Is there a price list out there for ball pythons that correct?

[WingedWolfPsion]

I do want to say some things I haven't really seen mentioned before:

1) Buyers need to be more flexible. Just because SnakeMan-A is selling a morph for $X, doesn't mean SnakeMan-B will match his price for you, and you shouldn't expect him to. People try to wheel and deal on snakes like they are used cars, and it gets ridiculous sometimes. The lowest price you see out there is not the price you should expect to pay.

2) Sellers need to get over their phobia of raising prices. Sometimes, a morph will become more popular than expected, or less will be produced than anticipated, and it will sell out--you won't be able to find them on the market commonly. When that happens, the price SHOULD go up, because demand is high enough to support a higher price tag. You can see this at work in the incredible divide between male prices and female prices. Honestly, female yellowbellies are TERRIFICALLY undervalued on the market. You can rarely find them, but when you do, they're priced at a mere 200 or 300. Everyone wants them, so why are they so low? It's not as though people won't pay more for them--they certainly would. With everyone pricing them low, their expectations are set by seeing 'what's most common'. If breeders priced them according to demand and supply, buyers would adjust their expectations, and the price would go up.

[FINGAZZ]

I do want to say some things I haven't really seen mentioned before:

1) Buyers need to be more flexible. Just because SnakeMan-A is selling a morph for $X, doesn't mean SnakeMan-B will match his price for you, and you shouldn't expect him to. People try to wheel and deal on snakes like they are used cars, and it gets ridiculous sometimes. The lowest price you see out there is not the price you should expect to pay.

2) Sellers need to get over their phobia of raising prices. Sometimes, a morph will become more popular than expected, or less will be produced than anticipated, and it will sell out--you won't be able to find them on the market commonly. When that happens, the price SHOULD go up, because demand is high enough to support a higher price tag. You can see this at work in the incredible divide between male prices and female prices. Honestly, female yellowbellies are TERRIFICALLY undervalued on the market. You can rarely find them, but when you do, they're priced at a mere 200 or 300. Everyone wants them, so why are they so low? It's not as though people won't pay more for them--they certainly would. With everyone pricing them low, their expectations are set by seeing 'what's most common'. If breeders priced them according to demand and supply, buyers would adjust their expectations, and the price would go up.

that is true.but you also have to flow with the economy too.anyway it goes you have to save save save or wait for the better deal .but i agree with what your saying just have to hold out from selling gold at the pawn shop price unless you have to eat.its hit or miss.

[Jessica Loesch]

I'm sorry but if you need to sell snakes to put food on the table you are probably in the wrong business. I'm not trying to be mean, I'm just saying that this hobby can be expensive is all. If you want to make money off of it, you probably will, but why not sell closer to market price and get a little extra to put back into the snakes too?

Taking your example, if you have a lovely pied snake and market price is for example $1000. If you sell that snake for $900, you will sell it fast and make a little more than if you would sell it for $600. Why not make the extra money? I guarantee you will make more and get a better reputation this way and have more future sales. Why? Because you are not devaluing your snakes, or trying to sell them off to just make money.

[Adam Chandler]

i still dont get it.lol.call me stupid but lets say i can produce visual pieds and have a clutch of 6-8 hatch all pieds now they are priced from 900-1500 depending on how much white.now if thats all im producing 200+ every yr of that one morph why couldnt me or anyone else sell them for lets say 600-1200 ill still make money plus i have a bunch of other morphs laying eggs. if your making them then your a wholeseller so why mark it up as if your a retailer.the way i see it if i sold a snake for cheap i made money and i left room for the next person to make money to so there for im giving jobs instead of taking away.

If you want to sell a visual Piebald for $600 privately go for it. But if you post it for sale on Kingsnake or another major BP classified for $600 you are not going to have many other breeders as friends, because you are hurting them. And in this industry networking and having friends definitely helps.

[FINGAZZ]

I'm sorry but if you need to sell snakes to put food on the table you are probably in the wrong business. I'm not trying to be mean, I'm just saying that this hobby can be expensive is all. If you want to make money off of it, you probably will, but why not sell closer to market price and get a little extra to put back into the snakes too?

lol let me make this clear im not talking about me im talking in general.trust me ill price them at what i see them price i have snakes,kids,and disney world too go too,lol im just saying why not and if those were the isue for others out there.i think thi if i sold a snake for half of its worth and sold many vs selling at market price and sold less i would make more ,sell faster at low price vs high price. but im a expencive guy with expencive taste so market price is where im at.just figured i clear it up.my snakes live and eat better then my kids.so my wife says sometimes.lol

[Jessica Loesch]

Unfortunately you will not make more money selling at lower prices. This is because you will easily sell many just slightly below market price and you will get a bad rep selling at extreme low prices.

If you do low low prices privately, you will have a small market.

You need demand to make money. In that kind of situation you will have a surplus, even though your prices will be lower.

[Adam Chandler]

Situations where I can see it being acceptable to sell BP morph under market value:

1. Private sale between you and a friend, family member or preferred customer.
2. You need quick cash due to a family / financial emergency and you are selling off your BP stock and getting out of the business.
3. You want to sell your entire season's worth of hatchlings in a complete group at a wholesale price.

Situations where I see it being UN-acceptable to sell BP morph under market value:
1. A public listing on Kingsnake or another major BP classified.
2. To make some quick cash while having no intention of getting out of the business (unless it's a private/unlisted sale.)

[PitOnTheProwl]

Plus when you finally get to the point of needing to "TRADE" with some of the big boys, they will not be there to help or back you

[mechnut450]

I can see both sides of the point here. I know it took me 2-3 summers to save up to get my het pieds ( 4 or so years ago) and now I can buythe visible pied for what I paid for the snakes and have money left over. I al almso one that has to support his love and hobby with doing odd jobs when I am able.

It taken me the last 4 years or so to acquire other base morphs due to this mainly trading a visible ( pied) to get the others cause not been able to afford to buy snakes( or trade snakes I gotten via craigslist then return them to a healthier state than I got them ( most the time they in my care for 2 years.) My snakes make out better than me most the time. I never try to low ball snakes will see if i can work someone down a little.

I am lucky to get to a snake show once a year, and then I got maybe like 700 bucks ( that counting the tolls,fuel and everythign so I never got much dang it lol) Sadly it looking like this year will be a no go for going ,and I will end up sitting on my 1st 100% het clutch (left overs as the visible morphs went to the girlfriend )