Acro

[Satanas]

(WARNING seller is very inexperienced)

hello,

I recently had a trade with Acro, I traded 15 (but more like 30) Derobrachus eggs and 25 Cotinis eggs for 20 Gymnetis L1 larvae. (A VERY FAIR TRADE ON MY PART)….

On initial inspection the box was fine, but on the inside where he had stuffed the larvae in 2 separate 2 oz containers (and the containers were also crushed) all 20 (he says he included an extra but there wasnt) larvae were dead. To add on to this the tops of the containers had no air holes and the substrate he shipped them in looked as though it contained mica (a mineral which i have found to cut my Dynastes tityus larvae).

…expecting a refund

 

[Acro]

Wow, you get mad quick. It's unfortunate that you decided to write a negative review about me, before contacting me and letting me try and remedy things. I do have a PM from you, but it is nowhere near polite, it has more of an angry and demanding flavor.

First up, I've been shipping live animals and plants for 15+ years and it is very rare when something arrives DOA. Often, it is due to a mistake the USPS has made, but I've made mistakes as well. Anyone shipping live plants and animals will experience DOAs from time to time.

It would have been nice if you contacted me with photos before demanding a "refund, a replacement, or a resend".

If the containers were crushed, that's a first for me. However freak accidents do occur and I am open to the possibility.

I did include extra larvae, but giving the benefit of the doubt, maybe I miscounted. Either way I did not need to send any extra. I was trying to be nice.

I've found that invertebrates don't often need air holes when being shipped. I've had many invertebrates sent to me with out the use of air holes in the shipping container, they simply use less oxygen than other vertebrates. But come to think of it, one lid did have air holes, the other did not. Please be more thorough when making claims. If they are indeed, all dead, then it did not make a difference either way.

The substrate contained a small amount of vermiculite. The larvae I sent you have been living with it mixed into their substrate and show no ill effects. It is, indeed, not mica. Again, a more thorough inspection would have revealed this, or you could have easily asked what the substance was in a PM.

Last of all, your box has not even arrived. After this negative review you've given me and the angry PM you've sent, I hope your box has been packed immaculately.

Now I'd like to start on a happier note. I will PM you now and hope your temper is kept on a leash. Negativity is not the way to make things better. Lets keep a cool head and find a solution to this.

If anyone would like to see my (flawless) reviews from other plant and animal forums, please PM me. It will prove that (1) I do not have a single negative review (other than this one) and (2) that I have been shipping animals and plants for many years.