Selling Ball Pythons to friends

I've been keeping my friends updated on facebook on my incoming clutch from my Albino female (bred by male albino and mojave). Several of them have expressed interest in buying one from me, but are put off by the price. Some of these good folks go way back. I grew up with them, and they're like family to me, and I just don't feel right charging them full price. Here's my question... how much would you sell a $300-$400 dollar snake to a really good friend?

Thanks!
Mark

If I think they can afford it, I'll sell a $400 female for $300. If they are in a tight budget I'll give it half the price but if they just want a pet, I'll give them a male for free. OR I'll give them a female for free and just arrange something when she breeds.

I think it depends on how picky you want to be with money. If you really don't have to lose money then don't drop the price too much, if it's not a big deal you can cut it as low as you like, even free if you wanted. I think it's all an opinion thing and whatever you're comfortable with.

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Originally Posted by MarkieJ

I've been keeping my friends updated on facebook on my incoming clutch from my Albino female (bred by male albino and mojave). Several of them have expressed interest in buying one from me, but are put off by the price. Some of these good folks go way back. I grew up with them, and they're like family to me, and I just don't feel right charging them full price. Here's my question... how much would you sell a $300-$400 dollar snake to a really good friend?

Thanks!
Mark

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$300 - $400 ,if that offends them then maybe they aren't real deal friends.

I don't think this is something you should need to consult with others on. This is a matter of the heart and what is most important to you. If you really need the money that you hope to earn with those babies, then your friends should understand, and maybe they can wait for another clutch if they want a special deal. If it's not about the money...then it's not about the money. Real friendship is ALWAYS far more valuable than any amount of money.

It goes both ways though...a true friendship. I've got some really great friends who happen to have some amazing animals and valuable babies being dropped all the time. I wouldn't DREAM of expecting anything but a normal business deal with them if I should wish to buy one of their animals. I'd be happy to give them full price. (And I wouldn't be "shopping" if I couldn't afford to offer that full price) But on the other hand...if I had some nice babies available, and a friend that I knew would love one and would be able to care properly for it, I'd cut whatever deal he/she needed to make it work, including offering the animal as a gift.

It's a purely case-by-case situation and I really don't think you can set any rules or guidelines based on what others might do.

Business is business and friends are friends.

Making someone a deal now only to see them sell it later or sell babies later for high prices without giving back, not necessarily to you but not passing on the good you gave them with the discount, can stress a friendship.

Like Judy said, it's really a case by case thing without any hard and fast rules.

Expect nothing but heartache and you won't be disappointed. You may not be disappointed, and if you're not, you're one of the lucky ones. It's VERY difficult to do business with friends.

One of my good buddies, who is actually letting me rent a room from him in his house, really likes BEL's so I told him when the time comes and I produce one I'll just give it to him for free. My situation is kind of like yours, I have grown up with him and he is basically like a brother. I told him he could have it for free, as long as he lets me use it for breeding the first year it is up to size. After that, no more conditions! If he wants to sell it, I'll help him get good market value for it but the cash will be his. Thats just me, but it's really how you feel about it. They are your animals so ultimately you have to decide how you wanna do it.

If they can't afford or don't appreciate the cost of a snake at near retail prices, then they probably shouldn't be owning that snake. I have always found that people that pay little or nothing for things almost never appreciate them. The way I was raised, when you spend your hard earned money on something, you appreciate and take care of it. I've learned time and time again that is true. I don't want my hard earned time and money (in taking care of and providing top notch animals) to be wasted. They obviously don't appreciate the cost of a nice ball python morph. I have lots of friends that like the paint jobs on my snakes but when you explain the hard work and cost of keeping these snakes, they usually drop their jaw and say "I would never..." A respectable discount on a snake someone is really interested in and would probably pay retail for is one thing but just hooking them up because they balk at the price of a snake, nope. What are they going to do when they have buyers remorse? Just my $.02...

Regards,

B

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Originally Posted by Simple Man

If they can't afford or don't appreciate the cost of a snake at near retail prices, then they probably shouldn't be owning that snake. I have always found that people that pay little or nothing for things almost never appreciate them. The way I was raised, when you spend your hard earned money on something, you appreciate and take care of it. I've learned time and time again that is true. I don't want my hard earned time and money (in taking care of and providing top notch animals) to be wasted. They obviously don't appreciate the cost of a nice ball python morph. I have lots of friends that like the paint jobs on my snakes but when you explain the hard work and cost of keeping these snakes, they usually drop their jaw and say "I would never..." A respectable discount on a snake someone is really interested in and would probably pay retail for is one thing but just hooking them up because they balk at the price of a snake, nope. What are they going to do when they have buyers remorse? Just my $.02...

Regards,

B

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I feel the same way. I've also seen it ruin relationships. One friend gets a free/cheeper animal others want that too. You'll be turning more people down or worse the same person who wants something else. Sometimes its best to keep friends and family separate from business. If you feel that you want to do this than explain to him that if it doesn't work out for him that you would like a chance to buy back the snake. In the end- its what ever you are comfortable with.

I agree with JLC on this one. I have friends I love that id hand a snake over to in a heartbeat for nothing at all. I know they'd take good care of it and, if at any point they couldn't, they'd give it back to me.

Those same people, though, would never ask for a free or discounted animal, nor let on that price is any reason they're not looking at getting one. Id likely have to lightly argue them into taking it for free.

It really depends on how comfortable you feel with any given person and this kind of situation.

Friends pay full price:salute:

I have sold snakes at 30% off listed price to friends in the past I have also gave away snakes in the past.

Does that mean I would discount any animal like this every time to every single friend? NO it varies depending on the friend and the value of the animal itself.

I stopped selling to most of my friends. I was getting really mad about the standards of care they held. They just don't look at them the same way I do. I however have a couple close friends that have the same standards as I do and id give a snake to them in a heartbeat. I get really ticked at the oh that's cool I want one thing.

ive given babies to friends and some family with the stipulation that if for what ever reason they couldnt care for it anymore or didnt want it anymore id get it back.

i had a really good friend in pittsburgh who liked babies so he'd raise up some babies for me till they got to breeding size then exchange them for a few more babies. worked out great.

I don't really know many people around here that want a baby from me should I start breeding except my mother-in-law. I think she's heard me talk about them enough that she knows basic care and keeping. She's also close enough so that if something were to go wrong, I could help, or if she needed me to, take the snake back. I'd likely give her one for free, but others? Doubtful. I have some friends back in Alaska and California that I'd consider giving a snake to, but most would pay close to full price..

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Originally Posted by Simple Man

If they can't afford or don't appreciate the cost of a snake at near retail prices, then they probably shouldn't be owning that snake. I have always found that people that pay little or nothing for things almost never appreciate them. The way I was raised, when you spend your hard earned money on something, you appreciate and take care of it. I've learned time and time again that is true. I don't want my hard earned time and money (in taking care of and providing top notch animals) to be wasted. They obviously don't appreciate the cost of a nice ball python morph. I have lots of friends that like the paint jobs on my snakes but when you explain the hard work and cost of keeping these snakes, they usually drop their jaw and say "I would never..." A respectable discount on a snake someone is really interested in and would probably pay retail for is one thing but just hooking them up because they balk at the price of a snake, nope. What are they going to do when they have buyers remorse? Just my $.02...

Regards,

B

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I am going to have to disagree. Just because someone can't afford something doesn't mean they can appreciate or value it appropriately. I can't afford a sports car. But if someone gave me one cheap or free I'd certainly treat that car like I paid full price.

The only reason I even have any Ball Pythons was that a guy at church bred them and gave me a great discount.

I think it's like a lot of people have said. It's all about the level of frienship and trust you have.

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

I am going to have to disagree. Just because someone can't afford something doesn't mean they can appreciate or value it appropriately. I can't afford a sports car. But if someone gave me one cheap or free I'd certainly treat that car like I paid full price.

The only reason I even have any Ball Pythons was that a guy at church bred them and gave me a great discount.

I think it's like a lot of people have said. It's all about the level of frienship and trust you have.

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I believe you're the exception, not the norm. I've seen time and time again that people given stuff don't take care of it. That goes for all things, cars, pets, houses, jobs, etc. There's nothing quite like the satisfaction of finally attaining something you have worked hard for. You don't get that satisfaction being given stuff. Add to the fact that if you can't afford a snake then you probably can't afford the care or any possible vet bills either. Just my $.02...

Regards,

B

Now I'm curious, Markie...
How did it turn out?

Selling a snake to a friend is a tricky business. What if you don't like the care they give them? What will you do? Can you turn and look the other way? What if they turn around and sell it? How would you feel (especially if you sold it to them for really cheap)? What if it got sick? How would you feel if they couldn't or wouldn't take it to the vet and it died? What about feeding? What if they power fed it or didn't feed it enough?

Giving away one so you can retain breeding rights on the snake is a very risky business!! It can ruin your relationship.

Bee there done that all all above accounts. The breeding loans went south in a HUGE hurry when they found out how much they could get from the babies. The ones I sold cheap was a bit different. They don't listen to me about the care but they do take decent care of the snakes so it is something I just grit my teeth over and vowed not to do again.

Depends on the friend and how well you really know them and if you have ever entrusted them with something as valuable as another life before.

What ever you decide good luck.

well if not a money issue and they trustable free snake and point out if they decide they don't want it later it comes back to you, they can't sell or trade it off.

I am not so sure that gift and free are the words mean what some of you seem to think they do.

Free means at no expense, period.

A gift is no longer the givers, period.

A string of any kind makes any transaction neither free nor a gift.

Even something so well intended, in theory, a gesture as insuring that the giver has the snake returned in the event the givee can no longer keep it makes ownership of the snake by the givee impossible. If you can't do what you want with it, it's not yours, period. Wrap it up as pretty as you can, parfume it as you will, pretend it's anything you want, but if it's got any attachment, it's neither a gift nor free.

Period.

Proper terminology would no doubt save many a headache.

I am the type of person that enjoys doing things for my friends. For example, I go nuts every winter making hats and scarves for no other reason than to give them away. Sure, I could try to sell them and make some money. But that wasn't the point of making that particular item. I think what I'm getting at boils down to this: If you were depending on that money, or even looking forward to that money, then go ahead and sell the animals, or discount them for your friends. If not, do what your heart tells you. You could always say, in the future, that you are going to produce a clutch specifically for your friends. Whatever results from that pairing doesn't enter into your check book. I would go as far as making sure they have the correct set up wherever the babies are going.