LOL- great story! Well, not the part about how they treated the gecko or where it was kept, but about you reaching in.
You are lucky you got bitten 3 times instead of 1x.
I had one of my girls clamp onto me when cleaning her cage and she didn't let go for 45 minutes! Everytime I moved my hand slightly she would tighten her grip. I got to practice my patience that day. LOL