Profit-driven rehomes

[Amie]

So, as some of you know, we've been looking to add a CAG to our family, and are looking for an older bird. Before we were able to accept one into our home, there were 8 in our paper in less than a month, and of course, since we've been able to take someone in. . . .NOTHING.

Until today.

$1500 for a Grey, who needs attention, with a cage and a playstand? I can get a baby for $750 here!! And honestly, I'd pay $750 for an older bird with just a cage, regardless of how much time we were going to have to spend working with him. If the bird was perfect for us, you could probably talk me into spending more.

But I'm not about to spend $1500 on an older bird, who bites, and needs "lots of work" (seller's words!!!) because they can't even get him out of his cage. Is that awful? I simply can't justify spending that much on an animal that I know is going to require more money put into it. An additional $200 for vet exams, for starters. An entirely new diet. LOTS of work to get him used to hands again. And I realize that the bird isn't going to be as bad as the seller says (first bird, and he's been cage-bound for the better part of a year. . .sounds like puberty to me!) but still. . .

Am I awful? This is the 4th time this person has run this ad, and she wonders why she isn't getting any calls!

[LyndaM]

I agree, completely ridiculous!

[Lisa B]

yes, it a shame. and happens all over. there are so many that need homes, and many people just look at the bottom dollar. shows they were never bird people to begin with.

[Amie]

She wouldn't even talk to me about offering less money. I even told her to keep the cage and playstand and sell them on Craigslist separately and see what she could get. I don't need them, and I'd end up donating them to a rescue, I'm sure. But if she really wanted the money. . .

It even says "OBO" after. . .apparently my offer of $700 for everything wasn't good enough :)

[PowerBBS]

That's pretty typical. Most people who start to consider selling their bird end up seeing it as a potential profit item rather than a living being, especially if they've neglected the bird so much that it's become essentially "un-tame".

It could also be that the seller themselves paid an enourmous amount of money in the beginning and may just be looking to "re-coup" their losses.

None-the-less... 1500 for an adult Grey is way to costly.

[Amie]

Originally Posted by PowerBBS

may just be looking to "re-coup" their losses.

Love that!

I sent another email after she turned down my offer explaining to her that, on average here, adult CAGs sell for about $450, and if they have a cage, it's around $600 (depending on the cage and accessories). So, in light of that, my offer of $750 was very reasonable and in her favor.

She said her bird was worth more than that.

So, my last email said only--"If your bird really was worth more than that to you, you'd be more concerned for his safety and happiness than you were the money."

I won't be getting a reply, I'm sure. If I do, it'll be nasty

[AshleyKayC1980]

What a shame. Some people are just money hungry. Poor bird. Maybe everytime she keeps putting the ad up on CL, you can just keep offering her and she will give in eventually.

[DarwinTheSun]

I stopped reading ads on craigslist just for this reason (reptiles are the same thing too). Makes me so mad. It almost seems to me that they go through a financial hardship and look around the house to find things to sell. "Honey, its the TV or the bird...you choose" Nevermind getting a good home...

[GreyGoose]

What about $1325 for a baby that is being handfed????? I payed 850 for Goose from a breeder and the local pet store wants 1325 for a baby.

[Amie]

Originally Posted by GreyGoose

What about $1325 for a baby that is being handfed????? I payed 850 for Goose from a breeder and the local pet store wants 1325 for a baby.

All pet stores are way more expensive, because (from what I can tell) the breeders still want market price for the bird (so, $850 in the grey's case) and the pet store has to make money off of it. . .if nothing else but to justify using space in their store to display them. . .not counting the time it takes to hand feed those little guys. There's a store around here that only sells for market price, and the breeders take a small loss (although they are still making money) because the pet store refuses to hike up the price. I love those people.

And if the bird has been there for over a month (which is rare, I'll admit) they start dropping the price. . . and they screen all buyers. Unfortunately for me (hehe) they never have greys in there long enough for me to scoop one up!!!