Price difference in morphs at shows vs. online breeder purchase?

[Holbeird]

Personally when it comes to shows I go there both days and if there's something I just have to have in my collection I get it on the first day (although I do wait until I've made a complete loop around the place so I can see what everyone has and I just go back to the table for my must haves. I also keep in mind animals I'd like to have in my collection but I'd like a bit better price and you just have to decide what is more important, waiting to get a better price, or having that animal in your collection. There are some I choose having the animal and I pay what they're asking, then there are others that I'd like but I decide to wait till the end of the show. Sometimes they're gone, sometimes they're not. It's a risk you take but it can be well worth it, I've gotten great deals on snakes before that I didn't think I'd be able to get because they were out of my price range but in that last hour of the show it's dropped into my price range.

[NextWorldExotics]

Hey T,
Make sure you stop by and say hi! We may do some shark fishing or go for Redfish on thurs night if you want to come, give me a ring on thurs and we can set something up.

Are you going out with Rob and Vicki on thurs or friday? If so we should be with them...

As far as buying at the show...
If its a one of a kind animal get it saturday. If you can find a bunch of them, get them sunday...

[Tosha_Mc]

I've gotten some great deals both online and at the show -- I think it's more dealer oriented than anything -- there are some people at shows that just won't deal as there are online.

That being said -- I don't really like buying from shows just because of the number of animals that snake is exposed to sitting on that table -- not to mention the amount of stress it goes through being packed up and carted down there and stored and displayed and picked up and poked and prodded before it gets home. But that's just me - I'm a little wacko

[Albey]

I've gotten some great deals both online and at the show -- I think it's more dealer oriented than anything -- there are some people at shows that just won't deal as there are online.

That being said -- I don't really like buying from shows just because of the number of animals that snake is exposed to sitting on that table -- not to mention the amount of stress it goes through being packed up and carted down there and stored and displayed and picked up and poked and prodded before it gets home. But that's just me - I'm a little wacko

I am with Tosha on this. I would much rather buy online from a quality breeder (note I said quality and not big) where the animal has only left it’s enclosure for cleaning and maintenance than one that has been carted to who knows how many shows before I purchase it. Online the longest it will take to get the animals is around 18 hours at the most. At shows the animal is sitting around for 2 or 3 days or more. During the day it is baking under hot lights to show off its color and at night the Temp. in the room goes down to about 65 degrees. Now we are talking stress. About five or six years ago when I was still doing shows besides the National Reptile Breeders Expo I did five of them from August to December. I saw the same Super Pastel (when Super Pastel’s were selling for $20,000.00 before the bubble burst) on one venders table at each of those shows. I don’t think it was any bigger in December then it was in August. I have bought at shows but I would much rather buy online.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

Honestly, I don't buy the whole "its better to buy online then it is in person at a show" thing. Is it really that you are concerned with the stress the snake goes through at the show, or is it maybe more of a shameless plug for your own online business?

There are good guys and there are bad guys. The good guys I am buying from at the show know how to take care of their snakes. They are not going to expose the snakes to 65 degree temperatures at night just because they are on the road.

Sure, the show is probably stressfull for the snake, but at least during the entire trip it is being cared for by someone who knows what they are doing. Safe to say that I trust a reputable breeder a little more then the mail man!

Now don't get me wrong, there is NOTHING wrong with buying online from a reputable breeder...

[FIREball]

Hey T,
Make sure you stop by and say hi! We may do some shark fishing or go for Redfish on thurs night if you want to come, give me a ring on thurs and we can set something up.

Are you going out with Rob and Vicki on thurs or friday? If so we should be with them...

As far as buying at the show...
If its a one of a kind animal get it saturday. If you can find a bunch of them, get them sunday...

Redfish huh? Must be coming down to my neck of the woods (Mosquito Lagoon) if your looking for good reds.

[FIREball]

They are not going to expose the snakes to 65 degree temperatures at night just because they are on the road.

Snakes stay in the expo center overnight so it can get that cold in there

[Gloryhound]

I prefer a purchase that I meet the person face to face the first time at least. Yes, I have bought from several breeders that I did not meet face to face, but I've also been burnt through some of those dealings. Their are still some breeders that I have purchased from and not had the opportunity to meet and hope to someday get the chance to meet them. Michael Cole Ball room pythons south , Josh and Jen of JNJ, and Scott at CV exotics are just a couple I would like to meet in person as I have purchased from them and found the overall transaction(s) very good. I've also bought at shows and had pleasant dealings and bad ones. The overall best I've found is arranging the purchase over the phone and finalizing the transaction at a show on a pre-arranged date. The reptile is generally not hauled all over the place and is kept behind the counter and not handled by bunches of people coming through.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

Redfish huh? Must be coming down to my neck of the woods (Mosquito Lagoon) if your looking for good reds.

I don't know... we could give you a run for your money in Jax.....

[Ladydragon]

every snake I own except for my ghost corn has been an online purchase. Research the people you want to buy from, do your homework. I am very pleased with my purchases. Would I purchase from a show, I dont know. I'd have to research the vendors before I go to be comfortable. Will I still purchase online, you bet!