Deposits, payments, and pick up.

[NeighbrGrlsPets]

I'm just curious what people feel is a reasonable time frame on these:

How many days do you give someone to send a deposit?

After the deposit is sent, when do you ask that the animal be paid for in full? (For both adults and kits).

How long after kits have been weaned (are perfectly normal, happy, and healthy) do you ask for them to go to their new homes?

[Sketch]

Most don't sell for profit so really most can wait quite a bit on recieving a deposit unless they have multiple interests in the animal. If you wait too long on one person's deposit and the runner up finds another chin you can be out of a sale because the first person might never send one. So I give 1 week unless otherwise discussed.. i.e. waiting for payday or something like that.

If the animal is being sold out to a first time buyer I expect the animal to be paid in full by time of pick up no matter what age. Return buyers I'm more flexible with and except installments, and either 1 - hold the animal here free of charge or 2 - Send the animal to its buyer's home when 50% paid off. I take payments with 25% down.

Varies on the baby for me.. I wean and don't offer them to new homes until they are 2 weeks past they're weaning date and prove they are eating and drinking, etc normally and then its a matter of emotional/behavioral status. I wean in groups so weaning seems to be easier and babies adapt without mom faster. I've held some for 4-5 weeks past the weaning date because of depression etc..

[Arf2184]

I'm not really pushy when it comes to getting the deposit or arranging pick-up. All I ask is that the buyers touch base with me a couple times a week so I know they haven't disappeared. If I haven't heard from them for two-three weeks, the animal goes back up for sale (unless they tell me they're going to be out of town or something.)

As far as the deposit goes, after I've 'interviewed' a prospective buyer and determined that they will provide a suitable home for my baby, I give them two or three weeks to get the deposit to me. Usually, they have it to me within a week though.

As for pick-up, if I have a deposit I'll keep a kit here for as long as needed. Usually, people are really excited and eager to get their new baby so they try to make arrangements as soon as possible. However, some people have to drive 7+ hours one way just to get here and it takes time to make arrangements. Other's are busy hunting for the perfect cage and all the accesories to go with it so everthing will be just perfect when their baby arrives (I love those people).

All chins must be paid for in full before they leave my care, which has never been a problem.

[Megan.]

Last year, I didn'd to deposits- and took the final payment the day of pick-up.

For the next chins, I will be requesting a deposit within 7 days. Payments, if I haven't sold to the person before- or don't actually "know" them- I will be requesting that the chin be paid in full prior to pick-up, OR cash at the time of pick up(No checks/money orders).

If the animal is paid for, I will hold the chin as long as needed. I am in no rush to get them out of here. Of course, I won't hold an animal for a year- but a month is perfectly fine if needed. I wean kits at 8 weeks, and won't leave them leave until 10 weeks.

My next few litters however, everyone will be held back for show- so things MAY change when I finally do start selling kits born here.

[lilchinchilla]

In most cases, deposit must be placed within 8 days(in case a person is sending a money order, since it usually takes 8 days to get here at the most).
I've only given in for a longer period of time, when someone has had their deposit slooowly get here through the mail, or in limbo in paypal. But it really depends on the person. Has to be someone I know or has purchased from me before. If it is someone who I have never done any sort of sales with before or really know, then it is 8 days and that is all.


I've held chins upwards of 8 months or more, for some people. I don't like to, but sometimes people can't come up with shipping, weather sucks, or such little issues come up as to timing for shipping or for meeting up with them. After 5 months, I usually start charging a boarding fee to the owner, so that hopefully it is an incentive to them to get their chin. Only time I don't, is if it was me who specified the chin stays here for such and such a time.

Like the last few chins I have sold, I would like to have the opportunity to show first(and the soon-to-be owners also live in areas where there is no shows, so they want the chins shown too.) so we both came to the agreement the chin(s) stay here until then. I'm not going to charge them for keeping them here.

[dondeb562]

I give a 7 day period before they go back up for sale. For the most part mail around here moves fast and I usually get a deposit a day or two after it is sent.

[McCaille]

I try not to offer kits until they are weaned, just in the event that something should happen. But there have been a couple occassions where kits have been born while someone was already in contact (or asked to be put on a waiting list). We take a deposit at any time. Once they are weaned we try to set something up for pickup at the soonest available time for both of us. We've really cut back on our offering to deliver, between our work schedules (weekends work best for most people, not us though) and gas prices. We'll offer to deliver if we'll be traveling ourselves, otherwise we keep it to a minimum. I ask for full payment on pick up of the chin. If it's someone I know I'd probably be more willing to do a payment system. Otherwise, the chin does not leave until it is paid in full. I no longer accept personal checks from new customers as final payment (on deposits yes...as generally there is enough time between deposit and pickup to clear). We'll usually be pretty flexible on holding an animal, I dont' think I would go longer than 4 months, but I have yet to have that come up...

[NeighbrGrlsPets]

Well, after reading the responses, I don't feel too bad about my "preferred" guidelines.

I generally will give them a "decision" week. Once they tell me they would like the chinchilla, I put it on Hold for 7 days. Just a a grace period if they decide not to get it. After the 7 days, I give them an additional 7 days to receive the deposit by. Then I usually ask for a deposit within' 30-45 days. Or the hole amount can be paid upon pickup (with cash).

They must be paid in full when they leave.

[Chingal]

I'm just curious what people feel is a reasonable time frame on these:

How many days do you give someone to send a deposit?
I aks for a deposit to be sent within 10 business days. A few exceptions have been made for people whom I know and trust.

After the deposit is sent, when do you ask that the animal be paid for in full? (For both adults and kits).I ask that the animal be paid by shipping or pick up.

How long after kits have been weaned (are perfectly normal, happy, and healthy) do you ask for them to go to their new homes? The minimum amount of time is 2 weeks from the date of weaning, the mazimum amount of time is 30 days or when weather permits shipping. After 30 days I charge a 1.00 a day boarding fee if the weather is good to ship or be picked up.I do understand their are situations that come up and rarely I need to work with someone, which I do and since I do not give cash refunds if they just cannot seem to get the animal I hold ALL money paid and apply to a chin that they can get when the time is better for them. IT is hard to do this so it must be a friend or someone I trust as it takes patience on both parties.

[CHINCHILDREN]

i used to do things on an emailed or verbal hand-shake.
recently, i got 'burned' three times so i am in the process of coming up with a 'policy' to include a non-refundable deposit etc.

live and learn.