Asking Price

I was hoping ya'll could settle a dispute for me. My husband is typically very frugal and gets a real sense of joy out of talking people down on prices whenever he buys anything. I feel guilty if I try and talk a price down below what I think it's actually worth. I'm in the process of purchasing a 09 female spider for a very good price, but hubby was upset I didn't negotiate it any further down. His stance is that only suckers pay asking price on anything, and my stance is that I think it's disrespectful to ask for a lower price when the one I'm getting is already well below market value for an excellent animal.

So, I'm asking everyone--but especially the breeders--are you offended when people "wheel and deal" you, or do you adjust your asking price up so you have room to give discounts? I know some people like the thrill of the negotiation. I hate it, but don't want to be a sucker, either.

Thanks!

I have a hard time anwsering your poll. For me it really depends on the animal which is being considered. I usually offer alittle wiggle room, but this does depend on the animal. There are certain BPs that I refuse to go below my listed price. Theres always a cutt off point tho where its just not worth the sale, I never go below what I recognize as my own "rock bottom" price. Offering payment plans is another way to get what you really want out of an animal too. if someone tries talking you down or offers you something close to what you are asking for it, bring up that you would except a couple payments. If you dont sell for a couple years, this is fine really.. price on breeders is much higher then babies.

Just my 2 cents.

EDIT* forgot to answer your question- I do not get offended at all by someone offering me something or asking if I can work on the price abit. I do get a little perturbed though when someone offers me half of what im asking for the animal lol. (sadly this happends)

Its a hard game to play. I haggle and get haggled.. I dont mind it the people who low ball I still treat equally, unlike a bunch of vendors I've delt with... Just tell them your price if they want to go lower just say no this is as low as I go.
But no it doesnt bother me. Heck I got a 09 spider female for 100!! and I've gotten proven 07 pastel females for 160. its all apart of the game!

I like to haggle, and I allow some haggling to be done. My wife is just like you though, she'll take anything at asking price while Ill try to knock some bucks off. Usually, my way works better.

My prices are normally firm unless someone buys multiple animals. I honestly don't see any reason to lower my price very much on a single animal purchase, becasue I know that there are other buyers who are willing to pay the prices that I am asking. I set my animals at either market value or a little under.

I have no problem with people making an offer on animals. If I'm not happy with the price I don't have to let it go, simple as that. I never feel pressured to lower my prices simply because I know some where sometime there will be some one that will pay what I'm asking. I may have to hold on to it a little longer but thems the breaks.

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Originally Posted by Wh00h0069

My prices are normally firm unless someone buys multiple animals. I honestly don't see any reason to lower my price very much on a single animal purchase, because I know that there are other buyers who are willing to pay the prices that I am asking. I set my animals at either market value or a little under.

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Same here, but it doesn't offend me if someone asks, I'm a buyer too. I am nice about it, as some do even for single animals.

I have no problems at all when people make an offer. I expect it. I usually will make an offer on most snakes I buy as well. I do sometimes get a little annoyed when people make ridiculous offers (had someone this year offer me $500 on a snake I had priced at $1500), but if I think an offer is too low I just turn it down or come back with a counter offer. I normally price my animals for slightly more than what my lowest acceptable price is so if I get a resonable offer I can usually accept it. That way I am happy with the price I got for my animal and the customer is happy with the price they paid.

I don't have a problem negotiating a price with someone. I feel I am pretty fair and easy to work with. If they don't want to pay the price I offer them then someone else will. I have had it happen many times. My problem is when it comes to me negotiating a price for my self I stink at it...LOL

I almost always leave some wiggle room when I set my prices. Especially when selling multiple animals to one person I'll often work out a package deal. I make offers, and I receive offers, just part of the game.

However, I can't stand it when people send me ridiculous lowball offers, even worst is when they become irate when I refuse their offer and proceed to lecture me on how I'm asking too much and my animals aren't worth anywhere what I'm selling them for. I have a hard time not telling them to eff off.

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Originally Posted by Blue Apple Herps

However, I can't stand it when people send me ridiculous lowball offers, even worst is when they become irate when I refuse their offer and proceed to lecture me on how I'm asking too much and my animals aren't worth anywhere what I'm selling them for. I have a hard time not telling them to eff off.

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That is the only thing that bothers me. My asking prices are already good but I am willing to work with someone. If I am buying I have my price in my head and if one person wont sell for that, someone else will.

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Originally Posted by NorthernRegius

Same here, but it doesn't offend me if someone asks, I'm a buyer too. I am nice about it, as some do even for single animals.

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I am normally not offended either, but I have been offended. It really depends on the way that the person offers. I have bought animals for asking price before because I knew that it was a great price, but I have also talked people down. I take into consideration how much I beleive the animal to be worth before I make offers. I have never and never will make lowball offers because I don't want others to lowball me.

Depends, I am open to negociate within reason, however I just don't like people who ask for $100 off on a $250 animal (and it has happened) that to me is like an insult.

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Originally Posted by pfan151

I have no problems at all when people make an offer. I expect it. I usually will make an offer on most snakes I buy as well. I do sometimes get a little annoyed when people make ridiculous offers (had someone this year offer me $500 on a snake I had priced at $1500), but if I think an offer is too low I just turn it down or come back with a counter offer. I normally price my animals for slightly more than what my lowest acceptable price is so if I get a resonable offer I can usually accept it. That way I am happy with the price I got for my animal and the customer is happy with the price they paid.

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Oh really???? :P

I keeed, I keeed! I think the price I paid for that lesser was more than fair!

I personally need to learn how to negotiate. I almost never offer less than asking price, I just feel bad doing so - but now I see that it's almost expected.

It's funny though - I do expect it from buyers, but I don't expect it when I'm a buyer myself. Guess I need to change that mindset a wee bit.

Since I believe 100% in Grade A animals being worth more than their lower graded counterparts, I think that's why I rarely counter-offer when I'm a buyer, because I'm going after the Grade A animals.

I don't mind when people try to talk me down, but it seems like most of the time, the offers are NOT reasonable--they want $100 or more off of a $400 animal, for example. That DOES annoy me.

I always haggle and expect to get haggled. It's part of the game. I can't imagine anyone just saying to someone on fauna or KS "ok I'll take your asking price". That's a sign that your price was too low to start with.

And I like haggling, makes it interesting and promotes the buyer to buy more snakes which is good for the selller (generally the % discount is directly proportional to the number of animals you buy).

I think there is nothing wrong with it and helps keep prices in check. You can see all these spiders posted for 200-300 but you know that's not what is actually being paid. In most situations at least.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Oh really???? :P

I keeed, I keeed! I think the price I paid for that lesser was more than fair!

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LOL, Don't think I would have dropped on that one.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I personally need to learn how to negotiate. I almost never offer less than asking price, I just feel bad doing so - but now I see that it's almost expected.

It's funny though - I do expect it from buyers, but I don't expect it when I'm a buyer myself. Guess I need to change that mindset a wee bit.

Since I believe 100% in Grade A animals being worth more than their lower graded counterparts, I think that's why I rarely counter-offer when I'm a buyer, because I'm going after the Grade A animals.

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Grade A animals still need to move. I got a grade a pin(female) and grade a cinny(male) at Daytona for 350 total. Just takes some practice and taking a look at what kind of dealer you're dealing with. You both know whats going on most of the time, and you just gotta hit that sweet spot within around 3 offers, after that the seller tends to get annoyed.

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Originally Posted by pfan151

LOL, Don't think I would have dropped on that one.

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I wouldn't have either! :D

He was worth every dollar you asked for him!

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Originally Posted by euphuistical

Grade A animals still need to move. I got a grade a pin(female) and grade a cinny(male) at Daytona for 350 total. Just takes some practice and taking a look at what kind of dealer you're dealing with. You both know whats going on most of the time, and you just gotta hit that sweet spot within around 3 offers, after that the seller tends to get annoyed.

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And Grade A animals will move without dropping the price. Why? Because Grade A animals are much harder to find than lower grades. There are a lot of buyers like myself that are always on the hunt for the most extraordinary example of a mutation that they can find.

Like this one from John:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9.../Lesserboy.jpg

I guess where I would be annoyed is if someone were to come to me and say "well, Bobby Joe is selling his XYZ for this amount - I want to buy your animal, but want to pay Bobby Joe's price". Um...no - if you liked Bobby Joe's prices so much, why didn't you buy from Bobby Joe? Was it because you didn't like the quality of the animal you'd get from Bobby Joe at that price?

There are two types of buyers in the world.. Those who shop price and those that shop the animal. Neither one is wrong necessarily.

I have been known to ask for a lower price if there are similar quality animals going for less. As a buyer I look at the market price, then I look for the BEST example of the animal I can find.

If it's priced at market or a bit above & is exceptional- I don't haggle. They've already discounted it to offer it at or near market value IMHO. I already know from a breeder standpoint all they've put into producing that animal.

But if buying I'm buying more than one animal I do ask about group purchases because it costs less to send & it's something I do myself.

I agree with most people here. It depends on the quality of the animal, the haggler's offer, the listed price, people's attitudes, etc.

I did haggle with one breeder once. We came to an agreement ($530 for a $600 animal), and though the breeder seemed fine with it, I felt bad afterward--especially since it was my first morph and this particular snake got me interested in breeding. I'd like to offer some kind of repayment for his generosity, but I don't know if he'll accept it!

personally... I don't really haggle. I may if im buying multiple animals in the future but for now i've been buying single animals. But i ask if they have a package deal for multiples, rather than outright ask for lower prices.

What i generally do is look around (be it on the internet or at a show) and browse animals and prices. I'll walk around a show for 4 hours just looking and talking. IF i see something i like, i'll email the seller and see about shipping. If the animal is good enough quality for me to consider e-mailing a seller/breeder im usually happy with the price they are asking.

I paid 150 shipped for a 200g pastel male. Love him. Thats what the seller was asking, and i think my male qualifies as a pretty nice one.

When i got my spider, the seller was asking 350 shipped for a ~600 gram female spider. I thought the spider was a lovely animal (high white sides and minimal patterning are what i look for in my spiders) and the size was great. I asked if she could do her for 325, so i haggled for 25 on a 350 animal.

If an animal is really out of my price range either i save more money or look elsewhere. I really dont like super-haggling because i feel if someones produced a great quality animal, they should be paid what its worth.

man i hope that made sense lol :p

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Originally Posted by cinderbird

personally... I don't really haggle. I may if im buying multiple animals in the future but for now i've been buying single animals. But i ask if they have a package deal for multiples, rather than outright ask for lower prices.

I really dont like super-haggling because i feel if someones produced a great quality animal, they should be paid what its worth.

man i hope that made sense lol :p

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That makes super-perfect sense to me, because that's exactly how I feel, lol. For my pin and my pastel, I did haggle a little, but I always feel like I'm being rude. I do think I'd feel better talking someone down on a $1000+ snake more than these lower-cost morphs I'm picking up now. I'm getting my spider for $225 shipped, and she's gorgeous, so I would feel weird asking any more off.

I'm really glad I posted this, because it's making me a little more comfortable with the idea. I'm mostly just afraid of insulting someone, but it seems people are a lot more flexible than I thought.

Thanks everyone!! :D

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Originally Posted by MissMowgli

I'm really glad I posted this, because it's making me a little more comfortable with the idea. I'm mostly just afraid of insulting someone, but it seems people are a lot more flexible than I thought.

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You won't insult anyone so long as you make fair offers and then respect whatever they say.

If someone is selling a pied for $1200, don't offer $500. That's insulting. But saying "I've seen some going for $1000, but I really like yours could you do $1100" or something like that is fine IMO, it wouldn't bother me one bit.

Then if they say "no, I think he's easily worth more than $1200 and I'd rather keep him than sell for less" say "Thanks, if you change your mind let me know". Don't respond saying "Well I've seen some on KS for $800 so $1100 is already too much, he's only worth $800, blah blah blah" - that'll really get someone mad at you.

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Originally Posted by MissMowgli

That makes super-perfect sense to me, because that's exactly how I feel, lol. For my pin and my pastel, I did haggle a little, but I always feel like I'm being rude. I do think I'd feel better talking someone down on a $1000+ snake more than these lower-cost morphs I'm picking up now. I'm getting my spider for $225 shipped, and she's gorgeous, so I would feel weird asking any more off.

I'm really glad I posted this, because it's making me a little more comfortable with the idea. I'm mostly just afraid of insulting someone, but it seems people are a lot more flexible than I thought.

Thanks everyone!! :D

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Personally, as long as the animal is up to my standards (which I think are pretty high, grade A) I will haggle the breeder down to as low as they go. I got a pretty much perfect cinny male + a grade A pinstripe female for 350 which is a pretty nice deal I think. I also got a nice grade A pastel and grade A lesser for 500 shipped and am still great friends with the seller, no "scumbag" mentality on either of our parts. He had no problem cutting the deal. If the dealer is still willing to sell you that animal he has his reasons. You both came out ahead. I valued the cinny and pin more than 350, he valued the money more, same with the other deal. No animal "ought" to go for a certain amount of money. If you got a guy that will sell you a pair healthy (you magically know that they are perfectly healthy) of ultramels for $500 would you feel guilty getting them at that price? I wouldn't, I would think it would be a great windfall, maybe its a harbinger of a larger price drop, or you just got lucky. There are tons of reasons an animal goes for what it goes for.

I will end with this: each voluntary transaction increases the value of both parties, a priori. If that wasn't the case they wouldn't do the deal/

I just disagree with the "better animals ALWAYS go above market" mantra some seem to have. Now usually in a totally steady market that is the case, and I think it should be, but sometimes thats not how it turns out for whatever reason. Now if you don't believe this that is fine, I am not talking about you. But there are deals in the BP universe, and if you find the right person at the right time and place you can get some really nice deals on grade A animals. And yeah, my pet peeve is crappy pastels that you can't tell are pastels unless there is a sign over their head saying so. Or spiders with no white on their sides and horrible markings. But I am on a broke student budget so I have to be patient and get good animals for good deals as I find them. Maybe I will change when my animals are in the 4 digit range than the low 3 digit range.

And now some pics of some of my new additions to the fam, all at discount prices, all healthy and pretty ;)
(part of this is just to post some progress pics of some of my new girls =) )
Pinstripe
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...in1_318011.jpg
Baby pastel, very sweet blushing
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...-female2-2.jpg
New lesser after about 4 or 5 more ASFs
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...er-female2.jpg
Cinny without flash
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...3/8/cinny4.jpg

Taken with a flash:
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...male-flash.jpg

The fact is that in this hobby, accurate pricing determined via supply and demand is difficult. We see this with huge drops in morph prices year to year, and snakes so unique that no one has a good idea what someone might pay for it.

To stabalize things, I think negotiating prices lends itself very well to this hobby. I personally hate negotiating, because I think for the most part people ask a fair price and I'm more than willing to pay it, especially for an animal that has the potential to give me 10+ years of enjoyment.

On top of that, negotiating has always been a part of the reptile keeping hobby, simply because animal for animal trades are so common.

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Originally Posted by MissMowgli

I was hoping ya'll could settle a dispute for me. My husband is typically very frugal and gets a real sense of joy out of talking people down on prices whenever he buys anything. I feel guilty if I try and talk a price down below what I think it's actually worth. I'm in the process of purchasing a 09 female spider for a very good price, but hubby was upset I didn't negotiate it any further down. His stance is that only suckers pay asking price on anything, and my stance is that I think it's disrespectful to ask for a lower price when the one I'm getting is already well below market value for an excellent animal.

So, I'm asking everyone--but especially the breeders--are you offended when people "wheel and deal" you, or do you adjust your asking price up so you have room to give discounts? I know some people like the thrill of the negotiation. I hate it, but don't want to be a sucker, either.

Thanks!

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Im with you on this one. I dont want to feel like im trying to rip a person off. When buying my snakes so far ive never even wanted to ask to lower prices. Id just feel like a bad person. Id say, ill pay what their asking if its worth it. If not ill look else-where. Why try to negotiate if you are already getting a pretty good/decent deal? That might just make the breeder not want to deal with you. And then what? You say, wanna drop it some. They say no. Your still gonna want it for that decent price anyway? That just would make you look dumb. EX: Hey wanna drop it $50? -No. Ok heres what you wanted to begin with. What are you asking for a price drop for then???

I know of people who sell other stuff not snakes, who just get annoyed by people who try to lower prices. They set it at that price for a reason usually. Maybe they go to a specific general price but you think it is a bit below that general range then sure you could ask, but if your going to ask them to lower a price you probably dont plan on paying the asking price anyway, and you do it just to see if they want your business.

If I was a breeder I dont know if I would get offended, but probably annoyed. Just because your to cheap to pay the actual price doesnt mean others arent. I could see if your trying to get rid of something you dont want, then you might want to lower it to their offer but... not when your selling stuff you work hard for.

Apparently I've got a bit of an odd take on this. I've only asked for a lower price once -- it was the last day of the NARBC show at Tinley, I wanted two animals and was a little short on cash in my pocket so I offered what I had.
Generally the way I see it is the breeder prices the animals at what he/she thinks they are worth. Now if you go in offering a lower price, you're saying that those animals aren't worth what the breeder thinks. To me that just seems disrespectful.

I'm fine with people making offers, unless I specifically say that the price is firm. But then again, I'm not exactly in the sales business. If I had a company I might be a tad offended by negotiations. There are inappropriate times for everything.

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Originally Posted by Blue Apple Herps

I almost always leave some wiggle room when I set my prices. Especially when selling multiple animals to one person I'll often work out a package deal. I make offers, and I receive offers, just part of the game.

However, I can't stand it when people send me ridiculous lowball offers, even worst is when they become irate when I refuse their offer and proceed to lecture me on how I'm asking too much and my animals aren't worth anywhere what I'm selling them for. I have a hard time not telling them to eff off.

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I got a kick out of this reply :8:

I Will ask a potential seller if they are willing to come down on price at all but i dont try to force it or get rude. This is usually only if i have already decide i do want the animal and even if they do not come down in price i will usually buy it.

As for selling. I agree with asking slightly more than my rock bottom acceptable price. A bit of room for haggle but no low balls. Defiantely NEVER below market value. At or above with room to haggle. Otherwise it just hurts all the other breeders in the long run.

one of the breeders i have dealt with for a few years i have never asked for a deal or if i did i just asked him simply whats it going to cost me? which typically he said what it was listed at which is typically pretty high..

now that same breeder calls me asking about buying my animals off me (i did once)and now he crys because i charge him what the high end of the market price is. this is when it gets me mad. dont expect anyone to give you a deal when you are not willing to return the favor.

this year he wanted to trade me either 2 ugly enchis or 2 of the darkest looking fires i have ever seen for 1.2 spotnoses needless to say i didnt take the trade.

i typically take offers,do trades or partial trades, and give deals, but for some thats not going to happen