Cheap males...

[Riven]

I just had to rant. I've been contacted lately by people looking for superior quality males for cheap.

Ask any older rancher, especially the ones on the winners lists after the shows and they will tell you that you get what you pay for. If I am looking for a quality male I expect to pay at least $200 - $300 for one that is a good all around male.

I see people pay at least that for one good female, but she only affects one litter, then I see people put these expensive females with a cheap male and wonder why they aren't getting quality kits. In a run your male will influence at least 3 females litters! I run some of my good males at 6 females to get good use out of them, at $300 that's only $50 per hole!

Usually, you get what you pay for. And it's not just the "pet breeders" that I'm seeing this in. Anyone else seeing this trend?

 

[starleomach]

I am seeing this trend.....Very sad.

 

[Kansas City Chinchillas]

Seems to be a trend.

 

[Riven]

Oh... now "it can be a white too, whatever is cheaper"

 

[designer chins]

I don't market a large volume of chins, so I have not personally experienced this lately but I agree with "you get what you pay for". If I'm looking for a male for breeding, I have specifics in mind and know I'm going to pay for what I want. I also know I'm not going to get "the perfect chin"--everything needs improvement in some aspect, but some people don't seem to realize that.

Some people just aren't being realistic!

 

[RDZCRanch]

I don't sell a lot of my chins to other breeders. I'd say about 98% of them go to pet homes...so I haven't really seen a trend towards the males. I have noticed that people in general are wanting cheaper and cheaper chins. They seem to think that the chinchillas I sell should reflect the economy. My stance on that little number is that if you're hurting from the economy...you shouldn't be adding a new pet to the family. Pets cost money...if you don't have enough for the initial start up cost, how can you afford their long term care?

 

[Riven]

I always browse CL and stuff, not like I NEED anything, but I always end up randomly looking, and I see tons of " Wanted large breed dog for free" or the we want to add a small breed puppy to our family, but we can't afford much so it must be free or $25...

Makes me wonder why they can afford food for it if they can't afford it!

 

[Terbear24]

It is a trend for people to want to breed really nice chins but also want to pay nothing for the chinchilla because they cant afford that much. Its a little bit annoying. I see it with my dogs too! For one of my male chins I have paid as much as $500 for a champ!

 

[starleomach]

I was dealing with a woman who wanted a cheap female to breed. Not only that but she was SCARY on so many levels. She is still convinced I would not sell to her because I am "afraid of the competition" anyone in my area who needs her name I will pass on her name as well as the emails. She shouldn't even own an animal let alone be breeding I am not entirely sure she can walk and chew gum at the same time.

I have a list of people who turned her down before she got to me LOL she is going right down the list

 

[threewingedfury]

I think that some people can afford it, they just don't want to pay it because they think they can make a buck or two from saving. I always invest more money in my males than I do the females, though my females aren't very much cheaper either because I also buy top quality females. I'm really surprised Nicole mentioned that on average pay $200-300 for a good male. I'd be VERY lucky to find a good male around here at that price. Most I find are $350-400. I have also paid $500+ for nice males and I know others who have paid closer to $1000.

On the other hand, I can't make $150 off of the majority of my chins because of the economy, though I've spent over $250 each on over 75% of the animals in my herd. I've had a really hard time selling chins lately because people expect them to be dirt cheap. It's not just males, it's chins in general. I was contacted by a lady looking for a quality male to start up her herd, and when I offered a very nice male at a very low price (much lower than what I paid), she said it was too much, then contacted me later on about a horrible unmatched mute pair of chins she got off of CL from a breeder closing out because she got SUCH A GOOD DEAL and she needed my advice on adding in goldbars and blue diamonds into her herd. People amaze me.

 

[Riven]

Many of my males I get for specific lines, etc. and I deal with the breeders often so they cut me deals. It's not unusual for a good male to run $500.

At the last show I picked up 3 quality standard males, one was young, I paid $200 for him because I knew the lines and what he would be. He also has one ear, lol. But that's nothing that will be passed on.

Price has a lot to do with where you are, who's around you, if they like you ( it's true, me though... people just feel bad for me because for the last several years my standards look like they came out of the dogs mouth, lol ), what lines you're working with, etc.