How can I help this customer?

[Fraido]

Hopefully you can educate this person, and they will have a lovely snake to love and call George and stuff.;P

[Velrys]

Agreed! that's why I'm trying the super soft kid gloves. I'll lead them by the noes if I have to, I just need to have some confidence that they will actually do what they need to when they get this thing home... At the rate its eating they will need to rename it to Big George.

[Fraido]

You should make the person sign an agreement to keep you updated for a few months on the snake's care and condition. Lol, maybe you'll get the reassurance you need if you do that.

[calmolly1]

I agree with h00blah...I did loads of reading and research but couldn't get anyone to answer my questions except the breeder I finally bought a snake from. They made sure I had the correct set up already waiting at the house with temps and humidity stabilized before I took my baby home. It was part of the deal...

I'd start with.."so you had a snake before, and it 'ran' away...How did that happen?" Great chance to explain required set up. Then go from there. If he comes and you don't want to sell him a snake just say "I'm sorry, when you've done more research and have your set up complete, give me a call..."


Molly & Steve
0.1 Normal BP. PRECIOUCESS
0.1 Normal Columbian BCI. LUNA

[TheSnakeEye]

many people start off this way, and eventually learn what they need to know and become the breeder's we have today and there's nothing wrong with that... Now with that being said, this particular person (I could be wrong) seems like your typical Craigslist shopper. They see the word python and boom just go off that. They don't know if they're inquiring about a ball python or a reticulated python. They just want a python. Those are the same people who later on try and rehome it as a "boa python". Don't get me wrong I use CL sometimes as well, and I get some traffic from my ads, but I hardly ever sell through there because of this specific reason.

You should definitely try and educate them, because even if you don't sell them a snake, someone else will. So might as well and try and save whatever animal they purchase.

Good luck in whatever it is you do.

[Velrys]

That is my concern as well SnakeEye, someone else said it too, its better to get info and possibly a snake from me than definitely a snake and probably not info from a chain petstore.

Exactly, and I would rather have this knee jerk reaction pointed in my direction where I can try to slow them down and get some info to them than again, a chain petstore, that will simply hand over an animal if the price is right.

I've left them voice messages now, no one answered when I called, that basically say exactly that.

"It's great you are interested in snakes but they can be a quarky animal to keep, it's cool you're excited about snakes and I would like to sell you one, but there is important information I want to make sure you have before making a final decision to own one. " basically.

Anyway I am concerned that for someone that didn't seem to be interested in doing any research this might sound too much like work... and granted setting up your first enclosure is some work but if you do it right its smooth sailing after that. Just want to get this person over that hump.

Thanks everyone for your help. I'm not going to repeatedly bug this person so if they get back to me thats great and if not it's been a weird learning experience

[andyroof1979]

Hopefully you can educate this person, and they will have a lovely snake to love and call George and stuff.;P

Lol, my lemonblas's name is George

[carbn8]

To the OP, just my thought. maybe a little white lie could help, maybe suggest that an offer was made that is hard to pass up. If the real customer seems like he is still interested and willing to match an offer. Maybe he is more open to learning than you thought.

[Velrys]

Ok, so I was waiting to see what would happen before posting so here is what happened.

I ended up having a good conversation with the guy who was looking at the snake. After I was able to convince him that snakes are not iguanas things went pretty smoothly. I explained the need for a thermostat and heating pad and digital thermometer. He seemed to understand and I had some laying around and offered them to him. He said it sounded like a plan and he would contact me over the weekend to come pick everything up.

Then of course I never heard from him again. So, he continued to be an oddly disinterested guy, he sounded excited on the phone so still seems weird.

Thanks all for your help!

[CD CONSTRICTORS]

My theory on buyers:

More than 3 questions and they are not going to buy the snake.....