I had a mixed experience with this seller. First off I think his clams are healthy in his tank and are extremely beautiful. I have bought two maxima clams from him both being around 2 inches (in the live streams they look a lot bigger, although that is kind of my fault for not asking how big they were). The first clam I bought from him I picked up, but the second one I had a hard time getting. I bid on and won the clam on the live sale and paid for it in full like a day or 2 later (in the asked for time frame). I also paid for the in state shipping. However, he insisted that I don't have it shipped because I only lived like an hour away. There were pretty large gaps our communication where he just didn't respond (like 24 hours+). In the end, he ubered the clam to my house which was pretty cool and definitely cost more than I paid for in shipping, however the whole process was kinda of botched. Both of the clams died after like a month or so, but that is the game you play when you buy small maximas. Overall, I think the owner is a good dude but he didnt/doesn't have the business side of things dialed in (this order was like 2 years ago).
I think this was a fair summary of the likely cause of many folks frustration with online sales in general, and the added cost of shipping and associated mortalities of clam, corals, fishes that go through the mail is going to get worse and worse as the internet/
Amazon/Governmenttaxedsupplychain trys to swallow up the local fish, book,"you insert product name here" markets.
Lots of people fail (INCLUDING me) with communication in person, by telephone, by text, even Skype because our ability to think and speak at the same time is hindered by so many things common to life. I don't recall when or why I spoke with salesperson x at Clammania years ago and they seemed very distracted or uncomfortable talking directly to me, in person. That handicap isn't a fatal flaw, unless it is connected to dishonesty or deception that is derailing the conversation. I don't think that was the issue, I think this person, for whatever cause or reason wasn't comfortable talking with me. (Let's call it good discernment! :) ) I didn't buy a clam. I was too poor and the seller's discomfort reinforced my decision not to risk the coins on a beautiful clam.
Reading that others have experienced perhaps similar interactions, combined with the reports of the owner being a stellar and fair guy by folks who know him make me glad that our justice system presumes innocents until proven guilty.
A close friend just sold his local fish store. He is very fair and honest and yet people criticised him online similar to what I've read here. "Item looked bigger in the picture." "No-way the item they sent was what I saw in the picture." I was in his store when he posted online a beautiful anemone that just came in. People accused him of photoshopping the nem, called him out online as a con artist and thief, all the usually stuff. The nem died the next day, money was refunded and the internet was merciless towards his reputation. The guy had the best prices, great corals and fishes and fair shipping costs and that wasn't good enough?
Sad. We could all be better.
