Home breeders

For those of you who breed and sell and run everything out of your home I'm curious, when you have a prospective buyer who is local to your area do you allow them to come to your home to see the snake(s)?? Talking with someone via email about a couple of hatchlings I have available and they inquired about coming to take a look at them. I'm what one would call overly cautious lol and am not keen on bringing strangers into my home for business. Just wondering what others do. Are you fine with it or do you offer to meet the buyer some where?

I meet people, in a public well-lit area. Since I have the option now, I bring my boyfriend with me for back up. I would never allow a stranger to come to see my snake room, and a prospective buyer is a stranger after all. I may be paranoid but heard too many stories about theft to trust some random person.

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

I meet people, in a public well-lit area. Since I have the option now, I bring my boyfriend with me for back up. I would never allow a stranger to come to see my snake room, and a prospective buyer is a stranger after all. I may be paranoid but heard too many stories about theft to trust some random person.

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This. All the way.

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

I meet people, in a public well-lit area. Since I have the option now, I bring my boyfriend with me for back up. I would never allow a stranger to come to see my snake room, and a prospective buyer is a stranger after all. I may be paranoid but heard too many stories about theft to trust some random person.

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Yea that's kinda where I'm coming from. I don't need random people seeing my complete set up and what I own. Just didn't know if that was normal or my own paranoia hahaha.

A word of warning - you may get some very strange looks and possibly security rolling by to see what's going on. Having a group around an open trunk and exchanging money may look suspicious. I may be speaking from experience. LOL

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

A word of warning - you may get some very strange looks and possibly security rolling by to see what's going on. Having a group around an open trunk and exchanging money may look suspicious. I may be speaking from experience. LOL

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Haha yea I'm fine with that. People always look at me funny when they find out how many snakes I own anyway [emoji216][emoji216][emoji216][emoji23][emoji23]

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

I meet people, in a public well-lit area. Since I have the option now, I bring my boyfriend with me for back up. I would never allow a stranger to come to see my snake room, and a prospective buyer is a stranger after all. I may be paranoid but heard too many stories about theft to trust some random person.

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Out of curiosity what kinds of places do you pick to meet. I'm trying to come up with ideas. Given the weather it has to be indoors but any food establishment is out obviously. Not sure what would make the best sense

A lot of the local police departments around me have areas set up in the parking lot for craigslist type transactions.

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For me, grocery store parking lots usually seem to be good spots, lots of people around, lots of lighting and easy to find. As facepirte said, police stations are great. I've always met at my car, but I'm in CA so we don't have the weather issues that would necesitate meeting indoors. I would say a mall but those all seem to be ghost towns now (showing my age).

i've had 4 local, public transactions:
1. the breeder lived and has a shop like 90 minutes away, so we met halfway at a bowling alley parking lot on a sunny but cold afternoon.
2. the breeder met me in a Krispie Kreme parking lot.
3. the breeder met me in a Fred Meyer parking lot, it was evening and kinda dark. i was checking out a 1300gram proven Black Pastel het Pied when a lady was loading groceries and kids in her car yelled out "OH MY GAWD!!"
4. when i sold my sibling Albino girl, i met the buyer/forumer on the rooftop of a downtown parking garage close to midnight. she brought backup. i told her this was where i make all of my deals Lol.

Let's see with the number of people that have been robbed over the past years, the answer is negative. People know that some of those animal are worth a good amount of $$$

Just like I would not let a random stranger selling vacuum cleaners door to door in my home same goes for customers (are they really customers or staking out the area knowing there is a valuable collection?)

Additionally home based business do have restriction and finally my home is also my husband's home and he did not signed up to have strangers coming and going in our house.

I will meet in a public place very high traffic and of my choice and the animal must be partially paid (20% down), that allows me to get their name and address and phone number ;)

Even meeting in person can be problematic Mark Haas was shot a few years back when meeting in a public place.

Use common sense remember every year people lose their life meeting prospect buyer or seller from CL this is no different.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Let's see with the number of people that have been robbed over the past years, the answer is negative. People know that some of those animal are worth a good amount of $$$

Just like I would not let a random stranger selling vacuum cleaners door to door in my home same goes for customers (are they really customers or staking out the area knowing there is a valuable collection?)

Additionally home based business do have restriction and finally my home is also my husband's home and he did not signed up to have strangers coming and going in our house.

I will meet in a public place very high traffic and of my choice and the animal must be partially paid (20% down), that allows me to get their name and address and phone number ;)

Even meeting in person can be problematic Mark Haas was shot a few years back when meeting in a public place.

Use common sense remember every year people lose their life meeting prospect buyer or seller from CL this is no different.

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So I'm not paranoid lol. And the last item is why I will be, legally, armed. As I usually am anyway.

I never let anyone into my home. I have let people come to my Porch though. My Dogs are a deterrent. Nobody wants to come into a house with 3 Pit Bulls that sound like the Tasmanian devil hahha.
I went to meet someone about a month ago and it was a set up. They called me back 3 times changing the location and at that point I new the game. Be careful of excuses about their transportation problems. You have to have a No Nonsense attitude.. not your problem. Also don't be alone. I sell Gold as a Hobby and I always make sure my Wife or Kids are ready to dial 911 if a struggle arises outside while they stay Locked inside. Its a crazy world, your NOT paranoid. Look at what happened to Ben Renick owner of Renick Reptiles.

I'm outside the norm and have no problem letting buyers come to my home, but I also have a home-based business as an FFL/gunsmith. We have new and repeat customers almost every week, but we also have a full security system installed, with video surveillance cameras covering the driveway and porch outside, and A/V recorded in the home office where we meet up with everyone (property is posted to keep us legal).

We also have a retic in the office. :D

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Originally Posted by OTorresUSMC

So I'm not paranoid lol. And the last item is why I will be, legally, armed. As I usually am anyway.

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Oh I never go out without a gun ;), that's not being paranoid that's called being realistic and keeping up with what is going on with the world, I would love to give people the benefit of the doubt but with what you see those days not a chance. Even if all that was not an issue, what if the person owns snakes, and they have mites in their collection and one hitchhike on them???? My collection is closed off to anyone the only one authorized is my husband and he has no interest lol.

I have a lot invested in my collection financially and time wise, I cannot be too cautious if something happened and I had to rebuilt it to where it is it would be impossible or take years.

I met a local breeder through Craig's List, we first met in a bus parking lot. The second time we met was at his place and he showed me all of his snakes. The next time I brought him over with his son and showed him my collection. We are thinking of doing a NARBC show together this fall! Be cautious but don't be so paranoid you can't meet local breeders and collaborate on projects.

Since it’s cold out right now maybe the local spca or even Your vet would let you meet there. Hell if it was close to me I’d let you use my garage! For a small discount of course.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

We also have a retic in the office. :D

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ROFL. sick him! :snake:

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Originally Posted by OTorresUSMC

So I'm not paranoid lol. And the last item is why I will be, legally, armed. As I usually am anyway.

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oorahh!

I just bought my first snake in over 30 years last week. I found a local breeder about an hour away. Looked at his website and inquired about a male Banana I liked.. From my researching the past month seems most of the hobby does ship out snakes but I really wanted to see the snake up close. I asked about a pick up and he said he would meet me out. I didn't really ask any farther but all worked out very well. We met at a small well lit store and I got a chance to meet the breeder in person, see the snake and go home.. So far he has been a wonderful snake

I dont know about All Lowes home improvement stores but my local one is VERY pet friendly and the manager said that pet dosen't mean just dogs and cats. My local Lowes does not have an issue with me having a ball python on my hand in there. Not that I do that often but when the weather is simply too cold to have them outdoors, this could be a possible temperature controlled meeting place. Also very public place.