Why a HUGE variation in prices?

[rebel750]

I am shopping every day for nice looking morphs but I want to know why there is a HUGE difference in prices for the same morphs from place to place.

I have see Mojos from $150-600 all comparable sexes, sizes and hatch dates. Other morphs as well that are so not consistant it's unreal.

Do some think that because you can say you got your Ball from "this guy" it makes it worth more.

[Freakie_frog]

the price difference is because every animal is different..So the more apealing the look of the snake the more money it demands..

[Kyle@theHeathertoft]

The pet store I work at sells normals, unsexed, and generally young...for like $79.99. INSANE.

I didn't pay a heck of a lot more than that for my Mojave male. He's a much nicer, prettier, healthier snake, too...bigger and a little older than them.

I was irked as hell when a co-worker asked about why I prefer buying from breeders instead of from the store. Grrr.

[Turbo Serpent]

A quality example of one morph usually costs a bit more. One that has breed standard coloring and pattern will more often than not fetch a higher price. Also more established breeders can charge a bit more because they have established themselves as being trustworthy and not a fly by night venue.

Whereas people just getting into this can and will sell their animals for less. Does it mean that they aren't of the same quality... not necessarily, but price and value are not one in the same.

[Freakie_frog]

but price and value are not one in the same.

[Buttons]

The pet store I work at sells normals, unsexed, and generally young...for like $79.99. INSANE.

I didn't pay a heck of a lot more than that for my Mojave male. He's a much nicer, prettier, healthier snake, too...bigger and a little older than them.

I was irked as hell when a co-worker asked about why I prefer buying from breeders instead of from the store. Grrr.

Irked because someone less knowledgable asked you a question?

79.99 is nothing. Petsmart near me had a normal listed at $249.99, put a sale on and dropped it to 149.99. I finally got the manager to let me take it for around $90 as they weren't taking proper care of it.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

Consider the other answers and think about it from a breeders point of view and not just someone looking for a pet to never breed..

Color and pattern traits are usually passed on. Light normal to a light normal should give you light normals and vice versa.

A $600.00 Mojo should be very light, ghostly, lots of blushing & flames, lots of yellow tones, light eyes & just an amazing example of the morph. IMO

It all comes down to what YOU want and what YOU are willing to pay.

[rebel750]

Well I see the same ads for months at a time and to me that makes it seem like the established breeder is the only one who thinks it should be that much higher priced.

Although if I were that breeder it may be that they are on the fence about keeping or selling. If it sells for a higher price then cool, if it doesnt sell and becomes a nice holdback then that's good. I could see that but not because I think I am more trustworthy than the next guy.

I understand a SLIGHT price variation, but not the ones that are hundreds of dollars more for a slightly different shade or pattern.

And I know a guy in the area who sells baby normals to local Petsmarts and Petcos for $15 a pop. Then yes they turn around and mark them up to $80-100 and fail to even take care of them. But yes they will come down on the price if you ask, most just dont ask and will buy their kid a BP from a petsotre anyway.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

Yes there are some well known established breeders that price snakes higher than most other people selling on say... KS.com..

Thing is, much of these breeders sales come from other breeders. Then what doesnt sell for that price may be brought to a show a lowered a little so the animal will sell.

People quickly find that snakes sell faster to ammatures if priced very low. The ones priced high do sell but those breeders have the room and time to keep them around if they do not sell right away. Then they may even be able to sell it even higher later on after the snake is bigger. Time of year makes a big difference too. The 2 best times to sell are early spring (tax time) beginning of fall (breeding season)

There is a method to the maddness. You just need to stick around places like this, talk to breeders, go to shows, participate in forums, do price checks etc etc.. Before you really understand how it all works.

[Kyle@theHeathertoft]

Irked because someone less knowledgable asked you a question?

Irked because while she'd skin me alive if I bought, say, a PUPPY from a pet store, she seems to think that we're the best place EVAR to get a snake from.

I may have neglected to mention she's been fired for incompetence and re-hired. I'm training her for the second time now, and it isn't going much better than the last time. She's a nice gal, don't get me wrong, but...brainless.