Trying to bite my tongue and not grow too quickly

[reptilegirl07]

There is a local rodent breeder here whom I had the displeasure of running into numerous times online and every single time I have to bite my tongue because he pisses me off to no end and I can't wait to run him out of business! I need to bite my tongue and also not grow too quickly or I'll wind up in a bad place. But eventually ;-)

Gah I just want to rip his head off when every single time I email a rodent or rodent supply ad, and it's him. lmao

I've never met someone who is so rude and unprofessional.

We were both going to work with the same supplier for food. I talked to the supplier and got a quote of $13.50 per bag for rat food. I was going to drive there and get it myself but he said to see if the other person, who is getting it this weekend would toss some bags on his trailer for me. He gave me his number and name and I contacted him.

When I contacted him it was this guy. I asked him about throwing some bags on his trailer for me and he said he would have to charge me $20.00 per bag or $18 if I bought bulk... And then, he told me, when I emailed a food ad of his, that he is selling it for 5.00 per lb and I couldn't get anything else but that from him. LMAO... That's 250.00 per bag!

I was like... WHATTTTT I figured I'd throw you a few dollars, pay the supplier directly, and you'd make a few extra bucks on the food, not rape me on the price when I know how much it cost!

I can go there myself, load up my trailer and not pay anywhere near $18.00 a bag! He said he's trying to become a local distributor. The distributor did not seem happy when I called him and told him that he couldn't have the extra business right now because this other guy was being a jerk. lol

Then he has the nerve to ask ME for my sources for cheap rodents when he won't even sell me a few extra rats when he's overstocked for less than 1.75 for a weaned-small.

I tell ya though. He's not going to be a happy camper when he loses all his feeder and food customers to me. I'm willing to work a little extra hard to run out the competition. I don't think I even need that good of prices when his customer service skills are non existent. I pride myself on customer service skills. Plus, I'm not selfish or greedy.

Arg Sorry for the rant. I just hate arrogant pompous men!


Anyhow, I came up with a cool rack design to go with the lab tubs that I have. I'll post pics when it's done. Hopefully this weekend!

[HighVoltageRoyals]

Luckliy I have many options where I live when it comes to feeders so I can afford to not do business with people that I feel are arrogant and unprofessional. It's hard sometimes to not let them know they're being complete jerks but I guess I've never had to "lay down the law" because I can avoid them like the plague and do business with others in my area.

I am planning on breeding my own stock to save a little money and to not have to deal with rat breeders/the deploarable conditions that my feeders come from. Plus, it doesn't hurt to know what's going into your feeders.

Looking forward to seeing some pics of your rack system!!

[reptilegirl07]

Yeah, where I just moved from, there were many rodent breeders and most were the nicest people I met. There was only ONE person that was similar to this guy.

Here, it's like there is only one other person who has more than 2 spare rodents per week.

I envy you! lol

The rack system I'm working on, will have a watering system in the back, so when I Push my tubs in, it will push right into the watering system. I figure, my tubs already have a grommet in them for the watering system, why not use it.

It's very similar to the Freedom Breeder system. I love their racks but the price makes me want to cry

[HighVoltageRoyals]

Agreed! Homemade racks are the way to go IMO. There's also a good article on here for making tubs into rat enclosures if you don't have the tools laying around to build a rack (my current predicament lol):

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ighlight=setup

I was trying to find the one that has the hardware cloth on the sides instead of the top (I think this is more efficient then having it on the top because of air flow and it allows you to stack the tubs) but I couldn't seem to find it. Oh well.

[tomfromtheshade]

I had a long post typed out with all kinds of useful advice in it, but I thought to myself, "Self, why would you help someone become a bigger and better rat breeder? That is what you do. You certainly don't want your trade secrets getting out."

So, then I deleted my post and typed this instead.

Here is the one bit of advice that I will give you.

If you don't want to pay for labor, handling, freight, fuel, tolls, insurance etc...pick up your own feed LOL.

Also, be nice to your competition. If you don't like them don't hang out with them. However, when you light a fire under someone's back side they may surprise you and put you out of business LOL. Let sleeping dogs lie.

[jasbus]

I agree with Tom. Don't start a pissing contest you may not win.
I'm jus the opposite myself, I love to help people get started, but I always let them know that it costs way more money to get started then you think. Just when you think you're about where you need to be, you need a couple extra grand for this or that.
Since I restarted my rodent breeding again, all three of the established breeders within 100 miles went under. Not because of me, because it costs so much to breed rOdents. And the market it always all over the place. And, in the same amOunt of time, 2 more have come and gone.
There have been months when I was so in the hole, that I thought I'd never dig out, and turn around, the next month, can't breed enough to keeP up.

[tomfromtheshade]

jasbus,

I have to agree with what you said 100%.

There are some months where I might only sell 1200 rats. Then there are months where I could sell 20,000 if I had that many. Its a crap shoot.

[bokuza]

Yeah, where I just moved from, there were many rodent breeders and most were the nicest people I met. There was only ONE person that was similar to this guy.

Here, it's like there is only one other person who has more than 2 spare rodents per week.

I envy you! lol

The rack system I'm working on, will have a watering system in the back, so when I Push my tubs in, it will push right into the watering system. I figure, my tubs already have a grommet in them for the watering system, why not use it.

It's very similar to the Freedom Breeder system. I love their racks but the price makes me want to cry

That one person wouldn't begin with a K and end in a ELLY would they?
She's been active again and is trying to steal BPs from a buddy of mine.

[wolfy-hound]

I'll agree with the couple posters.

I'll go on to say, he doesn't have any obligation to bring his "up and coming" competition food for cheap. He doesn't need to sell his overflow cheap. It sounds almost like you're upset that he's not willing to do you favors. Then you go on to brag how you're going to run him out of business?

I try to work with the people who are in similiar businesses as me. Never know when you'll need to step backwards and when you've burned a bridge behind you, you're going to end up wet.

[reptilegirl07]

Jeeze, I didn't think this thread would be dug up.

bokuza, no, not her. lol She is a very not nice person, but I'm talking about another guy.

Wolfy, I was angry at the fact that he was not willing to work with me like the distributor said he was, wasted my time calling him, waiting for a call back, etc, tells me he wants nearly 2.00/weaned rat (come on, that's insane), and then asks me to tell him where I'm getting my rodents that are almost 90% cheaper than his.

Why would I help someone out when he's not even willing to throw a couple bags of food on a trailer for me, when he's already going to be there. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. That's the way it works.

I had NO problem throwing him some money for his effort of lifting 2 bags of feed onto his trailer, but really, he would have done no extra work. Instead, he may have burned the bridge and ruined a possibly good working relationship due to greediness.

Honestly, $240.00 per bag of rat food, yes two hundred and fifty dollars! I don't think that is fair at all. Nor do I think it's fair when a distributor asks him to do me a favor and he tells him sure, when really he had no intention of doing so (why bother wasting everyone's time?)

On top of it, I don't think he handled himself in a professional manor.

My post was a rant, just that. I haven't heard from this guy in months and I have found a lot better price for food that I can get myself.

=)