Haggling prices at shows....What's your take

[mdjudson]

I'll just raise the price every couple hundred grams until they eventually seller.

It's a business decision to be negotiable on your prices. Sure the more weight they gain the more they are worth. But you also have to feed them, clean them, and heat them. That all costs money. If you can justify the extra profit by doing so then by all means go for it but I think when you actually play with the numbers sometimes you would be better off accepting an of let's say 750 on a snake you have listed for 800. Or even counter with 775. Just saying.

[spitzu]

I don't know. I guess I figure that if I lose a sell because I won't go down $50 then the snake is probably better off anyway.

[Simple Man]

I haggle prices on most things I buy. The worst you can hear is no. Most sellers appreciate it as long as you're being realistic and serious. Haggle does not mean lowball. People with disrespecting lowballs aren't haggling. They are being rude. I can see how a seller would be offended by such offers. I respect the person I'm haggling with at all times. I know what I'm willing to pay for any given item or animal and if I choose to haggle then I'm serious about buying. Sometimes I will haggle and still pay full price if the item is exactly what I want at a fair market value. I also don't like when people haggle and then tell you they will think about it. In my book, the haggling starts over when you leave the table. If you decide on a mutually agreeable term then you shake hands and proceed with business. These are all best practices I have learned over years of haggling a variety of things.

This all payed off great when I bought my first BPs. I got the breeders last pastel female for free and saved a decent chunk on my cinnamon female because I asked and added her on before the other three shipped. On the flip side, the seller did well too because he can ship all 4 animals at the same time to one location and clear space for his 2011 hatchlings. It was mutually agreeable and we both ended up happy. I'm happy with things so far so I'm already considering adding two more snakes! That is how haggling can end if you both respect the rules. Very interesting topic! Thanks for starting it up

Regards,

B

[mdjudson]

In my book, the haggling starts over when you leave the table. If you decide on a mutually agreeable term then you shake hands and proceed with business.

B

I agree with this 100%. There is nothing I hate more the getting an email with an offer then accepting and getting a response of " well I don't have the money right now". Then why'd you make an offer. Can't stand it!

[jdryden78]

I will occasionally ask if that's the best price. But only if it's something that I am on the fence about. I work in a motorcycle shop where pretty much every customer complains and tries to haggle price.....and I HATE it. If you have what I want, when I want it, I will usually pay what you are asking no questions asked. If I've only budgeted so much, I'll try to negotiate if its within reason. I don't expect someone to knock 50-100 bucks off just because I've shown interest. I've passed on some animals I would like bc I couldn't get them down to what I wanted to spend, but I've also gone back to the atm and pulled out a little extra if I knew it was worth the extra.

[Wapadi]

I have haggled on every BP I've bought!! I agree its part of the fun of the shows....I also try to go to the shows on the last day to see whats left and to get a better deal. Its all in good fun and normally I buy 3-4 at a time so I know there is really some wiggle room...

[jsmorphs2]

Rule of thumb I never make an offer on an animal I'm not willing to pay full price for..

Agreed .

[BPelizabeth]

I agree with Mike....its negotiating. Just don't be insulting!!

I also agree with Freaky....

Rule of thumb I never make an offer on an animal I'm not willing to pay full price for..

Only for me....I never negotiate on an animal that I dont fully intend to buy...even if the price stays the same. (ohhhhhhhhhhh did I just give myself away...lol)

[Miko]

Once I went to a reptile show not looking to buy another ball python, I asked some questions about one of the pastels someone was selling. The guy lowered the price REALLY low for me, I felt embarrassed because I wasn't interested in buying, I just wanted to look. I made it clear I didn't have the supplies necessary but kept saying she was very pretty. I didn't have the space, the money, etc. So, I didn't take it but it's kind of funny how when you act like you don't want something, people will give it to you.

The guy who sold me my pastel lesser had an attitude to him like, "I'll just keep her if I don't sell her". So, I didn't haggle the price, but I realized he was actually very surprised I was buying the snake. I'm not sure if he did it on purpose or if he was serious, but it worked! Plus, she was average price anyway and gorgeous.

[mainbutter]

Sure the more weight they gain the more they are worth. But you also have to feed them, clean them, and heat them. That all costs money.

I've done some calculations based on classified prices going back some years. In 2008, it was financially beneficial to hold on to pastel females and sell them at 750-1500 grams after factoring in feeding and heating costs. Right now you'd probably break even. Spider and pinstripe females might still bring in profit by raising them up for a year or a bit more. $500-$3000 female morphs should gain the most value %-wise based on hatchling price. Above the 3 grand mark for hatchling prices, I can't find data on the market price for the same animal a year or two later.

The one cost I did not factor in is TIME, because for my calculations, I don't care, this is a hobby and I don't need to be paid to play with my snakes.