Tarantula Pricing

[hairmetalspider]

This continues to massively throw me off.

Why are tarantula prices so drastically different from breeder to breeder?

For example: In my quest to find a GBB, I found one breeder who had a 1 1/2" GBB for $15.00. Not 5 minutes later, I found another breeder with the SAME SIZE GBB for $215.00.

What gives? Is this neccessarily important? Do the cheaper prices mean something wary or do some people just offer way lower prices?

 

[stonemantis]

This continues to massively throw me off.

Why are tarantula prices so drastically different from breeder to breeder?

For example: In my quest to find a GBB, I found one breeder who had a 1 1/2" GBB for $15.00. Not 5 minutes later, I found another breeder with the SAME SIZE GBB for $215.00.

What gives? Is this neccessarily important? Do the cheaper prices mean something wary or do some people just offer way lower prices?

Most of the "Price Wars" per se are because people who visit the pricelist are looking for the "best" price instead of "best" quality. I personally will pay a "fair price" for "quality" and "experience".

Each individual is different in their business practices and ethics. I would personally ask all the questions I can before I buy.

 

[padkison]

If you search the classifieds section here on the boards, you will get a good idea of the price range of a given T. Factors that influence pricing of a particular species are

size - bigger = more $
sex - females are more
quantity bought - discounts for multiples purchased

in general, any dealer or individual with a good reputation (see breeder/seller ratings section) will provide you with the same quality T.

In your particular case, I have seen unsexed GBB slings from 3/4"-1.5" going for $25 - $40. Getting one for $15 is a good deal. Whoever is quoting $215 is dreaming, perhaps you misread and that is a grown female for that price (still high IMO).

 

[hairmetalspider]

Just went and rechecked...not dreaming.

It was also an unsexed GBB.

 

[Truff135]

$15 is an awesome price for a GBB of that size - unsexed or not. $215, however, is insane (to put it lightly). An adult female could go for that much but even then, that's high.
Generally for one of the size you mentioned, I normally see $35-$45.

 

[kyrga]

Perhaps $215 was a typo? You could always check with that person to verify

 

[hairmetalspider]

Perhaps, but I doubt it. Most of their semi-adult T's were beyond $150.00

I actually saw another one, that someone gave me a link to, where they were asking $245.00 for a 4" inch male GBB

 

[jeepinwu2]

You just have to shop around and check reviews to get the best deal. I have seen some crazy prices out there and just laugh when they bump it 10X. What about people who ask for 3% more if using paypal? WTF, come on if your that concerned about the 3% vs' getting your money fast add the 3% into the price yourself!

 

[hairmetalspider]

People are retarded.
I'd happily pay more VOLUNTARILY to ensure a healthy tarantula, coming from a good breeder who takes pride and compassion for raising their T's...versus someone who has the tarantula equal of a 'puppy farm'.

 

[SuperRad]

I think with the difficulty of tarantula breeding (at least from what I've read here) not many people can get themselves into a position to run 'puppy farms' with T's. It's hard to get them to produce a viable sack.

When one is produced it can be overwhelming for the unprepared and maybe they're tossing their slings off at a cheap price just to get them off their hands. Understandable.

Maybe the person selling isn't trying to support a business and is just a dude in the hobby who wound up with some slings and doesn't care about selling them at $40 bucks a pop to pay off a car or mortgage payment. Possible.

If I got into breeding I would sell my slings cheap to spread the hobby and also get people interested in some of the underrated/appreciated species. I'd totally breed E. weijenberghi and sell em at $5 a pop just so more people would have them and love em. Taking a gamble at a $50 sling you know nothing about is a bit scary compared to a sure fire G. aureostriata or something that every one knows. So maybe they're cheap so more people can enjoy them. Rad.

Either way some T's are cheaper than others for reasons you may never know. I wouldn't be quick to dis someone or question their quality for selling cheap T's without knowing their motives.

Like the old saying goes, don't look a gift T in the mouth.

 

[TTstinger]

Two Words: Reptist Exotics

 

[hairmetalspider]

I never said that. At all. I was merely implying that, as you are going to with ANY type of animal profit, you're going to get the people who are in it purely for the money. Period. I don't care if they're selling them for $1 or $100.

Some people are just worthless.

 

[fartkowski]

Prices are usually alot cheaper when the person who is selling them breeds them. If they have to import the T's, the prices tend to be a bit higher in order for them to make any kind of profit at all.

 

[matthias]

Two Words: Reptist Exotics

Just to be clear are you trying to say Brandon is a great guy and cares about his Ts? or a puppy farm. :? :? :?

I got to say I've had NOTHING but VERY POSITIVE experiences with him. I would be shocked if he did not make right, any problems that you may have had.

 

[Pink-Poodle88]

Well, it's a highly variable market that is influenced by a variety of factors when it really comes down to it. For example, back in the 1970's an adult B. smithi could be bought at almost any pet store for like $20-$30, and now they can easily go for $200 for adult females. Depends mostly on availability, as well as demand I'm guessing. For all we know, 10 years from now, G. rosea could become hard to get and/or expensive.

However, lower pricing doesn't always mean lesser quality. I should be getting a few sacks soon(hopefully) from a few species, and I plan on selling most of them since there'd no way I could keep even a fraction of all of them, though I'd keep a few. I'd sell for a lot cheaper than most of the prices I see out there, simply because I can afford to, and also because since I'm an enthusiast I understand how difficult it can be to get all the money you need for your favorite species, and so I sympathize with others. I do my utmost to keep all my pets well fed and happy, so anybody buying from me could probably be assured of "quality" tarantulas.

I'm not trying to depend on spiderlings to pay my way through life or anything, I keep them as pets and attempt breeding them because I love them. I'm sure it's the same for lots of others breeding them, but I suppose it's also wise to be wary and ask for pics, ask questions, and so on. Some people are honest, some are just trying to make money, you never know.

Personally, I hate people who keep tarantulas simply for their novelty value and/or for their potential breeding profits(though realistically, the potential for a huge profit isn't generally that great, but still) we need more people who genuinely love and care for the animals in my opinion. I find it appalling that there are many who see them merely as a collection of "odd" animals that they don't even really care about.

 

[Tescos]

Most of the "Price Wars" per se are because people who visit the pricelist are looking for the "best" price instead of "best" quality. I personally will pay a "fair price" for "quality" and "experience".

Each individual is different in their business practices and ethics. I would personally ask all the questions I can before I buy.

Hi
so out of interest if a complete "newbe" to the tarantula hobby was selling a (of the top of my head) juvenile female P.mettalica for say 40$ and a well known respected long time tarantula dealer was selling the same sized and sexed spider on a table next door to his for 300$, are you going to chose the 300$ one? and what would make this a better "quality" spider?
Cheers
Chris

 

[stonemantis]

Hi
so out of interest if a complete "newbe" to the tarantula hobby was selling a (of the top of my head) juvenile female P.mettalica for say 40$ and a well known respected long time tarantula dealer was selling the same sized and sexed spider on a table next door to his for 300$, are you going to chose the 300$ one? and what would make this a better "quality" spider?
Cheers
Chris

I would definitely look into it and ask questions. If everything works out and I trust this seller, then I would jump on it in a heartbeat. A fool would pass on such a deal.

I was talking the difference of $5-$20 not $260.00. If the price varies that much I would be tempted to take a gamble.

 

[Tescos]

Ok then lets just say for arguements sake that the dealer spider is just 20$ more expensive how now does that make the dealers spider better quality?

I am just wondering how you can tell from say two the same spiders which is the better quality. What isthis based on?

Cheers
Chris

 

[Moltar]

If i was looking through the classifieds on this board and saw that (to throw someone out there) talkenlate04 had an adult female P irminia for sale and some guy i'd never heard of had the same t for $20 less I would pay more for the first one. Not just because I know of him through the boards or because i can feel confident that the spider is healthy or because i know he knows how to pack and ship but also because i know he won't rip me off.

There are scammers out there. Some people spend a LOT of money on t's. I was reading through a thread yesterday where these guys were talking about another member who may or may not have defrauded a number of board members for thousands of dollars. Just like with any purchase, I like to know at least a little about who i'm buying from.

 

[stonemantis]

Ok then lets just say for arguements sake that the dealer spider is just 20$ more expensive how now does that make the dealers spider better quality?

I am just wondering how you can tell from say two the same spiders which is the better quality. What isthis based on?

Cheers
Chris

What I mean by "quality" is healthy looking, well fed, hydrated animals. (Not missing alot of hair, skinny, parasite infested, and etc...)

If somebody is just trying get rid of stock to turn a quick buck and the animal's health is questionable I'll pass and pay a little more for the healthy animal on the table next to the seller in question.

It's a gamble.