Cadman2000 - A lesson in not getting paid upfront!

[GrizzlysDad]

SHAME ON ME!!!!
Shame on me for trying to help out a new member here and a new member to the cichlid hobby in general.
I normally keep my "secret list" of people to avoid dealings with private. Now if someone asks me about a person in particular, I will tell them privately if I had any bad experience with them.
Many of you know how active Cadman2000 aka Gregory Hickman was on this site. He was setting up his Malawi tank and he wanted to stock it with electric yellows and Ps. saulosi but since he couldn't locate that Pseudotropheus he decided to go with Ps.demasoni instead.
I happened to be the person he opted to get them from....this is where my mistake happened.
Last Fall Jeffrom, regalblue, and Cadman2000 decided to go on an impromptu local shop hop.
Since I already seen him at the previous MCA meeting I offered to send the fish with Jeff and let Cadman pay me at the upcoming MCA meeting. BIG MISTAKE!!
Well, to date he has not been to meetings and all but disappeared from this forum. His last activity here was April 7th.
From what I gathered, he seemed he was trustworthy so I wasn't too worried. He even kept somewhat in touch with me over the winter, but only if I mentioned it to him. Over the last couple months though, he has decided to not bother responding to emails/PM's, etc.
Several times, through a third party texting, he claimed he was "taking care of it tomorrow". Once he finally answered my personal email, he stated the same thing..."tomorrow". That was a couple weeks ago.
He only owes me $40 but it's not the amount now, IT'S THE PRINCIPAL!!!
He has done nothing but either hide behind his keyboard or make excuses and promises to no end.
I even told him that I can (and have been for many people in the past) a very understanding person if someone just doesn't have the money.
I just request they not ignore the issue and keep me informed.
I informed him that if something wasn't definitively settled I would post this warning to everyone on all the fish forums so they do not get taken advantage of the way he has done to me.
This is a simple easy (and common sense) lesson to be learned, do not give up the goods without being paid first.
Normally I follow that rule but I thought I'd be nice and help the new guy out 
SHAME ON ME!!!

[Ron]

This is a simple easy (and common sense) lesson to be learned, do not give up the goods without being paid first.

^ The most important part IMO. Didn't you have something similar happen with someone else regarding a tank? You've got to stop being so nice. 

[Marty]

Normally I wouldn't want a post like this because I don't want to see this because I don't want the board to devolve into a he said, she said type of thing when there's a dispute over a transaction.  In this circumstance I'm going to leave it up for two reasons:

One, I have an independent confirmation from a third party that confirms what Tony has said.

Two, I believe there's a lesson here for everyone.  That lesson being, cash is king!  I generally don't like to front goods or fish to people I don't know well, and as a matter of fact I have over $150 of holey rock that I got stuck with when I was asked to pick some up at the OCA Extravaganza last fall and the guy backed out.

[auratus]

That sucks Tony ,  its natural to want to trust people especially people in the hobby.  I sometimes wonder how some people sleep @ night

[scifisarah]

That would irritate me to no end as well, being a "principals" type person myself. For my Etsy craft business I never ship anything out until it is paid in full. If I do, I know it will be the one time I get scammed. I hope it doesn't taint your attitude in helping cichlid newbs like myself though.

[NorthernAquatic]

Things are no longer how they used to be. When someones word meant something, and a handshake was a deal in stone.

Sadly, in today's world, it needs to be "Cash in Advance", and "Buyer Beware".

I myself have been taken in this manner as well. You try to help someone, and you get stabbed in the back.