Why are macks going so cheap?

[paulnj]

I have mack trempers and SStrempers that I produced and mack LVPA, mack blizzard and mack bells for this falls breeding season. I am very concerned about the investments I made lately due to some prices I see on the net on new codom morphs. Why are all codom morphs being devalued so quickly?

I am not pointing fingers at anyone, nor do I plan to, but I don't understand how codom prices seem to be way under what they should be and year to year the trend seems to be 30% of the going rate of the prior year.

 

[LeosForLess]

it exponentially decreased. first there was one mack, then there was 8 the next year, then 74 the next year, then 200, then 750 this year(somthing like that i dont kno) so basically they decrease with the more there are.

 

[David Loftin]

I think a lot of it is the fact that People are wanting to "get rid" of them as soon as they make them. In order to do that they have to undercut everyone. Which is really really lame for the rest of us. But.. I think the need for Recessive + Mack will be around for quite a while. Keep in mind, we are just starting to see a little of Line Bred x Mack Snow. And then crossing those line bred thing x Mack Snows into the Recessive Traits will be interesting when that comes along. I think that this will keep Mack Snows Value up for quite a bit longer. I am sure people still have new and different things in the Making with their Macks. I hope so at least.

 

[paulnj]

Paul,

True in a way, but codom morphs seem to be dropping much faster than other morphs. If this holds true then in 2-3 years a codom bell enigma male will be $400 and that SERIOUSLY concerns me!!!!!

 

[LeosForLess]

Paul,

True in a way, but codom morphs seem to be dropping much faster than other morphs. If this holds true then in 2-3 years a codom bell enigma male will be $400 and that SERIOUSLY concerns me!!!!!

that is just the way it goes sometimes

 

[David Loftin]

IMO Co Dominant and Dominant Morphs will always "de-value" much faster than Recessive Morphs. You don't have to wait the extra year to produce the morph. In 2 - 3 years I am sure an Enigma will be a very common morph. The big thing I keep thinking about is just aiming to make something completley different. Or at least something with your own spin on it. Yey Combination Recessive, Line Bred, Dominant and Co Dominant Morph.... ALL IN ONE! Sounds like fun doesn't it.. haha

 

[Jeremy Letkey]

Personally, I think that if you are looking at leopard geckos as an investment... you need to get a new financial advisor. :main_huh:

There are many variables that go into the market of reptiles.

This is the trend that we see with every single morph.
If you haven't seen it before... you have just not been around long enough.

A new morph only holds it's release date value for about 6 months. From there, the original morph will only decrease in value. Combinations of that morph will hold the approximate value of the original morph. This has been seen with just about every release of a new morph. I'm not just speaking about leopard geckos either. Take a look at the ball python market. I almost feel sorry for the saps that took out second mortgages on their houses to invest in the python market. :main_rolleyes:

 

[LeosForLess]

the only one not effected by it as much is the raptor, tremper did a good job making it seem like the #1 morph out that, and i pretty much was in my opinion, its held price for the longest time, still wont find one for less than 200-300. Its because theres 12340981239081230912830912390128309128309283901844210439824-98- different unknown recessive morphs involved with it

 

[Jeremy Letkey]

Uh, Paul, when were the RAPTORS released? I'll tell you April 2006. That is just 14 months ago. The cost of a RAPTOR 14 months ago? $2000. Yeah, I think your onto something there. lol

I would have to disagree with you on that point.

 

[paulnj]

Well my first trio of albino boas was $17,500, so I have seen many a reptile decrease in value as the market was flooded. I know the theory of supply and demand quite well.

Jeremy, you can't tell me that you don't plan to gain alittle with your projects, so that in itself is an investment. I was born at night, but it wasn't last night, so I know I will not buy a 2nd home breeding geckos anytime soon. It would be nice to be able to cover costs of maintaining my pets and make a little more to buy into new projects or strengthen existing one though.

My day job will always be my major income.

 

[PaulSage]

I think that sometimes people might post animals a little cheaper than they normally would because they're moving and spending $1,000 just on fuel making one round trip.

Just a hunch...

 

[robin]

I think a lot of it is the fact that People are wanting to "get rid" of them as soon as they make them. In order to do that they have to undercut everyone.
.

that is not quite true. you have to base the price on market value, availability (supply and demand) and the future possibilities of certain morphs and crossed traits. say a patternless mack or blizzard mack... what else can you do with it except make more?
generally if you buy a gecko at X amount a year ago expect the price the next year to drop by around 50% for the same exact gecko.
some people buy into leos thinking they can make money on them 95% or ever more never do. they do not make enough to quit their day jobs. most of us hope that we can just break even from breeding leos. we do it not to make money but because we love what we do.
the few fortunate ones who do make it at breeding leos for a living are the very very few lucky ones. the people who make money are the ones who are a year or two ahead of anyone else of said morphs.

the way to make money is:
a) be inventive. don't be a copy cat. do something original.
b) you have to be a step ahead of everyone else.
and
c) luck

thats it

p.s. if there was karma points here. i would be getting a lot of them because what i type, even if you don't like that it is true. sometime the truth huts

* however there are undercutters out there. none of which post here or not very frequently, if at all

 

[Jeremy Letkey]

Actually, I can tell you I do not plan to "gain a little" on my geckos. I hope to but I do not plan on any income from my animals. The market is too variable. Last year was the very first year I was in the black. This is after 7 years. The amount I was in the black would equal to less than $5 per hour of work that I put in.

Come to think of it I need to sell some geckos.

 

[KelliH]

If this holds true then in 2-3 years a codom bell enigma male will be $400 and that SERIOUSLY concerns me!!!!!

So, let's say Red Eyed Enigma males are $400 in 2-3 years. You sell 10 of them and bring in $4000. I guess I don't quite understand what the problem is?

 

[KelliH]

I think that sometimes people might post animals a little cheaper than they normally would because they're moving and spending $1,000 just on fuel making one round trip.

:shocked: :main_laugh:

 

[robin]

Paul,

True in a way, but codom morphs seem to be dropping much faster than other morphs. If this holds true then in 2-3 years a codom bell enigma male will be $400 and that SERIOUSLY concerns me!!!!!

why does that concern you? if in 2-3 years a codom bell enigma male goes for $400 thats actually quiet a good amount for a codom morph 2-3 years down the road.
2 years ago (2005) mack super snows were $1500.
2006 they were$400-$600
this year super snows will be roughly around $200-$150
so you can imagine the price of them next year.

so codom morphs are ALWYAS going to drop in price quicker than recessive traits. however codom animals crossed with recessive traits will hold a better value than just a regular codom animal

 

[robin]

Well my first trio of albino boas was $17,500, so I have seen many a reptile decrease in value as the market was flooded. I know the theory of supply and demand quite well.

i understand BUT boas and pythons take a much longer time to mature, plus they are not as easy to breed as leos AND they take up more space and a ball python female may lay up to ten eggs a year (thats really stretching it)while once single female leo can produce in upwards of 20 eggs per year. don't even get me started on boas LOL

 

[robin]

my god my ego is SO big right now because i am SO right. i even asked myself if i was and i said "hell yeah you are"

 

[KelliH]

*stroke stroke* Robin.

 

[paulnj]

Thanks for clearing it up