Do you talk about BP prices with NON snake people?

We all know some morphs can cost quite alot but we also understand the hard work that goes into making these multiple gene animals (And some luck). When I bought my normal from a pet store i paid $90. My coworkers thought that was a fortune. Ever since then i dont mention how much anything costs. My question is do you ever lie when somebody (outside the hobby) asks you how much you paid for a snake?

If my family ever find out I have acquired another 2 (they know about 6) I will be lying very hard about their price! I think they would kill me when they found out how much I'd spent on my babies!

What the hell man.. Is this real life,is this post real?? Lol

dude, what do you care what any one thinks for? It's your money you work for you do what you choose to do with it. I can't believe what I'm reading.

I'm just going to leave this be.

Well, I own a house and a project car. Snakes aren't that bad compared to the money I have dumped into them.

But no I don't lie about it if people ask.

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Originally Posted by NYHC4LIFE8899

What the hell man.. Is this real life,is this post real?? Lol

dude, what do you care what any one thinks for? It's your money you work for you do what you choose to do with it. I can't believe what I'm reading.

I'm just going to leave this be.

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Its not about caring what they think. If i cared what they thought i wouldnt have my snakes delivered to work. But I just keep that detail of price to myself. I dont care if anybody knows i have snakes. Just a question. And I bet im not the only one.

/LOUD AND NERVOUS LAUGHTER.

Yep, all the time. I mentioned that I bought a $250 T+ Albino Blood for my dad during one of my night classes and my classmates kind of lost it and one women proceeded to scold me about how irresponsible it was to spend that much money on a snake especially when there were $35 Cornsnakes at the Petco she works out.
I also get a lot of flack from some members in my extended family. Ironically enough, my aunt gives me the most sh!t about spending money on snakes then meanwhile, she spent troves on her two ~show quality~ Bengal Cats. :/

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Originally Posted by Gerardo

Its not about caring what they think. If i cared what they thought i wouldnt have my snakes delivered to work. But I just keep that detail of price to myself. I dont care if anybody knows i have snakes. Just a question. And I bet im not the only one.

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I agree, it is no one else's business about what you've spent and how much. I do tell my friends should they ask but my family wouldn't understand (they are as far from snake lovers as you can imagine).

I don't think it's something that needs to be discussed. I don't go around telling people how much I spent on my car or my computer or whatever. And it seems like a really nosy thing to ask. It's no one's business how much I spend on the things I like and appreciate.

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Originally Posted by Gerardo

Its not about caring what they think. If i cared what they thought i wouldnt have my snakes delivered to work. But I just keep that detail of price to myself. I dont care if anybody knows i have snakes. Just a question. And I bet im not the only one.

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You do care though...you started a thread about it..you do care cause you are lying to people..honestly man,that's ridiculous.

i work hard for my money. I work outdoors year round,jack hammering working on heavy duty pipes underground breaking my back ( I d lovey job though :) ) I work 14-20 hrs a week OT and I do whatever I want with my money with no need to explain anything to anyone,let alone no need to lie to anyone about anything,on top of it,is no ones business what you spend and how much they cost..if u wanted to spend $10,000.00 on a snake then you spend 10Gs and be proud of it.

im not trying to be mean,but man up and don't care what anyone thinks. As long as you are happy with what you have and what you spent,there is no need to care about what anyone has to say...

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Originally Posted by MisterKyte

/LOUD AND NERVOUS LAUGHTER.

Yep, all the time. I mentioned that I bought a $250 T+ Albino Blood for my dad during one of my night classes and my classmates kind of lost it and one women proceeded to scold me about how irresponsible it was to spend that much money on a snake especially when there were $35 Cornsnakes at the Petco she works out.
I also get a lot of flack from some members in my extended family. Ironically enough, my aunt gives me the most sh!t about spending money on snakes then meanwhile, she spent troves on her two ~show quality~ Bengal Cats. :/

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Yeah! My grandparents are all into their classic cars which they must spend a small fortune buying and repairing but they would freak if they truly knew what I was spending on my BP's. I think they're worth the money and more but I don't think they'd see my point of view.

I think my innocent face stopped working when I was about 10, now I'm almost 22 I can't get away with as much!

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Originally Posted by NYHC4LIFE8899

You do care though...you started a thread about it..you do care cause you are lying to people..honestly man,that's ridiculous.

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Where does he say he's lying to people? He just said he keeps those details to himself....as you just agreed is the best course of action. Are you hard-wired to criticize everything you encounter, no matter how inaccurate or completely off-base your assumptions are?

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Originally Posted by Naom9Anne

I agree, it is no one else's business about what you've spent and how much. I do tell my friends should they ask but my family wouldn't understand (they are as far from snake lovers as you can imagine).

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I know what you mean. If i were to announce on this forum that i bought a dreamsicle for $800 (I wish) everybody would congratulate me and ask how i got such a steal. If i told the same exact thing to my co workers and my family they would look at me like i lost my damn mind.

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Originally Posted by Gerardo

I know what you mean. If i were to announce on this forum that i bought a dreamsicle for $800 (I wish) everybody would congratulate me and ask how i got such a steal. If i told the same exact thing to my co workers and my family they would look at me like i lost my damn mind.

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Hit the nail on the head! My friend was over today and he was like "Why do you need 8 BP's???"

Apparently "Why not? They make me happy" wasn't a sufficient answer. Non snakey people can't understand the love and passion and justifying of the expense as easily as snakey people can!

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Originally Posted by NYHC4LIFE8899

You do care though...you started a thread about it..you do care cause you are lying to people..honestly man,that's ridiculous.

i work hard for my money. I work outdoors year round,jack hammering working on heavy duty pipes underground breaking my back ( I d lovey job though :) ) I work 14-20 hrs a week OT and I do whatever I want with my money with no need to explain anything to anyone,let alone no need to lie to anyone about anything,on top of it,is no ones business what you spend and how much they cost..if u wanted to spend $10,000.00 on a snake then you spend 10Gs and be proud of it.

im not trying to be mean,but man up and don't care what anyone thinks. As long as you are happy with what you have and what you spent,there is no need to care about what anyone has to say...

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Which may work fine for you but not everyone has to share that comfort level or think it's really important. Every time I've mentioned the pricing on my snakes, I've typically gotten some kind of backlash and I'm not really ashamed that I spent $450 on my Black Pewter but it's not an argument that I want to devote my energy to and that has nothing to do with "manning up". I just see confrontation as unnecessary to my life so I don't want to get into it. On the flip side, I'm also the kind of person who thinks spending over $15k on a car is absurd.

I doubt Gerardo is lying or ashamed and I'm absolutely certain that they're happy with their financial choices but chances are, they're like me and don't see the point in discussing the topic with people who probably won't understand it anyway. So they came here instead to start a conversation on a topic that has come up in their life and ask for others to share their experiences as well.

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Originally Posted by MisterKyte

Which may work fine for you but not everyone has to share that comfort level or think it's really important. Every time I've mentioned the pricing on my snakes, I've typically gotten some kind of backlash and I'm not really ashamed that I spent $450 on my Black Pewter but it's not an argument that I want to devote my energy to and that has nothing to do with "manning up". I just see confrontation as unnecessary to my life so I don't want to get into it. On the flip side, I'm also the kind of person who thinks spending over $15k on a car is absurd.

I doubt Gerardo is lying or ashamed and I'm absolutely certain that they're happy with their financial choices but chances are, they're like me and don't see the point in discussing the topic with people who probably won't understand it anyway. So they came here instead to start a conversation on a topic that has come up in their life and ask for others to share their experiences as well.

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Thats exactly right. some people outside the hobby wouldnt pay $50 for a snake no matter what morph. As you said the backlash isnt worth it. It does take time and energy to explain to somebody who DOES NOT share your love of snakes that to you its worth what you paid.

It's a person's own choice to tell people how much they make or how much they spend.

Some people choose to, some people choose not to. No one needs to explain why they do or don't do what they've decided.

No, I don't like to discuss the price of my animals with people (a lot of snake people included-- I don't like to put sellers in awkward positions if they gave me a deal). I usually go as far as "they're investments". It's my hobby, my pay cheques, and my business. :gj:

If they ask, I'll tell. No one really asks how much they were though.

Personally I think it's rude to ask someone how much something cost or how much they spend in general, my business bud. What's really ironic about me is I will carry my own cup of coffee to campus to avoid paying 50 cents for a cup; however, I never walk into a repticon without at least $400. :D

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Originally Posted by Physician&Snakes

What's really ironic about me is I will carry my own cup of coffee to campus to avoid paying 50 cents for a cup; however, I never walk into a repticon without at least $400. :D

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We have a Repticon coming here in January to Pasadena. I'm hoping to have at least $400 saved up by then, Be nice if they had a het pied ball there.

I will tell my husband what I paid (kind of). Unless it was really expensive. I only have 2 right now though. A yellow belly male and a normal female. If I get a really nice pied I won't tell him exactly how much she cost because he would flip out. He's not a snake person. He wouldn't think twice about paying $1000 for a really nice Lab or Doberman but not a snake. Me it all depends on what morph the snake is and if I really like it, and if I can afford it.

I tell people if they ask, but my best friend (who is dead scared of snakes) just bought her 3rd dog, and God knows it cost way more than my snakes, so she totally understands the cost of pets, even if she can't understand why I'd want to even own snakes in the first place. Fortunately we are extremely tolerant of each other's quirks.

Certain people I don't even tell when I get a new snake (like the new one I got today). It doesn't concern them, and although I may be excited and eager to tell people, there are people who's reactions I'm just not interested in. My mom is one of those people LOL. She does love reptiles, but her "you're crazy" look when I even bought my second snake was enough for me to decide to not tell her anymore.

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Originally Posted by led-zep

We have a Repticon coming here in January to Pasadena. I'm hoping to have at least $400 saved up by then, Be nice if they had a het pied ball there.

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For 400 you could probably find a male low white pied, I can tell you now there's been more than a few times when it's the last day of the show and a vendor has taken my $400 and handed me a deli-cup labeled $475. :cool:

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Originally Posted by Physician&Snakes

For 400 you could probably find a male low white pied, I can tell you now there's been more than a few times when it's the last day of the show and a vendor has taken my $400 and handed me a deli-cup labeled $475. :cool:

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Honestly I'd just be happy to grab a pair of HET Pieds, And keep the price to myself! ;)

If people ask, then I tell.
It's my money and I earned it. My bills are paid and my animals are well taken care of..
When I first got into the hobby and my mom found out how much I was spending, I just told her that there were many other stupid things I could be spending my money on-it's not like I spend money on drugs or anything like that.

If someone has an issue with what I spend then those emotions are for them to deal with and not my problem! lol

I def know where you're saying though-some people judge, but they'll just judge you on something else anyways-be happy and spend your earnings however you see fit!

Everyone who is financially stable should have their own clear idea of what things are worth splurging on and what aren't. Its different for everyone. As long as the bills are paid on time and you have a functioning 401k, treat yourself sometimes. If it were a fancy necklace, no one would bat an eye. It's because its OMG SNEKS that people freak out. Think of how much people pay for a pedigree dog, even if it's just another golden retriever.

I know all the ways to get a good deal. I know the clearance schedules of clothing stores, and don't buy a single thing online without hitting up retailmenot. I don't eat out often, but I will happily buy expensive meat and cheese and mushrooms at Wegmans to cook my own meal.

My snakes come from a weekly fund I made for myself. My husband gets an equal amount and spends the same amount on video games, computer parts, and magic cards. He's happy, I'm happy.

So yeah, I'll tell people if they ask. Probably followed with a small genetics lesson.

My parents freak out every time I get a new snake. Even better my mom is having a fit about me now making a rack for them. I'm not big on sharing what I pay for things in general, it's my money and my business. I can completely understand why you stray from that topic... People just don't understand.

When I got my normal bp for $40+ shipping +35. My family thought that was very expensive. I just started laughing and explained the morph prices.

i know people who have dropped 30 grand into their "project car" that they might be able to sell for 10 grand (if they're lucky). i spend 2 grand on a snake that could potentially make me my money back plus more, and enjoy it just as much, if not more, than the car enthusiast.. and we're the "crazy" ones. lol

i don't usually talk prices unless it's to someone in the hobby and they ask, and even then i don't sometimes.

I brought my dad with me to an expo and I think it kind of boggled his mind to see all the different morphs and the prices haha
after seeing all the normals being like 15-30 dollars, he was like "why the heck did we pay 80 for tali"... I had to remind him that we actually paid 40 for her, and she's a very nice normal so that's not a bad deal imo. Thats the closet 'you paid what for what' I've gotten

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My parents don't like that I keep snakes, so they have no idea that I have 14 or that I've spent a buttload on them. They think I have three or four, lol. I've tried to explain that I can potentially make some money back through breeding them, but as I have mostly young females, it'll be a long time before I can prove that to them. If they knew the extent of my snake budget this past year, they'd have me committed.

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Originally Posted by Apple

My parents don't like that I keep snakes, so they have no idea that I have 14 or that I've spent a buttload on them. They think I have three or four, lol. I've tried to explain that I can potentially make some money back through breeding them, but as I have mostly young females, it'll be a long time before I can prove that to them. If they knew the extent of my snake budget this past year, they'd have me committed.

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Me too. My mother thinks I have only 5! Thank god that when she comes over to my house she stays out of the snake room!

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Originally Posted by Apple

My parents don't like that I keep snakes, so they have no idea that I have 14 or that I've spent a buttload on them. They think I have three or four, lol. I've tried to explain that I can potentially make some money back through breeding them, but as I have mostly young females, it'll be a long time before I can prove that to them. If they knew the extent of my snake budget this past year, they'd have me committed.

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My family don't know that I've gone from 6 to 8 recently and they would kill me too if they saw my snake expenditure with being a student with a very part time job. I can still aford to feed them and myself, pay my rent and bills so they can't say too much but I would be highly judged by them!

If someone asks I reply as it is. Don't see a reason why I would lie ;)
My money and I choose how to spend it :P

Maybe even more I like to say how much they cost and get some contributions from family/friends ;)

If someone asks I tell them. I'm not ashamed of how much I've spent, and I don't care if they think it's too much. My roommates like to give me a light teasing because they know I want a motorcycle and could of bought one this year if I didn't buy three more snakes.

A lot of people will ask why I want to breed. I tell them to make certain combos. Often I'll pull up a pic of an axanthic firefly and tell them that if I were to just buy my dream snake outright I'd have to drop 7.5k. Seems more logical to them after that.

Could careless what people think... they will get over it.

If someone is actually interested enough to ask, I'll tell them, but it's not usually something that comes up.

But the whole concept applies to most hobbies and interests, if it's not something you personally care about it seems insane to spend thousands that will never be recouped. Perfect example for me is horses. In the jumping you can expect to pay $30k+ for a decent young prospect ($100,000 and up for proven talent). Which is why I showed the hubby a lot of ads for jumpers the day before I showed him the ad where I'd found my axanthic pastel girl listed, after seeing those prices he felt like she was a bargain.

Many years ago I bought a pair of Az mountain kingsnakes from Bob Applegate, I picked them up at the airport during my lunch break and brought them back to work with me. I was showing them off to one of my friends and he asked about the price, he thought it was funny to spend $250.00 on a pair of snakes and got a good laugh out of it. It wasn't a week later that he came into my office to show off his brand new Ping putter that he had just spent $250.00 on. :rolleyes:

We are careful with who we reveal our animals monetary worth to for security reasons. I do however bring it up to show how big this industry is. Usually the pricetag blows any ideas of hoarding out of their minds, as hoarding usually involves keeping lots of crap that isnt monetarily worth anything. I thinking hoarding is probably the most common perception snake breeders get from the general public.

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Originally Posted by OctagonGecko729

We are careful with who we reveal our animals monetary worth to for security reasons. I do however bring it up to show how big this industry is. Usually the pricetag blows any ideas of hoarding out of their minds, as hoarding usually involves keeping lots of crap that isnt monetarily worth anything. I thinking hoarding is probably the most common perception snake breeders get from the general public.

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A valid point.

My family has concerns about me living in squalor surrounded by animals that are kept in rotten conditions because the collective workload and financial responsibility is too much for me to handle. They've raised further concerns about "how on earth are you going to manage to move somewhere else when it's time? Are you going to take them with you?" (I've already moved with them once, along with a much more difficult to move aquarium, and that's why I installed wheels on the rack of course!)

I think that's a valid concern in respect to acquiring numerous animals of almost any other type so you can't blame'em I guess. Best not to throw kindling on it though.

I've never talked about how much I'VE spent on a snake.
But some people will ask me, "How much does that one with the spots cost?" (Referring to a piebald)
When I say anywhere between 500 and 1000 dollars, people think I'm losing it. haha

I've tried.

Never really works out. :P

When my mother found out I had spent £850 on a 900g female pied she nearly fainted.

She calmed down a little when I pointed out I had sold enough snakes to mean it wasn't coming out of my life savings ( current total zero :ninja: ).

Most of my friends spend three times as much on computer parts each year and there is no way they will be hugging them in 20 years time. :P


dr del

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Originally Posted by dr del

I've tried.

Never really works out. :P

When my mother found out I had spent £850 on a 900g female pied she nearly fainted.

She calmed down a little when I pointed out I had sold enough snakes to mean it wasn't coming out of my life savings ( current total zero :ninja: ).

Most of my friends spend three times as much on computer parts each year and there is no way they will be hugging them in 20 years time. :P


dr del

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And in comparison to the US prices we look like we spend even more :p Very much worth it though!

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Originally Posted by Naom9Anne

And in comparison to the US prices we look like we spend even more :p Very much worth it though!

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Don't compare to US prices. Nothing can be compared to US prices. Neither gas, electronics, food, apparently not even snakes. Everything is cheaper in states :) It's how it is and has always been :rage:

Out of curiosity; to all you guys in the states: if I told you I'd just spent $493 on a mojave male and a lesser female what would your reaction be?

In the UK that is really a rather good price and they came from a breeder so no added shop charges. I know that BP's are a heck of a lot cheaper and the US is very much a buyer's market in comparison.

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Originally Posted by Naom9Anne

Out of curiosity; to all you guys in the states: if I told you I'd just spent $493 on a mojave male and a lesser female what would your reaction be?

In the UK that is really a rather good price and they came from a breeder so no added shop charges. I know that BP's are a heck of a lot cheaper and the US is very much a buyer's market in comparison.

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My guess would be move to the states ;) Everything is cheaper there, except maybe health insurance :rolleye2:

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Originally Posted by Naom9Anne

Out of curiosity; to all you guys in the states: if I told you I'd just spent $493 on a mojave male and a lesser female what would your reaction be?

In the UK that is really a rather good price and they came from a breeder so no added shop charges. I know that BP's are a heck of a lot cheaper and the US is very much a buyer's market in comparison.

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I could probably pick up a male mojave for around $100 bucks right now without too much effort, though personally I think they're worth more then that.

See, highlights the price difference :) A Mojave in a reptile shop over here can go into the £200 price mark easily even for a male ($330) And I would have been looking to pay around £300 for just the female lesser here if I'd gone to a reptile shop ($493)

The breeder had the lesser females for £220 ($360) and the Mojave males for £120 ($197) but he did a deal on the two for £300 saving me £40 and they can with temporary tubs and 2 weeks food. The quality of his animals was spot on. These prices are very reasonable for a private seller over here. It's amazing to look at the price differences across the water :)