Asking about price? - Page 3

and echo i have been known to reduce purchase price for certain people as well provided i know the dog is going to be worked or titled. people who are working and competing with their dogs are people who are not only bonding with their dogs, but are showing responsibility. and dogs that have something to do are happier than their lawn ornament counterparts.

Trailrider, I agree I think it would save time, I usually do post prices on my ads. gsdfla, Absolutely agree 100% !!

I remember a person visiting the kennel in Arkansas as I was moving this summer. Nice guy who had spoken to my wife during the late summer of 2005 when we were selling a litter. He asked her the prices, and she told him the price range. He replied that he thought that was too much, said thanks, and goodbye. This guy drove up while I was working outside and taking the large kennel barn apart so I could make it into a three-car carport. He told me that he called us during the past summer, and I remembered the conversation that he had with my wife. He asked if I had any puppies or very young dogs for sale, and I didn't. He told me that when he called the late summer before that he thought that we charged too much, and then he went and spent MORE MONEY for a puppy who was just not what he expected. And he didn't expect a great deal; he just wanted a nice, normal GSD who enjoyed playing ball and one who would stand strong and bark if a stranger appeared on the property. He asked if I was willing to train his puppy to do these things for a price. I told him that I could not, since I would no longer have a safe place to keep him. I used my dogs as an example of some simple exercises to build confidence and drive while he paid attention. We talked for quite a while, and he was extremely impressed with the demeanor of all of my dogs, the high prey drive, and the excellent tracking work of my old working-line bitch demonstrated on a very simple track and a bit of sleeve work. The poor guy paid more than I would have charged him for a puppy bred from one of our girls and a nice V-1 male owned by another kennel. He also suspected some health problems with the puppy, and I gave him my advice on that matter-take him to the veterinarian and have him tested for this and that. I felt sorry for the guy, as he had purchased a puppy of possibly decent lines, but with no temperament evaluation and no guarantee. All for a higher price, because he may have been embarassed to call us again. That is what I like about using a website. The parents, accomplishments, guarantee, and my telephone number are listed there. So when people see the puppies they know who and what they are before they bother to call. And in my last litter we had two (2) customers who were referrals from customers the year before-the best type of advertising. And of course you give these people a bit of a price break. On the rare times that I buy an adult or very young adult, of course the price is important to me. I can usually guess what I am going to pay, and more often than not I am pleasantly surprised. It just bugs me when "how much?" is the first thing from someone's mouth, because if the price that I charge is too high, then the puppy may not be going to a good home. A sale that I don't need to make. Bob-O

... yes, but a buyer needs to ask you before they know the price if it's not listed on the ad or website to see. You can be as reputable as the high heavens .. that doesn't mean the buyer has ESP on your prices. If you don't post the price in the first place... you should expect that question right off the bat. Nothing to get mad over. IMO. Melissa.

Melissa, I don't become angry if a customer asks me a price or price range, as I certainly expect that to come up sooner rather than later! It's just sometimes how the question is asked that causes me concern. I tend to set different prices depending on temperament evaluation and physical evaluation, but that is quite a common practice. And there are those who set the same price for the entire litter. I have done that as well when there are no (potential) superstars in the litter and everyone seems to be but pet/companion quality, and their price reflects that. When I have a price range, I always disclose it and explain why there are differences. I do it my way as people can see the puppies on the website and educate themselves a bit before they call. Most customers have owned a GSD in the past and know what they want. There are a few wh have never owned a GSD or other purebred dog and have no clue as far as pricing. I do not mean this as an insult to them-we all have to start somewhere. I put it this way; when someone calls me they tend to have made up their mind that they want one (1) of our puppies and now they want to know the price(s). They usually tell me they have called the telephone numbers listed in the newspaper and have made some comparison between what I offer and what those breeders offer. The amount of detail covered by the website gives them a fairly good idea what to expect from a breeder. I don't compete with the breeders who sell puppies from a cardboard boxes in the bed of a pickup truck, and from visiting the website people tend to educate themselves before they make the call. When they finally meet and are interviewed by me they usually come to the conclusion that they are buying a puppy for who a lot of thought and effort have gone itno its creation. They don't get this kind of service from the breeders who sell cheaper puppies. I put it this way. Years ago I ran a classified advertisement in the state-wide newspaper and I usually printed the price and my telephone number. I still recieved a lot of "how much?" even with the price stated, as if they were trying to work a deal. Nowadays I do not list my telephone number-just the website address from where they can find my telephone number. I get a lot fewer calls, and most of the ones that I do recieve are from people who are serious about purchasing a puppy. If they decline, I politely ask them to make a fair comparison to their breeder of choice, hold them at least to the same level of accountability, and may the best man win their business. I think that education of the buyer is of utmost importance. They must know what they expect to get for their money-no more no less. Bob-O

If the first question from a prospective pet buyer's mouth was - "how much fer dem puppies" - I automatically wrote them off. However, I do think that asking price upfront when prospecting for a show/breeding prospect is reasonable and expected. I myself would not write off any breeder just because they didn't put prices in their ads. Why limit yourself that way? Talk a bit to the breederand get a feel for their ethics and breeding program, find out about the litter and then, if you are still interested, ask the price. If you're the breeder, you can always say early on - I am asking x number of dollars for a show/breeding prospect. There are any number of reason for a breeder not wanting to put prices in their ad. It doesn't necessarily mean they are hiding anything or they are testing the market to see what it will bear.

I would add that I have known quite a few people who decided to "upgrade" to a "high" dollar dog(as we say in Texas) and were highly disappointed with what they received. For me I have to save up to buy a new pup and I have paid up to $2500.00 but I expect a good quality dog.

Blitzen-precisely my point. The prospective customer looks at the website, examines the parents, ancestors, titles, etc. and sees if he/she is interested enough to call and inquire about the price. They have the opportunity to educate themselves a bit before they inquire about the price. The short conformation and temperament critique is published under a picture of each stacked puppy and it gives the potential buyer some idea of the quality of that puppy at that time in his/her life. People can see why this puppy or that puppy may have a different price. DesertRangers, I agree with you 100%. If I spent $2,500.00 for a puppy I would expect him to leap from the kennel with his first title-just kidding a bit. That is a lot of money to pay for a puppy, and yes one can become very disappointed when the $2,500.00 puppy is no better than the neighbour's backyard-bred GSD that cost him $200.00. Bob-O

Exactly Bob-o.......... I would suggest some people have better websites than GSD's!

Problem with $2500 puppies is that you cannot absolutely guarantee they will be what I think $2500 should buy. You can get a nice "green" dog for that. I for one am a working man with 4 kids and prefer my wife to stay home and raise my children rather than have day care do it and live what some would call the "high life". As such I have sacrificed the luxury of buying $2500 ANYTHING. I don't understand why more people dont provide quality pups for $1000 to $1500. As such I have to train harder, smarter, and longer because I can't afford the absolute best in pedigrees. And yet I, unlike some with deep pockets and no common sense about GSD's, can provide 10 times the home and life for a top caliber puppy.