Need Advice for buying BP

[machonachos]

First and foremost I'm brand new on here and not quite sure if I'm in the right forum, if there's somewhere a little more specific that I could post this please let me know.

I recently visited a specialty pet store specifically for the sales of reptiles and fish. It's not some petsmart knock off, they know their business. That being said, they're selling a Lemon Blast that I absolutely fell in love with. I've never owned a ball python, just a corn snake when I was young, but I'd love to bring her home.

From what I can gather from the shop employees she's about 3 years old. She was born without one of her eyes (one employee said it was genetic and one said it was from incubation). They told me they've had her since November, and that many potential buyers are uninterested because of her eye. I have no interest in breeding her, just giving her a good home.

She's priced at $300, which one friend (who is familiar with bp buying/selling/breeding/care) said is very steep. If that's true then I'd really like some info on how to haggle with this shop owner. I'm not looking for the best deal, just looking for a fair one. Below are a couple pictures of her for reference, ignore my friend's weird face.

[distaff]

Not sure about the current prices on Lemon Blast, but it shouldn't be too hard to look up from other breeder sites. My understanding is that older snakes at or close to breeding weight should go for more, but then again, that eye should be a big discount. $300 could be high or about right - depending. I don't know.

If you decide you are unwilling/reluctant to pay the asking price, approach the issue as a conversation, not as haggling. You also need to determine, at some point in the conversation, if you are talking to the person who can make the decision to discount. This is a topic you just work into the conversation - not upfront and center, at least not right away.

So, go into the store knowing the range of actual market prices, and mention this pricing to the sales person while you are also talking about how much you like this animal (and what a good home you could provide).

If they don't *bite*, then YOU make an offer, and YOU close the sale.

That easy.
Good luck.

[machonachos]

Thanks! Do you have any specific/reliable/popular breeding sites or breeders you would recommend looking through/contacting?

[MalachiJ]

There's a male baby available from my breeder for 150. Usually adults are more expensive, but that seems steep especially because of the eye. He/she is obviously having problems selling it because of the eye they even told you that. I would just ask if it's a firm price or negotiable. You could also ask if you could just get a discount on the enclosure and accessories if you have to pay full price for the snake.

[distaff]

BHB has a Lemon Blast female currently listed (IIRC, $225). apparently, a baby.

[distaff]

VPI did not list a Lemon Blast on their price list.
Bob Clark lists a Lemon Blast male hatched 2014 for $150.

I'd say you some room to negotiate. If it were me, I would print out the Lemon Blast listing for (at least) both BHB and Bob Clark and have those in hand when you go to the store.

[Reinz]

Pet shops buy from breeders, thus they are the middleman. Expect prices to be higher. They are in business to make money.

Thay bank on customer's to get emotional about the animals and buy them. However, they have a defective product here. They are prepared for a discount in this case.

Since they play on emotions, they aren't used to an informed consumer, market wise. I agree with Distaff, print out your info and go in armed.

[JoshSloane]

As mentioned previously, any pet store is going to have higher prices to incorporate their margins, and make a profit. I think for a perfectly healthy, guaranteed female of breeding weight and age 300$ might be verging just on the edge of too high. The eye deformity should absolutely drive that price down significantly.

I would offer 200$ and not go much higher than 225$. Bring cash and have it ready. I have found that people generally have a hard time walking away from a stack of $20s ready to go

[Aercadia]

Not sure about your pet store, but a couple of the reptile stores in my neck of the woods will take animals from local breeders and sell them in their shop, for a cut of the price - usually the breeder sets a price, and the shop adds their fee on top, and that's the sticker price. In those cases, they may not be able to bend the price, at least not without speaking to the breeder first. Find out if the store bred the snake, or whether they're selling it on behalf someone - that will give you an idea about the wiggle room on the sticker price. :)

[JoshSloane]

Consignment is common for sure at pet stores. They still need to come back to earth regarding the permanent physical deformity.