Groan......

[Rich Z]

Yeah, figuring out pricing will be interesting. How much is an Ultra Amber or Sunkissed worth? Or an Ultra Sunkissed? Will I be able to tell if an animal is actually a Hypo Ashy Silver Queen or Hypo Ashy Charcoal? I've tried just putting question marks on deli cups before with some animals I really didn't know what they were, but that didn't work too well. So do I just make up some outlandish names for these new creations and then duck for cover? :shrugs:

Of course, that did work when I coined the name "HyperXanthic" for the leopard geckos one year at Expo...... :laugh:

 

[Walter Smith]

Yeah, figuring out pricing will be interesting. How much is an Ultra Amber or Sunkissed worth? Or an Ultra Sunkissed? Will I be able to tell if an animal is actually a Hypo Ashy Silver Queen or Hypo Ashy Charcoal? I've tried just putting question marks on deli cups before with some animals I really didn't know what they were, but that didn't work too well. So do I just make up some outlandish names for these new creations and then duck for cover? :shrugs:

Of course, that did work when I coined the name "HyperXanthic" for the leopard geckos one year at Expo...... :laugh:

Here's a thought Rich, on the ones you are not sure what they actually are, just lable them by the adults and their known traits they were produced from.
Then everyone would have an idea of what traits are involved, and they could prove them out.

Or, would there not be enough space on the lable for that???..:shrugs:

Walter,
:crazy02: BOUT' CORNS !!

 

[Rich Z]

Here's a thought Rich, on the ones you are not sure what they actually are, just lable them by the adults and their known traits they were produced from.
Then everyone would have an idea of what traits are involved, and they could prove them out.

Or, would there not be enough space on the lable for that???..:shrugs:

Walter,
:crazy02: BOUT' CORNS !!

Yeah, in some cases, it would be a LOT to write on a label.

Maybe I should do something like that and just sell the entire clutch right out of the egg. Since I'm not keeping anything this year, it wouldn't matter to me what hatches out.

 

[VinnyJ]

Since I'm not keeping anything this year, it wouldn't matter to me what hatches out.

If you don't mind me asking... why aren't you keeping anything this year? Are you pumping the brakes on your operation a little? If you are I would totally understand given the amount of work involved. Just wondering.

 

[Rich Z]

If you don't mind me asking... why aren't you keeping anything this year? Are you pumping the brakes on your operation a little? If you are I would totally understand given the amount of work involved. Just wondering.

When my ducks are all lined up in a better row, I'll say more about what is going on..........

 

[El Jefe]

Maybe I should do something like that and just sell the entire clutch right out of the egg. Since I'm not keeping anything this year, it wouldn't matter to me what hatches out.

On that line of thought...if it doesn't matter what hatches out I'll pay wholesale price for any of your sunkissed combo clutches. Since sunkissed are surely in the mix and you retail them for $50...how about $25 ea for anything sunkissed based :sidestep:

When my ducks are all lined up in a better row, I'll say more about what is going on..........

I don't whether to be or

 

[Rich Z]

On that line of thought...if it doesn't matter what hatches out I'll pay wholesale price for any of your sunkissed combo clutches. Since sunkissed are surely in the mix and you retail them for $50...how about $25 ea for anything sunkissed based :sidestep:

Sorry, but that's not what I am considering. More like someone buying an entire clutch, regardless of the resulting hatchlings for $1,000 or so. Kind of a snake lottery kind of thing. :laugh: You might get all normals, or you could get a dozen of something no one has ever seen before.

This is just in the "thinking" stage, of course...

I don't whether to be or

Too many variables in the future right now. Just because I WANT to do something doesn't necessarily mean that I CAN.

 

[Caryl]

It's only been one short year since I submerged into this delightful hobby. Yeah, I'm still in the joyful phase. At any rate, Rich, even newbies like me appreciate all you and Connie have done. I can't imagine tending to the kind of numbers you have, but I can (unfortunately) relate all too well to needing a pain pill to get through the tasks that MUST be done. Best of luck to you both this season.

 

[hoho19]

Just imagine when you and Kathy and Don retire... Prices will skyrocket because of increased scarcity. Doesn't that bake your noodle.

 

[stephen]

Rich

I really hope you stick with it longer,man reading this really does almost make me feel sick..................
Things will pick up and get better. I hope you have a good year both health wise and sales!

 

[El Jefe]

Just imagine when you and Kathy and Don retire... Prices will skyrocket because of increased scarcity. Doesn't that bake your noodle.

Somehow I think when these people leave they aren't taking thier animal with them. Those critters will be in the population and someone else will be producing them.

 

[Rich Z]

I just finished up the nose count for my inventory. Not counting the stuff that is listed for sale on my 2007 and 2008 price list, there are 1660 corn snakes here. Found stuff I had forgotten I had. That Sunkissed Amelanistic Motley looks pretty wicked looking..........

Got other stuff I don't have any idea what they are. I know the genetics they came from, but what they really ARE is a horse of a different color. And LOTS of question marks scattered all through the inventory. So how do you put a price on something that you don't know what it is, and might be the only one in the world like it?

LOTS of females shedding their skins, so breeding season is definitely getting ready to commence shortly.

Tried to hire a third person for this year, and basically just gave up. Talked to the two guys working for us and have settled on giving them raises and hope to hell neither one gets in a car accident or medical situation.

This is going to be a tough year, I think. Lots of mixed emotions going to be raging over the next several months. Irrevocable decisions are going to need to be made. Not to mention all the things going on in the world that might influence everything I need to do.

I'm selling off most of my gun collection. I came to the realization that if I should kick the bucket, leaving all that crap to Connie to have to deal with would have been cruel. No way she could have figured out everything and gotten real value from them. She would have been cursing me every day.

Quite honestly, it's the same situation with the animals. If something were to happen to either one of us, the other just could not cope with it all. And the older we get, the more likely it is that just exactly that will happen sooner or later. Yeah, my appendicitis last Spring was definitely a wakeup call. I'm taking it as a warning that should not be ignored.

No, I think it is getting to be time to move on and try to get some fun out of life and quit working every day before that choice is taken from us.

 

[TheCornPit]

Life is to short as it is. What ever descion you make do it with no regrets.
No doubt if you were to leave the business you would be greatly missed by all. But you have to do what right for you and Connie.
I think it very smart of you to start putting things (such as the guns ) in order for Connie. Recently another great Herper passed away and now his family is left with there entire business to sell as well as there home.

Like I said before whichever way you decide to go, do it with no regrets.

Hope you have a great season!!!

 

[kathylove]

I certainly understand...

Bill has a HUGE book collection. It is nice to have...but...it certainly isn't anything we actually use much. It mostly just looks nice on the shelves. Most of the info we need is in just a few of the books. Or online. And someday (maybe not that far away), we are going to want to move out of the boonies and closer into town, into a smaller place. We probably won't have room for all of the books, animals, and other assorted stuff collected over the decades. So we have also been thinking about the future.

I remember my grandma not wanting to drive at night when she was in her late 60s, and am thinking about all of the driving we have to do to get ANYWHERE from here, lol! You live out in the boonies, too, Rich, and are about my age, so...I understand where you are coming from, for sure! I know you said earlier that you don't want to sell your property when / if you sell your business. But there might come a time when you don't want to have to drive a half hour to an hour just to go shopping, or I suppose, doctor's appointments, as you get older.

Wow, we sound like such old foggies!!

 

[hoho19]

Somehow I think when these people leave they aren't taking thier animal with them. Those critters will be in the population and someone else will be producing them.

I know that they will most likely sell off their inventory, but how many people do you know that could take 1600 breeding snakes in and logistically be able to produce 3000+ babies. Even 4 people took 400 breeders each that's still a logistical nightmare. There will be a hiccup in the supply chain for a year or 2.

 

[Caryl]

LOTS of females shedding
This is going to be a tough year, I think. Lots of mixed emotions going to be raging over the next several months. Irrevocable decisions are going to need to be made. Not to mention all the things going on in the world that might influence everything I need to do.
............
No, I think it is getting to be time to move on and try to get some fun out of life and quit working every day before that choice is taken from us.

Well said, and wise. Tough decisions are tough, sure enough. And the ups and downs and hectic busy-ness of day by day combine to make it challenging to find the right course, much less stick to it without endlessly second-guessing oneself. The opportunity to choose eventually is revoked for all of us, sometimes suddenly and sometimes so gradually that we don't realize the change until it's over.

Whatever you decide, grab some happiness while it's happening. You know we all wish you nothing but the best.

 

[Rich Z]

There are just too many unknowns involved to make any predictions. I don't even know for certain what I will DO, much less the potential outcomes of any of the available decisions. Quite honestly, at this point, the most hoped for criteria for any decision is the least amount of work and headache involved. Heck, if someone rich enough came to me and offered me several million $$ for the 50 acres and the business, why I would be foolish to not at least consider it. But things NEVER go that smoothly or easily for me. Even if it SEEMS like things are going easily and smoothly, I would be pretty certain that I am overlooking something really important that is going to bite me in the butt later on.

 

[Caryl]

Predictions? I certainly wouldn't risk any predictions of what I'll do - much less for anyone else! I'm doing well to figure out what I DID, sometimes. And just when I think I have it all sorted out, :duck: !

Why is it that, when something is overlooked, it's never something that makes things flow ever more smoothly or turn out so much better than planned? You're right; those overlooked things always come after crucial parts of one's anatomy with teeth barred.

 

[Drewby07]

**clutches mega-millions ticket tightly**

The jackpot is 85 million....so exactly how MANY million would it take to make you REALLY consider it??:devil01:

 

[Rich Z]

**clutches mega-millions ticket tightly**

The jackpot is 85 million....so exactly how MANY million would it take to make you REALLY consider it??:devil01:

Man, I really don't know. Getting me to give up my bamboo groves won't come cheaply...........