Classified/selling options other than cs.com?

[zwyatt]

At the risk of doing something taboo, I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions of places other than here on cornsnakes.com to sell or post classified ads for snakes. I know about Fauna Classifieds, Kingsnake, and obviously craigslist. Thanks


As an aside:
I understand restricting classifieds here on CS to only contributors to an extent, but at the same time, isn't there a way to allow reputable members to post a classified every now and again? :shrugs: Maybe by holding the post for revision and approval by a mod and only allowing 1 classified every year or whatever? For example, I'm moving to another country and have 2 snakes (one cornsnake and one other species) that I would like to find good homes for, but I have no access to the decent, snake loving/knowing people here because I can't post in the classifieds. I'm not trying to get rich, nor hoping to flood the cornsnake market with 'bad' snakes, nor do disreputable business. It's not even about the money. I certainly don't trust the average Joe on craigslist. It looks as though I can post on Fauna, but I don't "know" those folks nor that community as well, and since I'm not a breeder looking to make big money, I'd just as well prefer that I make a few cents but get good homes for my two snakes than make a mint and send them to just anyone. Sigh...I guess I will have to try to give them away to friends....

 

[kathylove]

I don't know of anyplace more effective than here or KS. I believe a KS account costs quite a bit more than the $25 here, and it won't be just the corn community who sees them there.

I am not quite sure why you don't want to spend the $25 to post here? If you were looking at it as just a $25 cost to post an ad here once, then it would seem expensive. But since you have already posted more than 1000 times here, and you already seem to acknowledge the quality of the members here, you get far more than just the ability to post ads. You get to help support the site that you have been using to connect with other like minded people. The suggestion you made about checking out free ads would add to the work of the mods who already work for free. I guess $25 per year just never seemed like a lot to support a site that I spend a lot of time on, even though I rarely post ads here.

Even though you are moving to another country, hopefully you will still want to stay connected to our community here, so the $25 won't be "wasted".

If you were going to just give away your pets, how about this idea? You pay the $25 membership fee, and then ask for the $25 back to recoup the fee from whomever you give your snakes to? Seems like that would be a good deal for everyone - you, the recipient, and this site.

 

[zwyatt]

Hi Kathy, I appreciate your reply. I'm sure you don't remember this but we met once at an NARBC show in Chicago (actually the same year that I bought the corn that I am currently looking to find a home for) and the first corn I ever bought was a yearling snow from YOU!...way back in 2005 (I think).

You make all good points, I guess I just don't feel the exact same way on all of them. I have, in fact, been a contributor here in the past and was happy to pay the money when I was able to be here, contribute, participate and stay connected to others that share the same interest. While it's true that I've posted nearly 2000 times, I really haven't been able to be here as much in recent years. Though I still love the two snakes I do have, I haven't dedicated as much time to CS in part because I was in undergrad (lot more free time on my hands) back when I was posting all the time. As many people who have been avid posters on here for awhile but then posted less and less over the years know, for a lot of people life and many other interests and priorities sometimes start to chip away at the time that one can dedicate to any one activity. There was a time I didn't have a dog, fiance, job (other than school), etc. Shoot, if I was on here half as much now as I used to be, I wouldn't have a fiance anymore now! If I had found a way to make snakes a business or be able to keep a large collection, I'm sure I would still be here ALL the time!...just like I was back when I had more snakes and more time.

You are absolutely right about getting that $25 back IF I was able to find someone. The reason I was looking at it as a potential loss is that 1) I have a very limited market since I can't ship and so can only find someone in the Chicago region and 2) from the years I was very active here and the times I've been able to check in, I've seen many very nice animals (proven breeders too) that have been difficult for very reputable breeders to sell - even at 'steal' prices! So I don't see posting a classified here as a certainty of sale, but rather one more option that it would be nice to have in order to find a good person with a real interest in snakes.

Anyways, hope I haven't come off as combative! Thanks for your reply

 

[Christen]

I have actually had good luck with local sales and ebay classifieds. Believe it or not. lol It seems that people go on there just to look for what they want and don't jerk you around because you have something they might make a quick buck on. A couple of the nicest people I have met and sold snakes to on there.

 

[Buzzard]

We among many other members on here have an Iherp account which is free. It allows you to not only keep track of husbandry but also allows you to post classifieds. Right now, it is luck of the draw with any site....

 

[crackerhead]

You live in Chicago so you have access to the Wheaton show twice a month. Scott allows people to bring in animals to sell for a small fee (I believe it is $5). You have the opportunity to sell to the patrons, as well as, the vendors. There is usually a very big turn out (1000 people through the door) and lots of vendors. So you have ample opportunity to rehome the animals. Plus you get the added bonus of talking to the people who are interested in buying your animals. I think you'll get a better feel for an individual when you can ask lots of questions. Given that it is local and you will have the animals with you, there isn't the hassle and cost of shipping either.
The next show is this coming Saturday.

Terri

 

[zwyatt]

You live in Chicago so you have access to the Wheaton show twice a month.

Great suggestion, thanks. I hadn't even thought about that. Although, it's probably good that I haven't thought of that show since I've lived up here or I would have ended up having to find homes for who knows how many animals!

 

[kathylove]

Yes, I do remember your name, but couldn't remember exactly where I had heard it. Figured it was here on the forum. Glad you still have that corn!

Since you are in Chicago, why not check with the herp society? It is big and active, and I am sure some of the members would be interested in a new pet. I think Jason Hood is either past or present President. He is an old friend who used to live in Florida (although I think he is too young to be classified as an "old" friend, lol!) and who started out with rat snakes. I think he or the other members might help you. Here is their site:

http://www.chicagoherp.org/

 

[Rich Z]

At the risk of doing something taboo, I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions of places other than here on cornsnakes.com to sell or post classified ads for snakes. I know about Fauna Classifieds, Kingsnake, and obviously craigslist. Thanks


As an aside:
I understand restricting classifieds here on CS to only contributors to an extent, but at the same time, isn't there a way to allow reputable members to post a classified every now and again? :shrugs: Maybe by holding the post for revision and approval by a mod and only allowing 1 classified every year or whatever? For example, I'm moving to another country and have 2 snakes (one cornsnake and one other species) that I would like to find good homes for, but I have no access to the decent, snake loving/knowing people here because I can't post in the classifieds. I'm not trying to get rich, nor hoping to flood the cornsnake market with 'bad' snakes, nor do disreputable business. It's not even about the money. I certainly don't trust the average Joe on craigslist. It looks as though I can post on Fauna, but I don't "know" those folks nor that community as well, and since I'm not a breeder looking to make big money, I'd just as well prefer that I make a few cents but get good homes for my two snakes than make a mint and send them to just anyone. Sigh...I guess I will have to try to give them away to friends....

I'm curious, but if you were to walk into your local newspaper (which I presume sells advertising space) and ask around inquiring where you can get free advertising instead of paying their going rates, how do you think they might view such an action on your part? Or walking into a restaurant and walk around the tables asking all the customers if they know of a place where you can get a free meal instead of having to pay the prices that restaurant wants to charge. Do you think you would be very popular with the restaurant owner and staff? Why don't you just walk into those places and slap them in the face? It would likely have the same effect.

How about putting yourself in my position for a moment and reflect on how such a post you made here might strike you if our roles were reversed.



Seriously, what is your REAL purpose here with this? If you know of FaunaClassifieds, then you know that you can post classified ads there for free, and traffic there is pretty substantial, so what in the heck are you REALLY looking for? Quite honestly, if you didn't have a history here of being a real member, I would have booted you out immediately for being a troll just trying to start trouble.

So tell me, what exactly are you up to? Have you decided to BECOME a troll?

 

[Carinata]

I personally do around 90% of my sales on Kingsnake and Faunaclassifieds/Cornsnakes.com. The res of them I do on facebook or a few other small forums. Kingsnake is by far the best (no offense, Rich!).

 

[zwyatt]

I'm curious, but if you were to walk into your local newspaper (which I presume sells advertising space) and ask around inquiring where you can get free advertising instead of paying their going rates, how do you think they might view such an action on your part? Or walking into a restaurant and walk around the tables asking all the customers if they know of a place where you can get a free meal instead of having to pay the prices that restaurant wants to charge. Do you think you would be very popular with the restaurant owner and staff? Why don't you just walk into those places and slap them in the face? It would likely have the same effect.

How about putting yourself in my position for a moment and reflect on how such a post you made here might strike you if our roles were reversed.



Seriously, what is your REAL purpose here with this? If you know of FaunaClassifieds, then you know that you can post classified ads there for free, and traffic there is pretty substantial, so what in the heck are you REALLY looking for? Quite honestly, if you didn't have a history here of being a real member, I would have booted you out immediately for being a troll just trying to start trouble.

So tell me, what exactly are you up to? Have you decided to BECOME a troll?

Rich, WOW. I never expected such an aggressive or combative response. I can see your perspective and I will give you the benefit of the doubt on your accusatory take given that you feel like I'm trying to take money out of your pocket. However, I'll happily tell you exactly what I am up to and explain my perspective.

First of all, I feel like I have never been anything but honest and forthcoming on this website. I've given countless people advice when they were in tough situations, I happily paid for a subscription in the past when I was actively using the site, and I was 100% honest and truthful when I had perhaps the worst situation a collector or breeder could have. How many people would explain to everyone that their collection had been infected with a nasty parasite at the risk of being permanently 'marked'. I took the situation head-on and told everyone not only to be honest but to try to help others that might find themselves in the same situation...something that the breeder I almost certainly got the parasite from didn't do. I think that says something about my intentions and the person I am, even if it was several years ago.

As I stated, my intention was to find someone who would give my snakes a good home. They may be 'just snakes' but I don't want to sell them or even give them away to just 'anyone' on Fauna or another site who I don't know or who others here don't know or trust. Even if I don't know everyone here on a first name basis nor have I been very active lately, I know the community and my way around the forum and can relatively easily get a feel for who someone is. To that end, my point was to ask whether others had any experience of other places I might try.

Yes, I also to the opportunity to ask about the policy on paying for classifieds here on CS. Part of what struck me as surprising is how quickly you were to point a finger at me, throw accusations, assume I'm a bad person, and generally lash out rather than take the opportunity to explain why the policy is the way it is. People questioning your policy is just part of being a business owner, right? Does everyone who asks a question about policy here - whether it directly regards money or not - receive that kind of response? I'm a rational and logical person and I respond very well and am very happy to receive a rational explanation. Any business owner that provides a service and charges a fee has to know exactly why they offer the service and why they charge the fee they do, right? It's not 'just cause'.

If you had said "Look, I charge this fee and think it's reasonable for reasons X, Y, and Z." then I would have happily accepted it even if I didn't like it. And you would have put to bed any doubt that other community members have about the fee schedule. But since full or part-time breeders can, and often do, pay the $50 fee to have their own forum to provide an outlet for their sales, it seems like that is a perfectly good business model and outlet for people who are looking to sell snakes on a regular basis. Since the classified service is far from a sure bet for any seller, someone who is looking to sell 1 or 2 snakes ONE time, has to look at it as a potential loss of money. So what benefit do I actually get from paying a fee that gives maybe a 50/50 shot at success? Maybe you have reasons that you think the $25 is justifiable, though you leave me with doubts after your previous response.

If I had a lemonade stand and charged $4 per cup using what appeared to be the same lemons, glasses, water, and sugar that my competitors use and charge only $1 for, I wouldn't do much business at all if the first customer who asked me why I charge $4 got a rant and was chased away being called a troll. If I explained that I use organic lemons that I grow, pesticide free, GMO free, recycled and recyclable glasses, etc. etc., then the customer can decide if I'm justified in charging the higher price. Maybe slightly over-simplified, because I know you're a smart guy Rich, but I think you can now see how you would feel if our places were reversed.

In the end, if you are truly that offended and don't want to explain, then I'm perfectly happy to delete my comments above or you are welcome to delete those comments or any others I've made. Afterall, what would the world be without censorship? Although, any chance that might have existed for me to be a patron of the site, or come back at some point to share my interest and knowledge about snakes with others in this community is now gone, as I don't feel like a welcome member when the community owner attacks me for asking a question about the way things are. Rich, I have only ever had respect for you and was only hoping to get clarification on the classifieds policy. I certainly never intended any personal or professional hardship towards you. I'll leave it up to you whether my account and comments stay or go.



...now, where's my bridge

 

[Rich Z]

Rich, WOW. I never expected such an aggressive or combative response. I can see your perspective and I will give you the benefit of the doubt on your accusatory take given that you feel like I'm trying to take money out of your pocket. However, I'll happily tell you exactly what I am up to and explain my perspective.

First of all, I feel like I have never been anything but honest and forthcoming on this website. I've given countless people advice when they were in tough situations, I happily paid for a subscription in the past when I was actively using the site, and I was 100% honest and truthful when I had perhaps the worst situation a collector or breeder could have. How many people would explain to everyone that their collection had been infected with a nasty parasite at the risk of being permanently 'marked'. I took the situation head-on and told everyone not only to be honest but to try to help others that might find themselves in the same situation...something that the breeder I almost certainly got the parasite from didn't do. I think that says something about my intentions and the person I am, even if it was several years ago.

As I stated, my intention was to find someone who would give my snakes a good home. They may be 'just snakes' but I don't want to sell them or even give them away to just 'anyone' on Fauna or another site who I don't know or who others here don't know or trust. Even if I don't know everyone here on a first name basis nor have I been very active lately, I know the community and my way around the forum and can relatively easily get a feel for who someone is. To that end, my point was to ask whether others had any experience of other places I might try.

Yes, I also to the opportunity to ask about the policy on paying for classifieds here on CS. Part of what struck me as surprising is how quickly you were to point a finger at me, throw accusations, assume I'm a bad person, and generally lash out rather than take the opportunity to explain why the policy is the way it is. People questioning your policy is just part of being a business owner, right? Does everyone who asks a question about policy here - whether it directly regards money or not - receive that kind of response? I'm a rational and logical person and I respond very well and am very happy to receive a rational explanation. Any business owner that provides a service and charges a fee has to know exactly why they offer the service and why they charge the fee they do, right? It's not 'just cause'.

If you had said "Look, I charge this fee and think it's reasonable for reasons X, Y, and Z." then I would have happily accepted it even if I didn't like it. And you would have put to bed any doubt that other community members have about the fee schedule. But since full or part-time breeders can, and often do, pay the $50 fee to have their own forum to provide an outlet for their sales, it seems like that is a perfectly good business model and outlet for people who are looking to sell snakes on a regular basis. Since the classified service is far from a sure bet for any seller, someone who is looking to sell 1 or 2 snakes ONE time, has to look at it as a potential loss of money. So what benefit do I actually get from paying a fee that gives maybe a 50/50 shot at success? Maybe you have reasons that you think the $25 is justifiable, though you leave me with doubts after your previous response.

If I had a lemonade stand and charged $4 per cup using what appeared to be the same lemons, glasses, water, and sugar that my competitors use and charge only $1 for, I wouldn't do much business at all if the first customer who asked me why I charge $4 got a rant and was chased away being called a troll. If I explained that I use organic lemons that I grow, pesticide free, GMO free, recycled and recyclable glasses, etc. etc., then the customer can decide if I'm justified in charging the higher price. Maybe slightly over-simplified, because I know you're a smart guy Rich, but I think you can now see how you would feel if our places were reversed.

In the end, if you are truly that offended and don't want to explain, then I'm perfectly happy to delete my comments above or you are welcome to delete those comments or any others I've made. Afterall, what would the world be without censorship? Although, any chance that might have existed for me to be a patron of the site, or come back at some point to share my interest and knowledge about snakes with others in this community is now gone, as I don't feel like a welcome member when the community owner attacks me for asking a question about the way things are. Rich, I have only ever had respect for you and was only hoping to get clarification on the classifieds policy. I certainly never intended any personal or professional hardship towards you. I'll leave it up to you whether my account and comments stay or go.



...now, where's my bridge

Looks like it has being burned to me.....

Exactly the sort of response I would expect from a troll just trying to start trouble, fella.....

And I just really let it slide that you were making a back door advertisement of your animals here in this thread instead of becoming a Contributor member as is REQUIRED. I was interested in seeing how other members would react to your ploy.

So you EXPECT any establishment charging for their services to EXPLAIN it to you why they charge what they do? You sit down at a restaurant, glare at the prices on the menu and then loudly PUBLICLY DEMAND that the owner(s) explain to you why they are charging what they charge for the services they offer? Good luck with that......

The gist of what I am gathering from your posts is that you apparently believe you are *special* and none of the rules should apply to you. Is that it? The universe should mold itself around your wishes because you don't WANT to pay the $25 that everyone else has to in order to advertise here. Instead you want to debate the WHY of this fee in the hopes that you will be able to find justification of saying why I am the bad guy because I do require this fee. Hoping to find some sort of loophole that will allow you to get what YOU want for free.

Quite frankly, if you don't like my policies or how I run this site then you are perfectly welcome to go elsewhere more to your liking. And if you think I want to spend my time debating with you on the point of why YOU don't want to spend the money that everyone else here has to in order to advertise here, and shouldn't HAVE to, you are dead wrong about that. But I will give you a subtle hint: I am retired. Think about it....

 

[zwyatt]

you are perfectly welcome to go elsewhere

Done. Again, I apologize for the apparent grief and hardship that I've caused your relaxation in retirement. I do think I am special and entitled to everything, the world SHOULD cater to my every whim. Haven't I tried to claim that again and again in the last 7 years being on this site?

You are also correct that I was trying to get a backdoor advertisement here, that's exactly why I've posted details on my snakes like sex, age, species, morph, etc etc. and exactly why I've been responding to the flood of PM's I've received of people wanting them (that would be ZERO pm's for those who don't have the ability to see my account). Rich, obviously we will never see eye to eye on this because you clearly feel you're looking down from your high horse while I only humbly was hoping for clarification on policy. Even if that clarification had been "It is what it is. If you don't like it, don't buy it." You are correct that you are not required to give me any explanation what so ever and that is exactly why the consumer is free to take their 'business' elsewhere. And again, yes, you are a bad guy for wanting to feed yourself and your family. How dare you, sir. (Hopefully everyone can sense the sarcasm)

If you decide to leave my account open and my body of posts on the forum, I'm happy to let people look back and judge for themselves whether I'm a troll or a decent person.

Hope retirement is treating you well...you know...other than having to deal with horrible people like me.

 

[El Jefe]

I personally do around 90% of my sales on Kingsnake and Faunaclassifieds/Cornsnakes.com. The res of them I do on facebook or a few other small forums. Kingsnake is by far the best (no offense, Rich!).

I used to personally buy 90% of my snakes from breeders I found on Cornsnakes.com. The rest were purchased locally. There are many great breeders, but some I wouldn't buy an empty shipping box from (no offense, people!).

 

[Carinata]

I sold at least 75% of my Cornsnakes last year on this site. This place really is worth the $25 to advertise!

 

[Lovin2act]

I will say that I too have always wondered why Fauna is free to post classifieds and here on the sister/brother site, it is not. Being that they fall under the same ownership and such, it always struck me odd a bit. But whateva, I never really cared about it. Just wondered was all. But like the man says, go post our ad's on Fauna if we want to post them for free. I can deal with dat And I thank him for providing us with Fauna to do so! It is an awesome site!!