Split from 'Speaking of looking for people'

[aquaticvet1]

What did you consult with Petco about ? I am assuming you were helping them get an advantage over the LFS. I doubt they would pay you to get a disadvantage.

 

[aquaticvet1]

No, I never worked with someone I didn't.

 

[clarionreef]

Wait,
I just caught this .

You are a collector/wholesaler now selling direct to the consumer---that is an admitted to fact and proven beyond a doubt.

Thats another fib. I sold to a dealer who delt it to a hobbyist who was too happy w/ his fish. But you already know that and chose to ignore it.

Oh well.
Its here in the record.

What did you consult with Petco about ? I am assuming you were helping them get an advantage over the LFS. I doubt they would pay you to get a disadvantage

Worked for PETCO?


What are you smokin?
It was a poor wholesaler who just closed the doors yesterday...
Steve

 

[aquaticvet1]

So you were not working for Petco, you were a spy ? Is that what you are selling me.

 

[clarionreef]

so what do ya wanna know about em?
The wholesalers DOA now so I am free to talk.
You wanna know how they tried to get MAC certified?
What happened with their Red Sea fish low ball campaign ...what?
Steve

 

[aquaticvet1]

Folks,

Now you have it,

This man is at times selling around the LFS to the consumer. He admitted it in a previous post.

All the time he was selling his holyness on RDO he had a secret affiliation with Petco, actually consulting with them and their cohorts so they can have an advantage over the LFS. Sorry Kalk.


I will rest my case your honor!!!

 

[aquaticvet1]

Before you go Steve I would like to know about your Philippine livestock history. Please do not tell me it was just an education or you wanted to see what the other side was like, as you did with your Petco affiliation. You were involved there far too long.

Please tell us how long you MADE MONEY in the Philippine livestock trade. I will correct you if you are wrong.

 

[KKohen]

WOW, I leave and go to work so I can tend to some fish at our facility and it is apparent I have missed quite a bit.

Thales:
In my opinion this thread had deviated substantially from the title, and I am respectfully requesting that you split the recent subject matter that started to take shape somewhere on page 3 so that it is easier to read.

Steve,
I would prefer not to spend anymore time in a debate with you on who can throw the ball farther, as it is pointless. I feel that I have stated my concerns appropriately in earlier posts, and you have responded accordingly. Thank you again for taking the time to do so.

Livestock Supply in the United States:

Any of us who sell marine fish in the United States have plenty of decisions to make regarding where and who we purchase fish from. There is an array of Exporters overseas, along with numerous Trnasshippers, Large Direct Importers, Regional Wholesalers, Jobbers, and the specialty Importer here in the US.

What I can personally do is to try and make the most responsible decisions for my company, our customers, and for the betterment of our industry. Balancing these decisions is very challenging as the Live Tropical Marine Fish Industry is very complex, and is littered with questionable fish, from questionable suppliers.

I feel the biggest contribution I can make when faced with such complex and difficult decisions regarding supply, is to do my very best to try and do the responsible thing by dealing with individuals and companies that share my same goals and beliefs. Ones that take every opportunity to source fish from areas other than the Philippines and Indo. I cannot change the culture of a group of people in overseas countries, nor can I dictate how to harvest and handle fish in the way that I would like to see. What I can do is encourage and support suppliers who try and work in the most ethical and responsible manner.

Regards,
Kevin Kohen

 

[Anonymous]

Rich
Are you no longer a moderator?
You must not be as the tolerance for all the initial unprovoked personal assaults from Kevin were allowed to pass and now you jump in when I defend myself?
You must not be a moderator anymore.
Steve

This has nothing to do with what I posted. As I predicted.

I didn't see much to moderate in this thread, I certainly didn't see any 'personal assualts' that needed moderation - especially given the history of this forum. I didn't post until I had something to say about the topic, and my post had nothing at all to do with stopping you from 'defending yourself'. Nice side step of the issues though.

I am indeed a moderator/admin. If you have issues with what people post, please PM me BEFORE you reply so the issues can be dealt with.


I have also split this thread from the original because it seemed like a good idea.

 

[Anonymous]

and..........Trying to change people you work for [ temporarily] is not always possible as Kevin and Rich well know.

I think that is spin.

And yet...if indeed I am a hypocrite [ your serious and vindictive inference] what does that make your friends who continue to deal heavily in these tainted fishes?
Steve

Beats me, but I don't think they get online and pontificate about others not doing what they are themselves doing.

 

[Anonymous]

Forced to tolerate the OTHER dept who delt w/ them is not the same as being with them and for except in your mind.
Did you ever work with someone you didn't? Did you ever work in a company whose policies you disagreed with?

I don't think that is what you were doing. Its great to have ideals, but when you shout them from the rooftops and belittle others who disagree with you, how can you be surprised when you are then put under a microscope about it. You weren't hired to help change the organization, you were hired to sell fish.

All the big importers need reforming and you can try it from the outside and you can try it from the inside. I was inside temporarily and know the situation better still.
Then, when you approach a possible remedy, you at least understand things better.

In this very forum you derided the idea of changing them from the inside, so it seems odd for you to be defending the practice when you say you did it.

 

[JeremyR]

Thales,

As a moderator, if you are going to post in the thread at least be fair and include the other side in your "spin" quotes.. there is blatantly obvious spin and fact warping going on by the good doctor as well. From over here, you appear to be piling on. This whole thread is nothing but petty posturing and bloviating.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Jeremy,

I understand your point of view and thanks for pointing it out.

I have commented on what I have commented on because I have been involved in those events and had conversations with Steve about them. The 'new' version of events seems quite different from the original. It was a very particular spin I was commenting on.

As to the back and forth quiping, that just sadly seems par of the course for this forum - which no amount of moderation or private conversation/cajoling/threats has seemed to dent. Sure, I could yet again ask that people be respectful of each other, but everyone already knows that and I guess I am just not in the mood to play the ignored parent today.

 

[aquaticvet1]

Steve,
When you were involved with ASAP what was the Petco connection , something about selling fish for a profit maybe?? Please comment.

Remember, this was when you were trumpeting poetry from the rooftops to the LFS owners on RDO. Check the dates, I did.

 

[clarionreef]

You guys are silly and lying as well.
I never sold to Petco and you insist I did.
I never ordered fish from the Philippines for the company and you insist I did.
I never controlled the company as your villification would suggest.

I helped market to outside and independant retailers for them and develop clean fish supplies.
I did enable new fish supply from Tonga and Mexico and campaigned to go all netcaught with the Les Village in Bali.
How you turn these efforts into negatives when surrounded by dealers who make no effort to clean up anything is beyond me.

It suggests something personal.

Steve

 

[aquaticvet1]

What was your involvement with ASAP?

 

[clarionreef]

You want it explained again???
Should I cut and paste the last several page or just ask you to read it again.
Not scan...but read.
Steve

 

[aquaticvet1]

That is all ? Did ASAP or any part thereof sell Petco?

 

[clarionreef]

Actually Race
I do thank you for wanting a discussion more then just a re-vetting of old personal issues here.
The younger ones do indeed get off track and their inability to communicate sets off the personal stuff.
If there was an issue here it should be gotten back to.
Someone was looking for Mark Schrefler ........and then Kevin attacked me on a misunderstanding about a retailer and his client and then it went way off track.
It went personal and was not moderated. In fact the moderator was the bigger instigator of the personal insults and attacks.
Steve

 

[clarionreef]

Yes,
ASAP did sell to Petco as did Segrest and ERI and everyone else it seems w/ a big wharehouse.
I never liked the Petco thing and many of my favorite customers didn't either.
Their game plan was set long before I joined them and continued after. . I joined them for a year 7 years after they opened, and left the next.

Now, they regret their decision to have gone with Petco but its too late and they have closed the door...which is a bigger issue in itself.
Retailers and wholesalers are really dropping like flies.
Steve