Let's avoid fraudulent theft

[Wood~Ant]

For Buyers & Sellers of Ants

Recently an ant site run by a member of this forum was set up called Antastic.net. It was selling some very exotic ant species, with one colony of Australian Bull Dog Ants selling for around the extortionate price of £400.
Most species were a bit more affordable, as I ordered a colony of Pheidole noda for £47 myself from the site. This was done on the 23rd July 2010, and I never got the colony despite it being fully paid for; but when both my wife Jenant and I asked for the money to be refunded fully, our emails were either ignored completely, or we were fed a pack of lies about when we would get the refund. First it was we would receive the money back by August 23rd, then the 27th, yet it did not happen.

In view of this event, we would like to say this to any member of Ant Hill World who is buying or selling ants.

We wish to avoid fraud and theft on this forum, so will all buyers please not place an order for ants unless they fully intend to pay the asking price; and perhaps more importantly, will ant sellers please not place an advert to say they are selling a particular ant specie(s) unless they actually have them in stock, and will send them off to the buyer(s) as soon as they get their money, whether it be via a cheque, PayPal or a postal order.

Any member found to be committing fraudulent theft which is proved will be instantly banned from this community, as Jen and I simply will not accept or tolerate cheats and thieves here.
Unfortunately we cannot accept responsibility for the actions of any seller or buyer of ants who may be a member of this forum, as private transactions between members are strictly beyond our jurisdiction; but you are very welcome to post complaints or exultations about any ant dealer (sellers and buyers) if you find they are bad or good, but do be aware that while most of our members who buy or sell ants are 100% genuine and fair traders, we do occasionally get the odd crook and rogue who will take the money and run

So try and be careful, as it is always best to use a site which has gained a good reputation and is a respectable place to buy, or sell ants from; and we can avoid parting with our hard earned cash and having nothing to show for it at the end

[Jenny]

The said member is frequenting forums again selling lists of ants from Asia, so be careful out there. Choose people with the AHW approval sellers badge, or a seller that has good reviews!! This can be found in the Ant Buyers Advice Center.

[Wood~Ant]

The old saying goes "A fool and his money are soon parted." As we have some very good reliable ant sellers here who are 100% trustworthy, members who wish to buy ants from other forum members will find that we place good sellers into a special group.
You can feel safe and confident about buying ants from dealers in this group, but please check how they have been rated first in the Ant Buyers Advice Centre board, as you can then see what other members say about a particular ant seller.

We get so annoyed when someone places adverts to sell ants, and then lets their customers down by accepting orders which either cannot be fulfilled due to the seller not having the ants in stock, yet still taking the payment, or by sending out replacement ants which are not worth the money. For example, a substitute colony of another species which is cheaper; but the person selling it charges the same amount of money.

We do urge members to buy ants only from those dealers who have gained a valid reputation of being reliable, and anyone who sells ants and is found to be a con man and a cheat will not be welcomed here on the Ant Hill, as such people sully the good name of our forum and those ant sellers who are totally reliable.
Why should anyone pay out a small fortune and then be cheated?

We will do our best to make any member buying ants feel confident about the seller, as none of us should have to pay out for an expensive Rolls Royce car and end up with a clapped out old banger; or worse still, nothing at all.