Quote Originally Posted by kitedemon View Post
I think there is a time and place for exchange of information. I believe forums like this are the place to ask the questions like those whom are contacting you. your choice if you want to respond or not. It seems to be assumptions that just because you are a breeder with good standing you should answer everybody's questions. personally i would just redirect questions from not clients to an open forum and allow the forum to sort it out. the controversial stuff well will spark a debate and clearly offer that there is no clear answer the clearly incorrect stuff will be quickly corrected and everyone will say the same (remember the post about feeding royals crickets?)

If you choose to share your knowledge on a forum great if not some one else will.

the real killer is do people whom have asked questions before a sale about a snake from where ever come back later and buy from you? Will by passing the 'buck' actually be passing the 'buck' potential future client to someone else.

i don't have an answer but personally with the sale of any commitment on my part (animals or big ticket items) I often pick a few places (or clerks) ask lots of questions and partially decide whom was forth coming with fair good opinions (not blind questions but ones I have a good idea of what is correct and what is not) If I can trust a store or clerk with a good truthful opinion I can trust them with my cash and my business current and future. honest fair and standing behind products (any product) is worth extra cash. They only way i know of really finding that is per sale support. I can't say everybody (anybody) does this and I don't know how to separate the are you someone good to deal with questions from the I am gonna email this guy he seems to know what he is doing ones.

as a consumer and business person myself I don't have a good answer or even if it makes a difference. Turning people away unanswered or suggesting they go to person they bought the snake might result in "he never answers emails! Told me to ask someone else!" there is a chance it could backfire upon your reputation. Just something to think about. It looks like a rock and a hard place problem from where I sit.

That's really what it is, a rock and a hard place. I don't breed yet, so I can't add anything to that.. But i know this feeling. Whenever I get asked about husbandry I answer to the best of my knowldge but I never lie. When it comes back to "this guy told me this" I don't really know how to go from there... If the person buys from a bad shop, and gets there advice there as well, it's going to be most likely bad advice.. The best we can do is educate people without bashing another "seller/breeder" but in doing so we also open a door to be ridiculed because we gave advice to someone who didn't buy from "us"

Sorry, not proclaiming myself a breeder, I used "us" as a simple term for people who do breed.

And to you Tim. Very nice post. And I will say I will buy from you in confidence, wether your price be 10% or even 15% higher. You have nothing but good reviews and care for your animals, to add to it you always answer any question. I will be proud to call one of my babies and "Bailey Baby" as I said before. I just don't know when yet..lol. I keep getting tapped by little thing.

Again, very good post.