Dart Den
Serving the Dart Frog Community Since 2004...
Dart Den

Serving the Dart Frog Community Since 2004...

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Buyer Etiquette
#1
I feel there needs to be a certain level of respect in buying or selling to someone.

Whenever I'm buying from an individual, I finish the deal quickly within a day or sooner. Simple. I want something someone has, I send them the money and relevant info needed right away and they ship out next day or so. Process is done in about 2 days if not sooner.

Back in my fish days often I would have people who wanted my fish. They'd ask me to hold them for them, that they would buy them and that's it! I wouldn't hear anything back! So then Id message them back asking if they still wanted what I was selling. This would be after 4 or 5 days later of no response. I get the response oh yes I want them. And then that's it again! But the moment I update that they have been sold, they message me back all irate as to why I didn't contact them. The way I see it, stalling a sale esp when others are interested is not very respectful to the seller.

I guess I'm just one for quick results. Some people have gotten mad at me for asking them 2 or 3 days after if they still want to purchase what I'm selling.

Anyone's thoughts?
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#2
I completely agree with you. I sell bearded dragons, specifically clearnails/hypo/sandfire crosses, and as such, typically have a waiting list, and or recieve emails/calls about particulat animals for purchase. I started a policy concerning the waiting list, that I contact the person on the list when the young are born, informing then that they will be availible for purchase in 2 months, then again in two months when they are a good size for sale. If I dont hear anything within 48 hours, I consider the animal as for sale again, and contact the next person down the list/advertise the animal. Ive had 'buyers' contact me up to a month or two later, irate because I no longer have the animals available - dont get me wrong, Im more than willing to hold animals with at least a partial down payment. I think some people thingk of private breeders as WalMart, where we get merchandise in on a set schedule, and have a layaway policy.
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#3
About the rudest thing I have had happen to me when selling animals, is someone contacted me wanting pics of some frogs I had for sale...I knew this person was intending to buy them elsewhere (not by them telling me, but by me putting 2+2 together), but I sent them pics anyway...though I was kind of irked.

Also, when shipping is involved, it would be nice if the buyer would let the vendor know, at the earliest opportunity after getting the package, whether or not the animals made it OK.
I haven't had any problems with animal shipments, but still, there is a certain amount of stress/worry involved, and the sooner you hear they made it OK, the sooner you can start thinking about something else...
Brian T. Sexton
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#4
Vertigo Guy,

Perhaps the easiest way to solve your dilemma is to put a time bound on your offer as in 'my offer to sell you X frog(s) for Y price is good until (insert date/time)'. Then explain that if you don't receive payment by that time then the frogs will go to the next person on the list. As long as you give the person a reasonable window in which to complete the transaction there should be no complaints from reasonable people. Note that I said reasonable because some people choose to be unreasonable at times.

It is up to you to decide under what circumstances you would flex the timing as in repeat customer, good friend, etc.

Bill
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#5
Thank everyone for your insight. I'll be using this as constructive criticism to enable me to be a better seller. Like Bill said, people can be at times unreasonable and some of the recent previous ppl I dealt with were IMO unreasonable which prompted me to get ppls opinions to make sure if it was me or not who was being unreasonable.

Cheers,

C
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#6
Hi All,
Here's what I usually do with most of my stuff , the majority of which has a wait list. Someone contacts me wanting to purchase "X" frog. I make sure they have the experience to take care of the frog and then ask for a deposit of usually 50% and give an expected delivery time frame. If someone is in a huge rush, and this rarely happens, it generally was not meant to be. If someone can not come up with a deposit for a frog I am fairly sure will be ready to be delivered within a reasonable amount of time, it wasn't meant to be. I have had a few deals that took WAY longer to come to fruition than I expected due to frogs not being ready, and I sincerely apologize to any froggers out there who may have had to experience the longer wait , but for the most part if the frogs are breeding well and there are tads and froglets , there should be a decent guess as to when they should be delivered. I have had one guy by the name of Rich Haas on the east coast who actually physically threatened me, and claimed he was in the mob Confusedhock: Confusedhock: Cry , . I would not sell reginas to him after he threw a hissy fit over the fact that I sold the last two Sens lines imis "out from under him" because he took WAY too long to confirm he actually wanted the frogs and had put down zero deposit. That guy is one of the few on my "no sell" list. What irks me at times is when a frogger will bug me week after week, sometimes week ,after week ,after month ,after month , ask for pics , promise a deposit , and then have an "unfortunate financial hardship" at the last moment. I think most of us know our financial standing and should be able to agree to the sex, quality , line, and age of the frog we are interested in , put down a deposit and then expect said frog to arrive in great shape within a reasonable amount of time. Sometimes this doesn't work, but it should most of the time.
I guess my main thought after all my run-on sentences is that financial dealings should be agreed upon and settled in a very timely manor. Shipping a frog need not be rushed.

Rich
Darts with parasites are analogous to mixed tanks, there are no known benefits to the frogs with either.


If tone is more important to you than content, you are at the wrong place.

My new email address is: rich.frye@icloud.com and new phone number is 773 577 3476
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#7
I'm relatively new to the dart frog hobby, been in it a little over a year now, and I don't get the impression that to most people being on a wait list means you are commiting to buy the frog. I DEFINITELY think it should but I think to a lot of people it means the breeder is going to contact them first when they have frogs available and then they'll decide if the timing is right.

I have no problem putting down a deposit to get on a wait list for a frog I want as long as the breeder is up front with me as to where I am on the wait list and gives me a fairly accurate time frame when the frogs will be available. If sh*t happens and the frogs won't be available when the breeder originally thought I should then be given the choice of staying on the wait list or getting my deposit back.
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#8
Just so most people DO get the right impression, being on a wait list means you are waiting to buy a frog, not ponder the purchase when the frog becomes available from the breeder.

I have never refused a refund from a deposit, even if I question the story of why the frogger is backing out. But froggers in need of a refund are a fairly rare thing and the fact that most of my frogs have people waiting for them makes it a bit easier on me. I would however hate to be a breeder who depended on people who said they wanted a more common frog that may take a bit of time and effort to advertise and sell, only to have someone back out. Taking pics, answering phone calls and emails, explaining husbandry issues, and trying to have some semblance of a schedule for delivery all take time and effort. Another thing to remember is that when someone backs out of a deal or decides not to take advantage of his or her turn on the wait list , the next person on the list may not be ready financially or may not have a viv ready for the bumped frogs. Frogger "X" backs out when his frogs are ready in May, frogger"Y" was told his frogs would be ready in June so frogger "Y" has not save enough cash (being a month sooner than June) and frogger"Ys" viv has no broms for tads.
I think that common sense would dictate to just be as honest with the breeder and yourself as possible when thinking about buying a frog. If the price is a bit more than you can afford, don't buy it. If you say you will send a deposit within the week, send it .If you are ambivalent about a purchase, don't get on a wait list. If the frog is not going to be ready within your hoped time frame there is not much a breeder can do about it. Hopefully the breeder was accurate in his guess as to when the frog would be ready but this is not always as simple as it may seem.

Rich
Darts with parasites are analogous to mixed tanks, there are no known benefits to the frogs with either.


If tone is more important to you than content, you are at the wrong place.

My new email address is: rich.frye@icloud.com and new phone number is 773 577 3476
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#9
YEP............what Rich said. As a buyer I agree with all of that.

I'm actually a little surprised there aren't more breeders taking deposits for frogs on their wait lists. I think other than Rich the only other breeder I can think of is Patrick.
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#10
gary1218 Wrote:YEP............what Rich said. As a buyer I agree with all of that.

I'm actually a little surprised there aren't more breeders taking deposits for frogs on their wait lists. I think other than Rich the only other breeder I can think of is Patrick.

I'm not jacking the thread---but your froggy is the best on the board---looks like a masculine froggy flex pose...
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#11
It is my favorite avatar as well. Just too cute!
Candy
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#12
I did a recent poll on the "other " forum.The majority responded 6-10 PM's/Emails were needed to seal a deal, these days it seems there are quite a few more "window" shoppers out there.All that I ask as a seller is if there are holes in the info in the add please ask ALL questions to fill those holes in a single PM response ! These days it does seem like there is a little more "work" to this selling thing!
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#13
So question on this...If I am buying something or intending to buy something from someone...I attempt to make a deal and a meet on it. The other party doesnt want to ship, but cant do the meet on the upcoming weekend, no problem. But then make arrangements that I want to do it the following weekend, but the other party posts still available that Monday, a week before your supposed to get so called item. Your having problems with going back and forth on finding a suitable meet spot but ask to make it a little easier on you coming into the new territory for something simple. But you shaved off a chunk of time on the meet for the selling party. At what point do you get pissed and just say F*#@ the whole thing? Because I am at that point, especially after seeing the still for sale post.
Thanks, TJ
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#14
Depends on how bad you want the frogs and the price you get to pay. If they are rare frogs and/or offered for a bargain price and your aware you will have little to no recourse after purchase, then go for it. Else I would say move on, there are plenty of great folks, prof and hobbyist, who are flexible and offer good frogs.
Scott - North Dallas
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#15
Lately it's been "bad" for the hobby - selling /buying, that is. I suspect ALL exotic animal hobbies are enduring this as well. The economy is partly to blame. People just can't buy willy-nilly like they used to several years ago, and now you have much more tire kicking, backing out and even "buyers remorse".
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#16
Yeah but its the seller being the issue... At least in my eyes, I mean I could be in the wrong here...but I feel the seller is. Now it has gone to the point where I just want to make a point. I mean with over 50 plus frogs, I would say my money is good at least somewhere. That's not counting all the lizards either. But I have had the pleasure of dealing with all great people and not a single negative at all. I know others haven't been so fortunate! So I wanted to see if maybe I was looking at this all wrong now.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk
Thanks, TJ
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#17
I agree with TJ on this one. The seller keeps changing or wants us to come closer to him to pick the frogs up. He stated in his add he was willing to travel so far but now he doesn't want to go as far as he stated. Plus the stuff TJ posted in his original post.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk
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#18
Everyone still see a lot of "backing out" of deals ?....I'm seeing it.
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"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana".
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#19
I have avoided a ton a drama by sticking to a very basic philosophy.

I don't confuse a "buyer" with a "potential buyer". A potential buyer is someone showing interest. I owe them a polite and friendly discourse. I owe them detailed information. I owe them prompt responses and accurate shipping estimates.

A buyer has actually paid in full for the frog. I owe them all the above plus healthy frogs packed safely and shipped at a time that we can agree on. I owe them a live arrival guarantee and specific info on what can and cannot void that. I owe them consistent frequent communication once the frogs have been shipped with tracking info. I owe them consistent frequent communication if weather has become inclement and I can't ship. I owe them at least one follow-up email after the frogs have been received to make sure they were satisfied. I owe them my gratitude for choosing me to buy from.

I don't hold frogs or give loans. I am very very clear with potential buyers that as soon as I receive the money, the frogs are theirs. I don't have a waiting list (understandably different than a lot of frogs Rich works with). I don't post frogs until they are ready to ship. I very rarely take deposits or spread out payments and if I do I am very specific about the terms. I very rarely trade frogs unless it's in person, or the person online has an impeccable reputation.

I know the way I typed that it makes me sound hard-ass or inflexible, but I'm really not. I've adopted this policy to make sure nothing in the deal is nebulous. Because I am very specific I have no "misunderstandings" with buyers that balloon into flame wars. Also, at least at the time of this post, I have no dissatisfied customers. None of that is a shot at hobbyists that choose to do it differently, but I think it avoids a lot of future acrimony if you K.I.S.S.
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#20
TO me personally i won't do a wait list any more. Im not sure how it is with buying frogs but the few times i have been on wait list for reptiles it always seems to go bad. When i put money down on something and the buyer takes the deposit and put you on a wait list he is saying that you are guaranteed to get what you're paying for. I also think that a seller shouldn't have more people on their waitlist then what they have for sale, example if your selling 10 frogs then you should only take deposits from 10 people. I dont think it is right to take money for more people just in case someone backs out. This is why i won't do wait list any more and only go looking when i am ready to buy.
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