experiances with Miko. Im going to post all of this in three differant posts. 1st will be our first deal for some female BP's second will be the deal he bailed on and third will be whats current.

Anyway last year I had gotten in 2 female BP's from seperate places(one from a person I didnt know and the other from a friend) both looked good and were sold to me as gaurenteed feeders. I had them about 3 days, listed them on ksnake. My ad plainly stated I had just got them in, I had not atempted to feed them, they were mite and tick free, looked good but were being sold under market value AS IS since I had just got them in and hadnt feed them nor had them long enough to observe for normal behavior. Miko replied said he wanted both animals and would pick them up at Lee Watson show the following weekend. Well beleive it or not he actually shown to get them. Now earlier in the day I had someone else who dropped another female ball on me at the show(so that makes 3) so Miko took all 3 female. One problem, the origanal two I stuck in a rubbermaid tub to transport and give them to him in. When I got in and set up for the show they were fine, I placed the tub on top of a box under my table and left them there till he got there when I pulled the animals out to show him, the one that came from the person I didnt know took the most rancid disgusting crap I have ever seen or smelled in my life. I dont know what caused the odor of this feces bt it was nasty. So I pull the animals out and go to clean the cage and wipe the animals down and MIko syas no dont worry about it I have to get going. Has me place the animlas back in the box in that nasty crap because he refuses to wait. Ron the vendor next to me could smell the crap and he couldnt beleive Miko wouldnt wait 30 seconds to clean it out. So Miko breifly inspected all 3 animals, handed me the cash and left. That was the last I heard from him for a month.

A month later I get an email saying the one that had taken the rancid crap died a week after he got it. In his email and I quote "I know I bought these as is so I dont expect anything but I wanted to let you know incase you exposed your colony to this one" Now why he waited an additional 3weeks to contact me after then animal supposidly died is beyond me. Since I was aware of the racid crap it took I emailed and told him Id give him a credit I wasnt going to leave a costumer hanging. I had two giant colombian females at that time I was waiting on to drop. I offered 2.2 babies he told me no he said and I quote "just give me a pair I can move them through my pet store and break even" Well of course then I slugged everything out last year. so that was pretty much it for that. Once they slugged I contacted him and told him about some other animals I was selling which I will fill in, in the next post.