OK, I'm seriously POed right now. I just spent 1/2 hour responding to your excellent post and I hit the wrong button and lost everything. (lucky for you guys I guess)



I shorten it up a bit.



I always tell people what I will be selling the animals for if I make an offer on them. Most of the time they will see that the amount I will be charging is significantly lower that what other stores would be charging. I've had people tell me that other stores were offering more but would be selling for a whole lot more (I offer 20 sell for 50 other store offers 25 sells for 80) so they sold to me as a matter of principle even though they made less money (goes along with your comment about finding a store you feel comfortable dealing with) Ive also had people tell me they were offered less and the store would charge more so they sold to me as well. Another thing to remember is that If I wanted to pay the going wholesale rate for something I would probably have it already, so just because some stores are paying X amount doesn't meant that I am willing to pay that much. If I was I probably would have already.



As far as consignmet goes I really don't like it. The question about the split is often a sticky issue, espescially after a long period of time goes by. Another problem comes into play when someone is just shopping around for something and I have several options. I have a few nice corns that in stock and if I sell one I will make a nice profit. I also have this nice cal king that you brought in on consignmet that I am selling for the same amount. If I sell the cal king I will make less money on it. Any of the snakes would make excellent pets, and all fit the customers wants and needs, which one will I try to sell. And yours sits around for another week.



still, it could work espescially for the more rare species that I normally would not carry because they may be too expensive (green trees, emeralds etc)



Yup, thats the short version beleive it or not. You bring up some excellent ideas, it is clear that you can see it from both sides and if you ever do open a shop you would probably be very succesful. Just DON'T go in underfunded expecting to make it up. it will be a disaster.



Steve Schindler

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