Bill Oehlke is out of Canada and is a supplier(supposeably) of American saturniids(Giant Silkmoths). I guess he has different contractors here in the states that ship eggs, cocoons, and larvae to US buyers. Well my conundrum started about two weeks ago when I ordered 24 Actias luna eggs and sent payment through paypal 3-4 days later. About a week later I sent a cordial email asking about the status of my order and when i could expect my shipment to come, he said he would ship as soon as any pairings had happened(saying it would be any day now). Me being the gentleman that I am thinks this is acceptable and thinks nothing of it. Over two weeks later here I am without my eggs and i'm finding myself sending another cordial email. Is he just blowing smoke up my rear and giving me the runaround? I don't like it when people give me the runaround :angry: Has anyone else heard or dealt with this guy? Am I going to have to file a paypal complaint :angry:
Hi Jeffrey,
I am Bill Oehlke and was recently alerted by a friend that you posted some negative comments about me on a mantid forum.
My email records indicate my first correspondence with you was on March 19, 2009, when you indicated you would like to purchase a few Luna moth cocoons. You did not indicate your name or location in the email, did not specify a number of cocoons, but asked for a price quote.
I promptly replied on March 20, asking where you are located and how many you wanted and indicating that
shipping and handling depends on your location.
You replied on March 21, indicating you are in Washington state and that you were looking to purchase 6 Actias luna cocoons. You also asked if it is alright to send a check to the address that was given, and you supplied your name and shipping address as requested.
I did not hear from you again until I wrote on March 30, asking if you were still interested in the lunas. I had given you the price quote.
You replied on March 31, that you would probably be sending a personal check in the mail during the weekend, and requested a caresheet or information on care of lunas cocoons?"
I wrote back that I would not hold them for you unless I got something more committed than a "probably" and explained that we were nearing the end of their diapause.
You never sent a payment.
Next I heard from you on April 5 when you indicated you would like to purchase 24 Actias luna eggs. You indicated you could pay through paypal the moment any stock became available. You requested my Paypal info and a quote.
I replied promptly as I knew the eggs available at that particular time were already three day old eggs, but would still be okay to ship if they could be shipped immediately upon receipt of your prompt Paypal Payment. You had written that you could pay through paypal "the moment any stock became available".
I responded in the wee hours of the morning on Monday 6 Apr 2009, 2:46 am that eggs were available, provided the price quote and paypal info and questioned yur readiness to receive them in early April in Washington.
We must have different definitions of the word "moment" because your Paypal payment for the eggs did not arrive until April 9, four days after you were notified the eggs were available and I had no email from you confirming that you were indeed ready for them.
I first saw your email payment on April 10 as I was in bed when it arrived. I am on east coast and you are on west coast. The time lag is actually in your favour. I knew the Easter weekend was already upon us and the prospect of the eggs now seven days old sitting in the post office for the long weekend, might mean they would hatch in transit and be dead upon arrival. I knew there would be more eggs later, so rather than risk sending eggs that might yield dead caterpillars when you opened the envelope, I decided to wait for another batch which I felt would be imminent, based on info from shipper.
I have no control over the moths or over the weather and there were no immediate pairings whereby I could send you eggs.
On April 16 you wrote inquiring about the status of your order
I replied that eggs would be shipped from the next batch and that it could happen any day now. I also indicated I would email you when they get shipped, but cautioned that you would have to wait for next pairing.
I have no recollection of ever stating that it "would" happen any day, and I do have copies of most of our back and forth emails.
I have been in business for a very long time and am well aware of impact weather can have on availability. Although I received several emails from the Alabama supplier that females had emerged and pairings and eggs were expected, the anticipated pariings did not materialize.
On April 27 you wrote 1) reminding me that you had sent payment, 2) requesting an update on order status, 3) questioning why it was taking so long, and 4) requesting that
I provide a specific date on when you could expect them
I explained that I could not be more specific and explained why eggs had not been shipped earlier, and I beleive I offered a refund. I do not remember getting a reply until May 14.
On May 14 you wrote that you obtained the eggs elsewhere and that you would like a full refund for the money you paid through paypal.
on May 14, I sent you a refund of $18.00 US via paypal.
As you get more experience with moths you will probably understand better why eggs have to be shipped promptly after deposition. Had you sent the Paypal payment the "moment" you were notified stock was available, the eggs would have been shipped on May 6 and I suspect you would have had them May 8 or 9.
Lunas began flying in Alabama in March and some of my customers received eggs in March. Some received eggs in early April.
There were imminent opportunities for pairngs in the weeks that followed your payment, but the pairings just did not materialize. Sometimes stuff happens. You will probalby learn that lesson better as you get older.
Please note you changed my word could to would when you write "(saying it would be any day now)". Maybe you still have our correspondence and will find that at no time did I ever say it would be any day now. In the copy of the email I have the phrase is definitely ("could be any day now") I have too much experience and integrity to make false promises. I just do the best I can and a google.com search for Bill Oehlke will turn up over a thousand references and you will not find a negative comment unless your rant appears there now.
The first responder Philip Yuma bought into your misrepresentation I never promised "any day now", but you made it sound like I did.
Then you wrote a follow up posting on this site, casting aspersions on my name by attempting to link "a dealer feedback complaint dealing with a Bill...................didn't think of the chances of it being the same Bill If this is the case I'm going to go out of my way to make his life heck and make sure more people know about him on other forums If you haven't noticed I'm new to the whole insect breeder/dealer purchasing dealio. I don't get it, what do these types of people hope to gain, are they hoping folks will forget about the 45 days to dispute a transaction, do they hope and try to blow smoke and beat around the bush till the 45 days is up? Oh well you live and ya learn."
You were wrtiting these postings while you were still waiting for egg shipments from me. I am aware of unscrupulous dealers on the internet, and can understand your
concern. I am cautious as well and that is why I don't ship to first time customers until I have received payment. Repeat customers often receive shipments in advance of payment. Many WLSS members order eggs of various species that will be available at different times and send one payment at end of shipping season once we know for sure
what they were able to have shipped.
However, before running my name through the mud, you could have done a Google search for my name.
You could have asked on this forum if anyone had had previous dealings with me without casting the negative aspersions. You could have asked for a refund. You would have received one immediately.
I did send a Paypal refund to you immediately on May 14 the day that you requested it and wished you good luck with the eggs.
My reputation is a good one.
Yes, I do have twelve subcontractors in US who ship under my label. I have been working with most of them for many years. The understanding is that they will receive their payment for shipping at the end of the shipping season. They trust me to do so and a couple already have running totals of over $500.00 US that will be mailed to them at end of egg shipping season.
The entire east coast had a cool wet spring and lunas that would typically be flying in mid to late April in Virginia and New Jersey (two other states where I have shippers) did not start to provide eggs for me until after you cancelled your order. Just after you cancelled, eggs again became available.
If you have any integrity, you'll do the right thing.
I don't deal with mantids so probably not too many people on this forum know me. The only one that has done business with me, stuck up for me. The other believed your comments. Most recently one of the moderators has stuck up for me.
Show this to your parents and ask them what they think. I am sixty years old and have never "soiled" another man's reputation as you have mine.
I am surprised that you did not post to this thread that you did indeed receive a prompt refund of your money the very day it was requested. Hope you will do so now.
No threats from you were required to get your refund.
I made efforts to get the eggs for you. I responded promptly to your emails. I refunded promptly and lost the paypal traansaction fee in doing so.
To find your negative comments were posted behind my back during a transaction is a bit surprising.
Bill Oehlke
If you haven't noticed I'm new to the whole insect breeder/dealer purchasing dealio. I don't get it, what do these types of people hope to gain, are they hoping folks will forget about the 45 days to dispute a transaction, do they hope and try to blow smoke and beat around the bush till the 45 days is up? Oh well you live and ya learn.
