26/07/2023
Was going to stay quiet on this. But the false allegations made against me are bleeding into my work to a point I cannot abide. I have asked for him to stop as his information is outright incorrect and either pure lies or a twisted truth, and told him I would address it publicly if it continued. This misinformation campaign being so actively levied against us is ultimately due to what is a 1.5 day shipping delay due to a health crisis.
I have dealt for over a week with continued harassment, slander and defamation from a 'Waitara Fish Guy'. I am comfortable naming him publicly as he considers himself a breeder, and has shared my personal contact information publicly.
He made a purchase from me of a Crowntail 2 weeks ago, and his order was made after my weekly shipping slot. I informed him I was unable to post that week as I had already done my post run for the week. I was initially met with guilt trips, but reassured him the fish would be posted the following week. He asked for the fish to be posted before my usual dates, to which I said I could for a surcharge as I would have to take a hour off work to pack/post fish on a day earlier in the week, resulting in lost income. He grew irritated by this because the fish was allegedly for 'his nieces birthday'
And as unfortunate circumstance does, I was rushed to hospital with a severe life threatening infection on Tuesday, and missed my usual latest shipping date (Thursday). As soon as I was able to contact a relative as I was ill and had no device on me in hospital, I had them pack fish on my behalf and take to courier. I paid from my own pocket to have fish delivered express with Saturday delivery so the people who ordered for that week would receive their fish.
When I returned home I was met by a barrage of verbally abusive emails, demanding a refund and implying I had scammed him and accusing me of poor communication despite the fact till I was hospitalized I had been responding to messages and emails from him promptly. I messaged explaining as the fish was no longer in my possession due to being at the depot I could not refund, but there were going to be vouchers in compensation. To which I was met with further verbal abuse. I explained the circumstances and apologised profusely, but the treatment from him continued. I was lectured about how other people, such as him as he liked to repeat, have it harder, and was met with a sob story that he tried to use to devalue my hospitalization and inability to ship sooner.
His fish arrived healthy in a video he posted himself, save for some minor fin damage that is not uncommon in shipping. He posted a video of this fish on several pages, claiming I sold horrible fish and other accusations.
Except then he went messaging fellow breeders about how the fish arrived deceased, when he had posted video of his own volition of the fish swimming and in great condition save for minor fin damage. And trying to pass off the fact it was a crowntail as extreme fin damage.
He states the fish is in a hospital tank in a email to me because its 'diseased' when it can be clearly seen the fish in the video is in a community tank with no appropriate medications.
He has accused us of posting diseased fish due to me empathizing with him when he said he had a outbreak of columanaris, and I expressed I had gone through that to in one of my female tanks.
My jarring system has no foreign water introduced, there is no way for disease to enter it despite his accusation, and all fish are vetted before posting for any signs of disease regardless.
Since then I have dealt with constant slander, defamation to the public in groups I have sold in before or advertised in, to people I know follow my page, to fellow breeders who know none of what he is saying is true.
All of this because of a 1.5 day delay due to a urgent hospitilaztion, and a lack of human empathy.
I have been recieving comments over the past week from people accusing me of fish being in poor condition after shipping or dead, and calling me a bad breeder, when I have ALWAYS addressed these issues when brought to me in the very rare occurrence they happen. I always offer full refunds within a week if the fish dies due to their concerns, something no other breeder/store would do. I offer vouchers, replacements with free shipping on my dime.
I have made a effort to have brilliant customer service for this page/breeding operation. And the continuous lies and slander have destroyed not just my breeding programs reputation, but my love for the hobby and fish. But when shipping live animals s**t happens. Bettas nip their fins when stressed, they can die in post, heat packs can stop working or not activate properly, bags can leak. There are alot of variables in shipping which is why it is BUYERS RISK. However I have refunded all deceased fish, or offer high value vouchers for fin damage as well as on top of refunds for deceased fish, when I never should have and other breeders tell me off for doing so.
I cannot open my page and look at comments/messages/emails without suffering massive bouts of anxiety.
We will be shutting down permanently. Thanks to those who supported us.
I am tired, I should be resting so I can recover but I have dealt with my work being destroyed instead. I can provide screenshots if really required. But i'd prefer not to lower myself to posting private dms to a public forum as he did with me.
