A breeder's rant...

[The Sunset Gang]

Marcia, try not to let these rude people get under your skin. You are a wonderful woman who was and still is always there to help me with geckos i bought from YOU. HaHa. Just tell them that you are a busy woman, and if they want to time of day to buy one of your gorgeous geckos. I hope you get better and make a speedy recovery.

 

[Carolina Geckos]

Why do people call and/or email me to answer very simple questions that they are too lazy to look up the answers for?
Why do people email or call me several times a day for information that is easily answered in my numerous care sheets on the GGG website?

<-- guilty of those...but I wasn't lazy just didn't know it was there.

 

[dprince]

Debbie, that is exactly what I did for each case, although as crappy as I feel it wasn't the first course of action that came to mind, LOL!

These are only a few examples of this kind of stuff. I spoke to another breeder friend this morning on this subject, and I liked his idea of creating '900' toll phone number for calls relating to information on geckos purchsed from other sources!

Great minds think alike.

Well, there is the rejection hotline, so I'm liking the idea of a gecko idiot hotline..........he he he.........

And there are lots of people that ask totally appropriate questions, it's the few and their surrounding circumstances that make you just want to pull out your hair. :main_angry:

Hope that chicken soup is working its magic. Feel better soon, Marcia.

 

[Carolina Geckos]

You guys (and the geckos, of course) are what makes everything worthwhile. Thanks! Besides being sick and cranky, I think the couple of things that sent me over the edge for this "rant" were:

1. There's this guy who has never purchased a gecko from me, but was calling me for a month almost daily with questions about geckos he purchased from several other breeders. It went on and on. When he finally put up his own website (after calling me daily about that, too) I saw that he had copied MY caresheet and put it up on his site. He did not get permission, nor did he give GGG credit for it.

2. A guy has been bugging me for a few weeks about buying a juvie Coleonyx elegans male I have available, and felt that the price I was asking was too high. So, after a week he wanted info in the Coleonyx bogerti I have coming up for sale. He emailed me at 5:00 on Christmas Eve for photos. I was at my daughter's for Christmas, and I got back late Christmas night. I took photos the following morning and sent them to him. He emailed back and was upset that I did not respond to his request until the day after Christmas, so he bought a C. mitratus from someone else. Now, he expects me to advise him on it's care.

3. (The final straw) I got an email from someone with 3 photos attached of the same gecko. It was a nice SHT. Here is his email:


What would YOU guys do in this these situations?

I don't think I've ever been that bad..lol but if I have I'm sorry =( Oh, and forgot to say in my last post feel better soon *hugs*

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Honestly, I do not mind answering people's questions for the most part at all... I am feeling guilty about my rant now. I truly love these beautiful creatures, and I want people to share the same love for them. None of us were born knowing everything, we all had to learn from ground zero.

When I first got started with my geckos, there wasn't really much as far as information and resources available... like forums and care sheets. We all relied on each other for answers to our many questions. I did my share of asking, and I'm sure I aggravated a few breeders back then as well.

I'm sorry if it sounds like I am being a MOGL. I think I should just go take some Theraflu and be grateful there is a place like GeckoForums.net with some of the finest gecko people in the world that can put up with me when I go off one one of my 'rants'.
I love you guys! :smitten:

 

[paulnj]

Marcia, We all get aggravated when certain eliments of our life are against us. That doesn't mean we are mean, it just means we are HUMAN.

 

[PrototypeGeckos]

You guys (and the geckos, of course) are what makes everything worthwhile. Thanks! Besides being sick and cranky, I think the couple of things that sent me over the edge for this "rant" were:

1. There's this guy who has never purchased a gecko from me, but was calling me for a month almost daily with questions about geckos he purchased from several other breeders. It went on and on. When he finally put up his own website (after calling me daily about that, too) I saw that he had copied MY caresheet and put it up on his site. He did not get permission, nor did he give GGG credit for it.

2. A guy has been bugging me for a few weeks about buying a juvie Coleonyx elegans male I have available, and felt that the price I was asking was too high. So, after a week he wanted info in the Coleonyx bogerti I have coming up for sale. He emailed me at 5:00 on Christmas Eve for photos. I was at my daughter's for Christmas, and I got back late Christmas night. I took photos the following morning and sent them to him. He emailed back and was upset that I did not respond to his request until the day after Christmas, so he bought a C. mitratus from someone else. Now, he expects me to advise him on it's care.

3. (The final straw) I got an email from someone with 3 photos attached of the same gecko. It was a nice SHT. Here is his email:

Sorry Marcia, I didn't mean to make you so mad!!!! Haha, I hope you are feeling better, did everything turn out ok with the old ticker?

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

did everything turn out ok with the old ticker?

"Old" ticker is right! LOL!!! Actually, we don't know yet. I am on an ambulatory electrocariograph machine right now, and will go see the Cardiologist on Thursday morning. I did not have a heart attack, thank God... but there seems to be a problem with electro-cardio arrhythmia in my heart. They aren't sure why yet.

 

[paulnj]

Holy Shiznit Marcia...:shocked:

 

[dprince]

Oh my gosh!! Marcia, you are in my thoughts. Now you REALLY need to eat your chicken soup and rest!!!! :main_yes:

 

[PrototypeGeckos]

"Old" ticker is right! LOL!!! Actually, we don't know yet. I am on an ambulatory electrocariograph machine right now, and will go see the Cardiologist on Thursday morning. I did not have a heart attack, thank God... but there seems to be a problem with electro-cardio arrhythmia in my heart. They aren't sure why yet.

Ok Marcia, well we will be praying for you, let us know how everything turns out.

 

[techgirl]

Marcia, my thoughts are with you on everything you are going through. Hopefully you will feel better soon and no one will bother you will pesky, annoying questions as the ones you have mentioned. Some people just don't think of what they are doing when they are doing it. Be well and stay that way.

 

[Perefalcon]

isn't this the reason everyone always insists on this forum that a new owner research and have it all set to go before buying their gecko?

as for the vending ones, omg I agree wholeheartedly, don't go to a reputable breeder, pick their brain, then buy a not healthy gecko and bring it to the reputable breeder, it's just like rubbing their nose in it that you sucker them for info and not buy from them

 

[malt_geckos]

You guys (and the geckos, of course) are what makes everything worthwhile. Thanks! Besides being sick and cranky, I think the couple of things that sent me over the edge for this "rant" were:

1. There's this guy who has never purchased a gecko from me, but was calling me for a month almost daily with questions about geckos he purchased from several other breeders. It went on and on. When he finally put up his own website (after calling me daily about that, too) I saw that he had copied MY caresheet and put it up on his site. He did not get permission, nor did he give GGG credit for it.

2. A guy has been bugging me for a few weeks about buying a juvie Coleonyx elegans male I have available, and felt that the price I was asking was too high. So, after a week he wanted info in the Coleonyx bogerti I have coming up for sale. He emailed me at 5:00 on Christmas Eve for photos. I was at my daughter's for Christmas, and I got back late Christmas night. I took photos the following morning and sent them to him. He emailed back and was upset that I did not respond to his request until the day after Christmas, so he bought a C. mitratus from someone else. Now, he expects me to advise him on it's care.

3. (The final straw) I got an email from someone with 3 photos attached of the same gecko. It was a nice SHT. Here is his email:


What would YOU guys do in this these situations?

Well, I would send the guy an email back telling him to learn how to spell....

I hope you feel better! You're like the most Bad-A MOGL EVER!

 

[GECKOFREAK]

Marcia,:iloveyou:. Get better soon!

 

[SteveB]

I always like it when some of our very own GF members repeatedly email me with their breeding questions looking for advice so that they don't have to post their questions here and shatter their "I'm experienced and know all there is to know" facade... err, I mean reputation.

I'll gladly answer questions people email me if it's about a gecko that they've purchased from me. BUT, when I'm feeling charitable I'd rather donate money or volunteer my time to worthy organizations; I'm not in the business of helping other breeders sell their geckos or bailing them out when one of their customers has an issue or question that the other breeder is unwilling, unavailable or unable to answer.

Finally (sorry but this feels really good right now) If you can't write your own care sheet, perhaps you shouldn't be raising and selling geckos. I am still floored when I have people ask me if they can put my care sheet on their website, or if they can hand out copies of my care sheet with their geckos at shows.

This seems very distinctly seperate from the issues Marcia brings up. I can understand the frustration of dealing with impulsive bargain hunters that have a bit of hero worship going on...

That's very different from dealing with the egos of so-called professionals, associates, etc. I don't really want to touch that one and I can sympathize with you to a degree. Although I don't know that it is beneficial to create distrust among the members of GF- we are largely a [dysfunctional] family, after all.

But regarding the caresheet issue... some people are very comfortable with providing the proper husbandry for their animals, but do not feel they can be as articulate or perhaps do not feel the need to add to the massive number of caresheets out there. Shouldn't it be taken as a compliment that people want to promote your caresheet as an authoritative guide? And if they properly credit it, wouldn't that potentially send business your way as well?

There are TONS of caresheets out there, and yet we all know there are very few that we would personally point people to as a reference. Shouldn't we support the distribution of quality, authoritative guides rather than expect everyone to struggle through writing their own? (assuming proper credit and the author approves of such distribution)

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Shouldn't it be taken as a compliment that people want to promote your caresheet as an authoritative guide? And if they properly credit it, wouldn't that potentially send business your way as well?

They say that plagiarism is the highest form of flattery. I would have had NO PROBLEM allowing him to post my caresheet on his website with permission and credit. It's not about sending business my way, Steve. It's about RESPECT for someone's hard work.

Shouldn't we support the distribution of quality, authoritative guides rather than expect everyone to struggle through writing their own? (assuming proper credit and the author approves of such distribution)

Yes, I expect others to struggle through their OWN publications. Infringing on the copyright of someone else's hard work is not only disrespectful, but lazy. If this wasn't the case, then all the books, articles, and other informative publications people have written would be FREE.

 

[GeckoRing]

Hope you feel better, Marcia! I wouldn't feel guilty about your rant...maybe people will read it and clue in! In the meantime, you are in our prayers!

 

[Carolina Geckos]

Honestly, I do not mind answering people's questions for the most part at all... I am feeling guilty about my rant now. I truly love these beautiful creatures, and I want people to share the same love for them. None of us were born knowing everything, we all had to learn from ground zero.

When I first got started with my geckos, there wasn't really much as far as information and resources available... like forums and care sheets. We all relied on each other for answers to our many questions. I did my share of asking, and I'm sure I aggravated a few breeders back then as well.

I'm sorry if it sounds like I am being a MOGL. I think I should just go take some Theraflu and be grateful there is a place like GeckoForums.net with some of the finest gecko people in the world that can put up with me when I go off one one of my 'rants'.
I love you guys! :smitten:

Marcia,

I don't know you nearly as well as other people here. I hope that in time that does change. But, you among others have helped me out very much as far as questions, and I know they get old..but honetly I want to know all I can about my geckos and if I ever do breed, I want to know what to expect rather it be good or bad. Please don't feel my comments was me barking back at you...I'm a typical smart..well you get the point. And if you did I'm sorry...anyhow I can not give pointers in what I think you should have done cause I have never been put in that position, but I do feel you have every right to express your thoughts (about anything) I would have told them for the most part to get bent. Most important take care of yourself, and if there is anything I can do let me know! :main_yes:

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Alanna... you are a sweetheart.