Reptile Show Etiquette and Questions from a Newbie

Hello folks!

I will be attending my first show in about a week (the repticon in Atlanta on the 27th / 28th).

I'm very excited about going, but am a total newbie when it comes to what to expect at the show and what procedures / etiquette is expected by the vendors in attendance. With that in mind, I have a few questions to pose for you show-savy snake keepers.

1. Do most vendors expect you to pay in cash?

2. Is haggling expected, tolerated, encouraged, or frowned upon? (or is this dependent on if you buy multiple animals, etc.)?

3. When you go to a show, do you go to all the tables or do you have a "short list" of vendors that you visit first?

4. How do you transport / handle your new acquisitions while you're still at the show and on the trip home (we will have about 2.5 hours to go between when we leave the show and arrive at home..not sure if heating is necessary for the trip)?

5. When purchasing frozen rodents, I assume it is better to wait until you are about to leave the show? (I will have an ice-packed cooler in the car waiting for them)

Thank you so much for your time and help! If you think there's anything else I need to know about attending a show I would greatly appreciate your input!

Artgecko

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Originally Posted by artgecko

Hello folks!

I will be attending my first show in about a week (the repticon in Atlanta on the 27th / 28th).

I'm very excited about going, but am a total newbie when it comes to what to expect at the show and what procedures / etiquette is expected by the vendors in attendance. With that in mind, I have a few questions to pose for you show-savy snake keepers.

1. Do most vendors expect you to pay in cash?

2. Is haggling expected, tolerated, encouraged, or frowned upon? (or is this dependent on if you buy multiple animals, etc.)?

3. When you go to a show, do you go to all the tables or do you have a "short list" of vendors that you visit first?

4. How do you transport / handle your new acquisitions while you're still at the show and on the trip home (we will have about 2.5 hours to go between when we leave the show and arrive at home..not sure if heating is necessary for the trip)?

5. When purchasing frozen rodents, I assume it is better to wait until you are about to leave the show? (I will have an ice-packed cooler in the car waiting for them)

Thank you so much for your time and help! If you think there's anything else I need to know about attending a show I would greatly appreciate your input!

Artgecko

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1) nope, but cash may get you a better deal. ;)

2) i would say it's expected. it's definitely not frowned upon unless you're just lowballing on everything and being an ass about it.

3) I go to all the tables. you never know what you'll find. a lot if times breeders you've never heard of will have the prettiest animals. plus its just fun to check everything out. its called a "show" for a reason. i go more to look at everything than strictly a shopping spree.. although those are fun as well. lol

4) not too hard. just leave them in their deli cup and keep the AC or heat on (depending on what time of the year). just make sure they dont get exposed to extreme temperatures and they'll be fine.

5) every time i've purchased frozen rodents i just pay for whatever i want and they'll hold them for me in their freezer and i just pick them up right before i leave.

have fun! shows are one of my favorite parts of the hobby

Never been to a reptile show, but I know from both attending and vending at other types of shows that if you haggle you'd better be paying cash AND you'd better have it on you at the time. Yes, I've had some people haggle on price, then say they have to go find an ATM. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by artgecko

Hello folks!

I will be attending my first show in about a week (the repticon in Atlanta on the 27th / 28th).

I'm very excited about going, but am a total newbie when it comes to what to expect at the show and what procedures / etiquette is expected by the vendors in attendance. With that in mind, I have a few questions to pose for you show-savy snake keepers.

1. Do most vendors expect you to pay in cash?

2. Is haggling expected, tolerated, encouraged, or frowned upon? (or is this dependent on if you buy multiple animals, etc.)?

3. When you go to a show, do you go to all the tables or do you have a "short list" of vendors that you visit first?

4. How do you transport / handle your new acquisitions while you're still at the show and on the trip home (we will have about 2.5 hours to go between when we leave the show and arrive at home..not sure if heating is necessary for the trip)?

5. When purchasing frozen rodents, I assume it is better to wait until you are about to leave the show? (I will have an ice-packed cooler in the car waiting for them)

Thank you so much for your time and help! If you think there's anything else I need to know about attending a show I would greatly appreciate your input!

Artgecko

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1. Some vendors take cc's but most do just cash. Cash is king and will sometimes get you a better deal too.

2. Very tolerated and even encouraged if you know what you're doing.

3. I have a short list of what i'm looking for then i walk around and see who has what then go back and visit the tables that had what i wanted. I also get there really early, like before the show opens and just wait in line for a few minutes.

4. Just keep them in the container you bought them in and keep their temps between (preferably) 70-85ish.

5. No. When i buy them i usually go there first before anything and they write your name on it and keep it in their freezer for you.

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Originally Posted by artgecko

Hello folks!

I will be attending my first show in about a week (the repticon in Atlanta on the 27th / 28th).

I'm very excited about going, but am a total newbie when it comes to what to expect at the show and what procedures / etiquette is expected by the vendors in attendance. With that in mind, I have a few questions to pose for you show-savy snake keepers.

1. Do most vendors expect you to pay in cash?

2. Is haggling expected, tolerated, encouraged, or frowned upon? (or is this dependent on if you buy multiple animals, etc.)?

3. When you go to a show, do you go to all the tables or do you have a "short list" of vendors that you visit first?

4. How do you transport / handle your new acquisitions while you're still at the show and on the trip home (we will have about 2.5 hours to go between when we leave the show and arrive at home..not sure if heating is necessary for the trip)?

5. When purchasing frozen rodents, I assume it is better to wait until you are about to leave the show? (I will have an ice-packed cooler in the car waiting for them)

Thank you so much for your time and help! If you think there's anything else I need to know about attending a show I would greatly appreciate your input!

Artgecko

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First off, awesome questions. Some people at shows are rude and care nothing about what types of behavior are expected/tolerated. I've only been to a handful of shows but here's what I've experienced:

1. As others have stated, cash is king! That being said, many vendors have the little square CC processors on a tablet/phone. But they may charge an additional fee for that.

2. Many vendors set their prices a tad higher than what they expect to receive because haggling is usually a given. But even these prices are cheaper than what you'll find online, in a pet shop or wherever.

3. I usually go clockwise :) But sometimes I get distracted and then there's no telling where I'll end up. And at the last show, a little boy grabbed my hand and dragged me all over the place to show me everything that could fit in a 20 gal lol. It was adorable.

4. I just carry it around the show with me. But we purchased our frilled dragon in his setup, so the vendor slapped a 'sold' sign on it and let us keep it at the table til we were finished.

5. Buy them first thing and put your name on it. Otherwise there's a chance they'll sell out of the size you need by the end of the show (never happened to me, but better safe than sorry).

Also, talk to people!!! You might even make some new friends :) And don't be afraid to ask questions, even if you think they sound dumb. Most of the people at shows are freaking awesome! And they are more than happy to educate you on a species or product they're passionate about.

As far as haggling, it helps to know the going price for an animal/morph. I picked up a Black Pastel ball at a show a few months ago for $75. I've never seen them that cheap, even at the shows so I didn't haggle. I used to vend at shows and it used to irritate me to no end when I already put a low ball price on an animal and some cheap idiot would still offer me well below what I was asking. Don't assume all the vendors put higher prices on stuff expecting to be low balled.

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Originally Posted by treeboa

As far as haggling, it helps to know the going price for an animal/morph. I picked up a Black Pastel ball at a show a few months ago for $75. I've never seen them that cheap, even at the shows so I didn't haggle. I used to vend at shows and it used to irritate me to no end when I already put a low ball price on an animal and some cheap idiot would still offer me well below what I was asking. Don't assume all the vendors put higher prices on stuff expecting to be low balled.

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Yep, exactly what i meant when i said "know what you're doing".

^^^Agreed! Definitely haggle within reason, and try not to insult the vendor. If you're unsure of what might be too low of an offer, whip out your smartphone and do a quick price check :) I happily paid the $150 asking price on my het pied ringer because I felt she was worth every penny. Even if she's currently the bane of my existence lol.

Just to add to #4 - It will most likely be VERY hot for that show. On your way home, make sure none if your animals are ever in direct sunlight or left unattended in the car, even for a "quick stop" at a gas station.

And have fun! I know I'll be there, as usual.

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

Just to add to #4 - It will VERY hot for that show.

I'll be there.

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Coincidence? I think not! :p

sorry never been to one
sorry :-(

:tears::tears::tears::tears::tears::tears::tears::tears::tears:

Thanks so much for all the great info guys! I really appreciate it. Hopefully I won't come off as a total newbie now.

From what everyone's said:
- I'll bring cash
- I'll check prices on what I'm looking for before I go to know if I should haggle
- I'll purchase the frozen rodents asap (will have to wait until after I purchase my snake so I know what size)
- I'll troll all the tables. :P
- I'll keep the reptiles I buy in their containers out of direct sunlight. If we do stop to eat I'll just bring a BIG stinking purse so they can go incognito with me into the restaurant.

Thanks again guys and if there's anything I missed or you have to add please feel free. I want to get the most out of this trip as possible, so any advice is greatly appreciated.

Artgecko

p.s. annarose15- will you be vending or just attending?

When we went to one recently to help a friend get a corn, I made them a special take home container bc they were driving about an hour further than we were (2 hours total). It consisted of a 10x10 inch tupperware from the dollar store, to which I added air holes all around with a wood burning tool, and some aspen bedding. It was a DELUXE travel condo...haha. I just really did it for fun bc it was their first snake and they were very excited! I had all of that stuff laying around. Plus, they can use it as a feeding tub or holding tub while cleaning.
What did you decide on? I know in another thread you were debating between a KSB or a hognose.

Hello!! You guys forgot the most important part! PICTURES!!!

Take your camera. Be polite. Not sure if anyone else does this but I ask if I can take pics when I'm at a table just viewing.

My favourite part of shows is how many people I meet and friends I make... Vendors appreciate smiles and a nice chat, so don't be afraid to ask questions and introduce yourself :)

I always bring my own custom transport container(small toolbox with airholes drilled on the side) with bedding inside treated with PAM. This prevents undetected hitchhikers ;)

sent from my incubator

Reptile Expos are one of my favorite places to go :gj:!

1. Do most vendors expect you to pay in cash?

Bring cash! Many breeders will accept card, but to make it simple, just bring cash :gj:..

2. Is haggling expected, tolerated, encouraged, or frowned upon? (or is this dependent on if you buy multiple animals, etc.)?

I will only "haggle" if I know the value of a morph. Now every snake is worth something different to each keeper ;).. Doing some research on the morphs you're particularly shopping for really helps, as you get a ballpark estimate on how much you're expecting to pay. Don't go looking for a GHI, then say something like "What?? $7000 for a male GHI?? That's outrageous.. I'll give you $1500 for it." :P

3. When you go to a show, do you go to all the tables or do you have a "short list" of vendors that you visit first?

I go to ALL the tables. I normally start by going to the right, and walking by each isle. Normally there will be some cool BP morphs that I'm mostly interested in learning about. I enjoy hearing what the breeder is excited about and what they have planned for the future with that morph :gj:. This is my favorite part about going to the shows. Meeting new friends, and hearing about all the cool stuff they got goin on!

4. How do you transport / handle your new acquisitions while you're still at the show and on the trip home (we will have about 2.5 hours to go between when we leave the show and arrive at home..not sure if heating is necessary for the trip)?

They'll typically give you the snake in a bag and/or in a small container for you. You can walk around with it in your hands, keep it safe and secure in a camera bag, or a backpack that you keep IN FRONT of you, or you can ask the breeder if they can hold it while you continue looking around. They'll simply keep it under the table or on display until you return. DO NOT LOSE YOUR RECEIPT :gj::gj:!!

5. When purchasing frozen rodents, I assume it is better to wait until you are about to leave the show? (I will have an ice-packed cooler in the car waiting for them)

Having a cooler in your car is perfect! I pretty much handle this the same way I handle the snake purchases. The seller will hold the product until you're ready to go! Never had a problem with this before :gj:.

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1. Do most vendors expect you to pay in cash?

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Some do and some also accept credit cards. There are ATM on the premises and there is a few banks right around the corner as well.

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2. Is haggling expected, tolerated, encouraged, or frowned upon? (or is this dependent on if you buy multiple animals, etc.)?

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Expected within reason.

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3. When you go to a show, do you go to all the tables or do you have a "short list" of vendors that you visit first?

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At this show I tend to go around once or twice real quick but generally I hang out at a friend's table.

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4. How do you transport / handle your new acquisitions while you're still at the show and on the trip home (we will have about 2.5 hours to go between when we leave the show and arrive at home..not sure if heating is necessary for the trip)?

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I keep the animal in a snake bag the whole time and once in my care I place it in a cooler.

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5. When purchasing frozen rodents, I assume it is better to wait until you are about to leave the show? (I will have an ice-packed cooler in the car waiting for them)

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Best way to do it (because vendors come with a certain amount) is to pre-order them and get them deliver for you at the show, or buy and pay for them first thing in the morning and have the vendor hold them for you until you pick them up when leaving.

Thanks again for all the info! You guys have mentioned some things I didn't even think about (i.e. asking them to hold my purchases and taking pics).

kameo37- I still have my heart set on a hoggie...but if that falls through I would be happy with a KSB for now...I'd love to get both at the show but not sure if hubby would approve. :P

This is all good info to have. I'm considering going to a show later this year. Never been to a reptile show before so I'm looking forward to it. Just need to decide which one works best around my schedule lol.

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Originally Posted by artgecko

Thanks again for all the info! You guys have mentioned some things I didn't even think about (i.e. asking them to hold my purchases and taking pics).

kameo37- I still have my heart set on a hoggie...but if that falls through I would be happy with a KSB for now...I'd love to get both at the show but not sure if hubby would approve. :P

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If your looking for a Hoggie, Cahaba River Reptiles will be there and they usually have some very nice animals. They are out of AL and have a website. Have a great time and hope you find all your looking for.

[QUOTE=artgecko;2109278


From what everyone's said:
- I'll bring cash
- I'll check prices on what I'm looking for before I go to know if I should haggle
- I'll purchase the frozen rodents asap (will have to wait until after I purchase my snake so I know what size)
- I'll troll all the tables. :P
- I'll keep the reptiles I buy in their containers out of direct sunlight. If we do stop to eat I'll just bring a BIG stinking purse so they can go incognito with me into the restaurant.

QUOTE]

Sounds like you are all over it. The only thing I would add is that if you buy a snake hours before you are going to leave just leave it with the vender until you are ready to leave. Less stress for the snake and makes it easier for you to look at other ones without having to keep track of what you already got.

You will have fun. I love going to shows.

Artgecko, I went to that show last weekend and I did hold a KSB. I gotta say, I did not fall in love. It was really, really different than holding a corn or bp. I guess that should be obvious, buy it just felt weird. Kind of like holding a worm instead of a snake. It doesn't grip (or this one didn't) at all. I decided then that a KSB wasn't a good fit for me.
I'm interested to see what you think!
The hognose breeder that comes to my local show isn't very open to people holding/checking out their snakes. I don't know if it's the mildly venomous thing or if they just aren't good salesman. It's kind of a shame. I would never buy a snake that I couldn't handle first, though.

Thanks so much guys again for the great info!
rlditmars- I will check out cahaba river.
kameo37- one of the breeders that has the hogs (envy) also sells ksb. I may ask them to handle one to compare with the hoggie while I'm there.

Based on everyone's input I'll add getting the sellers to hold my purchased animals to the list. :)

One other question here, if you guys don't mind...

I am getting my first snake at this show (the hoggie hopefully) but I'd love to be able to handle some of the others, especially the BPs.. (at this point I wasn't sure if a BP would be too much snake for me so handling an adult at a show would be great to find that out). Would it be rude of me to ask to handle a seller's snakes? I may not be buying a BP at this show, but if there's a prospect of me buying one in the future, would the seller mind? There's a seller in particular that's located in my hometown and has BPs frequently for sale, so maybe he would be a good person to ask.

Thanks again for your time and help!
Artgecko

I never minded people wanting to hold my animals. Some people do mind, but I don't think I've ever seen a vendor get upset by someone asking. They usually just politely say no and tell you why.

When multiple people want to hold a snake just because, it opens a seller up to all kind of nasties that can be transmitted to their entire collection (mites, disease, or theft of the animal when they turn to a paying customer). They don't know what else you have handled, and hand sanitizer only does so much. You shouldn't handle multiple animals for the same reason.

Just something to consider.

Holding balls is ok, just ask first and don't squeeze too hard. :-)

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

When multiple people want to hold a snake just because, it opens a seller up to all kind of nasties that can be transmitted to their entire collection (mites, disease, or theft of the animal when they turn to a paying customer). They don't know what else you have handled, and hand sanitizer only does so much. You shouldn't handle multiple animals for the same reason.

Just something to consider.

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This can be true too. Pick you spots and you should be able to hold a couple without much trouble. There are usually people that have them out already that are either walking around or just sitting there holding them. That would be a better opportunity, then a fancy hatchling at a busy table. And always hand sanitizer before and after you hold it.

Glad you made this thread, I hope to go to my first ReptiCon or two this year and had these exact questions. :)

I have an odd question: how do you haggle? I mean I know you're trying to get a lower price, but I guess how do you know how low to ask for, do you go a little lower than what you actually expect for "wiggle room", do you have a strategy, how do you bring it up or ask... I've never haggled for anything, I always feel rude or timid even though I know there's no reason to. :P But if it can save me on a few animals...
(Like as not I'll probably still have the fiancee do it.)

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Originally Posted by DestinyLynette

Glad you made this thread, I hope to go to my first ReptiCon or two this year and had these exact questions. :)

I have an odd question: how do you haggle? I mean I know you're trying to get a lower price, but I guess how do you know how low to ask for, do you go a little lower than what you actually expect for "wiggle room", do you have a strategy, how do you bring it up or ask... I've never haggled for anything, I always feel rude or timid even though I know there's no reason to. :P But if it can save me on a few animals...
(Like as not I'll probably still have the fiancee do it.)

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That's why you want to go to a reptile show with a general idea of what you're looking for and what it's value is. Know what a quality specimen looks like and that people will generally ask more for a cleaner, brighter, larger, etc animal. Some sellers will outright offer you a lower price if they see you staring at something for a while. Otherwise, make a reduced offer, I've gotten away with a 16-33% reduction. Some buyers will make especially good deals if you're getting two or more animals. Show that you're really interested in the animal and that you appreciate it's appearance. Don't start pointing out flaws on the snake or you'll just insult them on their stock.

You got a lot of good answers so far. I would say bring a small backpack with something to drink. Feeling dehydrated is an issue we have had at most expos, but try to avoid carrying something in your arms or something heavy. It is usually very packed, very hot and very fun. And that's just our tiny local expo! A big purse/bag for after is great in case you decide to stop anywhere, our cresties enjoyed the cool ac at KFC after the last expo safely tucked in my bag.
As for haggling I just look longingly and stand around staring at it, works most times : ) but don't try that on something you have to have! Someone will snatch it from under your nose...
Most vendors in my experience will let you hold their animals if they arnt packed although some will say no, I have never had someone offended by asking. Also many will hold your purchase for you, saves the animals lots of jostling.

Thanks for the thread. I have been to several shows and bought several snakes at the shows. I only don't haggle when I really know the price of a morph and I know they are giving a great deal. Interestingly enough, many times when I feel a snake is overpriced, that's when the breeder doesn't want to haggle. I guess the snake is really valuable to them, and they don't mind keeping it if they don't get their perceived value!

All of that said, I have a really specific question about show etiquette.

-How rude is it to bring up competitor pricing? What if you said, "Hey! I really like your lesser priced at $200, but there's another lesser across the room that's selling for $150. Can you beat that price?"

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Originally Posted by sharkrocket

Thanks for the thread. I have been to several shows and bought several snakes at the shows. I only don't haggle when I really know the price of a morph and I know they are giving a great deal. Interestingly enough, many times when I feel a snake is overpriced, that's when the breeder doesn't want to haggle. I guess the snake is really valuable to them, and they don't mind keeping it if they don't get their perceived value!

All of that said, I have a really specific question about show etiquette.

-How rude is it to bring up competitor pricing? What if you said, "Hey! I really like your lesser priced at $200, but there's another lesser across the room that's selling for $150. Can you beat that price?"

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I don't think it's rude at all. They can either say A) no, my lesser is bigger, better, sweeter, etc. B) yes I can match that or C) let's meet somewhere in between. I think it all depends on how you approach the vendor.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

First thing I do when I'm buying a snake and haggling is I knock 30-50% off the price right then and there. That will get the vendor to lower his price more than if you ask hey can you go down $20. you'll really see where they are at if you ask to take off a huge part of the price. But at the same time you have to know what your doing going this route. It's not for beginners but something to keep in mind down the road.

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Originally Posted by sharkrocket

-How rude is it to bring up competitor pricing? What if you said, "Hey! I really like your lesser priced at $200, but there's another lesser across the room that's selling for $150. Can you beat that price?"

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Originally Posted by MootWorm

I don't think it's rude at all. They can either say A) no, my lesser is bigger, better, sweeter, etc. B) yes I can match that or C) let's meet somewhere in between. I think it all depends on how you approach the vendor.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

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A lot of vendors, in my experience, actually find this quite rude. If you want to make an offer that is lower than listed, make an offer. You obviously like this one better than the cheaper one across the room, so don't even bring it into the discussion. You would basically be asking them to either bash another seller's animal or defend an animal that they probably feel is priced fairly. The seller can either agree to your offer, counter, or say no.

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Originally Posted by zach_24_90

First thing I do when I'm buying a snake and haggling is I knock 30-50% off the price right then and there. That will get the vendor to lower his price more than if you ask hey can you go down $20. you'll really see where they are at if you ask to take off a huge part of the price. But at the same time you have to know what your doing going this route. It's not for beginners but something to keep in mind down the road.

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50%?!?! Really?! That isn't haggling. That's just rude.

Remember to shop the quality of the snake, not just look for the cheapest deal.

Wow! The great advice just keeps coming. :) Thank you guys so much for all the input. I'm sure my trip to the show will be much, much better than it would have been without all your tips.

I will definitely add water and a backpack to the list... Didn't think of the water being an issue...

All the haggling advice is great too. I would also be a wee bit shy of doing this, but I may try it after reading everyone's tips on doing it successfully.

One of the possible issues I've been pondering today is what if I buy a good looking snake for x amount of dollars and then see the same type / morph / gender / quality for less or a better animal for the same price at another vendor's table later on. I guess the only way you could avoid this is by cruising all of the tables first then going back... but this is probably the riskier option since the animal you want may be gone when you return... Has anyone had a similar experience? I guess it all depends on how "popular" the particular type of snake is that you're looking at.

Thanks again for the great advice folks! The show's exactly one week away now.. Hopefully by this time next week I"ll be the proud new owner of 1-2 snakes and a gecko. :D

Artgecko

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

50%?!?! Really?! That isn't haggling. That's just rude.

Remember to shop the quality of the snake, not just look for the cheapest deal.

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Yes 30-50%... Depends on what It is. No it's not rude..its haggling. I actually vend at a good number of shows I know how the game works lol. Most of you guys go to shows and think ooooh that $1000 snake is worth $1000... That $1000 snake is only worth about $300 if they sold it wholesale to another vendor so it's up to you to get the best deal you can. so if i knock off $500 from asking price on my ofer obviously they come back at me a little higher...they still make money as opposed to selling wholesale and I get a good deal everybody wins. The key for newbies is just act like you've been there before if you act star struck because its this vendor or that famous person or you're so excited about getting this morph or that morph your going to pay a lot more than you should. And for anybody who is going to sit here and tell me I'm wrong then you have either never been a vendor or are in denial ... I'm just trying to give some insight as To how things really work behind the scenes. And if you can understand that you can get in a vendors head and get a hands down better price.

Like your normal female on your website.... $200??? Really lol who pays $200 for a normal these days? $100 is about tops on those girls. $25 wholesale.

Well i'm technically a breeder, so why don't i get wholesale prices? I'm not saying you're wrong zach, because i've never vended a show, but what you're saying is something i've NEVER heard of before in my time in this hobby... Idk

Ill be there next weekend also... It will be my first reptile show!

anyone else think this thread should be stickied for future show newbies? Just me?

A ton of REALLY good information.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Well i'm technically a breeder, so why don't i get wholesale prices? I'm not saying you're wrong zach, because i've never vended a show, but what you're saying is something i've NEVER heard of before in my time in this hobby... Idk

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that vendor badge is like a magic price dropper. im not saying you always get wholesale prices. but you get a heck of a better deal if you have an idea of what wholesale is and negotiate from there.

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Originally Posted by zach_24_90

that vendor badge is like a magic price dropper. im not saying you always get wholesale prices. but you get a heck of a better deal if you have an idea of what wholesale is and negotiate from there.

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Well then from now on i'm spending the $100 or whatever it is to buy a table at an expo just to get a badge so i can get 70% off.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Well then from now on i'm spending the $100 or whatever it is to buy a table at an expo just to get a badge so i can get 70% off.

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I never said 70% off and it's all about the relationship you build with your fellow vendors. The more shows you do together the more people you begin to do business with on a regular basis. While yes a vendor badge does almost instantly get you a better deal I wouldn't say 70%. But a $1000 snake for 550-600 wouldn't be uncommon in a vendor to vendor deal.

I think that we just have different terms for the same thing.

Basically what I'm saying is learn the wholesale market. Its the same in the regular business world. If you know what the price is behind the scene such as what it costs to manufacture something then you find out what the dealer paid and what they need to break even. Then you can have a better idea of what a good deal is. Learn your market, do some digging.