Steve Lake/Brit

[ravenous]

Some more info on Steve Lake/Brit...I sent $200 to 'Brit' to get some Tylototriton asperrimus, but when I canceled the order a couple weeks ago I never got my money back or a reply from 'Brit.'

-Dan

 

[anonymous]

So far I haven't heard of anybody being ripped off. Suppose Brit is purchasing these animals for resale. He gets a commitment and the money for animals. He might have the animals in hand or might have to purchase more animals. $200.00 shouldn't break him but what if several people backed out and wanted their money back. The nice thing to do would be refund the money. As I see it Brit is responsible to either send healthy animals or a refund. How would you like it if somebody promised you money for something and then backed out.

 

[nate]

Hello "Anonymous". Well, I suppose if I didn't like people backing out or demanding refunds, I certainly wouldn't be a herp merchant. If the animals aren't in hand or he needs time to order them after money is received, he should really explain that.

 

[john]

And may I add that "anonymous" postings aren't appropriate in this kind of topic and that I and the moderators know this Anonymous's identity.

 

[jesper]

To sell something you don't have is fraud. To sell something that you will have is also on the fringe of fraud, at least if the situation is not explained(IE this kinds of deals should really only be made with people one trusts eh

Just my opinion!

Btw, I love the 24 hour login bar!!!
John, everybody who has been here in the last 24h know who anonymous is. LOL!

 

[john]

Good point Jesper, I didn't notice that. That sort of negates the existence of the Anonymous facility. I'll have to do something about that - I don't want to prevent people from posting anonymously under certain circumstances.

 

[nate]

Hello Michael. "Anonymous" isn't appropriate in this case because it's a review/testimonial of a dealer (yes, it's technically in the wrong section of the forum). Whether we give a favorable or an unfavorable review or opinion on a person/merchant, we owe them and everyone else who reads the post the courtesy of a real name.

Dan didn't specify any details as to what was said/promised and when so I suppose there's really little to discuss other than general philosophy of herp business practices. As a newt socialist, I'll stay out of that one for now.

 

[ravenous]

Yes Mike, you would be correct in assuming Steve/Brit has had my money for well over a month. And I paid with a money order.

Here's what exactly happened: Late in December, I sent in exactly $200.00 to Brit when she agreed to give me 2 T. asperrimus in exchange for the money. After I had sent in the money, she told me that all of her asperrimus had died, and started to ask me if I was interested in any other newts. I said no, except if she could get more asperrimus, and I told her that I wanted my money back. After that, I saw an advert she posted on kingsnake.com claiming she had more T. asperrimus, so I contacted her again (apparently she still had my money) and told her I wanted 3 T. asperrimus plus the change (they were less expensive this time around). But after considering how her first batch of newts turned out and her questionable identity I decided to back out and asked her for a refund of my $200--I sent it to her on January 24th, and I still don't have a reply or my money back. I'd also like to mention that Brit has not previously taken this long to respond, with her usually responding within two to four days.

-Dan

 

[cataldo]

Have you emailed her recently? I just inquired about some asperrimus and she answered the next day.

Dan: try again, it wouldnt't hurt, I would.

as a side note: The weather has been terrible in some of the east coast areas.

 

[r]

Re: Brit's Amphibians
As I have mentioned in several private e-mails when I was queried, I have dealt on several occasions with Brit's amphibians. I know no more about the actual identity of the seller than anyone else on this forum (or probably elsewhere), but I can unequivocally state that until this moment, every order that I have placed has been honored and that I still hear on a fairly regular basis from Brit.
Cheers/Dick

 

[jesper]

Too add something to the debate,
Have any of you thought about tylototriton asperrimus status?
I thought this animal were on the brink of extinction and extremely rare?
I don't know if I would be defined as a socialist or a liberal(too crude for me

) but what I do know is that I do want animals like tylototriton asperrimus to be protected and not be sold on auctions to the highest bidder.

There should be limits for free trade and to me this is crossing that limit.

 

[cataldo]

also to ad: In my email about the animals available, Brit had mentioned something about her brother taking over all of the "business" as she puts it, could that have delayed things?, with everything being somewhat NEW to the brother? I order 2 animals, let's see what happens. I'll make sure everyone knows.

Dan: I urge you to email again, maybe something got mixed up, I can't see you lose your money, that's why I'm telling you to try.

Cataldo

 

[sergé]

Ethics, that's where it comes down to. Where do you draw the line for yourself?
I truly hate it when people make large profits, using newts and salamanders just as luxury goods. Get a job and earn your money, but not over the backs of salamanders and newts. They are still living beings.
But on the other hand...as long as there are people willing to pay large sums of money for animals of which they can assume that they were not legally imported nor captive bred...than bloods sticks on both sides.

I have nothing against people taking some animals from the wild to start a breeding group and intend to breed a species to share the offspring with some of us. That's the way a species should become into our hobby, to my opinion. And it works, not always, but for many species it works.

Oh, well, I still dream and hope for a better world but as long as we among each other still try and rip each other of..what will come of it. Can't we just see each other as friends with the same goal; keeping and breeding nice and interesting animals and sharing it with each other? Well, hopefully we can throw the rotten apples out of the caudata.org basket and stay aware of the clean ones that start to rot. Good work Michael!

 

[nate]

Hi Sergé, I completely agree with your sentiments. It does work, and it's really the only way in my opinion. Well said.

 

[john]

I have seen enough evidence and testimony in private to believe beyond doubt that Cataldo and Steve are the same individual.

Due to his recent conduct in the chatrooms and the duplicity of all of his actions I've removed his donor status (he never gave money to the site but he did register and point caudataculture.com at this server). I have not banned him from the site and while I won't prevent people from posting their experiences of dealing with him, I won't tolerate general badmouthing of him.

Don't make this a flame war people.

To Steve: you got off pretty lightly here. Please be honest in the future and make good on your deals.

 

[john]

I've also removed Cataldo's complimentary caudata.org email address.