Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Wat do you all do to market your snakes? Some of you have dozens of babies this season! I am interested in ideas. (If my marketing attempts with snakes go like my mouse selling effort, I will soon have a bazillion snakes! Production is the easy part...)
-----
Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Some folks with just a few dozen babies sell them to wholesalers. Then the brokers sell them online o at shows.

You can open up a classified account. But the key to selling your offspring is GREAT pics (that means the right lighting, no flash, overcast days etc) and a quick response to requests from your ad. Unfortunatly requests usually involve more picture taking. So you now have even more work ahead of you than you thought.

Oh and open up a Paypal account if you don't already have one.

And buy the 8x8x7 shipping boxes from Superior shipping supplies!

And also don't forget to sign up with a shipping company like Ship Your Reptiles.

basically you have got a lot to do before trying to advertise. Better get started.
-----
www.Bluerosy.com

I think 7x7x6 boxes ship cheaper and can fit up to 4 hatchlings if you use the shallow 8 ounce deli cups.
-----
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

I think 7x7x6 boxes ship cheaper and can fit up to 4 hatchlings if you use the shallow 8 ounce deli cups

Nope, not any more. I used to use the 7x7x6 but Fed ex changed their demension prices. Now the same price applies to a 8x8x7 as a 7x7x6. Superior is actually going to discontine the 7x7x6 boxes for that reason.

Call superior and ask to speak to them. They will explain it better.
-----
www.Bluerosy.com

I guess that's not so bad?
-----
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

Yeah, I agree that the photos are the most important part of any ad. As a buyer I'm not going to buy a snake sight unseen even from a reputable breeder.

Quick response time is also very important initially as it gives the buyer peace of mind that he/she will be able to reach you in the future if there are any issues with their purchase.

I try to supply individual pics, which is very time consuming but I have had several customers tell me that they were thinking of buying from a much larger breeder but the pics are of an animal typical to the one you may get, and not the actual animal. Of course the more snakes i get the harder it becomes to continue doing this, but I think it's a big selling point.
-----
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

My current marketing strategy is not to produce any. It wasn't exactly deliberate but its worked very well. My inventory of 2011 babies is zero!
-----
“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emmerson

WWW.TDSNAKES.BLOGSPOT.COM

I hatched out a couple dozen of your easterns for ya.......
...just doin' my part
:Mark
-----
Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

Probably not the most profitable way, but I went to a local reptile store with my 15 non-holdback greybands. owner asked how much I wanted, I said if you take them all, $25. a piece...his hand went to his wallet so fast I thought he was pulling out a gun...But the $375. earned went to two gorgeous new blood alterna to mix with my holdbacks...obviously this is just a little hobby for me and if I had to rely on earned income from selling snakes, I would have done things different. But, this was very quick and I didn't have to deal with 15 different "customers"...Dave.

Nobody wants to pay shipping anymore. I sent a pr of AZ locality getula to California last month and shipping alone cost $89.

So, I mostly deal with people locally. I have a few pet stores who I stay in contact with on a regular basis and provide any surplus snakes to at wholesale cost. Key here is to always provide them with quality animals that are feeding and ready to go. I also sell quite a few out of the local papers. Whenever I have someone buy from me, I save their numbers and send them texts the next year to update them on what I will have available.

Customer service and follow through are the key for me. Plus, I'm only really trying to make enough to pay for the next year's rodents and maybe a couple new aquisitions...so there is not the pressure to make a profit from it.

I know some good breeders in my area who I trade my higher end stuff with also. Gives me a chance to get my hands on some really nice snakes that I may not have otherwise.

Good luck!
Michael

sweet deal. I'm really small time, just 2 clutches a year these past 2 years. My babies were all established mouse feeders when I let them go. Certainly don't want to burn any bridges. Any profit usually goes for supplies. Fun though...Good luck. Dave.

Your right shipping is a huge problem! What I do is I try to cut the customer a break whenever possible. I will reduce the cost of shipping if they buy a pair or several animals, so as to make it more attractive. Many people live in araeas where shows are not common and so will still buy snakes shipped to them. Also if you are interested in a particular snake it can actually be cheaper than going to a show. By the time you pay for gas, parking, admission, lunch, and anything else, you would have spent less on shipping.
-----
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

I have been looking for a nice pair of locality Southern Pines for the past couple years. I thought about the Columbia show in SC, until I realized that I would end up spending $150 just in gas, food, and getting into the show...and then would only be able to hope that somebody had locality southerns...

I am definitely not against purchasing a specific snake and paying shipping on it. I have just found it easier to move things locally in the past couple years.

Michael

I'm going to try to go to a show...I was all set to advertise on kingsnake but it's been too damn hot to ship lately (over 100 more often than not). so i'm heading to OKC in August with my baby kings and a few surplus adult snakes I've got.
-----
We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.

how does a small table at one of those shows go for? Dave.

Meant to write how much?...

I'm splitting one. Table would be like 60 bucks, I'm taking 1/2 of one, a friend is taking the other 1/2. So I'll be out 30 for that.
-----
We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.

Thats a great deal! Would easily pay to go that route with any significant amount of animals...Dave.

16 baby snakes, 8 adults of various species. It's not a huge amount. but it's enough, and frankly I want to see a herp show.
-----
We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.

I'm going to try to go to a show...I was all set to advertise on kingsnake but it's been too damn hot to ship lately (over 100 more often than not). so i'm heading to OKC in August with my baby kings and a few surplus adult snakes I've got.

Well two things.

First is YOU need to gurantee live arrival of the snakes. Some people say that once fed ex or whover gets a hold of it, that the seller is no longer responsible. But i diagree with that and my policy is to gurantee live arrival. That takes the stress of the customer.

second is that you should use PRIORITY overnight express. Not regular express. Priority costs more but gurntess arrival before 10 am. before the heat starts up.

Also i drop off my shipmenst at a local store between 5-6pm. The pickup uis at 6:30 and then they go right to the airport and are traveling at night. The snakes usually get there before 10am.

So drop off at 5-6 pm and arrival guranteed by 10am allows for shipment in hot weather. I have not had one instance of death due to heat since i used Priority.

But I "think" that Ship Your reptiles does not offer that service...(not sure on that) i use a upstart company similar to ship your reptiles.

But hot weather is always dangerous. MUCH much more than cold weather. A lot of people don't realize this. Also heat pads in 40f degree weather is not needed. It just gets to hot inside the box and i have seen a lot of people kill there snakes with heat pads in cold weather than any other way.
-----
www.Bluerosy.com

I feel kind of chapped about the weather; I'd bought 15 shipping boxes with 1/2" foam insulation, 15 cold packs and deli cups galore. Set up an account with SYR. All that.

And then we have 100 degree weather for the last 3 months. FFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUU
-----
We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.

Call around at drop off locations and see when their pickup time is. pick the one that has the latest.

if you are really worried about the heat, then put in a cold pack.

Oh and Fed now rounds off the weight to 3 lbs. So if you put 2lbs. you still get charged the same.
-----
www.Bluerosy.com

Cold packs loose their cold by the time the sun starts heating up, and I have had deliveries as late as noon! They say usually by 10:30, but only guarantee by Noon. So it's still risky. Snakes should never be shipped less then Priority, and SYR uses only Priority Overnight! They now have insurance you can put on the snake for a small fee. I went ahaed and got Fed Ex Certified so I have several options available. I remember when Reptile Express, and SYR, had to stop shipping reptiles.
-----
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

I do my best to convince customers to pick up at the Fed Ex station! That is the safest bet, since the snakes don't have to be on the delivery truck in the heat, which is always the riskiest part of the whole thing. They also don't have to worry about the driver leaving the box outside, like I have had done to me. Or having the driver leave because I didn't answer the door fast enough!
-----
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

Jorge,
I don't know about now. But before Ship You Reptiles only used UPS. Not Fed ex.

Anyway, I think you guys make to much of this . I shipped for years in the summer and never had a fatlity. It is klike bonding. You just need to know how and what to do. And use some common sense.

For instance the shipping co I have been using for about 2 years now. They have a function that tells you if the package does not get there by 10am. Then it will not charge the priority rate.

But even if you have the package held at a certified Fed Location. The packages still get driven around and are not there until afternoon. If someone lives in a rural area, that how it is.
-----
www.Bluerosy.com

>>Jorge,
>>I don't know about now. But before Ship You Reptiles only used UPS. Not Fed ex.
>>
>>Anyway, I think you guys make to much of this . I shipped for years in the summer and never had a fatlity. It is klike bonding. You just need to know how and what to do. And use some common sense.
>>
>>For instance the shipping co I have been using for about 2 years now. They have a function that tells you if the package does not get there by 10am. Then it will not charge the priority rate.
>>
>>But even if you have the package held at a certified Fed Location. The packages still get driven around and are not there until afternoon. If someone lives in a rural area, that how it is.
>>-----
>>www.Bluerosy.com
>>
SYR uses Fed Ex now. UPS does not ship any live reptiles at all. I have all my shipments held at the station now, and my snakes are there when they open the door. They already know me and when they see me in line sometimes they open the door early just for me, so I can get the snakes out of there, lol! The one lady is scared to death of snakes. I know what I'm talking about when I say they only guarantee delivery by Noon when it's door to door! I have spent long conversations complaining with them! One lady heard my dogs barking and just dropped the box at the corner of my house. She didn't even knock! One shipment I sent to Las Vegas didn't get there untill the second day cause the truck broke down. Luckily the snakes were ok, but the cutomer had to wait till the next day!
-----
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

Ya there are lots of horror stories on shipping. Mistakes happen. just as long as humans are involved.

One thing i never had happen is have someone steal a snake from the box. I have it happen lots of times with high end items i ship. But nobody wants to steal a snake. LOL!

This vid is just an example. It is not me in the video.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu8tR46sAE0

-----
www.Bluerosy.com

I live in a rural mountainous area with dirt roads misnamed and often wild weather conditions. One time in December a snake shipment went out to me but the driver encountered a sudden snow storm, so he very kindly took the baby snakes home and took care of them for four days until he could deliver them to me. This was Golden State Overnight.

Another time a box of baby snakes was put on my steps. I was expecting the delivery and watching for it, but none the less was disconcerted the driver did not at least toot the horn or something. I can't remember if that was Fedex or UPS. The box was labled Live Animals, so its not like the guy didn't know it contained living creatures. That was an anomaly; most of my experiences with shipping have been positive.
-----
Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Bob, great question and there should be some more great answers but noone will give up their little secret....Haha....This is what I have done in years past as this is only a hobby for me.

First, through out the year I have a few friends that take interest in the hobby. I offer some hatchlings to them, and usually they are more than willing to take them off my hands for a small price(Really small actually and sometimes free!) As most of us know the amount of money needed to keep an animal is usually more than the animal itself.

I also have kids so word gets around pretty quick at school and I am approached by not only friends of my children, but the parents seem more eager than the child most of the time. I also take snakes to the kids school atleast once a year for a so called "Show n Tell". This is probably the most rewarding way to market your animals.

Thirdly, if I have a stellar year, as mentioned earlier sell them to a larger seller for a few bucks a piece. Not the best way but if the collection is unmanageable with a ton of hatchlings it's the best way to lower the workload.

And lastly, Donate, Donate, Donate!!!! Find the nearest herp society, or even when USARK has a auction at a show donate to them. Great way to reduce the workload and to support our hobby!

As mentioned earlier doing a show but if you have less than 50 or so animals it might not be worth it, financially. It sure gets you in touch with a lot of locals that may want them.(Hint: Usually there is a wholesaler there that you can sell to at the end of the show) I have never done a show, yet! The costs usually are not to high for a table. I have seen them for as low as 35 dollars.

Also, make sure if you are going to sell to the public that you check with your local F&W to make sure you have all the appropiate permits.....

Hope this helps!

-----
Jimmy Tintle

A couple things. I have been breeding mountain kingsnakes for a long time. Anyone who has ever emailed me in the past I put onto an email list for when I have babies available in the future. I respond quick to inquiries and I always make sure to disclose every relevant fact about the animal a customer is buying. I guess what I'm saying is that this is a small world. Your reputation is everything in this hobby. If you do someone wrong or they have a bad experience dealing with you, assume that they are going to tell most of their friends about what happened.

I rarely post animals on the Classifieds. I have developed a nice niche market for my animals and most are sold before they hatch. I don't produce to many so I don't have to worry about wholesaling. I get close to full price most of the time.
Juarez Wonders

>>A couple things. I have been breeding mountain kingsnakes for a long time. Anyone who has ever emailed me in the past I put onto an email list for when I have babies available in the future. I respond quick to inquiries and I always make sure to disclose every relevant fact about the animal a customer is buying. I guess what I'm saying is that this is a small world. Your reputation is everything in this hobby. If you do someone wrong or they have a bad experience dealing with you, assume that they are going to tell most of their friends about what happened.
>>
>>I rarely post animals on the Classifieds. I have developed a nice niche market for my animals and most are sold before they hatch. I don't produce to many so I don't have to worry about wholesaling. I get close to full price most of the time.
>>Juarez Wonders
-----
John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

Some of my babies are already spoken for. Once I get them eating on a regular basis they will be ready to go to their new homes. Just local sales to my friends who are into snakes. One problem I have though is everybody wants the one I am holding back!

This one; who is one of the two stubborn ones about feeding!

Lots of great information on this sales topic!
-----
Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

>>Some of my babies are already spoken for. Once I get them eating on a regular basis they will be ready to go to their new homes. Just local sales to my friends who are into snakes. One problem I have though is everybody wants the one I am holding back!
>>
>>This one; who is one of the two stubborn ones about feeding!

IT ALWAYS happens like that........Your holdback is what everyone wants.........
-----
John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...