Mantid Forum "Specials"

[GreenOasis]

Been trying to decide how to do "specials" for the mantid forum members through the website, and I think I have a solution...not unlike Rebecca's occasional offerings.

I think that what I will do is begin offering my new hatchings here at a reduced price (because they will be L1, their most vulnerable stage), but in a few weeks, after they have molted, I will post them as available on the website for full price. Some more fragile species I may keep until L3, which means that I simply won't post them for sale on the website until L3, but they will still be made available through classified ads on HERE at L1-L2. Hopefully, this system won't cut me short for shows or my website, but I should still have "surplus" older nymphs for the website (once they are old enough for me to sex and determine how many of each to keep!)

I'm just posting this so that folks will understand, if they bought something at a higher price on the site and then come here and see them for less...it's not that I'm trying to rip off a newbie, honest! The ones I offer HERE will either be new babies, sometimes better left to those with more experience (i.e. forum folks), or older ones that I don't want to go to waste if someone else on the forum could use them.

I hope that makes sense!

 

[PhilinYuma]

I think that you are doing great, Carey, but a number of us stay away from buying L1 nymphs because they don't travel well, particularly in winter. Perhaps you could sell them at L! and keeop them for an extra week until they molt? Of course, you will lose some in the mean time, but you will have happier customers. Perhaps someone has a different opinion on this?

 

[GreenOasis]

If someone from the forum here wants to pay for them when I offer them in the classifieds at L1, and then ask me not to ship them until after the first molt...well...that's fine for me!

What I don't want to do is get stuck "holding" a bunch for folks that say they want them, but not till L2...feed them, care for them every day...and then have the person(s) turn around and not buy them when the mantids have shed! That means opportunities lost for me, if you know what I mean!

 

[PhilinYuma]

No one can blame you for that. It is a fact that the older the nymph, the more it costs, so you would be doing folks a favor, and you should absolutely exopect them to pay when they order. If they want to pay later, they should be charged extra.

 

[warpdrive]

I think what you are doing is great. but I don't fully agre with Phil...sorry.

if someone wants a reptile I have, I have no problem holding it for them...but I must have a deposit or I can't hold it. full payment is fine too. but no deposit, then it is still up for sale. otherwise, I'm wasting my time.

don't get caught up with too much kindness. we need kind sellers, but it can and will hurt everyone if you are too nice.

Harry

 

[GreenOasis]

It is actually the "holding" of reptiles that got me onto this thing of "no more holds" (unless prepaid)...I had someone not too long ago contact me & say they wanted a pair of bearded dragons. This was right before the reptile show, but, since they said that all they needed to do was transfer the money into paypal & pay, I figured I'd do them this favor and chose my nicest pair of juvies for them & even sent nice pics for them, so that they could see what they were getting. I also told them that I had a show coming up over the weekend & would like for them to confirm for me again that they would indeed get the pair. They came back with "Oh, yes, we are definitely interested...please hold them back for us & don't sell them!" I went out of my way & did that...even set the two up in a separate cage...the people never responded again. I have e-mailed at least twice asking if they were still interested & that we still had "their" dragons...no answer. So, considering that bearded dragons were good sellers at the show, I can't help but think that I missed out on getting them sold there.

Given the short-lived nature of mantids, I would be extremely irritated if I "held" a large amount of young nymphs & then had the person change their mind after weeks/months of deliberation (and me caring for them)...I think it is just much easier to have people prepay if they want them, than having to pester them week after week, saying, "You still want these nymphs or what? They molted to L3 two weeks ago!" ...or some such thing.

I am more than willing to work with folks...especially established members who have been deemed by others as trustworthy...but, in general, I don't want to get hosed. I am, in fact, TOO nice & trusting by nature, so I have to fight with that sometimes. (It's a wonder I make *any* money, honestly!)