First I always find the snake I want to buy. I don't price shop snakes. I snake shop and then worry about the price.

I always offer a realistic low market price on a snake. You will piss off a seller if you send a ridiculous lowball. I only offer on a snake I am serious about purchasing with cash in hand. Sellers are much more prone to accept an offer when they know that they will be paid immediately upon agreement.

Multiple animal transactions increases the amount of discount that I aim for. This is easier for the seller to ship one box and get rid of multiple mouths to feed. Multiple animals discounts are the EASIEST discount to negotiate.

Do not be afraid to at least ask! If you aren't good at negotiating then say... "What is the lowest price you will accept on this animal?" or "What type of discount can you offer if I buy the animal right now?". The worst someone can say is no or nothing. Not everyone is a master negotiator. This simple question doesn't take any sort of skill or negotiating tactics to propose. You might save yourself some money.

Sellers usually like to hear that I post pictures and unboxing videos with credit to the seller at the end of the video. This is a little bit of free advertising for them and provides a valid reference for future potential customers. As a snake breeder and business owner I LOVE getting photos/threads/comments posted about the transaction. It is worth some discount to the right seller/buyer.

I have never paid asking price on any snake in my collection. In fact I've typically paid under market price for top shelf quality animals. As a buyer and seller I expect haggling. It is something I enjoy and use daily in my life. As a Western culture in the land o' plenty we have lost this art. In the rest of the world haggling is a daily occurrence.

Regards,

B