Pricing - concerned

[digizure]

I've noticed that there has been some significant drop in pricing which is expected but this is a little ridiculous. Pastels now go for $35.00? That's pretty much the price of a normal. I'm concerned that we will all be stuck with normals because everyone would prefer a pastel over a normal. I don't want to start paying people to take my normals.

I'm curious to hear what are your thoughts on this?

[ball-nut]

What happened with corn snakes is happening with balls imo. It just took longer due to smaller clutch size. If you sell a morph, 99% of the time it's going to a future breeding plan and so on. The more different morphs and amount of lower end in circulation will of course make the prices on more common morphs drop like a lead weight. however, combos and more higher end morphs will hold price that little bit better. The next step will be a sudden increase in albinos popping out of unknown het pairings due to an increase of low % hets being passed on as just normals and actually proving out.

[The Serpent Merchant]

I don't really see what the big deal is. It's just basic supply and demand. Eventually low end morphs hit a low point and stay there. You can't expect morphs like spiders and pastels to demand a high price when everybody has them, and is breeding morphs that include them.

There will always be high end morphs and combos that hold value, for those that can afford to work with them and are trying to make a profit off of breeding. Most hobby breeders aren't going to make any money doing so anyway. All this does is allow hobby breeders/collectors access to more morphs at a reasonable price.

[MarkS]

I recently bought 2 proven breeder male pastels for $25.00 each. I don't know why I did that other then that I happened to have the money in my pocket. I have no idea what I'm going to do with them now. probably give them as Christmas presents to some friends.

[digizure]

Yeah, I am well aware of "supply and demand." It is just sad for me to see the drop in value just because there are many of pastels (for example) out there. They're living animals who relies on the owner to take good care of them.

I guess in other words, my biggest fear is that when the price comes down to $20/snake, there'd be more impulse buyers. I've spoke to MANY people on FB who doesn't know what they're doing. I try my best to refer them to some of the care sheets that I agree with and like.

Ball pythons are awesome animals and they can be awesome pets.

[Crazymonkee]

People make impulse buys on a lot of pets sometimes no matter the price. I know someone who paid $450 for a puppy and all the trimmings but couldn't pay her rent the following week. Another lady spent over $1000 in a pet store for a puppy because it was designer and in and thought it was cute.
Yes lower prices mean more people could do it, but it also gives everyday people a chance at purchasing a pretty snake.

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[angllady2]

There will always be the law of supply and demand. It's the way the world works. It is comforting to know that while some morphs may be a dime-a-dozen generally speaking, there will always be examples of that morph that will hold a premium in price. While there may not be many people willing to spend $200 on a pastel when the one three tables down for $35, there will be a few who appreciate the difference between the two.

Gale

[Physician&Snakes]

I recently bought 2 proven breeder male pastels for $25.00 each. I don't know why I did that other then that I happened to have the money in my pocket. I have no idea what I'm going to do with them now. probably give them as Christmas presents to some friends.

Hey friend.

On topic, I slid across $125 for my 2013 female pastel...females of any kind will always call for $$$. Base morphs are going to get more and more common but combos and other morphs will make up for these inequalities, remember: All things equal.

[Crazymonkee]

I as well just paid $125 for my female pastel in Oct.

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