• 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.

Inquiry - Lee Watson Reptile Show

M

markwebb

New member
Joined
Nov 14, 2003
Messages
49
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
69
Location
Midwest
I was thinking of taking my son to the Lee Watson Reptile Show this weekend in Illinois. It';s about a 5-6 hour drive for us, so I want to find out first what kind of show it is. Is it big? Bigger than Indy or Columbus Ohio? Lots of vendors?

If you could please be so kind as to leave responses if you have recently attended the show and have some knowledge of it - if it is worth the 5-6 hour drive.

Thanks !!!!
 
It is a small show,Its in a barn.In my mind not worth a 5-6 hour drive.The venders are ok .
 
Lee Watson Reptile show

In answer to Mark's question, the Streamwood show is presently, I believe, to be the biggest bi-monthly show in the United States. We have 100 full vendor spots at every show and a waiting list of vendors to get in. We also have outdoor vendor spots that feature poultry, rabbits, and small farm animals.

We are housed in a building built solely and used solely for the reptile swap. We average over 1,000 visitors at every show, which means we have about 25,000 people per year. Our cricket vendors sell an average of 250,000 at every show.

I'm not sure how large the reptile swaps are that Jodi attends in Minnesota, but if they come close to mine, I would like to attend them. (I don't know of any shows in Minnesota.)

Come on out, Mark, and bring your son. If you are disappointed, see me at the show and I will pay all your gas money and buy you dinner. I guess I can't give a better guarantee than that.

Thank you much.

Lee Watson
www.reptileswap.com
 
the Lee Watson show was the first reptile show i went to, and i thought it was pretty big back then. But since i've gone to the NARBC this past october, Lee Watsons is sort of disappointing in comparison, and i've stopped going.

I don't think i'd drive 5-6 hours for it, but hey, if he's on here giving you the guarantee, I'd do it!

are you looking for something in particular?

-karin
 
Lee,We have no shows here in MN,but i would still not drive 5-6 hours to go down there just not my cup of tea.
 
Lee Watson's Reptile Swap

Lee's reptile swap was the first reptile show that I went to after the National show in Tinley Park 2 years ago. Is it different? Absolutely. Is it flashy like the National show? Absolutely not. Can you get good quality animals from some of the best breeders in the immediate area? Without a doubt.

I continue to go to Lee's swap at least once a month. I have never been disappointed with the vendors and have always found what I was looking for. Infact, over the last couple of months I had been wanting to get involved in Solomon Island ground boas. I go to Lee's swap earlier this month, and what do you know, my new little baby snake was waiting there for me. In addition, it is a great place to buy your feeders, whether crickets, mice, rats or rabbits at great prices.

For the person in Minnesota, please keep in mind that most of the vendors at Lee's show are also vendors at the Tinley Park show. When judging whether or not a reptile show is worth attending, you should not focus on the facility it is in, but rather, focus on the quality of the vendors and the animals available. With that in mind, Lee's show can compete with the best of the local shows.

I highly recommend Lee's Watson's reptile swap. I don't know if I would drive 5-6 hours twice a month to attend, but if I lived that distance, I certaintly would make it there once a month or once every other month.

Give the Lee's show one try and I believe you will be satisfied, if not, you have got your gas money and dinner covered. What have you got to lose?


Larry D. Stassin
 
But since i've gone to the NARBC this past october, Lee Watsons is sort of disappointing in comparison
Click to expand...
There is no comparison. Lees is a by monthly show, NARBC is yearly. Both shows are geared up and adveretised, handled, cost etc differantly. My tables for NARBC cost $750 this year. NARBC is the biggest thing out there next to Daytona. If you expect any monthly, bi monthly, or quarterly show to be run or have the draw of vendors from across the world such as Daytona or NARBC your always going to be disapointed.

I drive 10-12hrs(5-6hrs one way) round trip every two weeks to Lees Show. His is the only bi monthly show I have ever done beyond his Ive set up and attended monthly, quaterly and yearly shows from Il to the NY. Out of all them that I have done and attended Lees is by far the most successful monthly, bi monthly. Time and time again tables are always full of animals no empty(with the exeption of 3 or so the last couple weeks thanks to the Flu) and theres always 1000 or so through the door. Any other monthly etc show I have been to varies one month all tables are sold. Next month ya show up and half are empty. One month ya get 700 people through the door next month ya get 85 etc. In 10 yrs I have been setting up shows I have never set up nor attended a more consistant monthly show from a vendor or costumer stand point. With the execption of White PLains, NY or Hamburg, PA, Lees IMO is better then most quarterly shows as well(Hamburg I love the hots, the hots have a HUGE draw, and anything in the suburbs of NYC is diffucult to shake a stick at). The east coast shows are hard to contend with, if you look at population density the north east(from Virgina to Mass) is almost like one giant city compared to the mid west. Ya theres farm land in the east and the population thins out in some areas but at its thinest still has 10 times the amount of people then the farm land here. The mid west is differant you got cities like St Louis, Kansas, big cities but then its nothing but corn feilds for hours in any directions. Chicago isnt much differant, granted the suburbs run probally 50 miles from the center of the city but once you get outside that its farm land in all directions. So in comparison to the shows out east its alot more succsesfull. Considering population density I would think its should be the other way around.


If you could please be so kind as to leave responses if you have recently attended the show and have some knowledge of it - if it is worth the 5-6 hour drive.
Click to expand...
I think it is, we do very well there as vendors but more then that enjoy the show. The people are freindly weve made alot of good freinds and just have alot of fun. If it was a bad show or we didnt enjoy it we sure wouldnt make this trip every couple weeks. Weve been there ever show now for 13 months(26 times) since Nov of 2002. Prior to vending there We used to come up ever 4-6wks or so just to hang out shot the breeze, buy a few animals etc.


Anyway sorry for the rant, hope ya drop in if so come by and say hello and If nothing more ya get free gas and dinner for you and the kids so ya got nothing to lose.
 
Next Month Maybe......

Lee -

It turns out our little herper in the family accepted an invite to sleep over at his friends. So - we won't make it up this weekend.

We are interested in CBB Rosys (Whitewater, Bay of LA, or Arizona Chocolate), and normal but pretty/light colored CBB Ball Pythons. We will plan on coming up in Feb or March - - do you think those would be good months to find what we are interested in?? Will anyone have 2004 hatchlings or 2003 leftover CBB Rosys or balls?

Let me know - and when we come up we will be sure to say HI. Hopefully we won't need to take you up on your dinner and gas offer !!!! :)
 
Corn Snake Vendors?

Lee-

Some friends of mine and I are planning a little road trip from WI to come down to the show. We've all recently become pretty hard core corn snake fans and I was wondering if there tended to be a good showing of corn snake vendors. (I have been to your website and looked through the vendor list - I only found one that was explicitly listed as a corn breeder)

Thanks

PS Im excited to go to the swap regardless of size and building :)
 
Corn snakes

I'm glad you are coming, We should have some corns available. You did pick the worst time of the year to look for them.
Most the breeders have everything in hibernation, but there should be a selection of 03 hatchlings there. Early fall we are over run with corns and kings but then they taper off.

Lee Watson

We do have all tables booked so there will be a lot to look at.
 
Sounds like a deal to me

All I can say is

You won't find someone guaranteeing anything like gas money and dinner to go to the Daytona show!

Scott Goodwin
 
Lee,

Wisconsin is in the process of enforcing the Captive Wildlife Law that will require a Vet. Certificate for all animals being brought across the Wisconsin boarder. Do you know if there are any vets there or if you would consider having one available or if there are any within a short distance from the show site?

Thanks,
George
 
George,

this is the first time i've heard of this wisconsin thing, do you know how they plan on enforcing this? what are the penalties and consequences?

-karin
 
notes from meeting

On February 5th the following members of the FVHC attended the hearing held by the DNR in Green Bay:

George Gunther
Nancy Gurno
Bill Heindl
Lonnie Moens
Bill Hewitt
And reptile friend Al Guetzkow

Our purpose was to determine the extent of application the Captive Wildlife statute would have on herpers in Wisconsin. The wording in the statute was very ambiguous and many of us were concerned that the implications on us could severely hamper our educational and keeping goals. The representatives from Madison said they would allow a few minutes for questions to clarify the intent of the statute. Those of us present questioned the representatives for over an hour before we felt we had clarified the intent and had all of our questions and concerns addressed. This is the way the statute was explained as I understand it.

1. The requirement for a veterinary certificate will only apply to animals being brought into Wisconsin. This will apply to all reptiles as they are all considered as wild animals. The animals we currently possess will not need this certificate, unless you intend to transport them out of the state and then return with them. You would also need the certificate if you were having someone transport them and were paying for the service. All animal transporters are required to have in their possession a veterinary certificate. Owners transporting their own animals with in the state of Wisconsin would not require the same certificate. Please be aware that animals bought out of the state and brought into Wisconsin do need a vet. cert. Prior to entering the state. This means if you travel to Streamwood and purchase an animal you will need the certificate from the state of origin to bring it back.
2. The animal transport license that is called for by the statute only applies to those transporters who transport animals for hire. This means the if you are paid to transport animals you would be required to have the animal transport license. One of the representatives said this is an area we need to be careful with because in his words if you agree to transport another persons animal(s) for any compensation, you would be required to have this license, even if it is for something other than money. I do think there could be a problem here in as much as many of us have received animals through UPS or Airborne Express. They would now be required to have an animal transport license in Wisconsin. This would mean that any animal you purchase even on line if shipped by a common carrier needs this and I am sure they will want a vet. Cert. also to make them legal. This may significantly increase the cost of shipping an animal to our state.
3. The nest issue we discussed was the Dept. of Ag. permit. We were informed that this permit was not required for all animals. Most reptiles would not require it. The representative explained that they felt it would mainly apply to certain species of venomous herps and may apply to some species considered to carry diseases that humans may easily catch if they contact these animals. Just my opinion but this may apply to turtles and iguanas because they are widely considered as carriers of salmonella.
4. The final issue we discussed was the one requiring the vet. Cert. for swaps, shows and exhibitions. After clarification on this point we were told that it does not apply to those animals we already have in Wisconsin for shows we do in Wisconsin.

So it is my opinion that we are not going to be severely impacted by this statute or at least not as severely as we had originally expected. We did manage as I said to take over an hour of their time but I feel it was worth it to reach an understanding and give us some assurances that we are not putting ourselves in jeopardy every time we leave with our animals to attend a show. There are some aspects of this statute that I think will benefit the public and us, and some that I feel will hurt the reptile community. I did get the feeling that most of this was pushed through because of the recent CWD and Monkey Pox outbreaks in Wisconsin. There was one other thing I feel is worth mentioning and that is that the representatives informed us that the DNR is currently drafting another bill that may impact us even more than this one. We will need to be on our toes and watch for it over the next several months. The representatives didn’t really have much information on this new threat but just by their mention I feel we should be concerned. I would like to thank those members and Al for coming to help support us at this hearing.


This was just my take on the meeting with the DNR and you can see they really didn't explain how they will enforce the law, but with the ability to levy fines I am sure they will look at what options they have and decide how to enforce it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top