I need some advice..

[Val]

from everyone here!

We're going to be vending at the next Hamburg, PA show which is in the beginning of August. The other night someone from this forum IM'd Ryan asking what we'd have there and said he wanted to buy 1 or 2 from us and also from Pat. Ryan didn't realize it at the time, but this is someone I feel very strongly about NOT selling to. He's very young (under 15) and from what I can tell from his posts very irresponsible. He tried to buy a gecko from us before over the net and we made up an excuse. He then tried again saying that he was buying it for a friend in Argentina or something along those lines. Again, we said no and had an excuse. It's easy when it's over the net, but face to face...what do you do? I can't let one of our geckos go home with him. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to sleep wondering what is happening to it. Any advice on the situation would be great! Thanks guys!

 

[BalloonzForU]

When it comes to a show you can't really make up any excuse so the best thing would be to tell them the truth. In the nicest way poss tell him that you don't feel he's ready and give examples of why. It may be the wakeup call he needs, you never know.

Even if you don't sell to him directly there is a good chance he could still have someone go up to you and purchase what he wants for him.

 

[PaulSage]

I agree with Felicia. You could end up having to come up with excuse after excuse, but in the long run it would save you the time and headache if you just told him flat out that you don't feel he is ready/willing/able/capable/responsible/whatever to acquire a gecko and that you're uncomfortable with letting him go home with one. If he's just uneducated and doesn't know, then you could hand him a caresheet and tell him to do his reading first, but if he's choosing to be ignorant or irresponsible, then just tell him you won't sell him one.

I agree, it's a lot easier over the net, especially because there really isn't the possibility of people overhearing you like there is at a show...

 

[Grinning Geckos]

Yea, I say honesty is the best policy too. BEFORE the show. Tell him exactly how you feel, what if anything he could do to change your mind in the future, and remind him that until they are sold, providing them (the geckos) with the best care possible is YOUR responsibility...and part of that care is making sure they are going somewhere you feel confident they will be safe.

 

[Val]

I figured I'd have to come clean and tell him. I usually don't have a problem being upfront with people, but he's just a kid. I just don't want anyone to think we're assholes if he turns around and starts telling people we refused to sell to him. I really don't know if there is a lot that he could do to change my mind on selling to him. As I just found out, he was asking another person on July 4th how to remove electrical tape from the mouth, face and body of his small corn snake. :main_no:

Thanks guys!

 

[Grinning Geckos]

OOOOOH...I think I know exactly who that is! Yea...I wouldn't sell to him either.

 

[PaulSage]

If he's eletrical-taping corn snakes, he should be in a padded cell wearing a helmet.

 

[Grinning Geckos]

Story goes, the probe was in the tank, stuck down with electrical tape. Insert snake...you get the picture.

 

[PaulSage]

Why the fuck would someone use electrical tape to secure a probe? Electrical tape isn't even sticky enough to get dog hair off my shirt.

 

[Val]

I didn't know nor care about the circumstances of how the snake battled the electrical tape..but wow.

Maybe I should just lay a common sense test on our table. If you can't pass...no gecko's for you!

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I agree with telling the truth. I have had to tell people that I had serious concerns about their knowledge and ability to care for their geckos, and that each of my offspring are important to me enough to make sure they go to a home that will care for them properly. I always tell them I would be happy to sell them a gecko in the future when they are ready for the responsibility.

Kids just don't have any common sense. I have 2 grandkids aged 14 and 12, and even they don'thave leopard geckos because they aren't responsible enough to take care of them. I've discussed it with them MANY times, LOL!

 

[Mel&Keith]

I don't have time to go searching through the corn snake section to find out who this is...can someone say who it is so we can add them to the do not sell to list?

If we lived closer I'd come to the show and put the smack down on the kid for you. People pretty much pay me to yell at their kids all afternoon so I don't have a problem telling a 10 year old to step off. lol

Maybe talking to his parents at the show might help too. There's always the possibility that they just don't know that their child is an irresponsible idiot...

 

[Val]

Thanks everyone!

It's Leopardbreeder. Maybe I'll just send him an IM one day and have a chat with him. The show is still a month away so I have plenty of time to catch him online.

 

[Russ S]

Just tell him flat out that you are not comfortable selling to him at this time, but perhaps wou will in the future once he becomes more educated about animal husbandry as it pertains to geckos and reptiles in general.

 

[Jeremy Letkey]

Just tell him flat out that you are not comfortable selling to him at this time, but perhaps wou will in the future once he becomes more educated about animal husbandry as it pertains to geckos and reptiles in general.

This is what I told Tonya (Jill). She hasn't bugged me again.

 

[robin]

LOL jeremy

 

[BalloonzForU]

OH Matt, That kid drives me nuts in chat!!!!!!!

 

[Jeanne]

Thanks everyone!

It's Leopardbreeder. Maybe I'll just send him an IM one day and have a chat with him. The show is still a month away so I have plenty of time to catch him online.

Yes, I would do it before the show, that way he won't make a scene at your table (Hopefully)

 

[Val]

The only thing I'm worried about is what Felicia pointed out. If I tell him now I won't sell to him, who's to say his dad/mom/whoever brought him won't try to purchase from us? I guess there's not a whole lot I can do..

 

[Russ S]

Don't take whatever gecko he wants with you to the show ....?