New members/sellers talking cheap

[Blue Apple Herps]

Everyone else though, is going to get met with a very skeptical eye, just because there's a reason their snakes are less expensive than a breeders counter-part.

I agree to a point. Keep in mind that your average hobbyist can't fetch the prices that one of the "big guys" can. I couldn't sell a snake for $500 if someone like BHB was also selling an identical snake for $500. So I might sell it for $450 or something. Now I do agree that if someone is selling that same $500 snake for $200, then that would raise a red flag.

[Adam_Wysocki]

Keep in mind that your average hobbyist can't fetch the prices that one of the "big guys" can. I couldn't sell a snake for $500 if someone like BHB was also selling an identical snake for $500.

I understand why you might feel that way, but I respectfully have to disagree.

When I started out years ago, at first, I thought the same way ... then, after talking to small breeders and big breeders that had been in the business for a while, I realized that if someone with 20 years of experience in the biz values an animal at $500, there's no reason why I should value an animal that I produce any less. From that point on, I priced my animals at the same prices as and sometimes even higher than the "big guys". I've had great success over the years and have never regretted it.

Now of course, if you're in a position where you "have to" sell an animal because you "need" the money, that's a totally different story and I understand. I'm also not trying to tell anyone what they should value your animals at ... I believe that people should be able to set whatever price that they want without being judged by others ... after all, they're YOUR animals. My only point with this post is to let people know that if they're thinking that they won't be able to make a sale advertising their animals at the same prices as the "big boys", from experience, I can tell you that that is totally not the case and if you value your animals at the same price the big breeders are charging (or even more) ... sell them for that price ... they are worth it.

I hope that someone finds this helpful and I sincerely hope that I haven't upset or offended anyone ... that wasn't my intention.

-adam

[Muze]

I understand why you might feel that way, but I respectfully have to disagree.

When I started out years ago, at first, I thought the same way ... then, after talking to small breeders and big breeders that had been in the business for a while, I realized that if someone with 20 years of experience in the biz values an animal at $500, there's no reason why I should value an animal that I produce any less. From that point on, I priced my animals at the same prices as and sometimes even higher than the "big guys". I've had great success over the years and have never regretted it.

Now of course, if you're in a position where you "have to" sell an animal because you "need" the money, that's a totally different story and I understand. I'm also not trying to tell anyone what they should value your animals at ... I believe that people should be able to set whatever price that they want without being judged by others ... after all, they're YOUR animals. My only point with this post is to let people know that if they're thinking that they won't be able to make a sale advertising their animals at the same prices as the "big boys", from experience, I can tell you that that is totally not the case and if you value your animals at the same price the big breeders are charging (or even more) ... sell them for that price ... they are worth it.

I hope that someone finds this helpful and I sincerely hope that I haven't upset or offended anyone ... that wasn't my intention.

-adam

Well said! The problem is that a lot of peope are out there breeding BPs who don't understand that they might have to house, feed, & clean those babies for a while before they finally sell. Unfortunately, these people do not have the financial resources, or available time to make this commitment, so they have to sell fast & cheap. These may be healthy animals, etc. I'm not saying they aren't, but this I think is one of the major reasons for the 'price-slashing'. IMHO, if you can't commit 100%, then do not breed.
That being said, there are sellers out there who have just come across hard times and need to sell their collections. I purchased two beautiful BPs (a breedable female Spider & a male Pin) from a hobby breeder that had just lost his job. He took excellent care of his animals, but needed cash immediately. This is completely different, though. But he did not advertise the BPs as 'cheap', etc.

[Gooseman]

I think it comes down to individuals wanting.. say, a bumblebee for example. But cannot afford one. So they buy a spider and pastel to produce their own. Problem is, they get more than just the one snake they really want, and need to get rid of the rest. Maybe even the original pair, because they got what they really wanted, the one bumblebee. So... what are they going to do? They are going to dump everything they have at a much lower cost in hopes of recouping their initial investment, and little more. While I understand this train of thought, I find it a bit irresponsible because it is so widespread and is having such dramatic consequences for the ball market as a whole. As all these 1 or 2 time breeders are flooding the market with bargain basement prices and less than 100% healthy snakes. (why pay to feed them all, if your ultra-low prices are going to move them? Easy way to save a buck right?) But this also leaves many people vulnerable to being scammed, as with so many new breeders popping up every year it's hard to know who's genuine and who's not. Not to mention, how many of these people actually know how to properly sex a snake? I just choose to stay out of the world of "unknowns" and do research, research, research on a breeder. It's for my, and my collections own protection.

[Adam_Wysocki]

I'll tell you what, I'd much rather have people sell animals that they don't want at low prices to get rid of them and maybe find those animals a good home than have those people put the animals in the freezer because they just don't want to deal with taking care of them.

It happens all the time in this business ... I used to have a chip on my shoulder over people that I felt were "market crashers" for pricing animals too low ... I'm over it ... people should price thier animals for what they feel they are worth to them and get them into the hands of people that will give them a good home in my opinion ... If you put "market politics" aside and dig into some of what really goes on in this business you'll learn that there are way worse things going on out there than animals being sold at "low prices". That's the real tragedy in this business.

Just some food for thought.

-adam

[Freakie_frog]

I'll tell you what, I'd much rather have people sell animals that they don't want at low prices to get rid of them and maybe find those animals a good home than have those people put the animals in the freezer because they just don't want to deal with taking care of them.

It happens all the time in this business ... I used to have a chip on my shoulder over people that I felt were "market crashers" for pricing animals too low ... I'm over it ... people should price thier animals for what they feel they are worth to them and get them into the hands of people that will give them a good home in my opinion ... If you put "market politics" aside and dig into some of what really goes on in this business you'll learn that there are way worse things going on out there than animals being sold at "low prices". That's the real tragedy in this business.

Just some food for thought.

-adam

[Muze]

I'll tell you what, I'd much rather have people sell animals that they don't want at low prices to get rid of them and maybe find those animals a good home than have those people put the animals in the freezer because they just don't want to deal with taking care of them.

It happens all the time in this business ... I used to have a chip on my shoulder over people that I felt were "market crashers" for pricing animals too low ... I'm over it ... people should price thier animals for what they feel they are worth to them and get them into the hands of people that will give them a good home in my opinion ... If you put "market politics" aside and dig into some of what really goes on in this business you'll learn that there are way worse things going on out there than animals being sold at "low prices". That's the real tragedy in this business.

Just some food for thought.

-adam

This is very true. After all, the priority should be each and every animal's welfare.

[Blue Apple Herps]

I understand why you might feel that way, but I respectfully have to disagree.

When I started out years ago, at first, I thought the same way ... then, after talking to small breeders and big breeders that had been in the business for a while, I realized that if someone with 20 years of experience in the biz values an animal at $500, there's no reason why I should value an animal that I produce any less. From that point on, I priced my animals at the same prices as and sometimes even higher than the "big guys". I've had great success over the years and have never regretted it.

Now of course, if you're in a position where you "have to" sell an animal because you "need" the money, that's a totally different story and I understand. I'm also not trying to tell anyone what they should value your animals at ... I believe that people should be able to set whatever price that they want without being judged by others ... after all, they're YOUR animals. My only point with this post is to let people know that if they're thinking that they won't be able to make a sale advertising their animals at the same prices as the "big boys", from experience, I can tell you that that is totally not the case and if you value your animals at the same price the big breeders are charging (or even more) ... sell them for that price ... they are worth it.

I hope that someone finds this helpful and I sincerely hope that I haven't upset or offended anyone ... that wasn't my intention.

-adam

I'm not upset, but I will disagree. As a buyer if I can buy a snake from one of the "big guys" who has a solid reputation and you know exactly what you're getting for a given price, I'm probably not going to buy a snake for that price from the "little guy". I'd rather with my money somewhere that's a surefire bet.

I honestly just don't think that us little guys can price our animals the same as the bigger guys and expect to sell them.

[Nate]

I honestly just don't think that us little guys can price our animals the same as the bigger guys and expect to sell them.

Have you tried?

[Adam_Wysocki]

I'm not upset, but I will disagree. As a buyer if I can buy a snake from one of the "big guys" who has a solid reputation and you know exactly what you're getting for a given price, I'm probably not going to buy a snake for that price from the "little guy". I'd rather with my money somewhere that's a surefire bet.

I honestly just don't think that us little guys can price our animals the same as the bigger guys and expect to sell them.

There are a lot of different buyers out there and they all have different buying habits ... just because it's not what you would do, don't limit your market ... it's a horrible business decision as any business class or text will tell you ... My busines plan has proven that a little guy can go head to head with the big names and be successful and I'm very proud of that ... maybe I had to work a little harder or wait a little longer to make a sale than the "big guy" but I've sold every animal that I've ever attempted to sell for exactly what I felt they were worth.

I wish you the best of luck with your business and hope that you don't compromise the value of the animals just because you're not a "big name" ... your animals are worth every penny of what you believe they are.

-adam