Ballbids: WTF?

[MasonC2K]

http://www.ballbids.com/

This place looks like a total con. And apparently BHB doesn't like it. From his FB:

Let me say I never want to see anybody lose money, but I am proud of the reptile community and USARK (United States Association of Reptile Keepers) for standing up against BallBids. This was a very bad example of people caring about money over animals. While I wish them person success in other areas, I think our message has been loud and clear! We will not let this happen to OUR hobby. Lets keep together as a community for all that come against us! Bravo! Lets hope this is the end of BallBids

Anyone here heard of this?

[waltah!]

Click me

[JLC]

LOL...Chris...dude...where you been?

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...1-Ballbids.com



EDIT: Ninja'd by Walt!

[jmitch]

dang to slow had to go find link! lol

[wwmjkd]

fauna's parallel thread just in case this one wasn't enough light reading for your evening:

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...d.php?t=290982

[MasonC2K]

Guess I've been under a rock...

[JLC]

Guess I've been under a rock...

Don't hide under rocks! There's all kinds of creepy crawly things under there. Like...snakes and stuff.

[Dawn Michelle]

They are breaking a local ordinance, despite whatever license loop hole they are hiding in, the Kentucky states attorneys are aware and the metro animal control is checking up on it.

The Kentucky local ordinance for Jefferson County.

§ 91.096 OFFERING ANIMAL AS PRIZE OR AWARD.

(A) No person shall offer any live animal as a prize or award in connection with any raffle, protest, demonstration, promotion, or as an incentive to participate in any game, promotion, or otherwise.

[pitoon]

They are breaking a local ordinance, despite whatever license loop hole they are hiding in, the Kentucky states attorneys are aware and the metro animal control is checking up on it.

The Kentucky local ordinance for Jefferson County.

§ 91.096 OFFERING ANIMAL AS PRIZE OR AWARD.

(A) No person shall offer any live animal as a prize or award in connection with any raffle, protest, demonstration, promotion, or as an incentive to participate in any game, promotion, or otherwise.

not a good idea at all!!! what ever happened to buying a snake....enjoy it growing up....then breeding it?!?!? then trade or sell the offspring?!?!?!?

Pitoon

[WingedWolfPsion]

No, it's an auction, not a raffle. The winner is supposedly determined by whoever bids last and highest, not by random selection. The problem people have with this, is that ALL of the bidders lose money, and only the winning bidder gains anything. That's the entire point of penny auctions--the people running the site get fully compensated for the animal, while the winner of the auction gets the animal for, at most, half its normal retail price. (The winning bid cost of 5 bucks or so, plus the cost of however many bids they used to win it. Individual bids cost about 60 cents or more apiece).

So, it's not breaking any 'animals as prizes' laws, nor is it breaking any gambling laws. It is technically an auction.

I don't personally see it as a big deal, but lots of people are freaking out over it. I doubt the guys who set it up expected more than half the community to jump down their throat over it. They're clearly inexperienced with running any sort of business website, and I'm sure the stress is taking a toll. That's if they are legitimate, which is another question that I believe remains up in the air at this point.

Oh, well...if you don't want to lose tons of money, don't bid on penny auction sites, lol. Relatively few people are going to wind up actually getting a spiffy lesser female for 5 bucks. If it's legit, most people are going to wind up paying between 1/4 and 1/2 the normal retail price of the animal, to actually win it.

I'm very sure that if it proves legit, and the people running it don't expire from the stress, there will be plenty of people willing to bid for the chance to get these snakes at half cost, in spite of the community outcry. Nothing wrong with the animals, after all. I wouldn't spend money on it, but there are plenty of folks who like to take risks, in the world.