Having Trouble Selling Fish

[goldenpuon]

I have about 6 adolescent guppies I need to sell and no one in my area seems interested. People messag em saying they are interested but then when I mail them back, they never reply. I'm also goingb to be selling about 7 female bettas but I don't know of anyone who would take them. I've never shipped fish and I wouldn't want them to die if I made a mistake plusb that would greatly upset my buyer. Anyone know of people who would take guppies or bettas in the Detroit area or ways resources I can use to help sell my fish more efectively? (I actually live in Walled Lake but no one really knows of that town since it is so small so that's why I say teh Detroit area.)

Thanks!

Renee

[8 in the Corner]

Most people who want to buy guppys are looking for a particular color strain. Do you know what strain yours are? If they are just mixed fancy guppys from the pet store, you probably won't get anyone interested in buying them. Also, being adolescent, the prospective buyers won't be able to see the adult coloring they will have.

As for the female bettas, you could try Craig's list. I understand it is a site that can be specified for local areas and the people who are interested could just come and pick them up.

You could also try talking to the pet store where you bought them and see if they would be interested in giving you some store credit for them.

John

[goldenpuon]

Thanks 8. My young guppies are mostly female so they're showing their colors already. They are have beige bodies and yellow tails with black spots. I'm not sure what strain they are because when I bought their parents, I never knew the strain. Plus some of them had more than 1 father and their parents are different colors so the babies are a mix. I've tried Craiglist with my guppies and have been unsuccesful so far. I did sell 3 male bettas on there a while back though. As for petstores, most are chain stores around me and do not accept fish from breeders or give me nothing for them. I did call my nearest specialty fish store about them and I was told that they have to be adult size before they'd take them. The person I talked to also said he'd have to look at thier fins and stuff so I'm worried if I don't have the best color, the store won't take them and then they'll have to take a stressful ride there and back. Any other suggestions? I'm not really sure why I've been so unsuccesful. People contact me about my guppies on Cragislist and then when i reply, they never asnwer back, even if I message them a second time after a while asking if they're still interested.

[bikeguy33]

the problem is common...at least in canada for live bearers. they breed so easy it takes alot of the value away. most who breed guppies, swords etc do it for the love and often just give them to good homes. as for the bettas....i find they sell well at fish club auctions. people who love bettas usually become obcessed with them, so there is a huge market. check the detroit area. i am sure there are fish auctions a few times a year

[goldenpuon]

It's not that I have too many guppies. I only have 6 that need selling right now. Then probably another 7 or so in a couple months.

I was looking online for what varieties my adult guppies are so maybe when I sell their young, I could at least tell the buyer what strain the parents were to hopefully get them interested in buying them. I did more than a 1/2 hour search and I barely found a thing. I found a rough sketch of tail types and basic descriptions of some guupy strains but I can't find any pictures to match what my fish look like to. I'll look of fish auctions in the Detroit area.

Anyone know of a site with guppy strain descriptions and pictures of the strains? Thanks.

[goldenpuon]

I did a pretty quick search and found 1 cichlid auction in the Detroit area and 2 other fish auctions. I can't sell at the cichlid auction since I don't own any cihclids and the other 2 have already ahd their fall auctions. I can't wait until the next auction. My guppies are already 3 1/2 months old and they would probably be over 6 months and reproducing by the next auction.

[kagome]

I have some tips for you as far as Craig's list goes. I hope these are helpful.

First, remember that you should repost your ad periodically because just like every other message board, as new stuff comes it bumps older stuff down on the list. Keeping your ad towards the top of the list is helpful, just delete you older ones.

Second, make your ad VERY descriptive. Give as much detail as you possibly can. I have found that the longer the ad I type on Craig's list, the more phone calls I get about a given item, be it a washing machine or an old lawn mower. Describe those guppies like you're trying to win a Pulitzer Prize!!

Third, I would really suggest that you add your phone number onto your add. From your description it sounds like you only have your e-mail up there. People are impatient and guppies are widely available, so why wait for someone to message them and arrange something when they can just walk into almost any store that sells fish and immediately get what they want? Put down your phone number and acceptable hours during which they can call.

It's so funny that you should say you're having a hard time with selling guppies, well-bred straight-backed fancy guppies are the number one thing that pet stores here in the Pensacola area want. The second most in demand are Chinese Algae Eaters, which frankly I just don't get because I've never really thought they were that cool.

I hope this has been at least a little bit helpful.

Warmest regards,
Kagome

[jonv]

I think you hit some very key points here kagome. The repost is a good idea because it saves time re-writing up your add, in fact, a savvy person might even just save your ad, if you are repeating a sale of a species over and over, in a MS word document too. Saves a lot of time.

In the case here with guppies, I think you make a very good point on number 2. This is such a commonly kept fish, you really need to make the sale in your ad or don't hold high hopes on that one. Just as you said, if I'm looking for guppies, I know at least three stores here locally I could drive to and get them same day. Where you can get a distinct advantage over a store, and this really is key in my mind, is your price. Pet stores aren't likely to offer much of a discount on this species, and you need to sell dirt cheap. Any money making thoughts would have to be in very massive breeding operations which usually takes many tanks and alot of time so with guppies, I wouldn't go to sleep with dollar signs in my head.

The phone number thing I agree will increase your chances of getting sales, but you have to temper that with personal security at the same time. This is a world wide market when you look at the internet and some people get kicks off of some sick things. If I were going to list a number, it would most likely be to a pre paid use and lose type cell phone only. It's still a personal call on that.

I've used aquabid, eBay and the cichlid-forum trading post and found actually, CF trading post gave me my best results simply because I have African cichilds, and pretty much the only people that are going to browse those ads are other cichild keepers. I got a nice 100 plus selling off my breeding group of Taiwan Reefs last year, and even found an add or two of stuff I was interested in. I was able to snag some more sales on my African fry, particularly the Ps. Flavus and Taiwan Reefs, made sales out to Texas and Lousiana. I picked up my Paratilapia Polleni off CF for a much cheaper price then I would have using aquabid or eBay. In that aspect, it can save you some decent dollars going to a site that specializes in species you are looking for.

All in all Kagome, you brought some very very good points to this discussion, I thank you for that.

[goldenpuon]

Thanks so much Kagome and Jon V. I leave my phone number there but due to my mom, my hours vary everyday and quite tight. She won't allow anyone over to pick up the fish while she's not home. I will be resposting the ad up there today and adding to it after school today. Thanks again!

Renee

[Suzie Q (Lori)]

Renee...I have to second 8's comment.

Most people that are looking for fish (shipping) are looking for specific color or strain. Shipping alone will be between $10 and $40 plus the cost of the fish. It would be cheaper just to go get them from a pet store.

If your Parent fish are from pet stores, then people looking to have a fish shipped are going to be disappointed (unless you are up front with them about the parents and they just like and want THAT fish).

As far as your betta (beautiful as they may be) can be found at any walmart/petstore for cheaper than you can send them.

Keep on Craigslist and do pick up (or meet 1/2 way).

Once you get "quality" fish, then you can list on Aquabid.com . People there are well aware of the cost of shipping fish so if you sell a fish for $5, they know and expect it to cost them $30 to have it overnighted to them....does that make sense?

I've shipped fish before (betta only), so once you get to that point in your breeding...I'll help ya.

Good luck Sweety!
Lori

[goldenpuon]

Thanks Suzie. I will be reposting my post on Craigslist for my guppies today plus making some changes if I need to. Thanks again for your help.