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Driving The Cost Of Animals Down!!!

M

milehighexotics

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I just saw something that REALLY upsets me. Wondering if I'm the only one that thinks like this? Selling large #'s of higher end animals for VERY CHEAP. (ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER) Anyway, there where close to 30 snakes and 4 of them where worth the asking price. Anyone would JUMP on it. Right? I think thats part of the problem. Because now, usually the person that gets the Slayin Deal is willing to let those animals go for alot cheaper than they are worth also. Thus, Driving Down The Market!!! I Hate That!! Especially when I am selling the things that are being drivin down. (Just 2 examples in other markets) From the age of about 20 to 23 I used to make Killer money aerating lawns in Colorado in the sping from about march to may. (Me, My Brothers and alot of our freinds all did it.) We used to make at the least $350-$500 a day each for 2 months straight. 2 guys 20-30 lawns 2 machines. $30-$50 average suburban lawn. (Pretty Small Yard) About 15 minutes work for 1 guy!! Then someone one year had the BRIGHT IDEA to put signs up all over town that said $20 AERATE ANY LAWN!! There Went The Market!! Now there are people aerating half acre lots that take 2 hours for $20. I used to get at the Very least $100 for one that size. You can still make some money doing it but not great money!! (Example 2) The guy next door to me Sold his house for $200,000 when it was appraised at over $250,000. Because of what he did every house in the area lost value. (Including Mine) Almost $10,000 depreciation Instantly. Now because my new neighbor got such a great deal he can sell it for still less than the market value and make money thus driving the market down Further!! My previous Neighbor just wanted to get rid of it quick. He didn't need to, he just did. Thanks Alot Mr. Rogers!! Won't you be my neighbor. My a**. Thanks for nothing Mr. Rogers!! So I guess what I'm trying to say is, think about evaryone involved when you are making decisions that effect everyone. I think alot of peoples Boids depreciated today. You may not see it now, but it did. And Now every time it happens the person doing it is Driving Down The Market just a little bit more!! I think if a person has a family emergency and you need money now! Don't Hesitate!!! But just to purchase one other animal. Come On!! I could just go on and on!! Anyone else have an opinion on this?? I need to stop typing because I'm only getting myself more angry!! Robert Templeman, Owner Mile High Exotics.
 
I hope this post has nothing to do with the low priced het pied I have listed.
She is a very frustrating animal and I want to move her. Thus the low price.

A lot of people have been selling animals below the so called "market" price. Look at some of the mojave ads or what happened to the centralians. But on the other hand, the prices have gotten out of control. $30 to 50K for a mojave. Come on, that's just crazy. The prices doubled in a matter of weeks. This isn't hurting the people who have them and got them for $15K. This is hurting the people who are now trying to enter the market.
 
Steve,
For some reason I can't edit original thread. Maybe it's set up that way on the BOE. Anyway, close to 30 snakes in one deal!! Not 30 different deals. Maybe there was a misinterpretation. Rob
 
I've been in a couple of industries where cottage companies (small businesses run out of their house) have driven the pricing to the point that it was pointless to compete. The overhead of running a business other than just a one man show was too much. I think the secret is to package your services/products in such a manner that pricing is not the only criteria used to decide if your the one who gets the sale.

Here are some ways to do this:

1. Find your customers where no one else is looking for customers. If your sitting in a booth at a show with 20 other vendors selling the same item, all people need to do is go from booth to booth and price shop. Get into shows that are not over-populated with your type of animal. This is an example and can apply to many situations online and off.

2. Value. An example is the cost of a sickly snake/lizard is sometimes 3 times the cost of a healthy one when you factor in vet bills, risk of investment, etc. Everyone knows this but I rarely hear a vendor tell the customer, they usually just complain about how so-and-so down the row is "ruining the market". The customer doesn't care about the market, they want to know why they should spend $100 more for your snake than the guy down the row. Tell them.

Also you need to be wary of business investments that are based on pricing only (little to no perceived value). Using your lawn example, if the other guy is able to do the job for $20 and provide the quality that is necessary and cover costs then he'll stay in business. If he cannot cover costs or the quality dips too low then he'll be out of business. I know of many companies that were kicked out of situations similiar to this (losing jobs to low ballers) who were then brought back at an even higher rate due to quality issues and/or the low ballers are out of business. This is the nature of competition and what is needed if you are the higher priced company is the salesmanship to explain why your higher prices are deserved.... or you need to learn how to lower your costs to hit the target selling price.
 
Ahh. I thought you were refferring to 30 ads. Not one ad with 30 animals. Should have read more carefully.
 
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