• 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.

Steps To Become Fedex Certified!!!

When you say "they charged you", how exactly did they do that? Did you give them a credit card number? Is there an online account display that you are viewing? Where are you seeing this charge that has been applied?
 
When you sign up you have to proivide credit card information so they can bill you when you ship and buy supplies. I found out they took $20 when I checked my bank statement. Nowhere in the whole process of signing up did it say I would be charged for anything.
 
Same here,, it asked for credit card (assumed for billing purposes) and my credit card has been charge, 3, $10 charges by Fedex.


No one else has had this happen?
 
My contract states live harmless reptiles. This includes snakes and lizards. I did this as we're just now starting the snake side of the business but are primarily lizards and wanted to be cleared for both.

It's been so long since I signed up for Fedex (over 2 years as I signed up with both UPS and Fedex when I started the business so I'd have accounts just incase) but they didn't ask for credit card information at the time.

It's probably an error but I'd be bent as well.
 
Well, I know I opened my acct. before the 13th of Feb. Reason I mention the 13th is that I also just got my credit card statement in the mail and it goes through the 13th and mentions nothing about it. NOT to say it won't happen, but I DO know I was told it was free.
 
I'll figure it all out on Monday when I call them. This is just too strange.
 
Just to clarify, I did what I'm presuming Joel & Robert did in order to see what's going on.

When you get to fedex.com, there's two links for opening an account. The first is link just gets you an account number. The second link signs you up for an account with "Online Express Shipping with 10% discount."

When signing up for Online Express Shipping with 10% discount, the site requires that you enter your credit card info. However, there is nothing that I could find in their FAQ or terms that mentioned or authorized a charge to your account.

We'll see if my account is debited as well.
 
Ken,
After reading their posts earlier I did the same research as you have. I did not find anyting that speaks to such charges. I also did the same, in signing up, with teh credit card and the 10% discount on shipments.

There has to be a simple reason and/or error as to why these charges happened.

Like I said, and I have the statement in front of me, I was not charged anything.....hopefully it will stay that way!
 
I signed up on Thursday (2-19) and I signed up for the regular free account (I could not figure out why they wanted to give me 10% off for no apparent reason, and I worry about Hidden fees) I did not order any labels or anything (Havn't figured out how to order the "Free" labels, and I don't want to buy anything yet)

It did ask for my card #. I did give it. I just checked my account and I have not been billed anything. It is possible that if they tried to bill something it won't go through until Monday. I will keep an eye out.
 
Getting ready to order some boxes along with some other suppliesf. For those who have had their boxes returned to them how about some replies on which company (if any) your boxes came from....
 
Problem Solved!

Problem solved!!!!!

I called FedEx and they said they didn't charge the account & that my bank was with holding that amount as a processing fee????? FedEx said they will not charge the account until a shipment is made (only charging for shipments).
Sooo, I called the bank & they said FedEx always does this. lol It's just a credit card verification process. She said most companies only do a dollar, but FedEx does $10. She did not say why the do it 3 times though???
In any case,, Just call your credit card Co. & they will (or at least mine did) remove the charges. Yaaa!!!!

I hope this helps others who run into the same thing.
Later.
Joel Roberts
 
What is Going on Back East?

I live in washington state and I was wondering what the shipping deal is back east? I ship with fed-ex and UPS all the time with no contract or account. All my boxes are labeled clearly live harmless reptiles and I always put live harmless reptiles down for my description of goods as well. I have never had any trouble walking in and shipping. Someone was supposed to ship me a whitelip python but he was not allowed to ship from his ups or fedex stores back east. I was just wondering if their are different rules for different regions. Thomas Grass, Snake In the Grass Herpetoculture.
 
I was thinking about this the other day.
I guess the best way to explain the diffeferences is this. FedEx does not ship animals, except zoo animals and horses, unless you go through the steps like I an others have done. It just depends on who (FedEx employees) are doing their job when it comes to accepting these boxes.

Not that I mind, but let's face it. I have spoke to so many departments in the cooperate offices (in the beginning of my quest) and got the same answer all the way around. I guess they just do not spread their 'policies' around and make sure that all people/employees know of such a policy of theirs.
 
$10 charges

Yep, used my PayPal debit card as 90% of our business is done online for the past year or 2, and saw the same charges. It took about a week for the "charges" to be reversed, but so far, so good.

I'm putting together all the info/paperwork for our test package (Thanks, Daniel) now and will be waiting anxiously for everything to clear. Then will proceed from there.

David
 
I faxed over my paperwork (a little slow on the throttle, I am, lately) two days ago. I was told that this was all I had to do. THis way they have the apporval on record, in a file in their office (local sales rep.) and I am free to ship. I wasnot told that I had to sign any "waiver" or "contract".

Every time I speak to someone with FedEx, it is someone different. I have spread the word throughout that company like wildfire, regarding "US" as an industry and what they have to gain.

I also told them that I will be doing the same thing to other companies as I feel that we have been given the short end of the stick as far as our ability, or lack there of, to ship our 'product'. I have had nothing but support from everyone I speak with.
 
Well, I just got my contract faxed to me from FedEx, and there is a clause in there that is clearly unacceptable to me:
J. Company acknowledges that all shipments tendered to FedEx under this Agreement are for Business to Business delivery only. No residential deliveries are allowed under this Agreement.
Click to expand...

I specifically sent an annotated agreement to my rep identifying this as an issue in their standard contract that needs to be addressed. Sounds like yet another delay in the making.

Dammit.....
 
Rich,
I had heard that before from them. I told them my concerns and went ahead and went through the process anyway.
One thing I do not understand is why you got a 'contract' shipped back and I was told just to fax my approval 'packet' to my sales rep and I was set to go (ship). You on the other hand received a 'contract'. Makes no sense and VERY inconsistant.......makes me wonder about the company as a whole if they can not all be on the same page.

This will put quite a damper on MANY shipments that go out from any type of breeder (delevered to a home/residence). I would disagree as well and I will raise HELL if it is brought up to me again.
 
Some of the other wording in the contract needs to be modified as well. It states that I am authorized to ship "live reptile and amphibian larvae". I guess I have to confess here that I don't have a clue what reptile larvae actually are, much less intend to ship them anywhere.

I actually sent them a copy of the contract I got from Dan Wedeking with annotations made on the contract with things I had issues with that needed to be addressed in the contract I would sign.

So the fat lady hasn't sung yet, gents.
 
What is your definition of residential

When you ship the animal if you click the business button instead of the residential button when they ask you what type of address it is would that satisfy their needs? I often ship to peoples place of business when they cannot be home during the week to recieve shipments that may be an option. Larval reptiles huh maybe they put that in there to make it impossible to ship reptiles at all. I remember when I was a kid I got this kit where you send off for a tadpole and then you put it in some water in the little cage you buy and feed it their special food. Maybe that is what the provision is for to allow the tadpoles to be shipped to all those little kids who are going to kill them in a week anyway.

Thomas Grass
Petition signer number 799
Snake In the Grass Herpetoculture
 
I am defining "business" to include home based businesses. After all, that's what I am myself, so it would certainly apply to the destination address as well. Since I am being offered an account, then that implies that they consider my home based business as a "business".

Since other sections of the contract refer to "Reptiles and Amphibians", I am interpretting that to mean "Reptiles, and Amphibians, including larvae".

BTW, I talked to James Brown on the phone today. Is anyone giving him any static? He sounds like a man who has had quite enough of dealing with the public. Go easy on these people, OK? We need them more than they need us at this point. So don't choke the goose because those golden eggs aren't as big as you would like them to be.

Let's get our foot in the door first. Ok?
 
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