Ridiculous Prices

[goReptiles]

Ok, so I know it's been discussed, but really $1000 for a gecko of equal quality I've seen other breeders charge $250 or less.

Does the name really make that big of a difference?

I mean the same breeder drops $475 from the price if there are a small teeny brakes in the pinning. That's a great deal 3 geckos for the price, but in a way, it's the principal he holds his geckos so highly.

Ok, you do get a few free geckos, but really $1000 for a gecko that is much less with other breeders is ridiculous. I don't understand it.

 

[LIZARDLOVER]

I agree. Sometimes people expect WAY too much money for their geckos.

 

[Khrysty]

To be absolutely fair: while $1000 for a gecko is ridiculous, and a price that I WOULD NOT pay, $15 for a gecko is the other extreme. It undermines the quality of the animal and puts it in the category of the "throwaway pet" for everybody and their kid.

The prices should range, IMO, from $50 at the absolute cheapest, to around $500-$600 at the most expensive. This way the hobby stays pretty accessible, but safe from impulse buyers who haven't and won't research an animal they can just replace cheaply when it dies..

 

[bjleemkuil]

People buy them when they're that expensive, and that's why they can get away with pricing like that. If we didn't buy the prices would be lower

 

[LIZARDLOVER]

True, and I and I do agree with Krhysty, but I think the cheapest should be around 35 dollars, fifty is still a bit much for the lower end morphs, IMO.

 

[robin]

i may not like what someone charges whether it be a high price or a low price BUT anyone can price anything at whatever they want. if a person chooses to buy X gecko for X price that is their business.

 

[goReptiles]

I agree that if people will buy it, then breeders feel they can charge high.

But, what is it that makes some people feel that larger breeders animals are better than a small breeder who typically charges MUCH less for the same or, sometimes, better quality. That's what gets me.

I've seen geckos that warrant 1k price tag, but the particular one I saw definitely did not. It was nothing new or overly different.

 

[CapCitySteve]

Great conversation, speaking of cheaper prices, but not overly expensive either, for great high quality geckos.....has anyone seen my classified. lol

 

[OhioGecko]

i may not like what someone charges whether it be a high price or a low price BUT anyone can price anything at whatever they want. if a person chooses to buy X gecko for X price that is their business.

I agree Robin. And I don't think there is anyting wrong with a $1000 gecko. I also don't see why anyone should be offended or mad. The big breeders have taken a long time to build up their name and have also dedicated alot more time than 99% of us have toward the evolution of the morphs. The bigger breeders also use our hobby as their only income.

Anywho.... I hope I didn't offend anyone and that I was able to shed some light from the breeders side.

 

[robin]

I agree that if people will buy it, then breeders feel they can charge high.

But, what is it that makes some people feel that larger breeders animals are better than a small breeder who typically charges MUCH less for the same or, sometimes, better quality. That's what gets me.

I've seen geckos that warrant 1k price tag, but the particular one I saw definitely did not. It was nothing new or overly different.

generally the larger breeders have many years of experience, knowledge, a solid background with their animals and customers and consistency. this doesn't mean a smaller breeder does not have that but these bigger breeders can have it on a much larger scale. they have made a name for themselves (over a long period) for some of those large breeders this is their full time job (how they make a living, pay the bill etc). like i said though if breeder A has a gecko for $1000 and breeder B has the same gecko for $500 and you feel there is no difference then go buy it from breeder B and do not grump about the prices that breeder A is charging.
like i said anyone can charge as little or as much for a gecko as they want, if you do not think it's fair then simply don't buy from them.

 

[snared99]

The other factor is the gurantee of the breeder. I would pay more from a breeder whom has been doing this business for a long time, because there is a reason they have been around for a long time. Plus without higher priced animals, no one would be able to make a living of off this awesome hobby. Plan and short if you dont like the price move on, whether it is too high or too low. The people whom cut prices and sell too cheap are only being ignorant to themselves and to there fellow breeders. Try having this discussion in the ball python world, especially about under cutting...lol

 

[thegeckoguy23]

ya i hate that to i think its cuz they have a well known name so they think im so cool ill charge this gecko to 1000000000000000 bucks cuz i am a good breeder i would recomand ACPART from GF well this is GF but i have bought from her she is very nice and is welling to give good prices from 30-40 bucks and sometime higher

 

[Khrysty]

ya i hate that to i think its cuz they have a well known name so they think im so cool ill charge this gecko to 1000000000000000 bucks cuz i am a good breeder i would recomand ACPART from GF well this is GF but i have bought from her she is very nice and is welling to give good prices from 30-40 bucks and sometime higher

Jacob, I understand the higher prices (whether I like them or not). It's not because the big breeders think they can get away with charging that much, that they're "cool" or whatever. It's that they've been doing it longer, have put more into it (time AND money), give their customers EXCELLENT genetics and you're pretty much guaranteed to love their animals. Like it's been mentioned, some people do make a living off of this and have to cover their costs somehow.

That being said, I do think it gets TOO high sometimes. That's what I was saying earlier.

And I wouldn't touch the ball python debate with a 50 foot pole. Snakes are wayyyy out of my price range

 

[RampantReptiles]

I cant believe people get offended by geckos being less than $50... that just seems odd to me. I mean you buy a gecko off of here more than likely it is going to have to be shipped so you have to pay shipping on top of the price. Your $50 gecko becomes a $100 gecko... now for a low end morph isnt that not worth it?

Yeah over priced geckos annoy me and so I just dont buy from those breeders and try not to let it bug me. Yes I understand the reasons behind but then I remember places like JMG, who generally do not have grossly over priced geckos and they make a living off of their business and are successful. They've been doing it for 15 years? I actually have no idea if this is their only source of income.

 

[Khrysty]

I cant believe people get offended by geckos being less than $50... that just seems odd to me. I mean you buy a gecko off of here more than likely it is going to have to be shipped so you have to pay shipping on top of the price. Your $50 gecko becomes a $100 gecko... now for a low end morph isnt that not worth it?

Yeah over priced geckos annoy me and so I just dont buy from those breeders and try not to let it bug me. Yes I understand the reasons behind but then I remember places like JMG, who generally do not have grossly over priced geckos and they make a living off of their business and are successful. They've been doing it for 15 years? I actually have no idea if this is their only source of income.

I never said I was offended >.<
And that's not a feesible price ($50 for a normal) for a gecko you're going to have shipped. I just know that a gecko in a pet store or at a local breeder's for instance that is priced for $35, is more likely to become an impulse buy for me than a $50 dollar normal, ya know?

 

[CapCitySteve]

So what is everyone's opinion. If you need to get rid of the stragler babies from the prior season to make room for the next, what's the best way to do it without undercutting?

 

[robin]

Try having this discussion in the ball python world, especially about under cutting...lol

LOL!

 

[ang3l3s]

I agree Robin. And I don't think there is anyting wrong with a $1000 gecko. I also don't see why anyone should be offended or mad. The big breeders have taken a long time to build up their name and have also dedicated alot more time than 99% of us have toward the evolution of the morphs. The bigger breeders also use our hobby as their only income.

Anywho.... I hope I didn't offend anyone and that I was able to shed some light from the breeders side.

Agreed 100%, there are $1000 balls .....why is $1000 too much for a gecko??

 

[KelliH]

God Bless America and the free market system!

 

[jmlslayer]

God Bless America and the free market system!

Enjoy it now cuz it wont be around for very long if obama is still prez :/