The Ball Python Industry

[bearhart]

What I am "lamenting" over is the slim that does what ever it takes to make as much money as fast as they can with no long term commitment to the market in which they operate.

Example: if I have 200 pastels and everybody else is selling them for 150.00 and I just can't sell them fast enough so I sell mine for 75.00. Because my over head and capitol expenses are lower than most everyone else's my commitment to the market maintenance is lower than theirs and so I dump the market. Now to maintain sales everyone else must lower their prices in order to compete.

I think I understand you pretty well. In the pastel example you gave, I would argue that it simply demonstrates that pastels aren't really worth $150 and that a higher supply has caused a market correction.

As you mentioned, this would indeed squeeze the big guy (although dumping is traditionally the way a big guy, who can operate more cheaply, starves out the little guy). However, let's assume that some sort of closet setup can get it done more cheaply. I don't disagree that its hard luck for somebody charging more but I simply see that as simple free market operation - and totally desirable.

I do agree that there is an ethical issue here in how well the animals are treated. Also, I would think that an experienced breeder could produce superior specimens of the same type. But, if the customer is not savvy enough, or does not care, then their investment there is lost.

This reminds me of the history of the American car industry. The Japanese ravaged it for, what, two decades? Were they (American companies) victims, sure. Was it wrong? I don't think so because they were not actually giving the customer the best thing possible. They were charging a premium for inferior vehicles.

Now, to be clear, this is all kind of hypothetical based on your (Freakie_Frog's) posts. I don't have enough personal knowledge to pass judgement on the BP industry so, please nobody take offense.