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How do you buy your Balls?

D

David Reid

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I just got to thinking, and was wondering how people buy Ball Pythons? I guess there are several ways:

1-Buy from Kingsnake classifieds

2-Buy from Fauna classifieds

3-Buy from another site's classifieds

4-Buy from a show

5-Buy from a local breeder

5-Buy from a local store

6-Buy from a Breeder you know online

7-Buy from a breeder you do not know, from online

8-Buy from a breeder's website

9-Buy from someone you were recommended by a friend

10-Buy from Craigslist

11-Buy from a local ad/newspaper

12-Buy from someone you bought from before

13-other

Dave
 
I like buying locally so I get to see and hold the snake before I make the purchase. Not to mention the money I save on shipping costs and get cash discounts.
But I love buying online. 70% of my snakes were purchased online. I usually window shop for a few weeks until I find the best snake that fits my needs (and pocket), which involves the morph and quality I want.
I go to KS, check out the breeder, then run his/her name through the BOI, if everything looks good I ask for pics, price shipped and payment method.
 
I almost always buy online, but that's mainly because there are literally little to no decent shops around here, otherwise I'd be more apt to support local stores...sometimes. Usually, the deals are just better online, plus I have met several top quality dealers online that I always go back to.
 
MagickalMorphs said:
1, 2, 5, and 6 mainly.
Click to expand...

Same here with a little bit of 4 thrown in..... :D

I don't usually buy things because they have a good price, or because I don't have one yet. I usually look to see what I want to add to my collection that will enhance my breeding projects. Once I decide on a species or a morph of a species I go looking for the best specimen or specimens of that species or morph I can find. Sometimes I can get them local, but usually I need to go online.

I buy from whoever has what I want.....almost. Of course I check the BOI and ask questions, get more pics, etc. If I feel good with the purchase I just go for it. And if I get scammed..... well it's always nice to know that Visa is on my side if need be..... :thumbsup:

Luckily I have never had to go that route and hope I never have too.
 
I do a litle bit of everything as well. For me, it's more about the specific morph I'm after, and who has the one that I'm looking for, be it local or across the country. I don't care to pay extra for shipping if I'm getting an exceptional example of the morph I want. For instance, I bought a spider here locally (spiders have the wobble thing, so that's one I wanted to hold and look over first before purchasing), but the hunt for a nice pastel will most likely wind up coming from somewhere else, as my area seems more concerned with "cheap pastels" than quality pastels. I want a nice, bright, clean pastel rather than a dirty, browned out one, sand I know I won't have much luck at finding what I want locally.

But I do my research before I buy from anyone online, since I can't see the animal firsthand. I have used Fauna here for that, as well as just asking around to others in the business. I always ask for more pics and current weight of any animal I'm interested in buying. Someone who's into snakes should be able to provide that without much issue. If everything goes well, then I go ahead any buy.
 
David Reid said:
I just got to thinking, and was wondering how people buy Ball Pythons? I guess there are several ways:

1-Buy from Kingsnake classifieds
2-Buy from Fauna classifieds
3-Buy from another site's classifieds
4-Buy from a show
5-Buy from a local breeder
5-Buy from a local store
6-Buy from a Breeder you know online
7-Buy from a breeder you do not know, from online
8-Buy from a breeder's website
9-Buy from someone you were recommended by a friend
10-Buy from Craigslist
11-Buy from a local ad/newspaper
12-Buy from someone you bought from before
13-other
Click to expand...

I've done 1, 2, 4, 5 (the first one), 6, 7, 12. (Maybe 8, but I'm not sure exactly what you mean.)

I don't prefer one over the other. I like buying at shows so I can see the snakes, but unless ya have a huge show nearby, it's difficult to find a variety of morphs and qualities to make it worthwhile. I have a pile of morphs on my "to buy" list, and I'm always on the lookout for The Perfect One. If I find The Perfect One, the price isn't exorbitant, and the breeder doesn't seem shady, then I usually buy it. It's not a great method for my budget, as I've bought morphs suddenly and spontaneously because I found The Perfect One earlier than I thought I would, but I don't mind because I end up getting snakes I love.
 
Luckily I live in an area that has some quality breeders and good reptile shows. But the bottom line is there are always things you may not be able to find local or you can get a better deal online. It's easier to list the ones I have not tried so i'll do that , 8 and 11. If there is something I really want I will get it by whatever means I need to. :p
 
David Reid said:
2-Buy from Fauna classifieds

4-Buy from a show

5-Buy from a local breeder

6-Buy from a Breeder you know online
Click to expand...

This list has really shortened the last year or so. I've been primarily buying at shows as of late, but don't hesitate to to purchase online in select places.
 
1-Buy from Kingsnake classifieds

2-Buy from Fauna classifieds

4-Buy from a show

5-Buy from a local breeder

6-Buy from a Breeder you know online

7-Buy from a breeder you do not know, from online

8-Buy from a breeder's website

Have done all of these =]
 
david, is there a reason you are bringing up a 2 year old thread and whats behind your question? just asking man.dont take it wrong
 
Really do not want to get a website, because if you do not update it, it makes you look lame. I am thinking since this was first posted, that FaceBook might get some mention.

Dave
 
The ones that have actual success with Facebook are ones who a) have thousands of Fans and post several times a day or b) pay Facebook to promote their posts. Facebook has changed the algorithms of what's displayed on a user's Home feed in a way that Facebook decides what they think the user should see rather then seeing every single post they should see based on their subscriptions. For those who don't pay to promote their posts, you have to rely on your visitor physically going to your fan page to stay up to date on what's on your timeline as only an average of 20% of your fans will actually see what you're posting in the Home feed.

If you find it unlikely that you'll be able to maintain a website for internet marketing which only requires an update once or twice a month, I do not think you would succeed with Facebook marketing which requires you to post one or twice a day minimum for any margin of success.
 
TripleMoonsExotic said:
The ones that have actual success with Facebook are ones who a) have thousands of Fans and post several times a day or b) pay Facebook to promote their posts. Facebook has changed the algorithms of what's displayed on a user's Home feed in a way that Facebook decides what they think the user should see rather then seeing every single post they should see based on their subscriptions. For those who don't pay to promote their posts, you have to rely on your visitor physically going to your fan page to stay up to date on what's on your timeline as only an average of 20% of your fans will actually see what you're posting in the Home feed.

If you find it unlikely that you'll be able to maintain a website for internet marketing which only requires an update once or twice a month, I do not think you would succeed with Facebook marketing which requires you to post one or twice a day minimum for any margin of success.
Click to expand...

Thats a really good point, I don't really use Facebook that much. So I can't see myself posting 2 or 3 times daily just to make sure everyone saw my postings. When I buy, I usually go to the classifieds, either on here or KS. I have also bought from CL, and I think once from a show. I very rarely ever buy from the same person twice, mainly because I want the snake to look a certain way before I agree to buy, so the chances that the same person has 2 of the snakes I want are slim.
I use CL to sell my normals and sometimes morphs, and this site for everything else :D:thumbsup:
 
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