Reptile Expo

Hello I had a Question to any breeders or anyone else who wants to chime in. So when you go to a reptile show is it rude to try to negotiate with vendors? I understand the time they put in to breeding and raising the animals so Im not talking about low balling anyone. I want to get the best price but I dont want to offened anyone.
Thanks ryan

As a vendor I always expect for people to try to negotiate the price down and I don't mind it. If you see something you want just ask if they are willing to negotiate all they can do is say no. But, every vendor I have bought from has been willing to negotiate at least a little bit.

I just ask the vendor something along the lines of "how firm are you on that price" or simply ask are you willing to go lower. Rather then throw out a specific number right away which could offend the vendor and end your chance at a better price.

x2 with the above. Also, remember it helps to bring cash when negotiating.

Although I haven't vended a show, I find it very offensive when someone contacts me about an ad and asks "How low are you willing to go?" It's like they want me to negotiate myself down. Make a reasonable offer, and no one should be offended, even if they decline.

I don't mind people making offers, but serious low ballers irritate me to no end. Also bugs me when people say, "Well I can get it from so and so cheaper". Likewise I don't like when we are selling sub adult and adults and people believe they should command the same price as a hatchling or that both sexes bring the same price. But if someone approaches us politely with a reasonable offer, I am more than willing to negotiate prices a bit.

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Originally Posted by rpma806

So when you go to a reptile show is it rude to try to negotiate with vendors?

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That’s why I go to shows! Here are a couple of tips I've learned:

- Only negotiate on an animal you would be willing to pay full price for.
- Cash talks waaaaay louder than your debit card.
- Don't insult the breeder with a redonkulous low ball starting price.
- Ask all your questions about the animal before you start negotiation.
- Don't assume the breeder will want you to advertise the price you just paid on BP.net or Fauna.
- If a person gives you a good deal on a great snake, send them all the business you can.

Good Luck!

EDIT: I forgot one...whatever you do, don't tell a vendor that you can get XYZ Morph cheaper on kingsnake.com. That's about the quickest way to PO a breeder.

I personally don't like to haggle with breeders, they generally already have great prices and if they have a really nice animal, it's worth paying what they are asking. At least to me it is.

I agree with what everyone has said. I always try and negotiate a bit. Not bc im trying to be cheap but sometimes the vendor may hit you with a nice offer. Like if you pay $X for this one ill sell you this one for a better price or throw in a few of these for $X more...

If you are going to throw out a price then make it a good solid offer don't low ball. Also do some research on what you are looking to buy so you know what fair market value is on that animal because some vendors will price there animals a little high. Also don't show up on the last day of the expo and try to low ball because that stuff really pisses me off. Just do your reasearch on the fair market price of the animal and make a good solid offer and you will be fine.

Thanks everyone for the responses.

I agree wholeheartedly. Shows are at least half negotiation. Find a vendor with animals you like. Talk to them, really talk. How long have they been breeding ? What animals are they particularly proud of and why ? Do they come to shows often ? What projects do they have in the works that you maybe don't see ?

Don't think a small breeder will give you a better price than a large one and vice versa.

Know what you are interested in, and what you want your ideal version of a morph to look like. Vendors are much more likely to flex a little on price if they can tell you are intelligent, serious, and really desire the animal they have.

Be aware, a deal isn't always a lower price. Sometimes a deal is how much a breeder is willing to work with you for something you want. Case in point: Last October I attended the Tinley Park expo just outside of Chicago. I went there with a few specific snakes in mind, and I knew what I wanted each to look like. Saturday I shopped hard, I mean really hard. I found a few snakes worth coming back to, so I kept an eye on them as the day went on. Then I found a really sweet butter female that I particularly liked. The vendor made me a deal and I bought her. Sunday I went back just to take pictures. Then, completely unexpectedly, I found a snake I desired above all others. A magnificent pinstripe female belonging to Garrick DeMeyer. I was devastated. I had already spent my budget, and on what was now a far inferior snake in my eyes. I spent a little time admiring her, I spoke a little with Garrick. He could see how badly I wanted that girl, and was kicking myself for not waiting until Sunday to buy. He offered me a payment plan. I was flattered but honest. I know breeders only offer payment plans for 60 days. Rarely you might find one for 90 on a big purchase. This girl was only $600, not worth the trouble of a long payment plan, and I told him so. I told him since we had been saving for this show for months, the only way I could do payments would be for a much longer time than normal, and there was no way I was going to insult him by asking him to do that. That wasn't fair to him or the snake, since there were a number of other people looking at her by now, and I knew he could easily sell her before the day was out.

Garrick took a deep breath, looked me in the eye and said, " There is no way I'd do a payment plan that long under any circumstances. It's just not feasible to me. But I can tell you really want this girl. You are honest and seem sincere, and I want you to have her." I just about fell over.

We drew up the paperwork, I put down the last penny I had on me for a down payment, and he promised to take good care of my baby until she was paid for. Now, he did not have to go above and beyond for me, but he did. In the end I paid a little more for her than the show price, but that didn't matter one bit to me. He went out of his way to help me to get a snake I wanted very much, and I can't recommend him highly enough.

But back to shows. Yes it is perfectly okay to ask a breeder if a particular snake you desire might be available for a little less. But remember the word little. Don't ask for a $350 snake for $75. Keep in mind when you shop sales. A 10% discount is pretty good to most of us. So, a 10% discount makes your $350 snake $315. That is a good deal.

On the other hand, if you try and get that $350 snake for $250, you are asking for a 30% discount. That is clearance price, not a sale. Do you see what I mean ?

Gale

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Originally Posted by angllady2

I agree wholeheartedly. Shows are at least half negotiation. Find a vendor with animals you like. Talk to them, really talk. How long have they been breeding ? What animals are they particularly proud of and why ? Do they come to shows often ? What projects do they have in the works that you maybe don't see ?

Don't think a small breeder will give you a better price than a large one and vice versa.

Know what you are interested in, and what you want your ideal version of a morph to look like. Vendors are much more likely to flex a little on price if they can tell you are intelligent, serious, and really desire the animal they have.

Be aware, a deal isn't always a lower price. Sometimes a deal is how much a breeder is willing to work with you for something you want. Case in point: Last October I attended the Tinley Park expo just outside of Chicago. I went there with a few specific snakes in mind, and I knew what I wanted each to look like. Saturday I shopped hard, I mean really hard. I found a few snakes worth coming back to, so I kept an eye on them as the day went on. Then I found a really sweet butter female that I particularly liked. The vendor made me a deal and I bought her. Sunday I went back just to take pictures. Then, completely unexpectedly, I found a snake I desired above all others. A magnificent pinstripe female belonging to Garrick DeMeyer. I was devastated. I had already spent my budget, and on what was now a far inferior snake in my eyes. I spent a little time admiring her, I spoke a little with Garrick. He could see how badly I wanted that girl, and was kicking myself for not waiting until Sunday to buy. He offered me a payment plan. I was flattered but honest. I know breeders only offer payment plans for 60 days. Rarely you might find one for 90 on a big purchase. This girl was only $600, not worth the trouble of a long payment plan, and I told him so. I told him since we had been saving for this show for months, the only way I could do payments would be for a much longer time than normal, and there was no way I was going to insult him by asking him to do that. That wasn't fair to him or the snake, since there were a number of other people looking at her by now, and I knew he could easily sell her before the day was out.

Garrick took a deep breath, looked me in the eye and said, " There is no way I'd do a payment plan that long under any circumstances. It's just not feasible to me. But I can tell you really want this girl. You are honest and seem sincere, and I want you to have her." I just about fell over.

We drew up the paperwork, I put down the last penny I had on me for a down payment, and he promised to take good care of my baby until she was paid for. Now, he did not have to go above and beyond for me, but he did. In the end I paid a little more for her than the show price, but that didn't matter one bit to me. He went out of his way to help me to get a snake I wanted very much, and I can't recommend him highly enough.

But back to shows. Yes it is perfectly okay to ask a breeder if a particular snake you desire might be available for a little less. But remember the word little. Don't ask for a $350 snake for $75. Keep in mind when you shop sales. A 10% discount is pretty good to most of us. So, a 10% discount makes your $350 snake $315. That is a good deal.

On the other hand, if you try and get that $350 snake for $250, you are asking for a 30% discount. That is clearance price, not a sale. Do you see what I mean ?

Gale

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Thats a really nice story, it shows how nice alot of these breeders really are. Ive watched alot of Garricks videos an he seems like a really genuine guy.
On a side note, $600 for a female pin...?

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Originally Posted by Slim

- Cash talks waaaaay louder than your debit card.

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I wasnt even aware you could use plastic at expos...?

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

I wasnt even aware you could use plastic at expos...?

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If they have the appropriate equipment you can, but not everyone does.

I got my albino with plastic. :D

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Originally Posted by Reptilecam

If they have the appropriate equipment you can, but not everyone does.

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...THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!!!!
hahahaha, it probably wasnt a good thing for you to tell me that ;)

I always try to get a discount but I never push too hard. If they are firm on a price and I think it's too high I just say thanks and walk away. If I really want it, I buy it.

It never hurts to ask. I went to a show with a certain amount of money for BP's and purchased what I wanted. On the way out I saw a cornsnake I liked that was labeled $85 and I only had $50 left. I told the breeder that I did not want to insult her but I liked the snake and blah, blah, blah. She said she needed the room and accepted the $50. Not a big deal money-wise but it worked out for both of us. Just be polite.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

...THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!!!!

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:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Watch out! No BP is safe from Mike now!!!

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

...THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!!!!
hahahaha, it probably wasnt a good thing for you to tell me that ;)

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Put the card down, and step away slowly......:P

Well technically all i have is a debit card right now. But for awhile my stepdad has been saying i should get a credit card and do the monthly payments and all that jazz to build up credit since im a big boy now. Welllll if i get a credit card i know what im buying to help build up credit ;)
How long does a payment plan usually work? I feel like i hear most are only 60days which would only be like 2 payments which probably wouldnt do much for me :/

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Welllll if i get a credit card i know what im buying to help build up credit ;)

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Bananna Ball? :banana::banana::banana:

That would get the credit flowing ;)