Ball Python Prices

[Spoon]

Hey guys just a bit of advice needed I've been trying to sell a pair of ball pythons (55cm length) for the last couple of months and I don't know if maybe my price is too high or what but they're not selling so I approached some of the pet shops and the general concensus is that the price they would pay for them is R400 each is that the going rate for Ball Pythons nowadays? Should I just go for it? They're not wild caught by the way they're captive bred bought from www.ballpythons.co.za basically the normal offspring of various morphs

[Sico]

what did you pay for them? what does ballpythons.co.za charge for them?

[aurelius]

Keep in mind that the dealer also needs to make a profit. They have numerous overheads whereas a private seller does not. Having said that however, dealers often try and make an unusually high profit on certain species. What you will probably find is that they will take the snakes off your hands at R400-00 a piece and sell them at +- R1200-00. (This being the average going rate for a "normal" BP of that size/age.)
I don't know what you originally advertised at but would think that R600-00 to R700-00 would be a fair price? Maybe an additional reason for your BP's not selling, is that the market might be somewhat flooded at the moment. Previously these reptiles were much more sought after, I believe, due to not that many being available locally. They also used to fetch high prices and many keepers bred with them to "cash in" on this, thereby flooding the market which in turn lowered both the selling price and overall demand.

[gino]

nah ad theme for R800 ea and they will go

[Spoon]

what did you pay for them? what does ballpythons.co.za charge for them?

I originally bought them for R1800 for the pair and they were about 25cm in total length back then and now they are about 55cm in length.

[gino]

i feel you dude, we bought from the show for R1500 ea now i can sell mine. Any offers LOL

[Hustler]

Wow they probably just want to try and make a quick buck off of you cause I'd also say around R600-R900 this is what I've mostly been seeing got my guy for R850 at the expo and man he eats like a pig :D

[Snakes4Africa]

many keepers bred with them to "cash in" on this, thereby flooding the market

It is not the captive breeding of Ball Pythons that has flooded the market but rather the wholeslae importation (read smuggling) of Ball Pythons into this country from Central Africa! Just look at the numbers available at the shows and ask the sellers how many they bred themselves! I feel that a good quality, well started Ball Python is worth every cent of R1500 retail. If you want to part with them quicker, sell them for less.
People need to think a little further ahead when buying pets of any type, particularly long-lived animals. Remember if those were puppies of kittens you had bought, NOBODY would be buying them from you! They would be free to a good home or the obvious alternative.

[Burmbuddy]

Hi guys.
Gotta say i HATE it when peaple drop their prices. A normal feeding,captive bred ball is worth R1500 and not a cent less. You get what you pay for...
You dont see peaple selling pure bred english bulldogs at a bargain do you? If you have runt snakes then sell them for less, but if you have the proper thing then let it go for what it is worth.
Cheers
DAN

[Bjorn]

I can't agree more with snakes and Burm. R1500 is a fair retail price for CB or even CB USA imported balls. Ranched ball pythons cost nothing and R600 is a big profit for the guys selling them.

[petboy]

only thing is that u need to be able to prove tht they were from ballpythons.co.za .Have had some people try palm off ranched as their 'captive bred' stock. I only sell locally captive bred stock at my shop - quite a few i purchase from ballpythons.co.za & the rest from customers who are breeding their pet ball pythons. It does mean that I would have far less for sale than guys that deal in the ranched stuff but then i stick to my price - R1200 to R1500.

[Burmbuddy]

Good stuff pet boy.
Ballpythons.co.za snakes usually come with a photo ID card, if this card cant be presented i would not buy an animal if i WANTED ballpythons.co.za stock.
Dropping prices just to make a sale is a cancer on the hobby that is eroding the value of everybodies stock. EVERYTHING is getting more expensive...should our snakes not be climing in price to, or are we herpers too stupid to understand the concept of inflation?...

[Serpy]

Not all snakes from ballpythons.co.za come with the photo ID card, i bought xanthics and het for pieds from him and didn't recieve one.

[TK-Sp3cialiSt]

Good stuff pet boy.
Ballpythons.co.za snakes usually come with a photo ID card, if this card cant be presented i would not buy an animal if i WANTED ballpythons.co.za stock.
Dropping prices just to make a sale is a cancer on the hobby that is eroding the value of everybodies stock. EVERYTHING is getting more expensive...should our snakes not be climing in price to, or are we herpers too stupid to understand the concept of inflation?...

No offense, but the house price is due to drop, and unless you have a seriously collectors car, your car drops in price.

As stated previously in this thread, Snakes/Reptiles are pets at the end of the day, and if you are looking to make a profit, you are in the wrong hobby(if it can really be called a hobby...i don't think owning a dog is a hobby and would never "sell on" an animal...they are with me for life, and the same goes for my snakes)

[Burmbuddy]

Good for you.
What happens when you breed some? They gonna be with you for life too?
What you say is true and fine and dandy if you have 1 or two snakes, but when you have more then just a collection, spend thousends of rands on food, cages etc then it becomes more then just a "hobby".

I dont breed my animals for the money (there are a hell of alot better ways out there to make money then breeding snakes). I would love to make snakes my full time job, but frankly my 9-5 pays much better. But it is what it is and a well adjusted CB normal ball is WORTH R1500, and as such should go for that price.

House prices are only dropping because of the overvaluation in the market for the past 6-4 years. The economy was doing well back then and the demand for houses went up, the supply could net be met due to the industry lag and thus prices rose (the opposite is happening right now). A car is hardly a worthy comparison, if you see your car as a asset then you still have a lot to learn. A new car loses value the moment you sign the paperwork as it is now no longer new, but used.

A triple morf ball python is on the other hand a very good med-high risk investment with a great return and serios appreciation in value as time goes on (breeding adults are worth more then babies).

A snake can dam sure be an investment and not just a "pet", so can a English Bulldog. You might see it as just another dog, but the breeder who gets up to 25 000 pounds for a 3 times champ line puppy dam sure sees that animal as a investment and not just a pet.

The basic point is that guys just drop prices cos they assume the animal will be worth less next season. This does not make sense.