Negotiating a sale: that ominous silence

[acpart]

This is about as much of a rant as you'll get from me. It's not that big a deal, just a bit annoying.

Periodically people contact me about buying a gecko. The ones who ask one question and go away don't bother me. It's the people who ask question after question about the gecko's diet, habits, habitat, etc. until there's really nothing left to do but to make the arrangements for purchase. And then . . . nothing. I really understand that many people get cold feet when it actually comes time to make a commitment. It would be nice, however, to get one more email saying something like "I've changed my mind" or "I've found something else". I suppose they don't want to hurt my feelings or something, but it would be nice to have the closure.

ALiza

 

[Lena]

I'm guilty of this, at times. Not purposely, but I can be very forgetful.. Particularly if I've decided against buying a given animal.

You're very right though, people should still follow-up. I'm going to go back and check if I've left anyone hanging..

 

[Baoh]

Lots of people ask me questions about my tortoises I have for sale. Sometimes for weeks. Usually for nothing. I expect no one to buy until the occasional buyer comes along by surprise.

When I am interested in an animal and shopping around to find the animals I want most, I usually just ask for a pic if one isn't available, ask about heritage, and then ask for payment arrangement information if I intend to buy (with a few rare exceptions).

I get contacted all of the time with hilarious stuff like offers to trade me guns and stuff like that for my tortoises instead of money, saying that it's worth such and such at any pawn shop. I tell them to sell it for such and such and then get back to me when they have the funds.

Or people who ask to come over to my home and see my whole collection. That happens a lot. No way. I'm no fool. I'll offer to meet them at a mutually agreeable location with whatever they intend to purchase. I never get a response after that. As if I would lead them to my house and let people rob it of my pets and whatever else when I am at work. Worse still, try to pull crap when my gf is home alone. That's one reason why she has a concealed carry license and we bought a suitable guard dog.

And adults who think my tortoises or turtles will make great pets for their four-year-olds.

Folks who contact me to tell me they don't have money to buy the animals, but will give them "great homes". I ask them what they'll do if a tortoise becomes egg-bound, and they say they'll take care of it "somehow", to which I say they can then take care of the asking price "somehow".

It just goes on and on.

 

[shadowx362]

AHH I hear what you are saying!! Its like they ask forever then they suddenly drop out of the radar. I wouldn't get upset if they at least told me or something, but they just leave me hanging
Luckily not too many people from here and other gecko communities do that, it's usually just locals
Anyways great rant, I think many people can relate , its just life.

 

[Nigel4less]

And this is when I usually take non-refundable deposits when someone says "Oh I want that Animal but I`m going to look around" I know it sounds rude, but time is precious and I can't waste time I could use taking care of my animals on Emails with no intent to purchase anything from me. I have no problem answering people's questions but what I think most people need to realize is my customers are my priority aside from caring for my collection. So please don't take it personal if you email a breeder(Not just me) and they don't back to you for a little while.

 

[fallen_angel]

I totally agree, I would send an e-mail to someone stating that I've changed my mind if that were the case, and I would appreciate the same type of respect in return. I can't stand how uncommunicative people can be via e-mail.. why? It's so easy to just send a nice little message really quick, it takes no time at all. But everyone thinks differently.

 

[acpart]

I think some people feel "bad" about saying no, or that they've changed their mind and would rather not deal with it, so they just don't do anything. It doesn't excuse it but it does explain it.

Aliza

 

[kyahbean]

I think I was the polar opposite of this when I was getting my AFT. I emailed him a lot. I wanted him to hold Puzzle for me, but I also wasn't sure if I was going to go to the reptile show, or if I was going to wait for one of Pat's AFTs. But I emailed him whenever I wasn't sure, I hope I didn't annoy him. I almost got a different gecko, and emailed him immediately when I had another prospect, just so he would know what was going on, because I felt so guilty about asking him to hold the gecko and then not being sure if I wanted to buy him. I do have to admit that I am guilty of over-correspondence sometimes, and I forget a lot of the time that not everyone is glued to their computer screen checking their email every ten minutes like I am.

I ended up falling in love with the pics of Puzzle, and what the guy told me about him, and buying him anyway. The seller was very understanding about my back and forth-ness, even though I have a feeling part of that is because it was over a holiday weekend, when he couldn't ship anyway LOL

But what would you guys as breeders want someone to do in that situation? Is it more annoying to get a bunch of emails telling you why the customer might not buy, or would you rather wait and just hear a "no thanks" a few days later?

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Unfortunately, people are under no obligation to buy if they make an inquiry... but when you spend so much time on the phone or email with people answering questions, it just seems like common courtesy for them to thank you for your time and let you know they will not be buying from you. It's even worse when they send you photos of the gecko they got from someone else!

 

[thestack510]

That is discourteous, in my opinion. I don't inquire unless I'm serious. I have dealt with a good number of well known breeders and I do my best to maintain a good relationship with each of them. I have been fortunate in my dealings with everyone thus far. Many thanks to all of you, you know who you are. The list is long, forgive me. I'll list you some day soon.

 

[OhioGecko]

Unfortunately, people are under no obligation to buy if they make an inquiry... but when you spend so much time on the phone or email with people answering questions, it just seems like common courtesy for them to thank you for your time and let you know they will not be buying from you. It's even worse when they send you photos of the gecko they got from someone else!

LOL, bite tounge. :wall:

 

[acpart]

As a breeder and seller, I would rather get lots of emails and back and forth communications. Even if the sale doesn't work out, as long as the person emails me to say they are sorry but have chosen something else, my disappointment is outweighed by my pleasure in being able to communicate about my geckos. It's like going to a few interviews and then finding out I didn't get the job, but at least being notified. I don't get that disappointed because I no longer expect that a sale is going to work out until I have the check in hand.

Aliza

 

[Nigel4less]

As a breeder and seller, I would rather get lots of emails and back and forth communications. Even if the sale doesn't work out, as long as the person emails me to say they are sorry but have chosen something else, my disappointment is outweighed by my pleasure in being able to communicate about my geckos. It's like going to a few interviews and then finding out I didn't get the job, but at least being notified. I don't get that disappointed because I no longer expect that a sale is going to work out until I have the check in hand.

Aliza

I definitely agree with you Aliza, I would at least have some say " Sorry but I found something else" then just completely blow me off.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

You know, many times you might lose a sale... but if you have represented yourself as a knowledgable and ethical breeder, many times they will come back and buy a different gecko from you in the future!

 

[Gecko]

If you want an email back you should probably state so is my opinion. Just a could you let me know if you decide not to get one, or something along those lines. Once you become a buissness people treat it a little differently. For instance you might walk into a store, ask a question and just leave after browseing.

 

[acpart]

If you want an email back you should probably state so is my opinion. Just a could you let me know if you decide not to get one, or something along those lines. Once you become a buissness people treat it a little differently. For instance you might walk into a store, ask a question and just leave after browseing.

I actually do email people who have been corresponding about a gecko, telling them that if they choose something else that's fine, but they shouldn't leave me hanging. They still don't respond in many cases. I'm not beating myself up about it, I know it's human nature. But look how much traffic it's generated.


Aliza

 

[kyahbean]

If you want an email back you should probably state so is my opinion. Just a could you let me know if you decide not to get one, or something along those lines. Once you become a buissness people treat it a little differently. For instance you might walk into a store, ask a question and just leave after browseing.

Well, I think that emailing online about this sort of this is a little different than walking into a store and browsing. I guess it depends on the situation. If I go into a small privately owned business and take up a ton of the person's time, asking a million questions, I'm not going to just up and leave without thanking them for their time. I think that's more along the lines of what people are saying about a courtesy email. Saying something like "thanks for your time, but I'm going to go another way, although I'll keep you in mind for my next purchase, should it come up."

I can see how it would be annoying to just be left hanging. At least in a store situation, even if I did just walk out without saying thanks for your time, they would physically see me walk out the door, knowing the sale went with me. Online, you don't have that closure.

 

[David Loftin]

You know, many times you might lose a sale... but if you have represented yourself as a knowledgable and ethical breeder, many times they will come back and buy a different gecko from you in the future!

Or even recommend you to someone else in the future.. :main_thumbsup:

 

[Sandra]

You know, many times you might lose a sale... but if you have represented yourself as a knowledgable and ethical breeder, many times they will come back and buy a different gecko from you in the future!

Or even recommend you to someone else in the future.. :main_thumbsup:

That's very true... I spend lots of time answering e-mails or pms from people around here, and at the end of the conversation most end up asking which morphs I breed, or if I have anything available... And I don't even breed right now!!! :main_laugh: But if I do I may have some people waiting! Also, in some instances I've been helped in return about other things I wasn't so knowledgeable. There's always some people that won't appreciate it, but...

I don't think it is a waste of time, at all.