Back when we attended shows and were breeding for show and pet primarily, I had a website with a paid domain and actively listed classified ads, etc. These days, I don't have the same goals and don't plan to spend the extra money or time with advertising our stock. I also don't like to sell to pet homes because in my previous go-round, the only problems I had with buyers were from those that wanted to buy pets. I've mentioned this before, but despite including written information, extra food, and actually going over care in person, people just didn't listen. To combat this problem, we decided not to sell pets anymore except for very, very rare exceptions like a previous buyer that actually did educate themselves and provide a rabbit with a great home.
These days we have a free website now (that I love) and social media is a lot more prevalent, so it is easy to find other rabbit friends with similar interest/goals like I have (Hi April, Phacelia, the Goodwife, etc.!). I haven't put any ads up for our rabbits or anything either because it isn't a primary goal to sell. One thing that came up recently on FB though was that some unscrupulous people may find you through social media or the website and basically use the provided information to make fake pedigrees for rabbits they are selling. When I looked at my website today, I realized I have 3-4 generations listed right out in the open. People have also said they still have problems with radical activists also, especially when their personal information is easily available (such as "Come visit our farm at: 1234 Numbers Lane, Math, Georgia 56789").
I already try to protect my personal information after being contacted by some questionable people, but now I am wondering if I have too much specifics listed. Instead of continuing to add my individual rabbits, their info, pics, etc., I'm thinking about just making a general info page about Harlequins and putting a gallery up of my Harlies over the years instead of listing each animal. I can't really think of a reason why someone would need to know all of my current rabbits and their pedigrees anymore.
Do you have now or plan to have a website eventually? Would you list your rabbits in detail or more generally? Do you advertise- if so, what kind of info do you provide to potential buyers? I'd love to hear from others about their thoughts on this. With social media allowing strangers to look into our day-to-day lives, what way do you protect yourself from shady people?
Well, obviously you know I am selling as pets. So far I have had only positive experience with the buyers. They're people that are on a waiting list, watching all the growth, excited and seem to take the responsibility seriously. Not folks that are buying on a whim.
ReplyDeleteI do realize that may not always be the case but I attribute what I've been blessed with so far in great buyers, honestly to prayer.
I do not pay for a website or advertising. I just use my blog site.
I no longer am on facebook at all and don't have my street address on anything I put out there to the public. I feel good about it all thus far.
I try to be careful and then just ask God to oversee it all.
I'm glad you have had positive experiences! I hope you keep doing so, but alas, it ended up being one of our main frustrations with rabbits over the years and we are so much happier now that we don't seek to sell. I'd encourage you to monitor the market in your area also because some people here locally misrepresented their intentions by buying pet quality rabbits from several people (mostly the cute breeds like ND, Hollands, Mini Rex, etc.) and then bred them indiscriminately and flooded the area. They would sell to whomever had the money without any care instructions. I'm sure plenty of those rabbits died or ended up in rescues, but some folks that bought their rabbits also bred them and even though it has been years now, there is still a poor sales market here when it used to be decent back in the day. I'm sure it also gave plenty of ammo to rescue people and made reputable breeders look bad. I'm just thankful none of them were the breeds I raised.
DeleteDo you allow people to pick up rabbits from you? We used to and we still have had breeders over (both of the angora folks I bought from visited us, for example), but we have also been told about crazies visiting rabbitries just to get the layout and then later showing up and "liberating" all of the rabbits when the owner isn't home, even breaking and entering when rabbits are kept inside. All of these stories have us rethinking a lot of what we used to do and what we do now. Its a scary world out there!
I don't have any type of social media, with the exception of blogging, which I do under the name of the Goodwife. Back when I was raising the pedigreed Rex, I did have a nice paid website with extensive information on there. However, I didn't put pedigrees on there. You are right, I'll bet there are shady people out there that are stealing pedigrees, especially when all you have to have is a rabbit with the same color to do it! Good grief, it's terrible what folks will do. When we are ready to sell fryers to the public, I may use craigslist and I may just put a sign in the yard. I actually hate selling anything, because of the way people are! :)
ReplyDeleteI noticed that you never use your real name and I was thinking that was a very safe policy! I've signed many forum posts and other things over the years with my first name and my last name is part of my rabbitry. Of course these days I am wondering if that was wise. Argh!
DeleteI am interested in finding places that are USDA inspected and willing to process meat for homesteaders, but I haven't had any luck. I know many of us process ourselves for our own dinner table and that's fine, but it would be really neat if I could legally sell homegrown rabbit meat at the farmer's market, local restaurants, etc. I think it would be a great way to promote them and would hopefully help to cover some of the expenses that go into raising them. But I totally daydream about homesteading as a full-time job someday, too. :)
I revamped my website recently in how I display photos of my own rabbits. I've never posted a lot about my rabbits, usually just name, color, and sex. Now I just show pictures with no other info. My website does not mention anything about sales or a specific location.
ReplyDeleteI will sometimes advertise on my private Facebook page. I don't like Craigslist and after recent events related to it, I won't use it again.
Ooo, I like the way it looks April! I think I'm going to work on my site to reduce the amount of information shared overall. I think someone could build an entire pedigree just about from looking at the pages as I have them right now. Isn't that so sad and upsetting about Bud and June Runion? :( :( :( All of these kinds of things have me thinking about how to be more safe.
DeleteI wanted to add my worst pet selling experience because it still bothers me to this day. When I had Harlequins for the first time years ago, I sold a weaned 10 week old baby. At my house, he had always appeared healthy. Someone emailed me to get a pet and I felt this baby would fit perfectly. I asked him questions and gave him a packet of info, websites to visit, and a list of books. A few hours after taking the rabbit home, he called to say it died. Knowing the rabbit was to be a pet for his daughters, I felt horrible. I tried asking questions to see if something was wrong or if they had made a mistake in his care. The man wasn't interested in answering questions, just wanting to know where he could get another rabbit.
DeleteI won't sell pets to the general public. Sometimes a friend will ask about a rabbit and I'm happy to oblige - after giving them more care info than they could ever want. They also know they can give it back at any time.
It is very sad and horrifying what happened to that couple.
DeleteI've been thinking about personal safety. I provide an email address on my website (separate from the one I use for personal communications) and just a general location. I don't mention anything about selling rabbits.
On pedigrees, I write my first name comma OlivYew Rabbitry. I don't write my last name, phone number, or address. It has my email and website. I've considered taking my website and blog down completely, but I like networking with like minded people.
Aww, sorry to hear that April about the horrible selling experience. We've had our share also despite trying to do everything we can to help people. I think a lot of people that want to buy pet rabbits think they will either be like stuffed animals for their kids or like puppies for the family. Some people are just arrogant (as in they know better about how to care for their rabbit with zero experience in rabbits than someone that raises them) or shady (as in buying a rabbit for resale or lying about the purpose). Anyway, I hate that we have had these experiences because they cloud our views on selling, but honestly I am much happier now that I don't even have to worry about it.
DeleteI need to e-mail Evans because right now all of my pedigrees automatically come out with my full name, address, phone, etc. and there is no way of even knowing who will end up with that information down the road. I'd be so sad if you took your website/blog down! I'm just trying to brainstorm ways to make my situation more secure and you guys have been super helpful, so thanks!
It is hard to raise a rabbit from birth, watch all of its milestones, and think you found it a good home only for the new owner to fail to properly care for it. :(
DeleteHopefully Evans can let you customize the information printed on your pedigree. As a side note, I wish Harlequin breeders could provide short blurbs about each rabbit like "clean markings" or "no face split". Having those records might help breeders track the markings and eventually lead to consistent markings.
So far I have met up with people at a public location - not at my home.
ReplyDeleteNo one so far that has purchased has been anyone local either. They have driven an hour to 2 hours to purchase.
I did find in the past that the people that were patient and willing to travel usually provided the best homes. Public meetups do sound much safer though no matter how I look at it, so good on you. :)
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