How did we get here?
For reasons that seemed funny at the time, Greg West's wife and daughter wore shirts proclaiming “Greg West Ruined My Life” to a comedy show. Naturally, this raised an important question:
Exactly how many lives HAS Greg West ruined?
We began documenting the evidence. Initially, the files consisted of suspicious incidents collected from more than 25 years of Greg operating Cornel's World, building reptile enclosures and helping run reptile expos.
Then something unexpected happened. Actual people started coming forward with their own stories. The Greg West Victim Files were officially open.
The victim files
Official case archive
- Case status
- Active investigation
- Documented cases
- 16 and counting
- Suspect
- Greg West
- Threat level
- Questionable
The first ten files document previously known incidents and suspicious patterns of behaviour.
Original case file
Case #001
Verified-ishThe Innocent Reptile Purchase
“I bought one Cornel's World enclosure.”
Three years later, I had an entire reptile room, six thermostats, two racks, a freezer full of rodents and a monthly electricity bill I refuse to discuss with my spouse.
Greg West Ruined My Life.
Original case file
Case #002
Case closedIt Started With One Question
“I asked Greg what reptile I should get.”
He said, “Depends what you like.” Unfortunately, that was the beginning of the end.
I now have 14 snakes, three geckos and two tortoises. Something in my basement also requires its own humidifier.
Greg West Ruined My Life.
Original case file
Case #003
Evidence received“We're Just Going to Look”
“I went to the Western Canadian Reptile Expo just to look.”
I came home with two reptiles and $400 worth of supplies. Meanwhile, my child decided to become a herpetologist.
We used to go camping.
Greg West Ruined My Life.
Original case file
Case #004
ConfirmedThe PVC Incident
“Greg said PVC reptile cages were easier to clean.”
Unfortunately, he was right. I replaced every enclosure I owned.
Then I bought more reptiles because I suddenly had room. I now need a bigger house.
Greg West Ruined My Life.
Original case file
Case #005
Highly suspiciousThe Reptile Expo Encounter
“I met Greg at a reptile expo.”
At first, he seemed normal enough.
That's how he gets you.
Greg West Ruined My Life.
Original case file
Case #006
Financial damageThe Thermostat
“Greg convinced me to buy a proper reptile thermostat.”
Now I understand temperature gradients, proportional heating, basking temperatures and proper probe placement.
Ignorance was cheaper.
Greg West Ruined My Life.
Original case file
Case #007
New victimThe Google Search
“I Googled ‘Greg West Ruined My Life’ because I saw some idiot wearing this shirt.”
Now I'm on a reptile website trying to figure out who Greg West is and why apparently everyone hates him.
I've already wasted six minutes. I suppose I'm a victim now too.
Greg West Ruined My Life.
Original case file
Case #008
Collateral damageThe Spouse Who Never Agreed to This
“My spouse bought one snake.”
Then they found Cornel's World. Apparently snakes need cages, cages stack and there is absolutely no reason an empty cage should remain empty.
I no longer know how many reptiles live in my house.
Greg West Ruined My Life.
Original case file
Case #009
Colour disputedCornel's World White
“I ordered a white PVC cage from Cornel's World.”
Greg has a long and well-documented history of forgetting to write that particular detail on the work order.
It was built black.
This has happened enough times that staff and customers now have a name for it:
“Cornel's World White.”
It's black.
Original case file
Case #010
Found poolsideThe Missing Expo Promoter
“Greg was supposed to open the doors for WCRE vendor setup.”
After pulling an all-nighter getting the expo ready, Greg promised his kids he'd take them swimming. He made it poolside and immediately fell asleep.
There was one minor problem:
He was also the guy who was supposed to open the doors for vendor setup.
For approximately 30 minutes, vendors were left asking:
“WHERE THE HELL IS GREG?”
Greg was eventually located. As you can see, he was very busy “lifeguarding.”
Greg West Ruined My Life.
Actual victim statements
Beginning with Case #011, these are actual victim statements, submitted after this investigation became public.
Actual victim statement
Case #011
Repeat victimCoercive Customer Service
“I bought several of this degenerate's enclosures!”
They were all so well built and useful that the price did not accurately reflect the transaction. HE made me feel guilty!
So guilty that I was compelled to purchase AGAIN.
Then Greyhound destroyed one of my 4x2x2 enclosures and wouldn't take responsibility. Greg personally replaced it at no cost and shipped it with a better company without charging me more.
If that's not coercive control, I don't know what is.
Worst of all? He acts like he doesn't even know me in public.
It's almost like he's this way with ALL his customers.
Submitted by Devon Behan
Greg West Ruined My Life.
Actual victim statement
Case #012
Victim in denialVictim Refuses to Cooperate
“Greg West INSPIRED My Life.”
In 2010 at the Red Deer Western Canadian Reptile Expo, I had more passion than money.
I was down to whatever coins I had left when Greg insisted on giving me two extra hides for free.
Sixteen years later, I still can't bring myself to call him a ruiner of lives. Instead, I somehow consider him a role model in business and exotic animals.
Clearly, this one may be too far gone.
Submitted by Kyle Feil
Case remains open.
Actual victim statement
Case #013
Photo evidenceThe Hair Extension Incident
“Greg West ruined my life AND my hair extensions.”
He's addicted to burritos and Oreo Ice Capps with Baileys.
He also taped me to a swivel chair once and left me for dead.
Unlike many of the allegations in this archive, photographic evidence has actually been submitted.
Submitted by knot_a_worry
Greg West Ruined My Life.
Actual victim statement
Case #014
No choiceVictim by Circumstance
“Do daughters count as victims?”
Unfortunately, yes.
Victim by circumstance. You have the shirt.
You just didn't have a choice in the matter.
Submitted by em_westy
Greg West Ruined My Life.
Actual victim statement
Case #015
Emotional damageThe RBF Incident
“Once at an expo, I said ‘hi’ and he stared right through me with RBF. It was haunting.”
I thought I had avoided him at another expo, but then he posed as RRK instead of Cornel's World.
Stay in your lane. Honestly, what's next?
How dare he try to improve the hobby.
The extent of the emotional damage has now been independently confirmed.
Submitted by vikson_sand_boas
Greg West Ruined My Life.
Actual family victim
Case #016
Culinary negligenceThe Taco Soup Incident
Greg apparently decided that recipes were more of a suggestion than a requirement.
The plan was taco soup. The problem was that Greg didn't actually have all the ingredients required to make taco soup.
This did not stop him.
Unfortunately for his son Carter, he was there to experience the results firsthand.
Years later, Greg's own assessment of the meal remains particularly damaging to the defence: it was actually terrible.
Exhibit 16-A, video evidence: unlike many cases in this investigation, footage of the incident has survived. Watch it on Facebook.
The footage provides a rare glimpse into the hardships Carter was forced to endure simply by being born into the West family.
Carter West: Victim since childhood.
Greg West Ruined My Life.
Has Greg West ruined your life?
The investigation remains open, and we are accepting new victim statements. The more ridiculous the story, the better. Photos and other questionable evidence are strongly encouraged.
You may be entitled to absolutely nothing.
There is currently no compensation fund, class-action lawsuit, government assistance program or organized support group. There is, however, a T-shirt. Wear it proudly. Confuse strangers. Create more Google searches.
Extremely serious legal disclaimer
“Greg West Ruined My Life” is a joke. The original case files are fictional, exaggerated or based on harmless real-life incidents for entertainment purposes. Actual victim statements are voluntarily submitted humorous stories and may be edited for length and readability.
No actual allegation of abuse, wrongdoing or life-ruining behaviour is being made. However, Greg stands by his questionable decisions.
Cornel's World accepts no responsibility for additional reptiles, reptile rooms, thermostat purchases, mysteriously disappearing disposable income, children becoming obsessed with snakes, spouses discovering new enclosures or excessive spending at reptile expos.
If you've read all 16 files, Greg has now also ruined several minutes of your life. Welcome to the archive.
