This is getting RIDICULOUS! Lesser pastel for $400 shipped?!

[RhacHead]

At the start of this season I would say the average asking price for a lesser pastel was $800 and stayed around there until I noticed someone posting a Lesserpastel for $450 since then.I noticed a drastic decrease in the average market price of Lesserpastels. This is because everyone wants to be competitive and have some of the lowest prices around. This is just killing it for everyone so where do we draw the line? I know we all do this because we have a.passion for these animals and not to get rich but I don't want to be the winner of the who can sell the first $50 carmelglow race because honestly in that race everyone loses...

So now it takes me to this "What can be done?" I know that the price will fluctuate due to supply and demand but one persons greed or desperation can dramatically alter the market so how do we stop it? This is an honest question here and I'm sure there's people on here who feel my pain. I have a Lesser Pastel who I feel is a stellar example and would love to sell but I don'twant to further damage the market and don't have a webpage. So what do you do in this situation?(End rant)

[AaronP]

What can you do? Nothing.

When you're selling your Lesser Pastels just ask what you feel they're worth. If you feel yours are worth $800 then ask that, not everyone is looking for the cheapest snake they can find.

[wilomn]

What makes you certain that price is brought on by greed and desperation?

[freezingdwarf]

As a fairly new breeder, I can say that market price and posted price are quite different things. Now, that quoted price is low, but is probably posted by someone who knows market price by going to shows. Yes, this is the problem, as now people will negotiate down. If the animal is still available after like 2 minutes, well then it is a fair market price.

Sorta how capitalism works, hmmm

[trcmustang]

What can you do? Nothing.

When you're selling your Lesser Pastels just ask what you feel they're worth. If you feel yours are worth $800 then ask that, not everyone is looking for the cheapest snake they can find.

I agree with AaronP. I would set your asking price. But if you are willing to negotiate, I like the "OBRO" option. (Reasonable being the key word here) Then you and the buyer can agree on a price that you feel is right for the both of you.

[kitedemon]

Supply and demand. It is what it is. there is no way to control the market and attempts to do so end on the shady side of the law especially in the US (if I remember my american legal system correctly I am a Canadian so I m a bit sketchy on it) but I believe price fixing is at best questionable legally. Not that it matters as there are so many people in the business you would never get them all together anyway.

As my breeder always says last years babies go on sale before this years arrive. The economy is battered and people just are not sending the same way, prices will reflect that sometimes it takes time for reality to open eyes to that fact.

[rjk890]

Really...


I've got an idea...
Why don't you purchase every animal that you perceive to be under priced, and then resell it for what you feel is the proper market value.

That way, you can save the Ball Python market, and make a ton of money while you're at it.

[PweEzy]

I just checked, most are still 750 to 850. Just cause one knucklehead has no pride in what they produce doesn't mean you should do the same. Also, just bc you see one advertised like that doesn't mean everyone is doing it. Look at that picture of the $400 pastel lesser compared to some of the other eye poppers. Like others have said, price your animals at the value you believe they are worth.

[EverEvolvingExotics]

I see female pastels all the time for $100 or less, I wouldn't ever invest in one of those. I would much rather purchase a $400 pastel that will retain it's quality than one that will look normal as an adult. When people buy for price over quality it shows with the animals they produce.

[Hip]

IMO i believe in NOT perpetuating the cycle. If you think your animal is worth the $750-800 range then it will sell itself. But letting one or two people change what you know the animal to be worth would do just that.