• Posted 12/19/2024.
    =====================

    I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?

    So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.

    But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.

    Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.

    I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.

    =====================
    Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.

    And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
  • Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

Bad Guy Philip Vena buy-axolotls.com

ChameleonCans

ChameleonCans

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We shipped a 50 lot of axolotl to Philip Vena. He received them on Wednesday using two day shipping with FedEx. Today, Thursday, he has disputed the case on paypal saying that only 40 were shipped. On all of our shipments of axolotl we have sent more then the amount paid for. In this case we sent over 50 instead of exactly 50. Although $30 isn't worth escalating this into a huge deal it is enough of a problem that people should be warned about Philip Vena.
 
Were they shipped in separate primary containers within the larger secondary shipping container? Is there a possibility cannibalism was experienced? Just curious. I do not keep them now, but I remember as a kid that these things would sometimes consume their tankmates.

I hope everything gets resolved.
 
They were shipped in four groups of 13-14 per a bag. Although they are cannibalistic, it is very doubtful that 15 were consumed completely. My concern for others is the greed behind this buyer to ask for an additional $30 when 5-8 axolotl were given for free on top of the 50 ordered.
 
I get you. I just figured I would ask because I knew them to get a bit vicious with each other and I was not sure how much so would be within reasonable bounds. Thanks.
 
I ordered just 5 axolotl from chameleon cans and received 7 healthy, completely intact axolotl. In my experience "cannibalism" occurs only when they accidentally bite off a limb or gill due to their tendency to snap at anything that moves. I also have not let my axolotl go hungry but I suppose if one were to cannibalize it's sibling completely there would have to be a great size difference in them for one thing. All 7 of mine were shipped in a single bag and I was actually quite surprised there was not a single toe missing :)
 
I purchased 50 axolotls from Chameleon Cans and not only did they add more than I paid for, all of them were in perfect condition when they arrived with full bellies.

It's really unfortunate that some people will dispute charges to get a better deal. It's even more unfortunate that paypal usually takes the buyer's side. I hope it all works out for you.
 
Chris, can you weigh 40 and 55 axolotls, compare your figures to the shipping charge you paid, and perhaps use that as proof to Paypal that you sent at least 55?
 
That'd be awesome but I'm sure with all the other variables, the biggest being amount/weight of the water, it's probably impossible.
 
Kimfishepet said:
That'd be awesome but I'm sure with all the other variables, the biggest being amount/weight of the water, it's probably impossible.
Click to expand...

This is true, it'd be impossible to distinguish the difference between a bag of axolotls and a bag of water going just by the weight. The amphibian community is supposed to be like a family but some people are not honest and will try anything to get ahead. The best thing to do is to warn others about dealing with this person to prevent it from happening again.

Although, anyone who reads through that website and has done any previous reading about axolotls will know not to deal with that person because the site is full of misleading and false information.
 
I wish I would have researched him but don't really have time to search backgrounds on buyers. Thanks for the kind words. Hope it works out but have some doubts that it will be sided in my favor with PayPal.
 
BAD GUY - Chris Van Aken - Chris Van Aken

Bad Guy - Chris Van Aken - ChameleonCans.com,

Please let me remind you that I won my Paypal dispute with you. listed below:

Chris Van Aken PP-002-927-971-128 Other

Chargeback
-$195.00 USD 1/28/2014 Case Closed 2/7/2014 View

Let me also remind you that you do not have a Guarantee Live Arrival, and that you intentionally try to kill the Axolotls by not putting any air in the bag.

You have a very bad history with Paypal.

Buyers beware of this sell Chris Van Aken - ChameleonCans.com

Philip Vena
Founder of Buy-Axolotls.com

We Protect Axolotls
www.Buy-Axolotls.com
4531 Cornell Avenue
Downers Grove, IL 60515-2609 USA
(Near West Side of Chicago)
Phone: 1-630-390-7070 (Landline)
Email: [email protected]
Axolotl Forum: http://Buy-Axolotls.com/phpbb
 
Bad Guy - Chris Van Aken - ChameleonCans

Buyers beware of this sell Chris Van Aken - ChameleonCans.com


Buy-Axolotls said:
Bad Guy - Chris Van Aken - ChameleonCans.com,

Please let me remind you that I won my Paypal dispute with you. listed below:

Chris Van Aken PP-002-927-971-128 Other

Chargeback
-$195.00 USD 1/28/2014 Case Closed 2/7/2014 View

Let me also remind you that you do not have a Guarantee Live Arrival, and that you intentionally try to kill the Axolotls by not putting any bag with out any air.

You have a very bad history with Paypal.

Buyers beware of this sell Chris Van Aken - ChameleonCans.com

Philip Vena
Founder of Buy-Axolotls.com

We Protect Axolotls
www.Buy-Axolotls.com
4531 Cornell Avenue
Downers Grove, IL 60515-2609 USA
(Near West Side of Chicago)
Phone: 1-630-390-7070 (Landline)
Email: [email protected]
Axolotl Forum: http://Buy-Axolotls.com/phpbb
Click to expand...
 
Mr Vena, if you want to post Buyer Beware warnings about the OP, please do it in a thread about him...otherwise, just tell your side of things and show your proof.
 
We do not remember if we spoke to Mr. Vena on the phone to setup the order or through text. Either way, we do not have any more record of our conversations. We do not guarantee live arrival on shipments in which the buyer chooses two day deliver over next day. On all of our shipments we try to push the seller into using next day shipping which we offer live arrival. However, most people choose to save the money and select two day shipping over next day shipping. Mr. Vena chose two day shipping over next day shipping. The claim that we do not care for axolotl and "intentionally" try to harm them is incorrect. We wish Mr. Vena the best of luck with his axolotl but we will not be doing business with him nor would we suggest using his service to anyone looking to buy an axolotl.
 

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Buy-Axolotls said:
Chargeback
-$195.00 USD 1/28/2014 Case Closed 2/7/2014 View
Click to expand...

I sincerely hope everyone who reads this thread understands the severity of your actions. First you claimed that 10 axolotls were missing out of your order from Chris, now you get back the full $195.00 refund? The axolotls you bought were $3 each, this is obviously a scam on your part. Even if you had been shorted 10 axolotls, it would only amount to $30 (I'm sure he didn't even short you 10 of them, but even if he had).

Just because you won a paypal dispute doesn't mean you were right. Paypal is a flawed system and shouldn't have even allowed this to happen because buyer protection doesn't cover the purchase of a live animal.
 
Buy-Axolotls said:
Chargeback -$195.00 USD 1/28/2014 Case Closed
Click to expand...
Buy-Axolotls said:
You have a very bad history with Paypal
Click to expand...

Well, you certainly will have a bad rep here. Especially if you do not send the OP at least $165 of what you received from Paypal.
Seriously? A full refund when all you alleged to be missing was 10 Axolotls out of 50!?
By getting a full refund, and if you do not send at least $165 to the OP, you have 40 "ill gotten" (what some would term stolen) Axolotls.
 
That sucks Chris! Every Axolotl we have gotten from Chris has been excellent, and shipped professionally, as well as with PLENTY space, and clean water, and exactly as described animals.
Shame someone "wins" a dispute to get free stuff - sounds EXACTLY like what happened here.
If by a tiny chance you are missing "10" of them, then the money is not yours, deduct the ten and send the rest back.
By keeping it, it is considered THEFT in most peoples eyes.
 
As of right now, you are a thief. Philip, send the rest of the money back.
 
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