Look what a little bit of niceness gets you

[FishEnthusiast]

Hi,

We all saw the ebay thread about how awful the glass cubes are. This is the result of one day of communication with Ryan, the person selling the tanks and the star of the awful video. Please note, I have his permission to use his email replies to me on a public forum. The following is long as it is a number of emails back and forth

My first email to Ryan:

Hi there, I came across your auction today and I have a few questions if you don't mind.

Do you make these tanks yourself? If so, can you get them in a bigger size? I would be interested in purchasing at least one and most probably more if I could get it in a 1 gallon or bigger. I really am not sure 1/2 gallon is big enough for any fish.

I am kinda concerned about the size of the hole in the top too. I would be much more comfortable if the hole was at least 1/2 the size of the top of the tank. I prefer to catch my bettas in my hands when I am changing their water, and I am pretty sure my hand won't fit in there I also change my water really frequently, like 2 times a week, I wouldn't want to stress my babies out by pouring them through a hole if you know what I mean.

I really hope you make these yourself, so that it may be possible to make these modifications.

Thanks so much and I am looking forward to hearing from you,

Fish Enthusiast (especially bettas!)

This is the first response I got:
sorry...but I cannot make them any bigger. I don't make the glass blocks

So I wrote this back:

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. Do you know how I can contact the manufacturer of the blocks about the size of the hole in the top? I really want to get one, but I don't know how I could safely get my boy in and out of the container. I am just not comfortable using the funnel. That would work for a small betta, but I have one in particular that I would like to put in there that just wouldn't fit.

Thanks for listening to me ramble on. I am always on the lookout for a good deal.

This is his reply:

i must have missunderstood you. I am the one who cuts the hole in the top, but as far as "bigger" water wise, no they cannot. I have put larger holes in some I make the about 3" by 3" square on the top, if that works for you. I'm sorry about being so stern towards you, but I have gotten alot of grief from people who don't like my aquariums. So sorry about that. anyway, I can make it just about anyway you like it. Thanks Ryan
2nd e-mail..i also forgot to tell you---the hole that I have cut before ( 3" by 3" ) was big enough for those green fish nets.

Now I am thinking, hmmm I think I should email him again he seems to be warming up to me:

Hi,

I know about the rude emails you have been getting. I am a member of a forum that posted about your tanks. That is how I found them. I would like the hole to be big enough for my hand as I actually catch my bettas in my hand when I change my water. If you could make it so that it is rectangular that would be great. How much is shipping to Canada?

On a side note for the rude emails you have been getting. Maybe if you change your instructional video a little? Bettas really do need water changes every week, and tap water with dechlorinator is much healthier for them. The video is what got so many people upset.

Thanks so much
Sabrina

And here is his final reply:

I know I can't please everyone, but I do appriciate the help ( e-mails) The video is old, actually it was my first, but it cost alot to do one. So when I get the extra money I am going to have it done over. Cause actually the holes are much bigger now and much easier on the betta.

Thanks Ryan

He may just be giving me lip service, but at least he listened to what I had to say.

 

[ManyFISH4Me]

At least it seems that alot of people are emailing him. It sounds like we need to keep it up, but not be mean/rude about it. Maybe if we all nice him to death, he'll get the pic.

 

[BettaMomma]

In my opinion, if he's getting a lot of emails about them from people telling them they're cruel, he should just STOP selling the darn things and be done with it.

AND, IF the video is outdated, why the heck doesn't he take it down and type up some instructions then? It's still up there, playing in full force - giving all sorts of people ideas on how to make their own betta tank.

He could at least reply to us when we complain - and try to explain himself.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

I am sorry, maybe you missed it guys, he does not make the hole that small any more. He is a very nice person. He didn't reply to the other emails for one simple reason. You weren't nice.

The tanks are not cruel, the size is fine for a betta, even you said so BM. It is about the size of the hole used to put the betta in. That has CHANGED. It is now big enough to put a net in. He is more than willing to accomodate people and make the hole as big as you want. He is willing to make it big enough to put my HAND in there for goodness sake.

Why should he stop selling something if he can and has modified it so that it is not cruel? That is what I don't understand. Those tanks are a great idea, the size of the hole is not. I do not want this thread to turn into a thread bashing this person. If you want to do that there is a thread open already.

And one other thing, why should he reply when you are complaining rudely? I complained in a very indirect way and he replied very promptly. Why should he have to explain himself? He has only done something wrong in very few peoples eyes.

I am so sick and tired of the negativity that I am seeing in the betta section of this forum. It is not like this anywhere else. Why can't you guys just say good on him for being willing to listen to advice? Why can't you people see the good in anything? I am going to stop now as I am getting really upset. If I sent one of you a rude email or pm about how I felt your actions are not what I consider up to snuff, do you think you would reply and "explain yourself"? I think not.

One other thing, I am 99.99999% sure all those rude emails he got came from right here on this forum. I will bet you that he has not received one rude email from someone who didn't read the this is bs thread.

 

[fishykisses]

I think they are cool and i think he's cool for modifying them ... at no extra charge at that! If the hand fits - you must aquit!

 

[wuvmybetta]

This thread is right on track with some new betta forum rules that I've been contemplating
I like that.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

This thread is right on track with some new betta forum rules that I've been contemplating 
I like that.

Wuv....Do tell. You have my brain whirling in circles trying to figure out what you are thinking. I hope it is what I am thinking.

NM, I like surprises!

If the hand fits - you must aquit! 

 

[Synirr]

In my opinion, he didn't reply simply because you were nice... he replied because you showed interest in purchasing his product. I messaged him once upon a time and was very civil, as I always am when trying to persuade people to change their ways; I wrote with the assumption that he simply didn't know how to properly house and keep a betta, and shared a lot of information about betta husbandry, but received no reply. Perhaps I should have feigned interest in his product?

Anyway, I'm not saying that it isn't great news that he has changed the size of the hole, because it most certainly is, but I still honestly think that those tanks are far too small for any living thing besides possibly a snail. It's not the worst I've ever seen, but he could do better...

 

[basia]

I sent him a message through ebay 'ask the seller a question' and I was nice - he didn't reply.

 

[Mr Miagi]

NICE POST fish enthusiast! My congradulations on your ability to communicate with Ryan in a productive and kind manner.

If only we had more people like you fish enthusiast! Great thread!

 

[FalconStorm]

Has it occured to anyone that this is a busy man that may not have time to address 'advice' emails because he is trying to make a living? It doesn't surprise me that he didn't answer some emails, even though they were nice. The simple fact is that he obviously listened to *someone* as he has changed the size of the opening in the tank.

The main problem I still see is his video. I understand that it is old, but it is still providing misleading information. I like the person who had the idea that he provide written instructions until he can remake the video. Maybe you could suggest that, fish enthusiast, since you have his ear?

I agree that rude emails certainly don't help, but he's no angel either. The tanks ARE a bit small and he could at least try to answer the nicer emails, but I can understand if he gets several emails each week or even day, even if they are nice, the responses could get very tiresome and time consuming, so unless someone is interested in buying, he really can't afford to respond to every single one.

Maybe a middle ground can be reached?

 

[BettaMomma]

In my opinion, he didn't reply simply because you were nice... he replied because you showed interest in purchasing his product.

I agree with you 100%.
To your point, it is a WONDERFUL thing that he has changed how these tanks work, but having watched the OLD video that is STILL on his auctions, I would have never known that because he didn't bother to update it. And he didn't bother to answer my emails... If ya go into business, ya better be able to make darn sure you can keep up with stuff, whether that means you have someone answering your emails or whatever.

I would also like to point out that all the negativity that I personally send out in this forum is directed at places who mistreat fish - not against ANY forum members (with the exclusion of hmm - I can't remember his name, but it was the little punk who recently came onto the forum asking for help in breeding, members offered him help, and he ignored it and threw it in our faces) and I don't like it that it's being made out to be a bad thing. I have riled lots of people up and gotten lots of crap accomplished thru lots of hard work, time, effort and lots of lost sleep. I have invested heavily into this whole venture and take great pride in the fact that I, yes just ONE PERSON, am making a difference. If it seems like I am a major contributor to this negativity, if anyone would like me to stop, then please say so. It will be done instantly and you won't hear any more of it.

So - I am obviously assuming I am not the only person the "STOP THE NEGATIVITY" was directed at, but since my post was what seemed to spark the response, I felt like I should respond.

Maybe not all of you agree with the way I go about things, as I might not agree with how you go about things. That's just how things go.

As a closing note, tell Ryan that I, one of the people who emailed him and didn't get a response, applaud him for making the changes and we would like to ask that he take the time and effort to either remove the video or update it.

EDIT - took out some things, nothing too important

 

[OohFeeshy]

The video might be old and it mihgt have cost a lot, but he's making no friends by keeping it on there. I agree he replied because you showed interest, mine ws perfectly civil (you're going to get nowhere with bad spelling, rude words etc.) and I have no reply. LOL, of course he doesn't make them They're glass building blocks as we've been through before, he just had the 'bright' idea to cut a hole in the top and call them a fish tank. Generally, I find the best way is to ask a few questions first, such as 'aren't they a bit small', then if they say no, the live in puddles etc. you can write back and rant

 

[FalconStorm]

Bettamomma, from what I can tell, you start out being nice and only get aggressive if they completely ignore you or brush you off. That's how it should be. The problem comes in when people see something, make immediate assumptions and blow up at someone who may not mean to be a problem, usually through ignorance. Even if they realize they are wrong, they're going to get defensive and it takes that much longer to effect change.

Those who just refuse to change can only be changed through more aggressive avenues, but the fastest way to effect change is through mutual cooperation. In the recent issues, a lot of people have been jumping to conclusions that may not be accurate. Case in point: the picture of the whiskey bottles with bettas in them for sale in Thailand.

This guy did bring some of those emails on himself by ignoring the nicer ones, but those who just emailed him with rude emails without trying to be nice first were as much at fault as he was.

I don't think you were being targeted in this thread. It's the jumping to conclusions and making assumptions that causes these problems, not your attempts to help make positive changes.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

I knew that to get a response from any seller I would have to express an interest in his wares. I never intended to buy anything from him, I used it to open lines of communication. It worked and that is what matters IMO. To those who were nice and didn't hear back. I am sure he at least took the time to read them. In fact I am pretty sure he read the rude ones as well.

There is no one person "targeted" in this thread. I just want to prove a point that being nice really does get you farther. I know you try hard BM. I am not knocking you in any way. I do however feel that getting angry at someone without trying to be nice first is not always the right way to go about things. I am not saying you get mad without trying to be nice. I am pretty sure in the past you were. There are, however, people everywhere who fly off the handle without stopping to think about what they are doing.

I go to great lengths to not target any one person in any thread here. That would be wrong and it is against my morals to do so. The fact remains that I am finding it more and more depressing to come to the betta forum. Positive change is still met with skeptisism. I honestly didn't think a positive thread would be met with positive responses, so thank you to those who were feeling as positive as I was when I posted this thread. To those who met my post with skeptisism, I expected nothing less.