Bad Buyer?

**Minkness** · 09-09-16, 09:11 AM

We all know that some breeders and sellers have bad reps. But I wonder about bad buyers.

I recently was trying to sell/trade a female lesser BP. I only deal locally and don't have a FB (I really need to fix that....). Well, I got some interest, but nothing that made me want to part with the snake I had.

Then this guy comes along and really lowballs me. I politely decline and restate her price. Even if she was over priced, what he offered was just...rude....

I even explain that I am in no rush and more than happy to wait for someone to either pay what I'm asking, or offer a trade I can't refuse.

Well, he gets more and more rude, and emails me 1-2 times every week asking if I still have her. I say yes and explain that I am NOT going to lower her price. I even suggest he talk to Bob Clark since he has a pair for sale for 'about' what Im asking (of course this would me the giy would need to also pay shipping) and to talk to him for a better deal.

Oh man, this guy comes back about how I just utterly insulted him!

At this point I told him (politely) not to email me further for this or any future snakes I may have available.

So...to those out there who sell and trade their animals. Specifically breeders (since that is my future plan). Have you ever run into a buyer like this? How did you handle it? What was the over all outcome?

Honestly, he could have offered me tripple my asking price and I wouldn't have sold him the snake.

As it is, there is an expected trade later today. I'll make another post about that after it happens though.

riddick07 · 09-09-16, 10:24 AM

I had my young male bearded dragon for sale locally. I actually got an email if I understood the value of the animal it was priced so low. I priced him to go fast and looking for a pet situation which I told her and I mentioned if I wanted money I have snakes worth triple what she thought the beardie was worth lol. I had another guy offended it was taking a little while to arrange a meet up because I wouldn't go by myself to meet up and had to arrange it so I had someone with me. He said just have the other person meet up with him then...yeah I'm not sending a friend by their self anymore than I'm going by myself to meet up with some random craigslist person...

I got a lot of people locally that didn't show up to the meeting point which was the police station.

SnoopySnake · 09-09-16, 11:17 AM

When I was trying to sell my boas, this one girl had me hold one for a week. Maintained contact that whole time and everything was good, then come time for her to pick it up, I hadn't heard from her that day at all. So I go to message her and she'd just blocked me. If she didn't want the snake, whatever ya know, that's fine lol. But to just block me and not even say anything just shows some other level of immaturity and completely unprofessional.

There was another guy who was going to buy my 125 gal tank off of me for $75 but didn't come because he couldn't wait an hour. I was home alone with my son and didn't want some random guy coming over, but for some reason he couldn't understand that and just got angry. A couple months later he asked if I still have it, I do, but that's not someone I want to deal with.

**Andy_G** · 09-09-16, 03:16 PM

Yes. I'd refuse the sale and/or block them. You have that right as a breeder/seller/supplier, just as someone buyer can go somewhere else. They can be as offended as they want to be about it but the bottom line is this: if you as a seller are being fair and reasonable and they're already being unreasonable before any actual transaction happens, they will be a headache thereafter and it really puts their competence, credibility and mental state in question, so that's a problem for both myself as well as what I am selling.

In regards to holding something; Want something held? I wouldn't usually do that either...first come, first paid, first served. IF holding something...they'd send me a non-refundable deposit after amicably establishing a date that the remaining balance is due. If they aren't paid up by that date the deposit is null and void and the animal is back up for sale.

So many tire kickers, picture collectors and screwballs around. Keep it simple and even if you don't have a "business", conduct things as if you do or you'll be doing yourself a disservice.

**Minkness** · 09-09-16, 04:05 PM

Thanks for all that Andy. Nakes me feel a bit better. I don't want to be one of those people and while I thrive off of payment plans myself, I do my best to be reasonable for both myself and the seller.

Like my 'surprise' snakes coming soon. When I found them, I was pretty flat broke. The seller agreed to payment plans and gabe me 60 days to pay them off but was asking for a certain amount down to hold them and start the payments. But I couldn't afford it. I asked for something in the middle and he accepted. If he hadn't, I would have had to just move in. He was professional as a breeder and seller, and I try to be the same as a buyer. So when I had a buyer come at me like that giy, it was very off outting and pretty surprising for me!

How often would you say it happens that the buyer is 'no good'?

**Andy_G** · 09-09-16, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

Thanks for all that Andy. Nakes me feel a bit better. I don't want to be one of those people and while I thrive off of payment plans myself, I do my best to be reasonable for both myself and the seller.

Like my 'surprise' snakes coming soon. When I found them, I was pretty flat broke. The seller agreed to payment plans and gabe me 60 days to pay them off but was asking for a certain amount down to hold them and start the payments. But I couldn't afford it. I asked for something in the middle and he accepted. If he hadn't, I would have had to just move in. He was professional as a breeder and seller, and I try to be the same as a buyer. So when I had a buyer come at me like that giy, it was very off outting and pretty surprising for me!

How often would you say it happens that the buyer is 'no good'?

Depends on whether it's a full moon or not haha! Seriously though it's pretty random.

Payment plans are fine but sometimes they can get a bit dicey...as long as things are amicable and a timeline as well as terms are established it's usually pretty safe and works out well. Also, circumstance depending...because stuff happens...if the payment plan needs to be extended it's possible. Case by case basis though. The decision to accept a payment plan would also have to do with the cost of the animal. For me...if someone needs a payment plan on a snake that costs $200 and they're a working adult but they need months and months and months to pay it off, I would be very cautious in selling to them...what if the snake needed a vet because of something stupid they did, where would that money come from? Would the baby I am selling get the medical attention that it deserved? Food? Housing? Electricity bill? If said payment plan falls through then I am out time and money for feeding and keeping something that could've been sold already. You wouldn't believe how ridiculous people can be with money and their priorities. I actually recently saw a post on FB asking that if someone had purchased a snake but couldn't afford it,is it appropriate for the breeder take it back...yikes.

**Minkness** · 09-09-16, 04:45 PM

Haha, fair enough. I keep in contact while doing payments. Like, I send the money, then text the breeder to make SURE they got it and how much is left, ect. I'm a firm beliver in communication.

pet_snake_78 · 09-09-16, 08:13 PM

If someone is rude or flakey, I won't deal with them. It's just not worth the headache and as others said, it won't end with the sale of the animal. They will continue to be a pain for as long as you tolerate them. I won't even consider doing a payment plan... One person or the other could end up very angry, just always seemed like a bad idea to me.

daisymaisy · 09-15-16, 10:18 PM

Minkness, some people are just obnoxious! Sounds like you handled it well. I think all sellers have dealt with buyers who are entitled and think they're shopping at walmart or somewhere, not buying from another regular person. Or they want a deal and want to bully you into it. Just be polite but firm and move on.

I hope you get a good trade or deal that you're looking for and meet a nice snake person you can network with later.

**Minkness** · 09-15-16, 10:27 PM

Thanks Daisy! I ended up taking her to my favorite local reptile store and they took her as a trade for a male moon stone cornsnake. =)

bigsnakegirl785 · 09-16-16, 01:15 AM

I've had payment plans on quite a few of my animals, something small like $400 or under I can generally pay in one go, but multiple snakes or more expensive ones and I generally need a payment plan. I really try not to engage in a payment plan if it would take me longer than the breeder is comfortable with (generally 30-60 days), and I make sure to let them know when I am sending a payment. I also try not to get into a payment plan if I know that there will be a time I might have to ask for an extension. This has only happened once, and I paid the last two payments at once to make up for it.

The whole selling deal is probably what I'm least looking forward to when I begin breeding, as I have heard of some real characters in the business. I feel sticking to your guns and not giving someone more than a reasonable accommodation is probably the quickest way to keep the headaches away. You should be able to turn away any potential buyer that puts up red flags. Keep records of communication, especially with those kinds of people, because people will try to throw you under the bus without providing any proof....