honourable buyers - Page 1

why don¿t we open a thread to protect sellers from buyers that ask you a bunch of questions and keep asking for pics and videos, x-rays, etc. and when the story comes to its end you don¿t hear anything from them any more!

"Dreamers" this is what I call such buyers. They either cannot afford to buy, or really do not want to buy, BUT they waste your time - BIG TIME. Questions - they have so many questions, you answer their first lot of questions and along comes another lot. Photographs, they always want more, head study, one sitting, one standing, one lying down, and every position imaginable. Shipping - every airline, alternative, accompanied unaccompanied, different boxes, vaccinations, health checks, import licence, export licence, export pedigree, guarantees, how much deposit, price, etc etc etc. THEN NOTHING - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING - ALIAN ABDUCTION KIND OF NOTHING - TOTAL DISAPEARENCE KIND OF NOTHING. Perhaps we should start naming them

An honorable customer will offer to pay for pictures and videos of dogs for sale and will be respectful of the breeder's time. Important questions must be asked and answered and key information must be given, such as pedigree, Xray status, etc. Flaky, persistant, nitpicky inquiries are often indications of someone who is playing games and wants to jerk the breeder around. I like dealing with a breeder who wants to be paid for photos and videos. A customer who offers to pay for photos, video, vet checking and Xrays before finalizing the purchase is a worthy customer and one breeders prefer. Folks who want too much free or something for nothing are usually trouble makers.

David, I would just like to say that I have recently had contact with the Sendling Kennel and they were professional, patient, and filled all of my numerous requests for information, truly a first class operation. Unfortunately my inquiry did not result in a sale and I can see how tiring this can be for the people who are trying to do it the right way. I know that there are many "tire kickers" out there, that can not be helped. Some people are professional window shoppers, that’s the way it goes. There are also many prospective buyers that are serious in their search for the right dog. With the exorbitant amount of money that people are spending on dogs, and all of the horror stories out there of people being ripped off, why would you see anything wrong with a buyer who is serious and asks to see pictures, pedigrees, show results, hip ratings etc. and wants to know a break-down on the total cost of a dog? Most of the quality dogs are not in our back yard and we can not always drop everything and jump on a plane to see every dog that looks good in a picture. I don't see anything wrong with being cautious before purchasing, and asking questions before making a sizeable investment. If the seller is serious about putting a dog on the market I believe that it should be their responsibility to put together a complete and honest informational package that would include the answers to all of the most common questions. Pictures from the front, back and side, videos of the dog’s side gait, coming and going, pictures of progeny if there are any, copies of pedigree, korung, scorecard, and current xrays of hips and elbows, the total amount of money involved in the purchase with an up to date currency conversion and without any hidden costs. Please remember that all of this information does not answer the question of temperament. There is no way to determine this via the internet, or email, so even with the questions I have listed being answered, the buyer is still taking an enormous risk. So when you, or anyone else that is selling a dog takes exception to people who want answers to their questions before pursuing a purchase, that would immediately send up a red flag to me regarding your honesty and integrity. If you don’t have the time or patience to deal with people who want the straight facts, along with the "tire kickers" than I suggest you go find some other line of work or hobby that would better suit you. It’s a shame that buyers should have to deal with sellers who are not professional enough to have all the answers at their disposal, and who will not cop an attitude when asked for information, and who will not be bitter if the sale does not happen. I work too hard for my money not to have ALL my questions answered to my full satisfaction before I make a purchase. “Amateurs, and or, shyster’s” that’s what I call these sellers! MAYBE THESE SELLERS SHOULD BE NAMED.

Preston, I have to disagree with you. If a seller is motivated, organized and professional, than all of the things you have mentioned should be zipped into a file and ready to be sent with the push of a button. The seller’s web site would also serve this purpose well. If all the pertinent information were listed on their web site, many of the annoying emails and phone calls would be alleviated. Any educated buyer who is serious about a dog will require all of this information before purchasing, and should not be expected to pay for it. The seller should have all of his costs considered in his or her asking price.

This just my opinion: The best way to protect yourself from buyers is to not make representations as to quality of the puppy, make no warranty and tell the buyer to perform his/her own due diligence or hire someone to do this for them. Puppies should not come with a representation as to quality when no one can really provide such assurances at such a young age. Buyers should not make negative post that names breeders regarding price or quality once they have completed a purchase if the puppy is delivered in a healthy condition at the time of sale with a correct pedigree. Most prices are not high in relationship to the work, cost of maintaining a kennel and breeding stock. Buyers should not spend what they cannot afford. Buyers should not be concerned if a breeders are profitable or not given the most world economies are based on capitalism … this means profit is not a bad word.

S Rogers, I understand your point, but we are not talking about a crap shoot pup, we are talking about an adult titled dog that is MUCH more expensive.

ANDREW, well said! I have been burned twice now, and everyone knows (including breeders) that it is very hard purchasing a dog (or anything else) "sight unseen". Why would you make a large purchase without asking important questions to try and find the "right dog" that might be several hundred or thousdands of miles away. Whould you buy a car without asking questions and even a test drve? I think people who have been in the business and are legitimate breeders know and expect the kind of questions a serious prospective buyer may have. A couple of pictures are fine, anything more should be charged.

Sorry Andrew, Adult dogs do have a history and the seller should provide all available information to buyers. Sellers should not complain about the number of calls since it goes with the territory. Most of my other comments apply equally to adults.

Preston, I disagree. It’s the breeder’s responsibility to offer (FREE) videos and pictures either by Snail mail or by email. Theirs some people who cannot afford to keep taking trips from countries or from state to state. It is how ever nice for the buyers to return pictures and videos (if in snail mail) if their not interested in buying a puppy (Or dog). You quested that people want too much free stuffs are trouble makers. That’s not true at all. People looking at dogs over the net don’t know what the dog can do or what exactly what he looks like (without all of this Photoshop garbage that people tend to do over the net) I certainly would never buy a dog from the net of which I never saw a video of, especially since the person who’s selling the dog is stubborn enough to ask money for the video and giving me a hard time. If I’m going to pay $2,000 dollars and up I expect some video tapes and bunch of pictures, including his/hers progeny (if the dog was bred). As for the rest Andrew, Well said! :)