Hi Harlen, normally I peruse the forums but seldom post. After reading this long list of post regarding market stability I feel commpelled to reply. First the ball python market has always been inflated in terms of the really high end morphs. Very few of these were sold for hard cash but traded to others for other high end morphs. Something is worth what someone else is willing to pay cash for not trade!! Secondly in this age of technology anyone and everyone have access to buy from each other without any price controls in place at all. Before computers and Reptile Shows breeders would wholesale their stock to dealers{ there were never a lot} and the snakes were sold on price lists. The dealers controlled the prices and the market was more stable for much longer. That is evident today in most commodities that we use daily{cars, food, clothes, etc.}. An average person can't buy a new car at dealer prices. You also can't buy clothes from the factory that produces them. This creates price stability and earns the trust of interested customers. Third the entire industry is based on a pyramid scheme. I'm not implying that this is negative its just a fact of life. Fourth like the Stock Market you have to be in it for the long haul. Very few people invest in stocks for a few years and retire on the profit. This business is not now and never has been a get rich quick business. You also have to first and foremost have an undying love and interest in what you're doing. The business hasn't changed in the 40 years I've been in it. Only the people in it have changed. While money is of course a factor it shouldn't be the primary factor. I kept herps before I ever considered doing it for a proffession. If tommorrow the entire reptile market crashed I would still keep herps. Life is all about the ride!!! Any misspellings or bad grammer should be blamed on Harlen and not me. Thanks for reading....Tom Crutchfield

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