scrappynsuzie Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 today I had two enquiries for puppies, (Of which I don't have any, not planning another litter until this time next year). the long and short of the both conversations, both sounded like great puppy home prospects. Then it came to the question of how much i sell puppies for ,or the going rate for them. When I said what it was both ladies were shocked, thought they would be able to get a puppy for about 1/2 asking price. Both said :"but I only want a pet one, not a show one". I tried to explain that it doesn't matter whether they are buying a show or pet puppy, it still costs the same amount to raise them. (and as we all know, we really don't recoup our money) How do other breeders react when asked this question. Should I be trying to justify the price or not, thanks scrappynsuzie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridie Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 today I had two enquiries for puppies, (Of which I don't have any, not planning another litter until this time next year).the long and short of the both conversations, both sounded like great puppy home prospects. Then it came to the question of how much i sell puppies for ,or the going rate for them. When I said what it was both ladies were shocked, thought they would be able to get a puppy for about 1/2 asking price. Both said :"but I only want a pet one, not a show one". I tried to explain that it doesn't matter whether they are buying a show or pet puppy, it still costs the same amount to raise them. (and as we all know, we really don't recoup our money) How do other breeders react when asked this question. Should I be trying to justify the price or not, thanks scrappynsuzie IMHO I don't think you need to,they are not remotely interested in how much it has cost you, only of how much (less they can get you down)it will cost them.....gees if they only knew how much out of pocket we are.Most would think ....just let them mate and we are making a fortune. You would be on the phone for hours justifying the costs.Don't fret we all get these calls,then along comes the buyers that do appreciate costings & really want one and pay what you are asking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozwildflower Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 I agree with bridie, no need to justify, it's just very hard not to. I have said, before now, you would pay nearly as much in a pet shop for an pup with no papers, no history, no known health tests on parents and no back-up after their 3 day 'cooling off' period. I have also had people who think it is okay to barter for a pup. People like this are not the sort of people any of us would want to sell I pup to, IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t-time Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 I always let enquirers know the expected approximate price of a puppy so they are not too shocked. I let them know this is the average price for pup between "X & X" and they can call most breeders and find similar prices. I tell them to be wary of prices which are much lower as these breeders *could* be dodgy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAG Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 Yes I am sure we have all had "those" calls One time I had had enough and felt like being a bit smart... So I asked the enquirer how much they paid for their 1st house? Oh 5 thousand dollars. Really? How much did you pay for your first car? $1,500. Really? Ok so how much would you buy a house for now? Oh well over $400,000. and a new car? About $20,000 uh huh says me. And your first poodle cost you around $400.00? Yes that sounds right. So if everything else in your life has increased why the hell are the price of dogs not allowed to increase?? Oh I just thought they would be the about the same price as I paid for my first one. Yeah right, and I am a charity. It actually gets them thinking.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 today I had two enquiries for puppies, (Of which I don't have any, not planning another litter until this time next year).the long and short of the both conversations, both sounded like great puppy home prospects. Then it came to the question of how much i sell puppies for ,or the going rate for them. When I said what it was both ladies were shocked, thought they would be able to get a puppy for about 1/2 asking price. Both said :"but I only want a pet one, not a show one". I tried to explain that it doesn't matter whether they are buying a show or pet puppy, it still costs the same amount to raise them. (and as we all know, we really don't recoup our money) How do other breeders react when asked this question. Should I be trying to justify the price or not, thanks scrappynsuzie Nobody should ever have to justify what they charge for their puppies. A person is either willing to pay the price asked, or they will go elsewhere, nobody is twisting their arm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mystiqview Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 One recent enquiry: Im really really interested in getting a female black and white Border Collie and as i can see u have puppies due soon... Just wondering how much one will cost?.. It doesn't have to be show quality as i will only want it for a companion dog! I tell people the price of my puppies and what they get (ped papers, worm, vacc, mico chip, puppy pack etc) I do not charge more for colour or male or female. Where some in my breed do. It is often you see black/white $900, red/white or other colours $1000+, just because they are coloured. I remember one add there were also different prices for males/females and colours, including a difference between a blue merle male to a blue merle female. (All pet/limit price). I don't justify my price so much as put it in a way "This is what you get for that price" in the form of health testing, back up reassurance, etc I have found many pet buyers do not know the difference between main/limit register or show/pet. I give 99% of my enquiries the same time. (Apart from the obvious scam ones or asia ones). You do not know how much research they have done - You could be the first breeder they have chosen to contact and do not know our world. You don't want to put them off and send them to a BYB. So I give the first email the benefit of the doubt. I have saved in a text document a structured response that has the essential information about what I do, and what you get by getting a pup from me, health test results etc. Saves me retyping the same information over and over again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridie Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 today I had two enquiries for puppies, (Of which I don't have any, not planning another litter until this time next year).the long and short of the both conversations, both sounded like great puppy home prospects. Then it came to the question of how much i sell puppies for ,or the going rate for them. When I said what it was both ladies were shocked, thought they would be able to get a puppy for about 1/2 asking price. Both said :"but I only want a pet one, not a show one". I tried to explain that it doesn't matter whether they are buying a show or pet puppy, it still costs the same amount to raise them. (and as we all know, we really don't recoup our money) How do other breeders react when asked this question. Should I be trying to justify the price or not, thanks scrappynsuzie Nobody should ever have to justify what they charge for their puppies. A person is either willing to pay the price asked, or they will go elsewhere, nobody is twisting their arm. Yeah get sick of talking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridie Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 One recent enquiry:Im really really interested in getting a female black and white Border Collie and as i can see u have puppies due soon... Just wondering how much one will cost?.. It doesn't have to be show quality as i will only want it for a companion dog! I tell people the price of my puppies and what they get (ped papers, worm, vacc, mico chip, puppy pack etc) I do not charge more for colour or male or female. Where some in my breed do. It is often you see black/white $900, red/white or other colours $1000+, just because they are coloured. I remember one add there were also different prices for males/females and colours, including a difference between a blue merle male to a blue merle female. (All pet/limit price). I don't justify my price so much as put it in a way "This is what you get for that price" in the form of health testing, back up reassurance, etc I have found many pet buyers do not know the difference between main/limit register or show/pet. I give 99% of my enquiries the same time. (Apart from the obvious scam ones or asia ones). You do not know how much research they have done - You could be the first breeder they have chosen to contact and do not know our world. You don't want to put them off and send them to a BYB. So I give the first email the benefit of the doubt. I have saved in a text document a structured response that has the essential information about what I do, and what you get by getting a pup from me, health test results etc. Saves me retyping the same information over and over again. Misti,that is a time saving great idea,I also have a photo folder with pups & parents for "THAT" time,don't like that time actually,find it can be rather draining,hate parting with puppies.....as much as they create a lot of work(time)I postpone it until I know I have to get on with it.Can't help but love them all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 okay I freely admit I don't get many calls asking about prices of greyhound puppies but I am sure there are great homes out there for pups with people whose initial reaction to hearing the price would be a shocked intake of breath. So many people would have no idea what goes into raising pups properly. What costs are involved. So many would think it is just breeding two dogs together and if they thought about costs they most likely would just add up what they think it would cost to feed a pup for a couple of weeks times however many pups there are. Cause the bitch feeds them for at least 6 weeks right When the price is explained to them, call it justifying or not, they might then realise what a bargain they are getting and ring you back. People, especially the 1st time registered puppy buyer, often don't have a clue. They have seen prices in the pet shops and papers and that is their only guidance, because most breeders don't have their prices on their web sites. Being shocked when 1st told the price does not mean they will be bad homes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaffy Magee Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 When I get email enquiries, I send off an pre drafted email which contains all info plus price and say if they are interested in going further to let me know and we can organise to have a chat via phone. That way I dont waste my time going through everything with them only for them to baulk at the price and never get back to me. After getting me first email, the price doesnt bother them, they'll contact me to take it further. It takes so much time doing emails, phone calls sending photos etc to have people pull out after hearing the price, so I give it upfront even if they didnt ask for it. I remember talking to one person over the phone once and found myself justifying the price and kicking myself afterwards because I shouldnt have to and if I find myself in that position again, I'll be a lot more tougher and suggest they find another breeder if they dont like my price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelsun Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 I don't even try to justify to a potential owner what my costs are. To be honest, it's not their business what my food/vet/training/accomodation/breeding bills might be. I make it clear that I have one price..male/female, show or pet...all the same to me. I break down what they get for the price they pay and also tell them the range my breed can be expected to cost (although getting prices out of some breeders is like pulling teeth....maybe I missed that part about it being a government secret?) I also make it very clear that my breed isn't common, there aren't many litters about and that they will have to be patient and wait if they really want a puppy. If that doesn't scare them off in their need for an instant fur buddy, I usually get very sensible people that understand that we are not making money, we are barely breaking even if all goes well in a perfect situation. (I'm not sure I've had one of those in recent past memory!) As well, I do not make my purchasers pay for my decision to show, import or use frozen semen, as I often see happening. It's not their problem I made the decisions I did and as a result, upped my expenses. I don't expect those people to pay for my decisions. But then, I don't feel the need to advertise a litter as 'imported sire' or such and expect to rake in the big bucks. I breed for me first...the lucky few that get pups, benefit from my decisions but they don't have to fork up a pound of flesh or mortgage the house either, but at the same time, I do have to pay my bills when it comes to a litter, or at least put a dent in them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whippets Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 (edited) I don't bother with potential buyers who treat a puppy purchase like they are buying a second hand fridge from the trading post. I don't want my dogs to go to bargain hunters. This is another reason why I don't give out my phone number when listing puppies. To be blunt, I just don't have the time for tyre kickers. Only genuine people and they are the ones that take to the time to go through the lengthy "Adoption Application Questionaire". The others, I send out the Questionaire and that is the last I hear of them. Which is good. Edited August 30, 2010 by whippets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peaceful Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Since having a really bad experience which ended in tragedy for the puppy from someone trying to get our price down years ago I have learnt my lesson well and truly. If there is any bartering about the price or complaining about my puppy prices I say..."See Ya later Alligator". If they think a puppy is something they can barter over or try to get a cheap bargain basement puppy then how will they afford good veterinary care for the life of the dog. Also some people think if they get a cheap puppy and it doesn't work out eg. they dont put the effort into training, they can just go get another cheap puppy later on. I dont have time for those people any more! They try to make you feel bad for trying to cover some of the costs of raising a well bred litter. If we break even with a litter we are ecstatic but it doesn't usually happen very often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulilover Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 (edited) I don't bargain with people. Sometimes people are genuinely shocked because they really didn't expect it, but a lot of them are just trying to haggle. I can usually tell the difference. If someone is genuinely shocked I briefly go through a few facts with them but not in too much depth as I don't think it's worth it. If someone is trying to haggle because they are cheapskates (sp?) I just tell them politely that the price is not open to negotiation. They often ring back the following week and the pup is sold and they regret it because they missed out. My pet peeve is when people state that 'it is your business....you can charge what you want' I get a bit fired up about this as I am not a business I am a lifelong passion for the breed. This part of it I would like to educate the general public on. I don't know if any of it would sink in though. They don't get the bit where if you can't place a dog you are willing to keep it for the rest of it's life, and the part where if a dog does not work out, unless you can find a suitable new home for them you are willing to keep the dog for the rest of its life. They don't get the part where you just spent $10,000 importing a new line because it is the best you could find for your line and breed. It is more a mentality than a shortage of money to pay for the pup. A long time ago I had a kid on the phone asking me 'is that your bottom price?' .... I could hear the parents prompting in the background. This was a very popular breed with no trouble selling puppies. I found out he was calling from Watsons Bay in Sydney, I mean come on this is just ignorant people who haggle over everything be it a pedigree dog or a television. I prefer not to sell to people like this anyway as they tend to view the dog as a 'product' or 'consumer item' rather than a live being with feelings. Edited August 31, 2010 by Pulilover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 I have to confess that of more recent times, I've simply given up and am probably not as "forthcoming" with puppy people as I have been in the past. I'm just completely OVER getting phone calls for puppies, or being stopped in the street when walking my dogs and being told in one breath how gorgeous my dogs are and then in the other, being asked how much I sell them for.....and then being told "oh but I can get one out of the paper/from my uncle/from a friend of a friend/from the pound for a fraction of that price". OK, so do it then but don't come crying to me to fix your problems when you realise you've made a big mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaffy Magee Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 I agree Ellz, I am also over the puppy enquiries. And also get the smae response as you when meeting people whilst on socialisation outings etc. Its the first thing people are interested in when I say I breed bullmastiffs and it pisses me right off. Slightly off topic, I had one girl at my work ask how much I sell them for( I live in a small country area, so here people get pups from papers and pet stores). I told her, and I now regret it, before the night ended it was all around the factory how much I sell my pups for and how I must make a fortune, yadda yadda. Then I spent the night trying to explain to every tom dick and harry why I charge what I do, how much money I spend to breed, that breeding isnt just chucking two dogs together. I dont like to put my phone number out there either as I dont have time to waste talking to people who just want to know price, email contact first, phone call later if they are still interested. I also like to be prepared with my list of questions in front of me and pen and paper for writing down details. I hate being caught off guard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Just this past weekend, we were at a local park where there are obedience lessons held and where there is a dog show once per year but the rest of the time, it's a free for all with dogs allowed offlead and a caravan park nearby. A couple of youngish people had a tiny Stafford puppy, would have been lucky if it were 6 weeks old, it was still at the wobbly, chubby bubby (Teletubby as I call it) stage and SHOULD have been home in the warmth or better still, back with its mum. I was going to go and suggest to them that they probably shouldn't be allowing it to run around on the park the way they were but Mr Ellz stopped me. As he pointed out a) it was their business not mine b) it probably wouldn't make a jot of difference to them c) I'd probably cop a mouthful of abuse for my pain. I really did feel bad for not warning them of the dangers at least, but at the end of the day, Mr Ellz is right and it IS none of my business what other people do with their puppies. All I can do is work with my own puppy people and hope that makes a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wags Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 today I had two enquiries for puppies, (Of which I don't have any, not planning another litter until this time next year).the long and short of the both conversations, both sounded like great puppy home prospects. Then it came to the question of how much i sell puppies for ,or the going rate for them. When I said what it was both ladies were shocked, thought they would be able to get a puppy for about 1/2 asking price. Both said :"but I only want a pet one, not a show one". I tried to explain that it doesn't matter whether they are buying a show or pet puppy, it still costs the same amount to raise them. (and as we all know, we really don't recoup our money) How do other breeders react when asked this question. Should I be trying to justify the price or not, thanks scrappynsuzie IMHO I don't think you need to,they are not remotely interested in how much it has cost you, only of how much (less they can get you down)it will cost them.....gees if they only knew how much out of pocket we are.Most would think ....just let them mate and we are making a fortune. You would be on the phone for hours justifying the costs.Don't fret we all get these calls,then along comes the buyers that do appreciate costings & really want one and pay what you are asking. Oh dear, another bargain shopper who believes they're doing us a favour in taking a puppy off our hands and ought to be discounted for their goodness. Anyone buying a puppy on the basis of 'price' and shows little, if any, interest in the breed, the puppy or has the attitude of one shopping at Crazy Clarke's has very short shift from us I'm afraid. The ones that want to argue the case are the worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaJ Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 Put them in the "not a clue" box and concentrate on the realistic owners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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