Asking about price? - Page 2

Hi GSDfan, i believe you are right by saying that there might be different prices, when someone from the states calls Germany for a pup. Now, for me, that is not a correct behavior. But i guess many German breeders learned about the puppy prices from the americans. I do not see the point why puppy A should be less worth than puppy B. With all due respect, some pups in the states go for as much as 3000 - 4000 $!(or even 1500 to 2500$) Wow, a price a german breeder could only dream of. Now one can tell me, that this pup is of the finest breeding and of show quality and has a superb workingability .... In my experience this pup will be still a crapshot, unless you are able to predict the future ! If so, please let me know the numbers of the next powerball drawing ! There are so many uncertanties involved in raising a puppy, that a breeder simply cannot predict. Yes, i agree, if you buy a puppy out of good parents that are titled,breedsurveyed and have no genetic issues, your chances to have a sound and stable dog are way better. If you know on top of that that the breeder takes good care of his dogs, the better it will get. But to get back to the point of price : There is a certain pricelevel here in Germany. Now if someone is willing to pay more, should the breeder disagree ? I dont think so, but i also think he should not overprice it as well. I take a certain price, and i will take that price for every single one of my pups.And yes, one pup will always be the nicest, or the biggest or whatever you want to see ! In my opinion that does make a pup more expensive or less worth. Afterall, i did put the same effort and care into all of them. I also had a family looking for a pup and they were very pleased with what they saw.When they asked for the price, the guy said taht they were offered a pup for half of what i was asking. wHen i asked if they have been at the house of the breeder, seen the dame & paperwork of the dame, if the pups had their shots, were dewormed etc., they answered: We have only seen them in a trunk of a car in parkinglot of a grocerystore ! My reply : Go ahead buy a pup out of a trunk, if thats what you are looking for ! What i am trying to say is,quality has its price, but that does not mean it has to be a furtune. Kind Regards Ulli Dresbach

I know that it used to be with buying boats that "If you have to ask, you can't afford it," and I suppose that there might be some dogs that fall into this catagory. However, not being Bill Gates, the price of a new pup is always right up there on my own list of concerns. If a breeder thinks that his dogs are of such quality that you should not even ask the price then my checkbook will stay in my pocket no matter how much I like the dog. Maybe they should call Bill.

Personally I think everyone has a budget and that dictates alot on the ability to buy anything. People might be interested in all the right things like bloodlines, titles, hips/elbows etc. but if they can't afford it, they can't. I think if everyone just posts in their ad the price then it would save time all the way around. If it is to much they won't get called, if its in the ball park the right questions will come.

Right on, Proudpoppa! I also have raised and sold cutting horses for up to 40K, and I have every respect for people who need to know the price before going any further with the conversation. If the price is OK with the buyer, we go on to other particulars. I have every opportunity to end the deal if I sense that the home isn't going to be a good one. And I've done just that. I can't/couldn't live with myself if I sold a horse or a dog or any animal to a not-so-good home. It's a "sorting" process that takes many conversations between buyer and seller. I question the motives of a seller that doesn't want to be bothered with potential buyers who need to know the price first. You're right. We don't all have the deep pockets of the Gates family!!

If breeders think they're above dealing with cheapskates and knuckleheads, then maybe they shouldn't be in the retail business. Look...while I think everyone here agrees that GSDs are special animals that deserve educated or at least willing to be educated owners, the bottom line is that breeders are simply selling goods. And consumers are entitled to know the price of such goods, to comment on and question the prices quoted, and to tell you where they can get what they think are the same goods for much cheaper elsewhere. It's the seller's responsibility to explain why their goods are of better quality and command higher prices. Or not, if they decide they really don't want to make the sale. It's really that simple. Another favorite of mine is "serious buyers only!" Two points: how can anyone be in a position to be "serious" about buying your pup if they are calling to seek information, and how can they be a "buyer" until they get the information they seek? My legal practice is in a few specialized areas of law, and all of my advertising plainly states those areas. I still get plenty of calls from toe-stubbers who think they should get 6-figure settlements even though I don't do personal injury cases, people who want to take their silly disputes with their neighbors to the next level and then profess shock at the potential cost, people who want me to take their case without paying a retainer and even think I should advance all expenses including the fees of expert witnesses, etc. etc. etc. I'd LOVE to be able to advertise my rates because that might discourage some of the tirekickers and weirdos, but I'm not allowed to do that. Some days I spend quite a bit of time that would be far more productively spent elsewhere taking such calls, but every time I start to get frustrated, I remind myself that this is just part of putting what I do out into the marketplace. So in the end I try my best to be polite with these people and educate them as much as I can in a brief conversation. Being snotty doesn't help anyone, least of all me: the person with a nonsense case I talk down to today can turn into the person with a legitimate case I won't get five years from now. And the same goes for you breeders out there, too.

Wow, lots of replies, thanks! "I think if everyone just posts in their ad the price then it would save time all the way around" YES, I agree, Trailrider. Some dogs I've seen on here, I think "wow, I like him/her". But there is no price listed, and often I assume the price is out of my range. It would be nice to know up front in the ads instead of digging through pages of people's websites to find out. You know...I didn't list a price either when I put my dog up a couple of weeks ago, so I'm guilty also :)

I would breifly touch on the lower price to a "working or show" home. I have reduced prices from time to time when knowing that a person fully intends to "Title" one of our babies, I know that dog will receive the best of care, the best of feed, the quality time that is required for training, and so on. So yes for those individuals I will often lower the initial cost knowing full well that it will in the end "benefit" my kennel name and this particular pup. Trailrider, You make a good point, budget is budget, But 100. pup vs. 800. pup in quality that 100. pup might just break the bank with vet care needs, worming, shots, displasia, cocsidiosis, (not rare in the backyard pups) You catch my meaning though, cheap does not neccesarilly mean cheap. Sometimes cheap = much more expensive in the long haul. Ulli, hello friend :-) Wow parking lot of store, well it would be tough to compete with that price level wouldn't it ? Oh my I wish authorities would "OUTLAW" this activity. We get all them free store pups or 25.00 store pups here at the shelter usually dying from parvo, the vets here charge 40.00 and up for euthanasia and 1,200.00 for Parvo treatment, Our Euth fee is 25. So I get to be again the one who cleans up the messes of parking lot pups. I hate it !!! K-9Sar, those are good ones for you to hang up on, there are some people out there who just won't be educated. I get to see this everyday at the shelter. Good for you for not selling to that moron. Maligator, In my opinion it's not rude for you to ask prices... So long as you take into consideration the amount of effort that particular breeder has put into his/her dogs. Value is not cheap. if you inquire about price, be willing to hear why. and on the other hand if you get hung up on, then I would say that breeder has done you a huge disservice and has made the rest of us look like as*'s for that I would appologize, Typically before anyone even comes to see our dogs, It's litterally a minimum of 3 to 5 hours of phone conversations and numerous emails as well. I tell folks when they plan they're trip here to plan on spending a minimum of 3 hours here at our home, I offer up as much education as I can, give them plenty of reading material, Training tips, crate training basics, go over every bit of contract, Introduce them to every dog we own. Then sign contract fill out registrations AKC and Microchip. Give them deadlines on them. A puppy care kit and the encouragement to "call me anytime" !!!!!! Find a breeder who is willing to answer your questions !!! that's the best advice I can offer you. Best of luck :-)

If you put the price up front everywhere, in your ads, on your web pages and anywhere else you are listing puppies or dogs for sale, it would save everyone involved much time. To many persons are afraid to list their price. Afraid they will not get any phone calls? If it is to much to list the price up front, then it is to much to call and to much to ask the price. Persons rater not list a price then tap dance on how it is such a deal for the often inflated price. If you do not list a price up front, you must not have the confidence that they will sell for that price.

Echo I totally agree that when someone chooses a $100 puppy out of parents with no hip/elbows done, and a hodge podge of names without any titles in the first 4 generations etc. may get what they pay for. But there are alot of people that are willing to pay a descent price, that price might be $800 but not $3500. So what I mean is if the price is listed and you can afford the pup then you can make your call and both parties can ask their questions to check bloodlines,shots,worming,OFA's "or" fenced yard, work or pet pup, have you owned a GSD etc. I just think it would save everyone time.Because if you cannot afford it, it doesn't matter what the rest is.

alabadma i have to agree totally. i have a 5 page questionnaire that EVERY buyer has to fill out, along with numerous phone interviews and a mandatory trip tn my place to watch him or her interact w other dogs. if buyer lives close enough i virit their homes. if not i want to see pics and video of house and yard. to be honest i only approve 25-50% of people that call me. i would rather keep the pup than let it go to a bad home.