• 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.

Police say suspects tried to steal snake from woman

JColt

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Police say the suspects ordered her to give them the snake but ran off when she threw it back in her truck.


HOUSTON — Houston police are trying to identify a couple of guys who allegedly tried to steal a woman's snake at gunpoint. The whole thing was caught on surveillance video.

The victim said she placed an online ad to sell the snake and a woman contacted her and said she wanted to buy it. The caller told the seller to meet her at an apartment complex on Clearwood Drive near Edgebrook Drive and the Gulf Freeway.


The victim was at the complex on Oct. 2 where she was talking to the buyer on the phone. That's when the two suspects ambushed her, pulled out a gun and ordered her to give them the snake. Instead, she threw it back in her truck and they ran off on foot.

The victim told police she thinks the woman who said she wanted to buy the snake set the whole thing up.

Investigators with the HPD robbery division are hoping surveillance video will lead to the identity of the suspects.


If you recognize them or have any other information in this case, please call Crime Stoppers of Houston directly at 713-222-TIPS (8477). Information leading to the charging and/or arrest of any felony suspects may result in a cash reward up to $5,000. Tipsters must contact Crime Stoppers directly to remain anonymous and to be considered for the reward or submit an online tip at www.crime-stoppers.org or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app.


Police advise anyone trying to sell items to meet the potential buyer in a public place like a police or fire station.

https://www.khou.com/article/news/crime/woman-snake-robbery-video/285-ca5e0eee-b6a9-4f5a-b8e3-0c544483a682#:~:text=HOUSTON%20%E2%80%94%20Houston%20police%20are%20trying%20to%20identify,her%20and%20said%20she%20wanted%20to%20buy%20it.
 
File this under 'yet another reason to only use PMs for sales inquiries, and research the heck out of anyone you are set to meet in an alley'.;)

I like the 'meet at the police station' idea.
 
I like the 'meet at the police station' idea.

I work at a police dept and we get a lot of sales, kid exchange done in parking lot. We had one woman come in screaming her ex hit her in parking lot. Quick review of the 3 cameras aimed right at them showed she attacked him and he kept his arms up the entire time. Took her 3 days before she could bond out.
 
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