• Posted 12/19/2024.
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    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.
  • 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.

STEEL CITY REPTILE EXPO! September 12, 2009!

as far as the "exclusives" go, Paul promised me there would be none. That is until the almighty Rodent Pro got involved, now the only frozen rodent deelers will be Rodent Pro and Vince Clemens (he gave Paul his money before Rodent Pro got involved).
 
Hey Deb, whats up! Just talked to Vince yesterday while pickin up my mealworms , he said it did'nt matter to him, he has free table space and he's close to home . I'm sure he will still make sales to his regulars.
 
I never really did understand the point of "exclusives"

Can some one fill me in?
 
Exclusives are for the people that are afraid of alittle competition. There shouldn't be any exclusives. How many snake vendors are there? How many turtle & lizard vendors? We weren't afraid of the competition of the other rodent dealers. We were breeders & our prices were lower than even Rodent Pros were. Are they the only vendors that have any expenses going to any shows? All we've heard is a bunch of lies.
 
I wanted to take a moment to address the issue of "exclusive" vendors at our shows.

When Ben & I decided to do a show and created our business plan, we discussed that we wanted to have a show free of exclusive vendors of a specific item.

We then solicited vendors face to face and asked them to consider vending at our show. In the initial days of contacting vendors, the question of "exclusives" came up in regard to frozen rodent sales. When asked this question, we answered by saying that we did not want any exclusive arrangements.

After a short time of promoting the show, we were approached by Casey of Rodent Pro. Casey wanted to vend at our show but Rodent Pro has a stipulation that they only vend at shows where they are the exclusive provider of frozen rodents.

At this time, we told Casey that another vendor, Vince Clemens, had already submitted his application and table fee. We told Casey that Vince would be attending this show no matter what Ben & I decided about exclusives and that I would get back to him.

Ben & I struggled with this decision for several days. On one hand, we had told people that we weren't having exclusive arrangements. On the other hand, Rodent Pro brings a large customer following with them. Rodent Pro had also agreed to email their contact list (over 35,000 people) to inform them of their appearance at our show if we would let them attend as exclusives.

At that time, we only had solid commitments from Vince Clemens and Rodent Pro. At that time, we decided to do what was best for the show. We made a business decision to allow Rodent Pro to be exclusive. Any good business plan has to be constantly revised.

Inevitably there will be some personal feelings hurt, even though this was purely a business decision.

When Deb's husband John called me on the phone, I explained all of this to him. I'm very sorry for hurting your feelings with this decision.

Sincerely
Paul Wyble
Ben Corcetti
Steel City Reptile Expo Ltd.
 
Exclusives are for the people that are afraid of alittle competition. There shouldn't be any exclusives. How many snake vendors are there?

Have to aggree with you on that one deb. I dont use rodent pro due to there prices are way to high. Deb and Vince have good prices and i deal with both of them all the time.
 
Have to aggree with you on that one deb. I dont use rodent pro due to there prices are way to high. Deb and Vince have good prices and i deal with both of them all the time.

I'm not impressed with RodentPros quality at ALL. I recently gave away about a hundred of their rats because my snakes turned up their noses at them. Thin, dirty - yuck. Shame there won't be any competition for pricing, that's the reason a lot of us go to the shows.

That said, I will still be there. Just not buying any rodents. Paul has still put together an awesome list of vendors otherwise.
 
Is there going to end up being other exclusives?

Yes--I will be the only dark-haired a-hole who will be wearing Steelers' crocs with one of the shoes broken---who has lavender bloodred corns with the name Mark.
 
Yes--I will be the only dark-haired a-hole who will be wearing Steelers' crocs with one of the shoes broken---who has lavender bloodred corns with the name Mark.

Dont forget the mankini. Or banana hammock as some would call them.:eek:
 
Heck no they will be looking to see if he snuck in the mankini :yesnod:

I do not want to see no stinky ass feet with broken crocs.

Your right! That might be the his way of getting people to look under the table to see the mankini! Good thinking! My eyes will stay above the table! No offense Mark!:D
 
Paul & Ben are getting ready for a tri-state pilgrimmage to stick yard signs in strategic locations.

They are talking about driving deep into Ohio, the Pittsburgh Universities and even near the campus of WVU.

Brad McC & I were just on the phone and Brad may have said it best. "If there's anyone I want promoting a show, it's Paulie and Ben because they are spending the money to do it right."

Date change-able yard signs! Woot---I will give money off of any of my animals if peeps can post pics when they see a yard sign! Get your camera phones in gear!
 
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