Can Someone Please Help...

[Ferrah]

Awhile back I was venting about how tough of a time I had selling my beautiful quality Holland Lop rabbits that put hours into every day and paid a lot of good money for. Its not that I don't have enough people interested in them, it's that no one is willing to pay what they are worth.

Can you guys please help my selling strategy? Here is what my ad currently says:

Rabbits, pedigreed Holland Lop rabbits. The smallest breed of lop rabbit. Weigh approx 2 3/4 to 4 pounds when mature. Lots of pretty colors in solid and "broken" pattern. Very well socialized babies and well loved adults for sale. Great conformation, bloodlines and show records. Great for 4-H, showing, breeding stock or pets. Come with food & care guide. $25-$50 ea.

Maybe I should not have the price? I don't know. If the people come to look at the rabbits I can pretty much guarantee a sale! I don't have enough money to put a photo ad in the paper. But if I do not have a price in the ad, they will call and want to know the price.

I would love to sell to pet stores, but they will not give me more than $20 a rabbit, and that is way too low. I do send some of my poor conformation black baby bucks there, as I find the black bucks the hardest to sell, adn they go well at the pet store.

This is so frustrating! I get so many calls, but people willing to pay what they are worth are few and far between! Maybe if they know how much I paid for my foundation rabbits they would think what i am charging is cheap.

Aren't they cute, beautiful and fabulous? Who wouldn't want them?

 

[Robin1]

Do you compete with them at the State and County fairs? I have a cousin that raised rabbits for years. She got most of her contacts at the fairs.

How about advertising an open house and have people come by between certain hours so they can see the little cuties. Who wouldn't fall in love with that little face?

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Robin

 

[ChrystalPaths]

You have written a very good ad. I for one think the price does belong in an ad, I won't bother calling an ad without a price. Your prices are fair depending on the quality and bloodline of the bunny. When I raised and showed rabbits years ago I pretty much sold (or traded) at the shows. It was rare to sell from home.

Oh I had some who stopped and wanted a pet which there is always a pet. They'd see the sign "Wishing Well Wabbitry" in a pretty wishing well. If a show was in town (Syracuse) I sometimes got a visit looking for a particular breed bunny. I bred Hollands, Dwarf Hotots, and Himalayans. Hollands are perfect bunnies for pets.

If you have too many I would cut back on the breeding; concentrating on breeding only in time to show the Jr does and bucks when the show is ready too. Easter time is really the only time folks are buying bunnies and I really hated selling easter bunnies as I ended up rescuing so many once they lost the cute baby factor. Best of luck. AS I said your ad is good but the market just isn't there. Your prices are ok for show bunnies but most folks won't pay more than $10 for a pet. The most I was ever paid was $250 for my BOB dwarf Hotot sr buck.

 

[Marty]

I would type out a letter and print out a good picture.

Then, go advertise OUT of the box, out of your area.

I would send a copy to every 4 H Ag. Extension office in your state to alert the leaders, or fax it.

Parents will pay the money for a good rabbit for a 4 H project. Heck, they'll pay thousands for a show horse for the kid.

You have a good thing going. Don't give them away at bargin prices.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

"Absolutely Adorable", hand tame, tiny baby Bunnies. Can easily be house trained, and are incredibly pretty, cuddly and ready to delight any child. Prices range from $25.00 for a cute pet Bunny to $50.00 for a serious 4H contending registered Show Rabbit. All have the same gorgeous temperament irrespective of pedigree. Hop on over and pay us a visit, we will be happy to show you round and, just like our Bunnies we promise we do not bite.

I hate to say it BUT the "cutsier"the Ad gets the more interest the people pay!!!

 

[sharon]

They are so adorable!! I don't know why they aren't selling. Around here, bunnies sell for usually $40 in pet stores. Can you maybe rent a table at a flea market? There's a lady around here that does that. She gets the same table all the time and it's nice a shady. She puts hay on the table and writes the price in the ear of the bunnies in washable ink. Also, she puts D or B for doe or buck in the ears. She also has available, food, bowls bottles and small starter cages. Her bunnies are usually $25 and up. Sometimes she has them cheaper, but they are ones that are not good quality or have an ear missing or something.

Can you make a flyer with info and a picture and hang it in feed stores in your area?

 

[rabbitsfizz]

And put up a huge sign "Buy them before they MULTIPLY!!"

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[mininik]

Here's a thought: Stop breeding your rabbits until you have a waiting list of people wanting your bunnies! You won't have to worry about advertising, just screening for the best homes possible.

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[ChrystalPaths]

Jane I want you to write my ad copy for the Missy muffet girl. That is a super ad.

 

[Ferrah]

I will derfinately be using some of your suggestions. I don't breed any rabbits in the winter. Right now I am trying to sell one five months old and two eight month old does. They are from my summer 4-H project. They orginally already were spoken for, but their buyer backed out.

I only keep four breeding does and unfortuneately to keep them in breeding shape I have to breed them at least once a year. If you don't use it...you lose it. I would cut back to two or three breeding does, but from four litters a year I only hold back maybe one or two youngsters as show prospects because I am really tough when I cull them. I really like the breeding and showing aspect, and buying winners is not as fun as breeding and raising your own winners.

I will try all of the suggestions that I can. Thanks everyone.

 

[runamuk]

This is just my experience....I found I only sold show bunnies at show's or by making contact at shows.....bunnies in the paper are typically the true pet/feeder quality so $5-$20 tops......I never had a pet store willing to pay more than $10...and I could get $2-$3 a piece for feeders or for the wildlife rehabs.......personally I wasn't big on selling pets as so many people buy a cute bunny then the fun wears off.....so most of my pet quality were sold as feeders......I raised dutch, polish, and jersey woolies.......dutch produce alot of culls because it is tough to get those markings correct

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