Taking Deposits on animals not yet produced

[gonesnakee]

Whats everyones take on these breeders that take deposits on eggs still incubating, or worse yet take deposits on eggs they "expect to be laid". I personally won't. I don't think anyone else really should either. If you need the money that bad, sell something. Don't count your eggs before they hatch, let alone before they are even laid. What happens if all those "highend" animals don't produce viable eggs or the eggs never hatch. Do you think that those people that needed the money so bad they were taking it in advance will be able to pay back all their deposits they recv. if something goes wrong? Maybe they will, but it would probably take some time. What does everyone else think? Mark I.
P.S. I am basing my opinion on personal experience where a breeder took my $ up front & never produced & was not able to pay me back either. I had to take other highend animals in their place or I wouldn't have been paid at all. Oh & I had to wait an extra year to recv. them also. M.I. :mad:

[Tim and Julie B]

A lot of this on the forum today! If they can not provide the product right there then they should not want money down. When the rep. is born then take the deposit. just make a waiting list. Besides how can you accuratlly predict if they will lay and how many. It's the oldest saying in the book that we learn right from kindergarden. Don't count your chickens before they hatch! Well the same applies to reptiles. I guess some people just took nap time early when they should have been paying attension.

[Vanan]

Personally, I would not do that. I take deposits if someone wants me to hold something they want for a reasonable amount of time. But yea, I agree with you Mark. To much trouble if things go wrong. I'd rather give everyone an equal chance when I have stuff for sale. First come, first served.

[gonesnakee]

I like the old "$ talks & BS walks" rule. This also applies to any & all animals that are being marketed. If you do not yet have the animal in hand, don't be trying to sell it. Advertising or taking names for potential offspring is one thing, but where do some of these people get off. I was considering buying an Albino BP from someone in these forums once & found out that they had not even purchased it from the US breeder yet, but they were more than willing to take my 5G in advance. Yeah right, do I appear to be that big of a sucker that I'm going to pay someone (months in advance) in Eastern Canada to buy me a snake from California so it can be shipped to me in AB via them so they can make a middleman profit without investing a red cent of their own $. Apparently because they seemed to think I shouldn't have a problem with this when it was dicussed with them as I tried to find out info. on an animal they knew nothing about because they hadn't even seen it. Needless to say any & all dealings with them past & future were dropped like a hot potato once I found out waht they were all about. Mark I.

[Colonel SB]

It would depend on who it was and for what , say if it was Bob Clark and I was putting a deposit on eggs already laid I'd sleep easy but some one I didn't know or a backyard breed deffinatly not. But then thats just my 2 cents.

[mykee]

I'd have to wholeheartedly agree with the Colonel on this one. The big breeders all take deposits on animals, which shows them that they have serious buyers. I have made deposits on animals that were not yet layed, let alone hatched. Mind you, again, a big breeder whom I have the utmost trust in, both personally and professionally. There are only, say 3 BP breeders that I would have the faith in to leave a deposit with for animals yet to hatch. Remember, know who you are dealing with, and you'll have more restful nights' sleep. Caveat Emptor.

[gonesnakee]

Yes Colonel SB there are exceptions to every rule LOL. I would not hesitate in certain cases such as the example above, but as a general rule of thumb, NO WAY! Call me hypocrit! In some situations deposits are required by a seller just so they know how serious the intentions of the potential buyer is. Its also nice to have money down in those first come, first served type scenes involving rare specimens to guarantee getting one also. I was refering more to the people "that need the $", but are counting on things to "happen" to "come clean" in the end. Putting themselves & investors both in a bad spot relying on things to happen in order to make good on deals. Mark I.

[reverendsterlin]

I figure if I know them or they are well know like Clark, Zuchowski, Patterson, Sharp, Ihle and others I have no problem putting money up front on an animal that will sell out otherwise. But some small breeder with little or no reputation, no way.

[Lisa]

Deposits for animals not laid never mind hatched and may never be laid? Forget it. If they have the animal no problem I'll pay up front even.
Now a deposit on something like a cage or rack that will take a bit of time to build, that is a different story.

[Youkai]

For animals? Waiting lists. I would never except deposits for an animal that hasn't been produced - and I've been offered. I keep a waiting list on my computer and in paper form. I am honest with the list, the first people get the first animals.
But as far as I'm concerned, no animals, no money....

[sSNAKESs.com]

Im planning on hatching out some flourescent pink green tree pythons sometime in the year 3000 if anyone would like to make a deposit of 500$ please send paypals to support@ssnakess.com

[Lisa]

Originally posted by Jeff
Im planning on hatching out some flourescent pink green tree pythons sometime in the year 3000 if anyone would like to make a deposit of 500$ please send paypals to support@ssnakess.com

will they glow in the dark?

[sSNAKESs.com]

lol deposits will be 750$ for those ones! ;)

[gonesnakee]

How many are you expecting & will you take a post dated CHQ? Glad to see someone else shares the same views Jeff. Mark I.

[Corey Woods]

Every year I take deposits on eggs already in the incubator, however, I don't like taking deposits on eggs that haven't been laid yet or animals that I'm unsure on producing (for example an albino ball python male when I only have 6 eggs in the incubator from het x het breeding). I have lots of experience hatching eggs and if they are good I will hatch them. I've only had to refund 1 deposit over the years and I did produce the animal in question, however, the customer was just being difficult to deal with so it was better for my piece of mind to give him his money back and keep the animals here to sell to someone else. In the event that I do not produce the animal you want your money would be refunded in a timely manor.

Corey

[BoidKeeper]

I tried to give a deposit actually to one of Canada's best known breeders and he said it was not needed. I've also asked if I could then pay in advance for the total cost. Like Rev said it all depends on who the breeder is. I've bought from Don P. and would have no problem giving HIM a deposit. In my opinion it all depends who is asking for it. If Cory Woods wants some money down on one of his higher end animals then to make sure I don't miss out I'll give him money to or maybe pay for the whole thing up front. This hobby of ours is quickly become like ebay with all the feed back that goes around. People that burn people don't usually get too many other chances to do it twice.
My two cents,
Trevor

[gonesnakee]

THX for all the replies people glad to hear some different takes on the subject both serious & otherwise. Here's another somewhat more personal type question aimed at Corey or anyone else that is the same type situation. Lets say hypothetically (sp?) that some unforseen thing happened to wipe out your eggs. Say like fire, flood, theft, vandalism, electronic failure, whatever, lets say none hatched anyway. Are you in the position to refund any & all $ right away, like do you have it in an account or something? Do you have any type of insurance policy that would help you refund these peoples money? I know this is kind of a slim chance, but what if? Do you have any safeguards in place or is it just faith in yourself & God? I'm not trying to be rude or too personal here, but I myself am now getting more into the higher end animals & I like to stir things up & see what people have to say. I find myself learning lots on these forums & any & all input is always appreciated (well mostly anyway, lol). I myself don't/won't take deposits because I'm a "what if" type guy. Maybe all those years on the road in the oilpatch have tainted me? Anyhow lets hear some more guys/gals. THX again everyone. Mark I. :p

[gonesnakee]

Another tidbit. I too won't hesitate to pay people in advance, for animals that they have hatched already that is. Many people have on ssnakess have recv. deposits in their accounts before I have recv. my animals. I don't hesitate to do business with people I trust or have no good reason not too. I have never paid a deposit on an egg before though. Seeings how Don P.'s name keeps popping up I'll use him as an example (hope thats OK Don lol) I have paid him in advance for animals before & I currently have my name on a list with him for eggs. Once they have hatched I will gladly forward him a deposit or all the money if required. Don didn't ask for a deposit & I didn't suspect he would, but if he did I would make one. Refer back to what I've previously stated & UUUUMMMMMM DIAMONDS!!! A man's word is still good enough in certain circles & I've had great success with most people I've dealt with. It is hard to have much faith nowdays though. Mark I.

[Corey Woods]

Mark,

Unlike some people when I receive a deposit I don't spend it. I keep it in an account until the animal is paid in full, the customer receives the animal(s) and they are happy with them. Then I can turn around and spend "their" money as it has now become "my" money. As you can understand when you sell a lot of animals you get a lot of people that state "they cheques in the mail" and you never see that money. Usually I'm pretty good at telling the "good" from the "bad" however just last fall I had a guy hold me up for 6 weeks on 3 animals that were valued at $6500 CDN. After getting a little pissed at the situation I finally sold his animals to someone else (and about 1 week later he called me up and wanted to buy them again.....and was a little dissappointed that I sold them to someone else......but you snooze you lose). I also had this same situation happen after that but I only gave the guy 2 weeks of "the cheque is in the mail" before I sold it to someone else who fully paid for it by bank transfer the next day. Anyways, what I'm trying to get out is that most people are great and are true to their word.......but it is the other minority of the population that isn't true to their word that really get to you!

Also, with animals that are in short supply it is benifitial as a customer to put a deposit down on the animal(s) to make sure you get what you want. How many people have called up a breeder or dealer that said "I'll have lots....just call me back in a month or so and I'll be happy to send you one" only to find out in a month they are sold out or are all reserved up with peoples deposits.

Once you get to know people after they have purchased from you a couple times you can take their word on animals they want and then us don't have to accept a deposit on animals they are interested in.

Corey

[gonesnakee]

Good to hear you do like I thought Corey, just in case the unthinkable happens. CYA brother! Mark I.