Tire Kickers + Why I haven't talked about "Big Breeders" (Yet)

[MAballs]

[Ax01]

haha nice rant.


i agree about the tire kickers from a breeder perspective. (i'm not a breeder but get the point and how that can be annoying.) there was a thread on here recently about the 20 questions (or something like that) you should ask before buying a BP/snake.


i'm getting a few more BP's but i've pretty much got them all from only 2 breeders. to me, reputation and customer service is just as important as the animal. i'll just ask a few questions and mainly the breeder volunteers the rest of the info. quality, rep and trust in the community carries you a long way.

[MidSouthMorphs]

haha nice rant.


i agree about the tire kickers from a breeder perspective. (i'm not a breeder but get the point and how that can be annoying.) there was a thread on here recently about the 20 questions (or something like that) you should ask before buying a BP/snake.


i'm getting a few more BP's but i've pretty much got them all from only 2 breeders. to me, reputation and customer service is just as important as the animal. i'll just ask a few questions and mainly the breeder volunteers the rest of the info. quality, rep and trust in the community carries you a long way.

I agree, a beautiful well cared for animal and outstanding customer service goes a long ways.

[ALBINO IGUANA]

"Tire Kickers" are just part of the business. It will never change. You will always get the people that want close up pics of all our feet, close up of nails, undersides of scales, posed on one foot next to the album Van Halen II, you get the idea. It is one of those inconveniences of being in business. Just like the video says, "you never know which will actually but and which will not". It is a good practice to always be polite and provide the requested additional information (within reason). Sometimes you will be surprised which people end up being super customers.

[guanagator]

Like your videos and like usual I agree with most of your points, especially about one man's "tire kicker" being the next one's customer. I admit to sending more than a few request for additional pics and weights, especially with adds for animals that are being reposted for months without updates. If I am looking at making a pick up then I want picture of that exact animal and at least a ballpark on the current weight and feeding schedule, not spending hundreds of dollars based on an old shot of a clutchmate. With most of mine I considered various breeders and therefore went back and forth with a few who I did not end up purchasing from, both bc of bad service or in a few cases just because one snake was much more appealing than the other despite the breeder not being as responsive. Like others said above, a good clear pic and current info on the add should keep the "tire kickers" to a minimum.

[SmoothScales]

I admit to sending more than a few request for additional pics and weights, especially with adds for animals that are being reposted for months without updates. If I am looking at making a pick up then I want picture of that exact animal and at least a ballpark on the current weight and feeding schedule, not spending hundreds of dollars based on an old shot of a clutchmate.

I completely agree with this. If I'm taking the time to ask you questions, it's because I'm interested in the snake. The more complete the information on the advertisement, the fewer questions I need answered. If you can't, or won't, answer the questions then I'll be taking my business elsewhere.

[treaux]

Customer service is really everything if you are any kind of business, large or small. My first BP purchase was mail order from a "big breeder" and it went fine, though I didn't like not getting to see the exact snake I got before purchase (though it turned out to be just fine and beautiful).

My second BP I purchased from a small breeder just recently (as it was a much more expensive BP than my first). I had found two breeders that had snakes I like (both from online classifieds). I had two specific snakes I was looking for at the time: Kingspin or Coral Glow. The first breeder had listed a Kingspin and I sent him a text message as it was getting a bit late in the evening. That night, he pulled his ad for the Kingspin, so I figured it had sold. A few hours later, he sent me a text listing two others he had that were not what I asked for and their prices, which were higher than the Kingspin I had been looking at. Still assuming the one I wanted had sold, I told him they were out of my price range and thanked him and never heard from him again. Overall the communication was terse and he didn't seem interested in talking to me or getting to know what I was looking for. Perhaps he was just bad with text messages, but at this point it was after 10pm and I didn't want to call or bug him anymore. Funny thing is, the next day I see his classified ad for the Kingspin re-listed (though at that point I had already contacted the other breeder and made a deal).

Lesson learned, I called and left a message for the second breeder and he called me back within an hour. We talked a bit and he was happy to discuss the lineage and temperament of the snake I was looking at (a Coral Glow female). He also went out of his way to meet up with me and deliver the snake the next day. Overall, it was an excellent experience and I had no issues giving him the money (he also discounted his listed price as it had included shipping -- something he didn't have to do as I was thinking shipping was extra). Number two was a great breeder and now I'm happy to recommend him to anyone looking for a BP. Number one I don't really have much to say about as he didn't seem very interested in selling me a snake (which is odd as I made it very clear I had cash and was looking to buy).

Perhaps had I called the first breeder from the start, communication would have been better and I could have just asked if he had the Kingspin available. That's my lesson learned. Either way, I was very happy the other one I contacted and got one of the two snakes on my wishlist (still want a Kingspin, though planning to wait a while).

[OhhWatALoser]

Tire kickers might just be that, but someone might be asking 4 different breeders about 4 different animals and decided on one they like best. This even happens when you vend at shows. Then life happens sometimes and they might of had something happening between asking questions and you answering them. It does suck using up time for pretty much nothing, but just figure that time is carried over to the person who actually buys something.

As for the 50k snake dropping to 5k, it is the (imo) stupid game this hobby plays of advertise price vs selling price.

[PitOnTheProwl]

I don't have problems answering questions but people need to remember its not all about them either.
I have had people text me asking for something like photos or current weight, neither of these can be done while I'm at work so I respond letting them know I will send information as soon as I get home. Get home, take photo, weight or whatever and then never get a response.
Those are the ones that are just plain rude and really get under my skin.
I also save a lot of my communications so I know who I have dealt with before.
If you were a problem child before (I had one person that left me no call no show twice on agreed meeting) you price will probably be higher than listed.
If I have had good deal with you prior, guess what? You will probably get a good discount but because they are my animals and I can do that.