accepting deposits

[Tink]

Since I'm down to a single pup, I have someone asking already if I will be accepting deposits for choice on my next litter. I have a male left... so of course they want a female! LOL

I know some do this, I personally never have but am willing to learn.

When do you start accepting deposits?
Do you use a contract with deposits?
What points do you cover?
What percentage of the purchase price do you ask for?
Do you allow the buyer to carry the deposit over if there's not a pup that fits their list of "wants" in the next litter? How many times?
Is the deposit ever refundable?

[Maureen]

Originally Posted by Tink

When do you start accepting deposits?
Do you use a contract with deposits?
What points do you cover?
What percentage of the purchase price do you ask for?
Do you allow the buyer to carry the deposit over if there's not a pup that fits their list of "wants" in the next litter? How many times?
Is the deposit ever refundable?

hey Tink, congrats on selling (almost) all your puppies!

I do take names but I do not take deposits until my puppies are born. People say they won't refund, but there ARE cases where breeders give deposits...plus, situations like last time happen, where a breeding doesn't take, so I would have potentially had to refund ALL deposits. So I'm happiest not taking deposits until I have puppies I can point to, or hold in my hand.

I don't think the deposit is a percentage, but an amount that says "I am committed". I allow 3 days for the return of deposits.

Since I don't take pre-birth deposits I don't have people carrying over choices into the next litter, but I guess you would have to do that, or refund, if you did take deposits. And I think refunding would have to be an option you would have to offer, if something like a non-breeding happened, since it's not your customer's fault, but yours, in effect.

I can't imagine having someone carry over a request past one litter.

[gracielou]

I take deposit once I know I have a female expecting, I just keep the money in a separate place so I don't use it. I will alwasy give a refund back unless they wait till a week or a few days before the puppy leaves then I wouldn't. I just feel sometimes things happen with families and maybe they want t puppy then a situation happens and they have to change their minds, in that case I give back the deposit.

I let the 1st have 1st pick and so on, but I ask questions like what they want in a puppy a very active, a middle of the road, or a lap dog then when it's time to pick I tell them which puppy fits that best and let them decide. I have never had a problem with someone not wanting a puppy out of the litter they put a deposit down on. You just have to tel them about the parents and the puppies they will have if it is a first litter for the pair then I explain that.

If you get 3 or 4 deposit down before the litter is born I feel the rest are easier to sell. But that's me.

[Tink]

Thanks ladies!
So much to learn... I really appreciate your input!

[gracielou]

Your welcome like I've said so many times before you just have to do was it right for you and your puppies the rest will work out in the end.

[daissyj]

Hi Tink...

Linda is right and there are so many breeders with so many different opinions.

I decided I personally didn't want to take deposits until I know my girl is pregnant (but I may change that to once I know she's been bred and there was a tie...we'll see!) because I just didn't want to deal with the hassle of refunding money, moving it to another litter, etc. And I would feel bad if someone put money down and then in the end it didn't work out. It would seem like such a waste of time for them!

It is tempting to me to take a deposit early because I do have a huge interest list. Even still...you never know what could happen or couldn't happen, etc. But I'm small...very, very small and I don't want to be totally committed to HAVE to do a litter because I took a deposit from someone 6 months prior. With 3 little ones of my own, I want to make sure I have time for them, plus time for my puppies and the owners.

Just to confuse you even more, I do have a friend that takes deposits way in advance and seems to never ever have a problem of selling them!

Okay, so I don't know if I was any help or made things more confusing! I think I just need to get some shut-eye!!

[River Rat]

I am a buyer, not a breeder, but I liked the way Maureen handled the deposit situation. We corresponded and I knew that she had puppies on the way, but she didn't accept money until they were born and she knew what colors and genders were available. Since I really wanted a black female puppy, it would have been a problem had she had only chocolate females with the only black ones being males - or the only black female being more like an F1 since I like the curly look.

Once the pups were born and she declared herself open to deposits, I got first pick of the black females because my money came in first. We watched the little ones grow and she told me how they were developing, both in personalities and coats, and she sent me photos, and then together we made a choice. It was a very satisfying experience. I had talked to a breeder of multigens locally and he wanted the money down before the puppies were born. I didn't want to tie my funds up in case something went wrong with his litter and I needed to start all over again elsewhere. Also I wanted it to be my decision whether I changed my mind and not up to his discretion.

Things to think about.

Leslie

[dixiedi]

You just have to do what works for you. I never took deposits until the pups were born for the simple reason of not wanting to deal with moving the deposit to the next litter. I understand why breeders do take deposits before but it was just simpler for me to take them after the pups arrived. You'll find what works for you, good luck.

[daissyj]

HI DIANE!!!!!!!!!!!

I miss you!!! And I miss Mikko!! Why didn't I buy him!!! =)

[dixiedi]

Hi Julie The timing just wasn't right for you You will find that perfect dog, I'm sure of it. Good luck in your breeding program

[MaxandMe]

OK i was thinking, doesn't it make sense to have a waiting list for people and once puppies are born then require a deposit from waiting list and/or anyone wanting a puppy after they're born?
AS
that way it avoids the REFUND issues vs nonrefundable clause many have in their contracts.

[dixiedi]

That is how I did it AnnMarie, I had waiting lists and then once the pups were born, I sent out an e-mail to all interested parties to notify them that the pups were born. The pups were chosen in the order that the deposits came in.

[gsmagoo2]

I always have interest email waiting list, people can join the mailing list if they are interested in an upcoming litter. Once the litter arrives, I then email everyone on my waiting list and let them know that puppies have arrived. I give them colors and gender information. Then if they are still interested, they fill out an application, and I call them and go over that with them. Then they may place a deposit, and choose their puppy at 6 weeks old, choosing is done by order of how the deposits come in. If say, they are at the bottom of the list in choosing, and the gender or color is then not available, of course I always tell them about the temperaments, they can choose that way, and if I still do not have what they are looking for, then they can roll over their deposit to another upcoming litter, or I will refund their deposit, whichever they choose.
Okay,,,just thought I'd share too!!

[Tink]

Thanks for the great advice!
It helped making my decision a whole lot easier when I could see how and why others were doing it.

You're all GREAT and much appreciated.