about breeders that dont allow visitors?

[ADEE]

Picture this...

Stranger comes into your facility, cases the place, comes back, steals ALL THE ANIMALS.
There you go. That is why.
Trusting people is hard. Shipping is easier.

my thoughts exactly.. were not "breeders" yet and we let very few people into our home for the SAME reason, we could NEVER afford to replace the collection we have let alone those who have THOUSANDS into their animals/facilities. For many people their snakes are their livelyhood... not just furniture that can be replaced, were talking animals, living investments. We have delt with one breeder for quite sometime who considers us "friends" as we do to them... we have never once asked to go to his home or warehouse where he keeps his entire collection of animals. If we want to choose from a couple he brings a couple. We then can choose from the ones he brings to see us. Its never a wasted trip because he knows when we ask him to bring us something we taking something home. If nothing else we always get at least feeders from him. We would never ask to go where he keeps his animals either, its just courtacy(sp?) IMO. I think its very nice that some breeders do allow you to come to their shop/home/warehouse/ exc but shouldnt be expected.

[Jenn]

I feel your pain man. But on the other hand, if I were a big breeder I wouldn't let anyone in my facility for all of the above reasons either. That said, I was having a hard time scheduling a tour of a large Northeast Facility so I just got in my car and drove there.

Once the folks met me they dropped everything and gave me a private tour. I'll bet they just love it when people like me show up on their door step. I really didn't expect the red carpet treatment and I can't thank the owners enough for taking the time to show me around. It was so nice to see every snake in the place and make my choice accordingly.

[ADEE]

I met someone in a parking lot to buy some BP's once...and I couldn't help but feel like the cops were going to pull up thinking we were dealing drugs. What type of public places work best??

JonV

LOL, we always think that!!!!

We have used Publix, hardware store, billiard hall (Waiting time makes it nicer) anywhere really... if someone stops you (which has never happened) he already has his receipt book out that helps it look a bit more ligit then just a snake/money handoff. It helps im the DIL of a SGT and hes great friends with most of the Davie Cops, many of which who are his customers lol

[West Coast Jungle]

I agree with Heather on all of her points. Some breeders have well over $100,000 in snakes and you have to respect their concern. The best thing to do is get to know the local breeders you've talked about, do some research find someone you trust and build a rapport with them.

When you get a cold call most people are not going to let your in there facility but get to know someone, earn their trust, even spend a couple of dollars with them and you will be taken alot more seriously and then I am sure they would let you come and see for yourself. I know of someone local to me that had a guy come over to buy a normal, the guy shows him the snake room let him get to know the place and within days he was cleaned out.

What you are experiencing is standard procedure.
Hope this helps.

[Gloryhound]

Also we had a case in the Pittsburgh area where a house was burnt down with over 30,000 dollars in snakes. It is suspected arson by someone who knew the guy had the snakes. If that doesn't give someone pause to allowing strangers to their house to view their collection I don't know what will!

[djansen]

With theft being the biggest thing I think that some breeders dont want the whole world to know what they are doing. I mean not all breeders like to post pics of every clutch or tell everyone all their projects and so on. Alot of people cant keep their mouth shut and it really is nobodys buisness but theirs and if they dont want to share it with the world thats their choice.

[AndrewGeibel]

Well, you can do the parking lots, or even just an outdoor park or something.. Somewhere where you can sit down and discuss.

I've done... Walmart Parking lots, Furniture Store Parking Lots, Lollicup , a local park, an In-N-Out, and a couple more I'm sure I'm forgetting.

I LOVE IN-N-OUT but I never get it because i live a couple thousand miles away.

[LadyOhh]

I LOVE IN-N-OUT but I never get it because i live a couple thousand miles away.

Tell you what. If you want a snake from me, we can totally meet at one

[cassandra]

And I bring the burly guy with me too..

Pfft! They wouldn't hurt a fly...("eek! there's a bug in my shirt!")

Tell you what. If you want a snake from me, we can totally meet at one

So accommodating!

[LadyOhh]

Pfft! They wouldn't hurt a fly...("eek! there's a bug in my shirt!")

That guy is totally not burly... He's just the Rice guy... How intimidating is that???

The Burly guy is MY burly guy who wouldn't hurt a fly.

SHHHHH... You're ruining his reputation already.