Just Venting

[Ferrah]

I apologize in advance for my venting.

I breed, raise and show Holland Lop rabbits. Some of my rabbits are sold as breeding stock or show rabbits, but many of the lesser quality ones are sold as pets. I advertise my pet rabbits at $30-$40. I think this is very reasonable as the pet stores are selling rabbits for $50-$60. All my pet rabbits come with a care guide, hay and enough food to last a week. All my rabbits are 100% health guaranteed for 30 days from the purchase date, and the health of their teeth is guaranteed for life.

I paid very good money for my foundation stock. I paid upwards of $100 for my herd buck and $75 for my best breeding doe. Holland Lops are notoriously hard to breed and the breed is extremely competitive. I pride myself at being able to hold my own at shows with my rabbits.

My problem is that people who buy for pets will call and say they want a friendly rabbit. I handle my rabbits several times a day and they are very well socialized. The person calling describes all these qualities they want in a rabbit, and when they hear the price they sigh and say they won't pay more than $10.00 for a rabbit! I have a couple of young rabbits I have been holding on to since June because no one wants to pay the $25 I am asking!

When all the 4-H kids saw how well my rabbits cleaned up at the 4-H fair (I got Grand Cgampion in both my classes and members who had bought my rabbits all got Grands and Reserves in all their conformation classes), the phone was ringing off the hook from 4-H members wanting to buy my rabbits. They all said they wanted a top quality show rabbit. My shows rabbits start at $40 and with a 4-H discount they only pay $35. Some of the more exceptiuonal animals I will sell for no less than $50. Considering what I paid for my foundation stock this is a STEAL!

I find it SO frustrating that these people looking for pets don't want to pay more than $10.00! I also find it frustrating that the local 4-H members want to buy pedigreed show stock and they want to win...and yet they won't pay to buy a good rabbit. Then they complain to me that their $5 rabbit can't win a conformation class.

Ugh! I just wanted to vent at how frustrating this is. I can only imagine how frustrating it is for people who breed Miniature Horses or donkey or dogs and have people not wanting to pay what they are really worth.

 

[mininik]

Hey, at least your rabbit buyers probably don't expect you to be God and guarantee forever that their bunny won't have ANY health problems, ever. Oh by the way, they only want to pay something similar to what the shelter charges as an adoption fee. And hey, if we can't keep Fluffy we can just give him back to you now that he's 2 and mentally screwed over by our inability to raise him... and you'll give us a full refund, right? No? Oh, well then we'll just sell him. :new_shocked: Frankly, I got tired of that kind of thinking and the fact that the dog industry seems to think it should be up to the breeders to be forever responsible for irresponsible owners. I understand pre-screening potential owners. I understand giving a solid health guarantee with every pup. I understand offering to take a puppy back for it's lifetime... but all of these things can only work with sane owners. Unfortunately, I've run into far too many who were INsane and I QUIT!

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[rabbitsfizz]

I TOTALLY agree with you, stick to your guns, do not drop your prices, if you do then people will expect you to do it every time. Your Bunnies are well worth what you are asking- if someone pays $10.00 they will get a ten dollar Rabbit!! Do you have a stand at 4H?? If so, next show make up leaflets explaining why your Bunnies cost what they do (complete with picture of all the ribbons) and a header like "Is winning worth the extra $20.00??" Explain exactly what they are getting for their money.

People can pay a lot more than you are asking fro a cross bred Bunny at a pet store, do not sell yourself short!!!

 

[Cronewolf]

: I have a good friend who breeds show bunnies and had the same problem until she got a couple of grade gray bunnies and bred them just so she could have 10$ pets for those who wanted them. Most of the time if she would show he folks "this is a $10 pet and this is a $50 show bunnie" a good many would forkup the difference, and the pet bunnies helped pay the way of the better guys. Because the the cheepies have a whole gaggle of young.

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[Triggy&Blue&Daisy Too]

If I were you I'd be relieved instead of frustrated and IMO no one should be selling rabbits for $10, pet or not! Those not willing to pay what you know your bunnies are worth shouldn't have one. Rabbits are one the most neglected species I think I've seen. Idiots abound at Easter who buy it for their kid(s) give it a lot of attention maybe for the first few days then once interest is wanes the animal is lucky to get food, water and it's cage cleaned thereafter. Both of my neighbors on each side of me did this. Usually nice normal conderate people but absolutey no regard for any animal that is not a dog or cat. Guess who ended up with their bunnies so they wouldn't starve to death in their cages?

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[Ashley]

well we sell bunnies here for $5 of various breeds.

That said, I did buy a rabbit last year. THey wanted $65 for her then droped her to $45.

I did buy her, she was a angora and a awsome rabbit. SHe was supposed to be bred. Well lets just say, she was older then they said she was(said she was a year and a half) was supposed to be bred, and wasnt, and die from we beleive cancer 8 months after I bought her.

NOw I am on the search for another angora. But havent had any luck yet.