Asking about price? - Page 1

I noticed some people who state in their ad not to call and 'price check' or something. But if I left my full name, location, telephone number, etc, and expressed interest but first wanted to know the price of the dog, is that considered rude? More or less, I don't want to waste someone's valuable time if their dog is out of my budget, but I also don't want them to think I am less than serious as well. Any thoughts on that?

If you left all of the information that you mentioned then it certainly would not be considered rude, at least not to me. The typical (oh gee, my favourite kind) telephone call received by a dog breeder goes like this: "Hi, I'm calling about your German Shepherd puppies. How big are they?" "Stock size-that's all we breed" "Okay; how much are you asking?" "Well, different puppies are different prices." "Well, how much?" "Well, they range from $500.00 to $1,500.00 depending on quality and registration type." (Giant sucking sound) "Well, that's okay." "May I take your name and number?" "No, that's okay, we'll shop around some more." "Well, please call us again if we can help you." It breaks so much ice if someone who calls or e-mails me treats it as the professional business transaction that it should be. This is a purchase that lasts as long as the lifetime of the dog, and is what I consider a serious matter. The buyer has the right to know the asking price. As long as the buyer inquires in the manner that you suggest, then how could that be considered less than serious? Bob-O

When I inquire about buying a dog, price is always in my list of initial questions. A breeder may have a problem if the ONLY question is how much. Asking for a price along with many other important questions to me is not rude. Any breeder that thought I was rude for asking a dozen important questions including price is not a breeder I would want to associate with at all. Many puppies are overpriced and asking for a price is using common sense, not being rude. JMO, Robin

I believe asking the price of a dog or puppy is not rude at all. Many people need to know the price before asking for more information. It's only natural to want to know what's on the price tag before embarrassing ones' self.

i agree. breeders are usually busy and i know i would not want to go through screening only tn be told that is more than they can spend. i tell all callers the price range from the get go, and if they feel it is too much i just saved time, hassle, and headaches. bob my favorite question is, if i buy a puppy and breed it, what color will its puppies be?

Hello there, Bob, you hit the nail right on the head ! I believe we had some simular threads before. Asking the price for a pup i would not consider rude, after all, better to know upfront. As to pups are overpriced, that is something totally diffrent. That is something that each single buyer has to determen for themselves. If they are happy with what they pay, then i consider it a good deal. Plus what seems to be a furtune for a "working man" might look like a tip to a "rich man".Now to make this clear, we are not talking about quality or anything like it, just price. gsdfla, reading the question about the coulor of the future pups, made me smile ! You are definitly right, some of them questions are sometimes breathtaking ! I had one lady tell me that she would like to get a pup, but only if the pup would sleep through from 9pm to 7am, because she would not take it out during that time ! Needless to say, no pup from me ! Kind Regards Ulli Dresbach

Not so much concerned about them asking the price everything here is 1,500 and if you want a fifty dollar dog I prefer to know this up-front. I am more concerned about what do you intend to do with your puppy and a lot of people are offended more by my asking. Do you know about working lines the differences etc. do you have other pets, fenced yard, will it be put on a chain, have you owned a shepherd before, what do you expect its temperament to be etc, etc. I usually get hung up on many times which is fine would rather that than sentence a puppy to a bad home for money. I also get tired of we think your price is too high we just want a pet. What the dog does sport,pet,etc does not determine its quality/worth if so I can go down to the Lexus dealer and get one for half price if all I need it for is to drive around the kennel. What logic they use baffles me. Many also say I had one had before with hip problems,or health issues,or temperament issues but I paid 250.00 for him/her looking for that price range again makes me wonder did they not learn the first time.

had a guy call me abput puppy price. The first question..how much, the second wuestion why should i pay X when I can get one for $250.00 from the news paper? I tried to educate him about hips, temperments etc. His reply...well if its no good then I'll get rid of it and get another. Needless to say, he did not get one of my pups.

I absolutely agree with some of the rediculous calls from buyers wanting to get something for nothing (my friend is a breeder). Some of these people are so ignorant and have no clue about quality and would rather buy a cheap puppy from a puppy mill or low level pet breeder (they buy crappy dogs to breed and don't put any effort into their dogs for training and titling or money to screen for HD and other health issues), all they care about is the price! Anyways, the question about not listing price in the ad...this may not be the norm... but I've "heard" some will give different prices to different people. Once I heard someone talk about calling for a pup in Germany and got a price, then had a German friend call the same breeder and got a much lower price just because they spoke German. Maybe the breeder would rather keep his pups in the country or maybe they see dollar signs when Americans call wanting to import, I dunno. BUT I've also heard of breeders who REALLY want their pups in a show/working home offer them for less to people who will show and title the pups. Like I said this is just hearsay, but thought I'd share.

I would also like to comment on AlabamaK9's comment.. "I usually get hung up on many times which is fine would rather that than sentence a puppy to a bad home for money" Absolutely, and I also think that people who are trying to cheap out on purchasing a pup would be less willing or financially unable to give the pup basic nutritional and health care (quality food and vetcare, not to mention if something medically major happens ie. bloat, hit by car, etc.) would they be more likely to put the dog to sleep for a fixable injury, or pay whatever it takes to fix the dog. IMO that is very important.