So first off, I really toiled with posting this thread. Sadly, things went south rather quickly with Mike and to a point where I can’t stay quiet for the sake of the club membership, for what it’s worth to any of you all.
Summary:
1) Mike “TheCoralShop” posted a thread and had a rock with 6-7 RBTA’s and a pair of maroon clownfish for sale. I immediately agreed to his asking price and set up a time to pick up the livestock.
2) August 13[SUP]th[/SUP], I arrived at Mike’s place and he explained 3-4 RBTA’s were attached to another rock that was holding up the structure of his remaining rocks. Mike wanted more time to not only get the remaining rock out but to also catch the clowns, which were giving him problems due to all the rock.
3) Mike asked if I was okay with getting the rest of the livestock, 3-4 RBTA’s and the clowns at a later time as soon as he could break things down. (Note: Both my better half, who was with me, and I remembered Mike specifically saying there was 3, possibly 4 more RBTA’s on the rock he had to get out later, and we saw at least 2 but couldn’t see behind the rock) Mike stated he would even bring them to me, as it was an inconvenience what happened after I drove all the way down to his place. Being flexible, as anyone on here that knows me, I agreed and stated I could meet him halfway like Bass Pro or something so he wouldn’t have to drive all the way up to my place. I then paid for the livestock.
4) September 15[SUP]th[/SUP], I contacted Mike and asked if he was ready for the RBTA’s (plural) with the clowns. Mike stated he had just got back into town and would work on it.
5) September 19[SUP]th[/SUP], Mike got back with me and stated he had gotten them out. I gave him my schedule and explained that I was getting rid of my reef and only keeping my FOWLR with nems and that I was most interested in the rock with Nem’s (again, plural). I explained I would have to juggle my clownfish around since I was going to be heavy a pair with the maroons. Mike responded asking if I still wanted them [the clowns]. I replied saying I DEFINITELY needed the rock w/nems (plural) and I would just have to juggle the clowns I have or sell a pair to a good home. Mike stated a good friend of his wanted them bad [the clowns] and asked if he hooked them up with the clowns if I would be cool him hooking me up with coral. Mike responded before I was able to and said to disregard because that person couldn’t do it after all. I told Mike that was too bad and that I would’ve been cool with the coral for clowns scenario.
6) September 21-22, attempted to contact Mike. September 23[SUP]rd[/SUP], Mike responded and stated “I got ‘em a home”. Not understanding exactly what that meant I asked if he meant the clowns and he stated, “yeah.” At this point I was having a funny feeling so I replied asking when we could hook up for the Nem’s (plural). I added that I might have to come down and look at coral at a later time, in trade for the clownfish, but I was ready for the Nem’s. Mike replied saying, “There was only one left and I left it with the clowns like I told ya I was partial to them and couldn’t do that to ‘em.”
In the remaining deteriorating communication, I confirmed my position that Mike mentioned there were 3 possibly 4 RBTA’s left on the rock “owed” and he gave them away with the clownfish? I explained I knew he was partial to them but that I would still take them and if it came down to it would find them a good home, and one with an anemone to host. Sidenote; Am I not capable of finding them a good home as easily as Mike? Not to mention they were already bought and paid for!
I reiterated the point that I paid him up front for this livestock and was explicit in that I was flexible on the clownfish in the scenario he provided, but NOT flexible on the Nem’s. I also reiterated that I had already paid for this livestock up front and only agreed to the later delivery as a favor to him.
The replies immediately became defensive saying if I didn’t believe him he would have me talk to the person who bought them (who cares honestly, what would that prove??), and that there was only ONE anemone left. NOT THE CASE.
I tried extremely hard to remain friendly in reply to the defensive responses trying to get to the bottom of what happened and why. It just continually got worse. Mike stated he wasn’t going to “strip” the clowns of their nem because that would’ve been “wrong”. He explained he would get in touch with me after MACNA to figure it out.
I told Mike I was ONLY flexible leaving that day without everything in hand, as a favor to him since he was not prepared. Now he was pulling this non-sense. I told him there was no reason HE had to be the one to find them a new home (since he took it upon himself to do so) with livestock I had already purchased. I told him the best option at that point in our communication was to simply reimburse me what he was paid by whatever member and we could call it good and I would take my business elsewhere. I figured this was completely reasonable since the livestock he sold was technically owned by me and I had completed my part of the deal.
Mike simply replied, “I will get you another nem in replacement after I get back from MACNA.”
I told Mike I was no longer interested in doing “business” or anything face-to-face with him any longer and provided him my Paypal account to reimburse me whatever he was paid for the livestock I already owned. His response, “Nope you’ll get merchandise and the feeling is mutual believe me” [about doing business]
That is the long and short of the situation. I contacted Mike on October 21[SUP]st[/SUP], as this was well past MACNA, and again today October 23[SUP]rd[/SUP]. No response to anything.
My commentary is limited to this; I am a very principle and integrity based person who doesn’t have much tolerance for BS. That said, I am semi-used to this kind of nonsense from people on Craigslist and a limited couple of members I have dealt with on MASC. However, I have much higher expectations for a vendor/sponsor as a business-for-profit. These are the types of situations which make me not want to be flexible and/or “nice” to others when completing transactions. “Nice” always seems to bite you in the rear. Buyer beware is ALWAYS in effect when dealing with Craigslist stuff, but shouldn’t be with a vendor/sponsor. IMHO
Summary:
1) Mike “TheCoralShop” posted a thread and had a rock with 6-7 RBTA’s and a pair of maroon clownfish for sale. I immediately agreed to his asking price and set up a time to pick up the livestock.
2) August 13[SUP]th[/SUP], I arrived at Mike’s place and he explained 3-4 RBTA’s were attached to another rock that was holding up the structure of his remaining rocks. Mike wanted more time to not only get the remaining rock out but to also catch the clowns, which were giving him problems due to all the rock.
3) Mike asked if I was okay with getting the rest of the livestock, 3-4 RBTA’s and the clowns at a later time as soon as he could break things down. (Note: Both my better half, who was with me, and I remembered Mike specifically saying there was 3, possibly 4 more RBTA’s on the rock he had to get out later, and we saw at least 2 but couldn’t see behind the rock) Mike stated he would even bring them to me, as it was an inconvenience what happened after I drove all the way down to his place. Being flexible, as anyone on here that knows me, I agreed and stated I could meet him halfway like Bass Pro or something so he wouldn’t have to drive all the way up to my place. I then paid for the livestock.
4) September 15[SUP]th[/SUP], I contacted Mike and asked if he was ready for the RBTA’s (plural) with the clowns. Mike stated he had just got back into town and would work on it.
5) September 19[SUP]th[/SUP], Mike got back with me and stated he had gotten them out. I gave him my schedule and explained that I was getting rid of my reef and only keeping my FOWLR with nems and that I was most interested in the rock with Nem’s (again, plural). I explained I would have to juggle my clownfish around since I was going to be heavy a pair with the maroons. Mike responded asking if I still wanted them [the clowns]. I replied saying I DEFINITELY needed the rock w/nems (plural) and I would just have to juggle the clowns I have or sell a pair to a good home. Mike stated a good friend of his wanted them bad [the clowns] and asked if he hooked them up with the clowns if I would be cool him hooking me up with coral. Mike responded before I was able to and said to disregard because that person couldn’t do it after all. I told Mike that was too bad and that I would’ve been cool with the coral for clowns scenario.
6) September 21-22, attempted to contact Mike. September 23[SUP]rd[/SUP], Mike responded and stated “I got ‘em a home”. Not understanding exactly what that meant I asked if he meant the clowns and he stated, “yeah.” At this point I was having a funny feeling so I replied asking when we could hook up for the Nem’s (plural). I added that I might have to come down and look at coral at a later time, in trade for the clownfish, but I was ready for the Nem’s. Mike replied saying, “There was only one left and I left it with the clowns like I told ya I was partial to them and couldn’t do that to ‘em.”
In the remaining deteriorating communication, I confirmed my position that Mike mentioned there were 3 possibly 4 RBTA’s left on the rock “owed” and he gave them away with the clownfish? I explained I knew he was partial to them but that I would still take them and if it came down to it would find them a good home, and one with an anemone to host. Sidenote; Am I not capable of finding them a good home as easily as Mike? Not to mention they were already bought and paid for!
I reiterated the point that I paid him up front for this livestock and was explicit in that I was flexible on the clownfish in the scenario he provided, but NOT flexible on the Nem’s. I also reiterated that I had already paid for this livestock up front and only agreed to the later delivery as a favor to him.
The replies immediately became defensive saying if I didn’t believe him he would have me talk to the person who bought them (who cares honestly, what would that prove??), and that there was only ONE anemone left. NOT THE CASE.
I tried extremely hard to remain friendly in reply to the defensive responses trying to get to the bottom of what happened and why. It just continually got worse. Mike stated he wasn’t going to “strip” the clowns of their nem because that would’ve been “wrong”. He explained he would get in touch with me after MACNA to figure it out.
I told Mike I was ONLY flexible leaving that day without everything in hand, as a favor to him since he was not prepared. Now he was pulling this non-sense. I told him there was no reason HE had to be the one to find them a new home (since he took it upon himself to do so) with livestock I had already purchased. I told him the best option at that point in our communication was to simply reimburse me what he was paid by whatever member and we could call it good and I would take my business elsewhere. I figured this was completely reasonable since the livestock he sold was technically owned by me and I had completed my part of the deal.
Mike simply replied, “I will get you another nem in replacement after I get back from MACNA.”
I told Mike I was no longer interested in doing “business” or anything face-to-face with him any longer and provided him my Paypal account to reimburse me whatever he was paid for the livestock I already owned. His response, “Nope you’ll get merchandise and the feeling is mutual believe me” [about doing business]
That is the long and short of the situation. I contacted Mike on October 21[SUP]st[/SUP], as this was well past MACNA, and again today October 23[SUP]rd[/SUP]. No response to anything.
My commentary is limited to this; I am a very principle and integrity based person who doesn’t have much tolerance for BS. That said, I am semi-used to this kind of nonsense from people on Craigslist and a limited couple of members I have dealt with on MASC. However, I have much higher expectations for a vendor/sponsor as a business-for-profit. These are the types of situations which make me not want to be flexible and/or “nice” to others when completing transactions. “Nice” always seems to bite you in the rear. Buyer beware is ALWAYS in effect when dealing with Craigslist stuff, but shouldn’t be with a vendor/sponsor. IMHO
