Integrity and the lack there of…

[dball711]

First of all I’m not sure where to post this so Mods please move as you see fit.

It has come to my attention that I am being accused of collusion on the auction forum. I take my reputation seriously, very seriously. I will not cheat or take advantage of anyone to make a dollar.

If anyone tells me a coral dies I will refund the cost or replace the coral even months after the purchase.

If bidding gets out of hand and I feel someone has overbid, I round the high bid down to $1 more than the previous high bid stating “there’s no need to over pay”.

I love this hobby and this club, I spent 5 years on the BOD serving as secretary, vice president and president. I made some popular and unpopular decisions as well as many contributions to the betterment of the club.

It came to my attention that someone made an Accusation that I was in collusion with a bidder on a mushroom I put up for auction. I closed the auction and banned the bidders even though they are both innocent. I want total transparency in my actions as a club member and a seller.

This is the only way I can show I have no connection or deals with anyone bidding on my auctions. I value my membership in this club and the privilege as a seller.

To whoever the person is that started the rumor, grow a set and speak to me directly if you have something to say. Don’t be a coward and speak to tarnish my reputation.

 

[Adam]

The title is fitting, considering the source of the "rumor" about you.

 

[PJs_Bucket_List]

As someone fairly new to the hobby and ARC, this REALLY bothers me (using the most polite phrase I can think of)! Fair warning, this could be a long and babbling post, but I do have a relevant point. So read on, if you have the time.
First of all, I want to point out that even in the short time I've been here, I've experienced the examples @dball711 gave in his post. He's rounded down when I overbid. And replaced coral I've lost, generously, despite the loss being entirely my fault. Anyone want to try to name another seller who does that? Anybody? Hmm, can't think of any? Yeah, I didn't think so.
Starting out in this hobby as a barely middle class cancer patient with bigger financial priorities and obligations, I experienced some major sticker shock. Especially since I came from freshwater tanks. It takes about a year for the tank to mature? Y'all, I figured it would take that long to get more than a couple frags in my tank, with my budget! But thanks mostly to his auctions, my bucket list tank is full of beautiful aquatic life, and I'll have the chance to actually see it grow out and become the little piece of the ocean I always wanted.
I've gotten frags from individuals that introduced pests to my tank. I've received frags from big shot online vendors that did the same. All without a word of warning. Everyone shrugs their shoulders and says, "Ehh, that's normal. It's to be expected." Yet not ONCE have I gotten anything but a healthy, pest-free coral from Dave. Funny, that.
As a new reef hobbyist, it's easy to freak out or get disheartened by the setbacks and countless problems we face. Like most people, I turned to the forums when it happened to me. While some people responded with unhelpful, derisive snark about how I wouldn't last long in the hobby, Dave offered an encouraging word and advice on how to deal with the problem. You know, like someone who actually cares about the hobby and wants to see it continue. In my brief time here, I've witnessed and experienced only honesty, fairness, and integrity from him.
All of this to say, actions speak louder than words (yes, I see the irony of this, with my long post). I think it's pretty obvious where the integrity lies in this case. One has only to weigh Dave's actions against the words of a rumor, spoken by someone with the flimsy courage of anonymity.

 

[mattgee87]

This man right here is probably the nicest guy you will ever meet. He is currently holding coral for me for over 3 months now because my tank crashed and I've been trying to sort it out. He sells coral that could easily go for 4x in price just so that others can afford those out of reach nice looking specimens. If you think he's trying to make a quick buck and is somehow manipulation auction , you don't know Dballs.

 

[fabbss]

Any of us in this club who has met or dealt with Dave, it wouldn't even need to said. He is the nicest and most considerate guy, when it comes to this hobby. I've been in the hobby off and on for nearly 20 years now. This hobby has always been expensive, but never like it has in the past few years. Everyone is trying to build grow out systems and selling frags for top $ as a side hustle. But no judgment or hate coming from me for that.

But Dave on the other hand is old school. He loves the hobby, buys expensive frags from very high-end retailers, grows them out, and sells those frags at auction!!! I mean literally selling pieces for under $10-20 dollars. He will replace lost pieces at a blink of an eye when it was hobbyist's fault for the loss. He has always been transparent in who wins an auction if there are any questions. It is absolute poor taste for anyone to make assumptions of one's character with absolutely no evidence. But, we can all agree that the evidence we DO have is the character Dave shows us all every single time in dealing with him!!

I hope and pray that Dave continues to support this club and the hobby doing what he loves.

Cheers to you Dave and all you do for us on the ARC.