Frustrated

[Hayden]

Hey all, just wanted to vent.
So, I breed Tokays. Not large scale, but I have a few, I know what they're worth. I walked into a store today and saw a huge healthy pair that I wanted so badly, but the shop own wanted $90 for a pair of WC Tokays. I have never paid more than $10 for a single Tokay in my life, and even accounting for the retail mark up, we're talking a 450% increase in price. I tried to talk to the store owner and I offered him $50 for the pair, which is still insanely generous, and he wouldn't budge, claiming that Tokays usually go for much more than that. If Tokays went for more than $45 a piece, I would own a yacht. I'm just so frustrated that he would try to take advantage of me when I clearly knew what I was talking about.

On the bright side, I did end up getting a pair of 55 gallon tanks, a leopard gecko, an African Fat Tail, bedding, hides, water dishes, heat lamps, heat pads and lids for $60 off craigslist. Not a bad day.

 

[The Snark]

Here in Thailand I have heard a number of rumors of ridiculous prices being paid for tokays, ostensibly for some medical purpose. While there may be no truth in this, it makes me wonder if it may be related to the price your store wants to charge. If you obtain further information about this I would greatly appreciate you positing it.

 

[voldemort]

Here in Thailand I have heard a number of rumors of ridiculous prices being paid for tokays, ostensibly for some medical purpose. While there may be no truth in this, it makes me wonder if it may be related to the price your store wants to charge. If you obtain further information about this I would greatly appreciate you positing it.

same thing here in the Philippines, jobless individuals flock the forest in search of tokays w/c according to some internet sites can be sold in a bizarrely sum of money. if this indiscriminate and mindless stunt continues there is definitely a large dent in tokay keeping.

 

[Hayden]

I have never seen a Tokay go for that much. They simply DON'T cost that much. I have no idea where this blowing up in price is coming from, but it was unique to that store.

 

[pitbulllady]

Tokays at reptile shows around here usually go for less than ten dollars each, and that's for the really nice-colored ones. I've actually seen dealers give them away just to get rid of them. Pet shops have insane ideas of how much their animals are worth, seriously. I've recently seen ordinary baby Colombian Boas in a pet shop for $300.00 each, which is what I'd expect to pay for a pretty decent visual Jungle Boa from a breeder. Ordinary Colombian babies usually go for around 40.00 each at shows, and these are nice, fat babies with good coloration for Colombians.

pitbulllady

 

[Hayden]

I know I have a waitlist for babies, and mine are usually free to people I like, just because they aren't worth anything. I'm going to a show next weekend, hoping to get some for dirt cheap. I just got two new 55 gallons that need some tokays!

 

[Thistles]

Speaking from the pet store side of things, most of our customers are relative newbies and have no clue about how much the animals are worth. We routinely sell normal captive hatched (not bred) ball pythons for $80. We sell normal cornsnake hatchlings for $50. People pay it! The store I work at allows me no leeway with regard to price, but why should they? If people will pay it, it behooves the store to sell it for the high prices.

That said, I would expect a small "Mom and Pop" store to work with a customer who offered a reasonable alternative price.

 

[Hayden]

I understand that part, but it was kind of rude that he wouldn't budge at all, especially when I have been a loyal customer. And let's be real, what newbie is going to buy a Tokay after they see how mean it is.

 

[Thistles]

The same newbies who buy Macklott's pythons But yeah, the private pet store I worked at would definitely have worked with any educated customer, especially one we knew. Maybe he got overcharged by his supplier? The store I work at now is one of the big corporate ones, and there is no flexibility.

 

[Hayden]

Maybe, but he said the thing's been running loose in the store and he just caught it. Haha, they have a Macklott's too.

 

[Entomancer]

Speaking from the pet store side of things, most of our customers are relative newbies and have no clue about how much the animals are worth. We routinely sell normal captive hatched (not bred) ball pythons for $80. We sell normal cornsnake hatchlings for $50. People pay it! The store I work at allows me no leeway with regard to price, but why should they? If people will pay it, it behooves the store to sell it for the high prices.

That said, I would expect a small "Mom and Pop" store to work with a customer who offered a reasonable alternative price.

I smell PetSmart.

I used to work for them, and some of the prices on reptiles were ridiculous, while others were kind of cheap.

 

[Hayden]

Whatever. Going to buy in bulk tomorrow for $6 a piece. I can't believe how expensive pet stores think some animals are.

 

[Thistles]

I smell PetSmart.

I used to work for them, and some of the prices on reptiles were ridiculous, while others were kind of cheap.

You got it! I work for PetSmart currently, and I have also worked for Petco and a privately owned pet store. The little store was my first job, and it went out of business when both Petco and PetSmart built in the same town. I worked at Petco after that, and I absolutely couldn't stand that company. I frequently went home in tears. I was so frustrated by not only the general apathy, but by the harmful policies which I felt actively hindered me from caring for the animals. They are slowly going under, and in my opinion that can't happen too soon. I've been with PetSmart for the last 4 years and I like it so much better than Petco. All of the PetSmart locations I have worked at have been leagues above any Petco store. They certainly aren't perfect, but I think the store culture does actually care about the animals.

One of the main reasons that PetSmart charges a lot (more than Petco) for their reptiles is because of the suppliers we use. The importer/breeder that supplies Petco also supplies PetSmart's supplier here on the west coast (the suppliers change regionally). That means PetSmart pays for another step in the supply chain while Petco gets it closer to the source. The reason we do that is because the smaller supplier gives a health guarantee that the importer doesn't give. I like that PetSmart is willing to pay more to obtain healthier animals.

I could also be fired for telling y'all any of this. So I'm gonna stop here.