Do you worry where your chinchillas go?

[forchins]

Do you breeders worry about who takes your chinchillas? How do you screen your buyers? Many times people can put on a good face and answer all your questions correctly, and even have good intent but when faced with the reality of owning the animal, act differently. They end up not having time for them, not able to afford them, or just plain don't like them. I'm fine with people needing to rehome for various reasons, since you can't predict the future, but I would have a problem with them neglecting the animal or worse, such as inappropriately breeding them or abusing them, while the animal is in their possession.

Some on the board have said to keep the price somewhat high, and that will at least filter out those who can't afford the animal (to some extent), but that also filters out people who can afford it but don't want to pay that much for a chinchilla when they know they can get one for less. Plus you may never sell your animals if you overprice them.

So what do you do?

[tunes]

Of course I worry about where my furkids go! Anybody who buys from me gets asked a ton of questions and has to sign a contract stating certain stipulations on the sale. Minors have to have their parents sign it as well. I also ask for updates as time permits as I like to see how they are doing. Beyond that, no matter what my intentions are, I can't do more. I just have to hope that people are not lying and misrepresenting themselves, and really will care for the chin as they have promised.

I don't think pricing the chins high is going to make much of a difference. Trust me, as soon as you put up a price, someone is asking you to "make them a deal" on the chin. I try to keep my prices fair to what I see being advertised around me and I check with larger breeders on them as well. I have been told on many of my chins I price them too low, but I have the luxury of being able to screen buyers and find the right home, rather than just selling them to anybody who comes along. Though many will not believe me when I say it, money isn't the motivating factor to breeding chins, not for me at any rate.

[CorneliusChins]

Of course we all worry about it, but what can you do.. Other than screening and going with your gut after meeting your buyers, there isn't much you can do. I have a clause that I will buy any of my chins back for the purchase price at any time if they have any reason to want to get rid of them, and hopefully people would take that offer over any others because it's a ready and willing one.. But who knows. You just have to deal with the fact that there may not be an optimal home for every single chin that you breed. I, myself have found absolutely wonderful homes for all of my offspring, and hear back from each one of them on occasion telling me about how the chins are doing. But, chins live for 10-20 years, and things change. I usually worry until I get my first update and that's when my heart is set at ease about the new home.. - Jessica

[chin_gal]

If or when I start to breed..I think it would be too hard to sell your little ones. How do you do it? I had one litter, and I just HAD to keep both kits(Cherry is one of them)
and couldn't bare the fact of letting them go. Does it get easier as time goes by? :confused:

[outsiders_girl]

Yes... I worry all the time about where they went to... Selling kits has made me learn the hard way... because when I first started, I was younger, and didn't think to ask for a phone number/email... now, all new owners must fill out a contract, and I have to approve it- then, if I feel that they would make a good home, they must give me their phone number, email and, if they wish, their address. I know for a fact that one of my first kits went to a great home, because, I still talk to her and she has sent me pictures. I also know that one of the kits from my last standard litter went to a great home, because I get updates on him! But there is one person who bought a female, and I never asked for a phone number... she gave me her email, I got an update every once in a while, and then she changed her email and has not contacted me.

I have a questionnaire, and an agreement that gets submitted BEFORE they pick up their chin, and in some cases, just from that I just tell them that I don't think they are ready for a chin. If I feel that they would make a good home for a chin from the questionnaire, then I will almost always ask other questions. One of my questions on the questionnaire is for a vet address and phone number. I check with the vet to make sure they care for chins.

IMO, it does and it doesn't get easier over time. I think that it got easier for me knowing that I did improve my way of finding homes for kits, but it will always be hard for me to let them go.

[forchins]

I'm not a breeder and I don't know if I ever will be, and one of the big things that is holding me back is the potential that they will go to a bad home. I'm glad you experienced breeders are imparting your screening process to the public. As a buyer, I know that not everyone screens as thoroughly. There are people willing to give me their chins without asking two questions.

What about people who say all the right things but you have a feeling they are putting on a front or they're not really prepared? Do you keep asking them questions or do you just end the sale?

[CorneliusChins]

I have absolutely no qualms in telling someone that I will not sell to them. I have asked questions, I invite people over to see them in person first. I don't let chins go home on the first visit to my house, so that gives them time to think things over in their own time. I have learned that it's almost totally a gut thing, and I think i've gotten better over time myself. It's still hard to let a little one go, but when you start piling up the little ones you've gotta let someone go at some point. You can do all the checking in the world and get all the information in the world and your chin can still end up going to an abusive home, it's just a fact of life. I still have contact with every one of my babies mommas and enjoy every single update I get from them because it makes me know that i've chosen the right homes for the babies. You just have to put your trust in others to do the right thing. When you meet them you'll get a feeling and you'll know right away if this is a person you'd like to sell a chin to. I also don't sell chins to someone asking for a lesser price, or asking to trade items for a chin because I know how expensive vet bills can be, and if you don't have the initial investment you don't get the chin. So, I can tell you it will always be hard, it will never be easy to let a baby go, but it's life and hopefully you can trust people enough to do the right thing. You can also put a clause in that if for any reason they don't want the chin anymore (can't take care of, don't like it, family breaking up, chin bites, too much mess, not friendly enough, whatever) that they call you and that you will buy back the chin at the original price paid.. That gives them the out if they want to get rid of the thing because it is an annoyance that they didn't expect to have for whatever reason... And hopefully they'll remember that and call you to allow you to take the chin back and get it healthy once again.. Good luck to you if you ever start breeding... and trust your gut - Jessica

[tunes]

I just say no! (isn't that a slogan somewhere? LOL) I too have no problem at all telling someone to take a hike, I've done it a couple times. They are my chins and I have to do what I feel is best for them. I don't really care if someone gets mad or hurt feelings - that's not my problem. The best interest of the chin is.

[Lars]

..... I too have no problem at all telling someone to take a hike, I've done it a couple times. They are my chins and I have to do what I feel is best for them....
I agree,,,, and I do not leave an open invitation to people just to stop by and see my chins, unless they have made arrangements. *( this does not include family, close friends, or other breeders that I know!).
and like Tunes, I have also told people that they obviously are not ready for a chinchilla in their life. While it is not my goal to hurt the feelings of people, sometimes I have to just insist that they take another look at what they are wanting to do... go home and do some homework, then call me back. I rarely hear from those types again. While, some people are so very aware of the responsibility and are so willing to learn more, you can not help but to be nice to them!
We (my MCBA Chapter) recently had the opportunity to have a booth at a local pet expo. While we worked hard to be acurate and helpful about the proper care and educational aspects of chin keeping, a few of us have strong feelings about chins being sold in pet shops. One shop is the main local source for live pet chins, and I got the feeling they did not like some of our opinions. But, needless to say, we still stay with the feeling that chins should be located through a breeder/rancher... not purchased from a pet mill.