Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My last job was working for a small business, and I kept up the website. While we weren't a web-based business, it was vital for our marketing and customer relations, but not nearly as vital as it is for the bp market...

...so why is it that SOOOO many breeders with nice websites do such a pitiful job of updating their websites, particularly their "AVAILABLE" pages!?!

I was looking at a few sites this morning, and there are "AVAILABLE" pages that haven't been updated since 2004, or "still under construction".

I also look at websites of anyone I consider purchasing from (if they have them). There are links to websites from KS ads, and when you go to the site, it says "currently no ball pythons available."

SOOOOOOO all this to say: 1 - does anyone else notice this? and 2 - I don't get why!?!
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Jeremy Conrad
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...Can't...stop...must...get...more...balls...

I have been thinking the exact same thing. I know the one website that your talking about, there available page hasn't changed since 2004. I thinks its a big negative for that breeder.

They should have a website program that automatically deletes any website that hasn't been updated in a month! A website is like a business card if not better. People judge you and your business by their first impression. My first impressions are that have of these websites need to be axed!

LOL - yeah - thats a little pet peave of mine.

I know that big breeders have thousands of animals that they need to care for and even with my little collection I don't always have time for things that need to get done but really finding an hour or so a month to sit down and update your availability page is kind of vital if you are doing business over the net.

I was looking at one site the other day that was still looking forward to seeing what happened when you cross two mojaves. LOL. At some point you'd think it be intheri best interest to hire someone to update their site.

But I digress - I've been working on my site for a month now and it's no where near ready to launch. But I am going to make is very simple and easy to update. LOL.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

6.34.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi)
0.1.0 Bredls Python (Smurfette)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.4 frogs rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.0 Lizards of unknown origin

I know of some personal web-sites with no up-date of several years but to get away from this topic of reptile web-sites, it is very frustrating to go to a state wildlife web-site and see no updates or current legislation/legislative proposals, laws or bills when you know something is up or going to happen. Even more so because of me wanting to warn reptile folks of such !
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I may be old , cantankerous, crabby, and cynical, but......

yes i think it is very annoying...i was in the market for an albino ball and i went to probably 50 sites and at least half of them were out of date.
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(soon to be the owner of an albino ball)
0.2 normal ball pythons
0.1 normal Redtail boa
1.0 Hypo Redtail boa
1.0 true Redtail boa
1.1 100% Het Albino Redtail boa
1 baby sulcata tortoise
0.0.1 Baby Bearded Dragon
0.0.1 Baby Red Uromastyx
0.1 GF Eryn (WC)

Hopefully they take better care of thier reptiles than they do thier website!

Can you tell me where you live? I'm also in a state that is facing some legislative problems.

Thanks,

Bill

PS. I can't get the e-mail function here at KS.com to function. You can reach me at gp100ss at aol.com . Thanks
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

I am aware of the frustration of exactly what you are talking about. My Royal Variations website is almost complete and one of my goals is to keep the website updated consistently for the very reasons you have mentioned. I personally do not like going on a website that is not updated or current to what is available. I can not guaranty that my goal of doing this will be accomplished each month but it is my goal none the less.

I am glad you brought up this topic which I agree with 100%.

Sincerely, Kyle
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Kyle J. Stevens
Royal Variations Ltd.

Many a false step is made from standing still.

It is annoying to visit a site that is outdated. I maintain my site myself and update my inventory daily.

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Steve Markevich

www.SerpentsDen.com

My Email

Even some of the most respectable breeders out there are very out of date. You can take a look at their "available" inventory and it's dated 2004 with a link to their 2005 "projects." It's very easy to let things get out of date from week to week or month to month, but you'd think they would want to be a little more current.....Mojaves for $10,000? Spiders for $7,500?

the larger outfits trying to maintain higher prices -

>>>It's very easy to let things get out of date from week to week or month to month, but you'd think they would want to be a little more current..Mojaves for $10,000? Spiders for $7,500?**

I think they figure if they relist Mojaves to $3k and Spiders to $2.2k then Joe little guy will go $500 less then them to stay competetive.

Its a vicious circle.

and forget about it.

I wouldnt buy from any store or outlet that has old products listed.

If they dont care what their web-site looks like, the same is probably true for their product and their customer service.

Besides there are too many other people to buy from to bother with the outdated websites.

It's just not their highest priority. Especially if they work the shows and are able to move their stock without spending money or time on their website.
My son is a graphic designer that builds websites, designs business cards to catalogs, etc. A lot of potential clients are reluctant to pay hourly rates for updating and maintaining their website. Once a site is built and up, many clients spend as little as possible maintaining the site.
Current Availability pages are a joke. Years ago I stopped visiting many websites and inquiring about available stock. More often than not, the snake I was interested in was already sold. So now I don't waste my time looking at those pages. I just check the classifieds or contact breeders that I have purchased from in the past and ask if they have a particular morph or het available.

I noticed the issue, but I guess I'm still just amused by it. If I were seriously in the market for a nice morph, I'd be very irritated. I'd certainly be more inclined to order from someone who maintained his or her website, but ultimately, I think word of mouth reputation means more than a website. I can see how some people could do a good job at customer service and not such a good job on the website.

I'm somewhat sympathetic because I used to have a website. I had 100,000 to 150,000 words of commentary on about 150 to 200 pages of HTML files. Sometimes, something would happen, and I'd have to change dozens of pages to get everything working properly again.

In any case, you raise a good point, and those who are selling should keep it in mind.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

There are some pieces of code you can put on your site that checks the date listed and the current date and only displays ads within a date range (say 30, 60, 2 days etc). It has to be put into the website with some customization, but it is out there. I ran a non-herp related site for 5 years and got to the point I automated it just to keep me from having to deal with it. In the long run it worked out well. For the price that people are asking on some of these snakes I am sure they could get it automated for less than a 'pied'. LOL I'll be glad to point people to some FREE links to help with code, just email me.

***Not a sales add... free links to help... please don't hurt me or delete me o' gods of kingsnakes ... look at it as website care guides LOL...
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Rescued Ball Python - Apep
0-0-1 Rescued Bearded Dragon - Zeus
0-0-1 Rescued Non-Alpha Green Iguana - Bud
1-2-0 Rescued Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet, Isis
0-0-1 Rescued Fit and Trim Panda Hamster - Mr. Fluffy
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

>>***Not a sales add... free links to help... please don't hurt me or delete me o' gods of kingsnakes ... look at it as website care guides LOL...

Fortunately the Almight Post Deleter recognizes an act of mercy, and restrains His wrath from being poured out on the "near advertisement" post...
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Jeremy Conrad
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...Can't...stop...must...get...more...balls...

np
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Rescued Ball Python - Apep
0-0-1 Rescued Bearded Dragon - Zeus
0-0-1 Rescued Non-Alpha Green Iguana - Bud
1-2-0 Rescued Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet, Isis
0-0-1 Rescued Fit and Trim Panda Hamster - Mr. Fluffy
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids