Everyone is so FIRM!!

[Mike41793]

Also when you suggest other people to buy from the same breeder you buy from and you write them good BOI threads then youre getting them more business so theyll usually hook you up. Make sure other people mention your name if you sugges them to a seller.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Did you negotiate the best reasonable offer? I usually find what the average market price is for a certain morph and have them match it and even ask for additional 15% off

So Joe Schmoe produces an animal and sells it for $300 less than everyone else and all of the sudden everyone has to match HIS price? Nice way to start a negotiation

How about buying Joe Schmoe’s animal instead since the price is better?

If I see an animal I truly want, I will by it period even if someone else has the same mutation cheaper, it’s not about the deal, it’s about the snake something I can be proud to add to my collection.

[domenge]

If you're constantly seeking "the deal", my opinion is that you're not really looking for the best animals available, which will only lead to you producing even less quality animals down the road, contributing further to the watering down of quality ball pythons.

That being said, try buying from a reputable breeder that produces animals to your liking. Chances are, as a repeat customer, you may get a sweeter deal than your first purchase with that person. Not all work this way, but many do.

I'm not constantly lookin for a deal when it comes to snakes. In the past month I've spent $1950 on 2 snakes that I have killer plans with and I have no problem with that. I've just always loved wheeling and dealing (I work in sales so its second nature) and your point is 100% valid. What I'm talking about more is all the ads I see that say FIRM or statements like "dont offer me any less" just things like that which steer me away from that breeder.

[Anatopism]

To me it just depends on the situation.

See, these guys who post a lot on Kingsnake and such get a lot of really low-ball offers and offers from people who have no intention of actually buying the animal. After a while it gets old, and thus the refusal to make a deal.

I have found if you are sincere about a particular animal and start a conversation with the seller, sometimes you can negotiate a deal. But if you start out by asking for a lower price, you'll usually get ignored.

For example you find a really nice let's say Firefly female. The seller is asking an average market price for her and says his price is firm. You contact the seller and ask the intelligent questions. What does she eat ? When do you feed ? When did she hatch ? What is your shipping policy ? What forms of payment do you accept ? Tell the seller why you are interested in his animal instead of a different seller's animal, be honest.

Once you get a good conversation going, ask what the price with shipping was again. Sometimes the seller may quote you the advertised price, and offer a shipping discount. Sometimes the seller may agree to come down a smidgen on the price if they feel you are serious. Sometimes they won't.

But ask yourself this, if you posted one of your own snakes, for what you knew was a very reasonable price, and all you got were 25 emails a day offering you less than 1/4th of the snakes value, how likely would you be to want to discount right off the bat ?

Gale

x2

Specifically this response in relation to the OP's issue. The issue isn't face-to-face negotiations, it's adverts on classifieds like Kingsnake that are firm and refuse to budge. With the amount of crap emails people get daily on their adverts, it comes as no surprise to me that somebody would put FIRM on their price. It immediately deters a large percentage of the idiots -- Heck! It deters lots of serious buyers too. We negotiate our animals all the time.. but we've also had a couple of face-to-face or phone negotiations that fall through because people just aren't serious about the purchase to begin with. I imagine this number is vastly larger on an anonymous reply to an ad on Kingsnake.

Build a relationship with the seller, show them you're serious (only if you are), and if the situation allows, there may be an option to negotiate. There might not be either, but if you aren't willing or able to pay the full price, don't go into the transaction with the assumption that you will get the animal for any less than the asking price.

[Jabberwocky Dragons]

I'm not constantly lookin for a deal when it comes to snakes. In the past month I've spent $1950 on 2 snakes that I have killer plans with and I have no problem with that. I've just always loved wheeling and dealing (I work in sales so its second nature) and your point is 100% valid. What I'm talking about more is all the ads I see that say FIRM or statements like "dont offer me any less" just things like that which steer me away from that breeder.

Would you rather these sellers inflate their prices by 10-15% and then discount by that much when asked? Some sellers build a 10% margin into their prices and expect to discount that off. Others would rather just give the lowest price they will accept from the very beginning.

[domenge]

Would you rather these sellers inflate their prices by 10-15% and then discount by that much when asked? Some sellers build a 10% margin into their prices and expect to discount that off. Others would rather just give the lowest price they will accept from the very beginning.

I wouldn't "rather" anything.. Just started a thread/ discussion...

[Royal Hijinx]

I agree that it depends on the animal and the dealer. I pay face price on some of the animals because I know:

It is a hot morph
It is very high quality

I have been offered great deals without asking, because dealers know I am a serious buyer. Also, building a history with a breeder always helps. Over the course of the conversation e discuss the plans I have for the animals, I will send pics of my set-up, and other things that show I am a serious buyer and collector. Also, over time, you gain your own reputation, and that can help or hurt.

FIRM can be a matter of patience as well. The price may not be so firm if they have been advertising it for a month above current market.

But the buyer needs to be well read as well and know what current market is. If the morph is rare enough that you cannot establish an average price, then that explains the higher price.

Finally, as stated, a lot is in HOW you approach someone. There is ZERO reason to give Joe Schmo off the street a good deal. You need to present yourself in such a manner that it is a good deal for BOTH of you.

[JohnNJ]

No one should be INSULTED by any offer, even a low ball offer. Just say no thanks.

If someone says they wouldn't give you two cents for your snake, THEN you should be insulted.

As they say in the old neighborhood, it's not personal; it's just business.

[HerpIsAhobby]

When I add an animal to my collection I look for quality first and foremost. The whole "FIRM" thing tends to fly out the window when you have cash on hand and your serious. That is put there to get rid of the low ballers. If you have sold anything before in a classified situation you will understand that it gets very frustrating when you get 10 emails with people all who want what your selling but for 50% off the asking price. In business a deal either comes together or falls apart and to me its always worth a shot. I've had breeders shoot down offers I've made that were 5% off asking or they refused to cover shipping if I paid full price. Then the ball was back in my court to see if the deal was worth giving up on for 50-100 dollars. Don't let it turn you off from emailing them just don't make a ridiculous offer because that would most likely not even get a response.

[domenge]

When I add an animal to my collection I look for quality first and foremost. The whole "FIRM" thing tends to fly out the window when you have cash on hand and your serious.

This is very true! Just seems like there are a lot of how do I say this politely... Jerks out there who don't want to talk if you if you mention $100 cheaper or something real small. But I do agree with the quality over quantity! I've been looking for specific morphs and hets and boy they're not cheap! So I've been saving and looking for someone decent to deal with. Can't hate me for it, but some do!