The price of slings! what's your opinion?

[Poxicator]

Is it just me or are others seeing inflated prices for slings within this forum? I'm rather taken aback not only at the prices on offer but also that people are buying them at this price. I fully understand that every breeder can offer their slings at a price of their choice, its a free market afterall. I also understand in some cases certain species require more effort than others, and I've seen obvious situations of people buying from Europe to sell at higher prices on this forum. There's nothing wrong with a little entrepreneurial approach, however surely we should question the sale of species by individuals when their prices match, or in many cases exceed that of a business which obviously has overheads (staff, tax, electricity, rent, profit etc) to recuperate.

The other issue that bothers me a little is the desire to sell off slings from such an early stage, stick them in the post for a couple of hours and expect no comeback from the resulting deaths. Avics are a prime example of this, buying them so soon after they've become 1st instar suggests to me a little greed. IMO its much better to rear them past the most vulnerable early stages.

By asking high prices for our slings we push up the prices of all our spiders, but we also promote an increase in Wild Caught specimens and poaching. The breeding of P. metallica by Dan and others is a prime example of those attempting to conserve and reduce the pricing structure. Commendable IMO. With prices in Europe at 60-90e for a P. metallica its encouraging to hear of suggestions of around £30 for the same.

To this purpose I thought I'd ask for your opinions on some common species pricing to see if it reflects my opinion. And, possibly to guide those who aim to sell their slings. Here's a few examples of individual sales as opposed to bulk:

Avicularia: £3-£6 for most common species, £10 for the likes of A. diversipes(fasiculata). If you find that acceptable check out these threads:
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/inver...le-slings.html
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/inver...oe-slings.html

Poecilotheria: £5-£6 for most species, with prices ranging from £10-£30 for the more rare species.
Check out this offering: http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/inver...mmunities.html
Sven was recently offering these for 6e, Vinmann is offering 4 month olds for 8e.

Brachypelma, Grammostola, Euathlus and Aphonopelma: £2-£5 for most species, although some of these can be very time consuming to breed and hard to achieve, but the quantities are often high.
Great prices here:
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/inver...-rose-red.html
Adult chile rose £10!
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/inver...e-cheap-2.html
Virginai Cheeseman has several species for £3

Lasiodora, Acanthoscuria, Nhandu: £2-£5 for most species, often very high quantities.

Chromatapelma cyaneopubescens (GBB): £10
Tarantulabarn were selling these in September for £8.23!

Pterinochilus (OBT), Ceratogyrus, Hysterocrates and various other common Africans: £2-£5
The Spider Shop currently has some at £4, Sven was recently selling for 3e & 5e

Psalmopeous: £3-£4, £4-£7 for irminia
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/inver...ei-slings.html

Haplopelma: £3-£5

[tarantulamatt]

you have a very good point there mate

[splottlands]

The prices of the slings in the adverts you quote seem reasonable to me...

or am i missing the point

[ebmoclab]

I'm 100% in agreement there pete.

there have been a few threads i've commented on reference the price some unscrupulous individuals are selling spiders for and the apparent lack of interest some hobbiest have in actually breeding and supporting the conservation of these slightly more rare species aswell as the common ones.

as i've said before the Gluttons and the quick cash driven individuals who buy just to sell on at a grater price detract from what individual breeders and organisations such as the BTS have strived to achieve which is good quality, captive bred specimines and less poaching from the natural habbitats.

if as you say there are breeders who intend to offer some of these high value species for a fair and realistic price and other breeders followed suit it would go a long way to perminantly reducing the number of wild caught specimines being introduced to the hobby and the extortionate prices they are currently being offered for.

on the other hand i fear if Dan does offer P.metallica at around £30 each there will be many who would be tempted to double or even tripple that price and re-sell.

[ebmoclab]

Spottlands, i think the point of highlighting those ads was to show acceptable prices.

[Gaboon]

Even in the short period I have been watching these classifieds I have noticed a rise in price, or at least a wide variance.

They should all be at a set price of 20p!!

[selina20]

Im quite taken aback at the prices of postage on some threads. Some even go upto £8 i usually quote between £5 and £6

[nick gilchrist]

Originally Posted by selina20

Im quite taken aback at the prices of postage on some threads. Some even go upto £8 i usually quote between £5 and £6

Well depends if a heatpack is involved..ie RMSD £5.40 add cost of heatpack £1.75 (it might have cost you less but you will have had to pay postage on them to get them there)(YOU ARE ALREADY AT £7) then there is the actual packaging..some may use any old card board box,,but at the very least i use a new bought doubly ply posting box {ABOUT 1.50)lined with poly ceiling tiles. which unless you happen to have any lying around cost £6 for 20
I have now bought specific poly boxes at a £1 each..(normally £4 eaxh) but i got them cheap as i bought 20

So by any stretch of the imagination adding an additional £1.60 to postage cost is fair.

Alternatively dont bother..stick them in a box..and hope they dont die..because if they do..now..you have a refund to make plus all the money lost posting them out..maybe you have to post out replacements...now you are really losing!

It will happen to you all one day..and when it does..you will charge a minimum of £7 as well!!

[selina20]

I go to wilko. 2 heatpads for 99p

[Cockys Royals]

Im forever watching & scouring the T section, and yes recently ive noticed the price rise, and because of that ive actually stopped buying. Another thing that stopped me buying was seller claiming they will post up pics or send via email. And never actually doing this.