Emailing breeders...no luck

[tnelsonfla]

I was wondering if it is a usual thing or just me or my breed. Here a few months ago I started emailing and calling breeders listed on the Havana club membership list. At first I emailed 5 people in the area I was going to travel to. I got no responses. I then had my wife review the email I was sending out to another 5 breeders in a different state. She thought the email was well written and not to long, kinda short and simple. I got one letter but it was a "no I don't have any for sale at this time" answer. Then I sent a email to another 10 people to try to arrange some contacts for some purchases at the National convention in Kansas. Again I got 1 back as a maybe and the other 9 are no response. I have had good luck with breeders in my area and made a few purchases. But I am looking on getting a new variety and no one raises them in my area. Soon I am traveling up to Charleston for a show in a few weeks and hopefully there will be a few Havana breeders there and I can make some contacts. Of the phone calls I made one person did say they were planning on attending the SC show and may have some for sale, none of my other phone calls were answered and no one returned my call. Is this common or am I just having a bad streak of luck? Do you guys get a good return of emails and /or phone calls?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

When I was looking for my Rex, I contacted a lot of people by email, and got many responses. I may have gotten lucky- one of the first was no longer raising Rex, but he was incredibly helpful and gave me some names. He even offered to transport from a show he was attending if one of the breeders was attending the same show.

 

[Secuono]

Did you mention where you live? Some may think it's a scam if you aren't in their state. Or even some are outdated, does the registry keep up to date emails or just ad whomever and not check to make sure all are still correct or still breeding?

I answer all emails, unless they end up swamped by other emails or end up in spam. Swamped takes time to find, but spam is always just emptied w/o looking.

Also, I recently got an email back about some sheep. I had emailed the lady about two months before then. She was very busy and doesn't check email often. So some people just don't get around to it that fast. If there is a phone number, call instead.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I've gotten mixed results. Sometimes, people seemed to just never reply...other times, people were great and got right back to me ASAP.

Sorry you've had a string of rotten luck, hopefully it changes for the better soon though!

 

[skysthelimit]

I've lucked out. Only got two responses probably out of the 15 I tried. No one had what I needed. I'm thinking, or knowing in my case, most of those people no longer show or breed. They don't keep up their websites or the links don't work. Membership lists didn't seem real accurate. Even on the ARBA website, there are several links to websites that don't work.

 

[trinityoaks]

Did you mention where you live? Some may think it's a scam if you aren't in their state.

This is more common than you might think.

 

[ZRabbits]

I found those with LH's, especially quality stock, kind of shied away because I was new. I found good quality stock in the next State (6 hours one way). Was the only one who actually talked to me. The others, their first question, was what color. I stated I wanted good structure. Color came second. They never returned my e-mail. Oh well.

Hoping you find what you want.

Karen

 

[luvabunny]

I've been searching out English lop breeders using google, the ARBA website, and specialty club e-mails.
I, too, have been having very slow results. In all honesty, my best results have been word of mouth. I ask whoever I do get into contact with to forward my info, or forward me any contacts they may have. It's a slow process. As said in prior posts, may e-mails are no longer good, and lots of people just don't check e-mail often. I've been told facebook is a good resource, but unfortunately, I don't do facebook....yet.
Good luck in your search. You will find some contacts eventually, just keep trying.

 

[WildWolf]

I've emailed 2 breeders that were in my state for NZR. One answered his email but not his phone, so I never got to visit. The other answered both, and I'm going to visit soon!

 

[Peach]

It depends a lot on how often people check their emails, if their information is up to date, etc. I've noticed that many links to breeder on the ARBA aren't that helpful. On other places,like clubs, they all haven't updated their links so they usually are outdated,don't work, and what not. For me to find a Mini Lop breeder, it was a lucky find. I found good old Hulk from someone selling out of Mini Lops to work on a Harlequin project. I scooped him up after I met a few breeders and picked up some compatible does after I found out it was the breed I would be so committed to. Even now, I've picked up a breed here and there to try out and work on a little bit, but I just can't find myself focusing like I can with my Mini Lops and then my interest in raising a few meat rabbits is taking up space too. Visit shows and meet people. There's a breeder I know that I'm very wary of at the moment. I feel they are only interested if you have something they need. Trying to use you. Otherwise, they are uninterested because you are new. It's just something I've been observing while at shows and how they interact with established breeders. I'm interest to see how I progress, will they try to warm up to me? I'm very curious about this. Even when I emailed them in the beginning and a few months later I never ever received a response. I think some breeders think they are above some people,but there are some that are wonderfully genuine. Things have a way of working themselves out Don't give up searching!

 

[LauraNJ]

I had the best luck when I called. If I didn't get an answer, then I left voicemail and if no return call, then I called them back the following evening. Had good luck doing it that way, I am fairly persistent.

Wildwolf- Not sure where you are but there is a breeder in Sophia, NC- has all the colors. I got to see blue NZ kits that were a couple hours old, he has Reds, Whites too.

 

[SatinsRule]

I had the best luck when I called. If I didn't get an answer, then I left voicemail and if no return call, then I called them back the following evening. Had good luck doing it that way, I am fairly persistent.

^^^^^THIS^^^^^

But when a breeder tells you that he or she has nothing to sell, take their word for it. Continue to press them, and you're liable to get some buns you really never wanted in the first place.

 

[LauraNJ]

But when a breeder tells you that he or she has nothing to sell, take their word for it. Continue to press them, and you're liable to get some buns you really never wanted in the first place.

I am only persistent in making contact . If they had nothing, then I either thanked them, asked if they knew of a breeder they respected that they could recommend or asked if I could be put on a waiting list, if they kept lists. One breeder gave me the dates I am to call back to see if they will have something.

 

[SatinsRule]

But when a breeder tells you that he or she has nothing to sell, take their word for it. Continue to press them, and you're liable to get some buns you really never wanted in the first place.

I am only persistent in making contact . If they had nothing, then I either thanked them, asked if they knew of a breeder they respected that they could recommend or asked if I could be put on a waiting list, if they kept lists. One breeder gave me the dates I am to call back to see if they will have something.

Yeah, I was really persistent with a breeder early on when they had told me they had nothing to sell at the time. I wound up with a couple of culls in the process.

 

[Hazel]

Everyone i call or email seems to respond , there was one that took a couple weeks to respond to a message i sent them on youtube. Everyone has been quite helpful, inviting me to come look at their rabbits even if they didnt have what i wanted. Also led me to some other breeders that did have what i was looking for. And no one ive contacted had an ad or anything listing rabbits for sale.<br /><br />__________ Wed Jul 25, 2012 12:34 am __________<br /><br />Myself though, People leave messages for me about wanting to buy stuff and i never respond or even really give anyone much time when they come in person. If i dont initiate it, im not interested , im sure there are others like that.

 

[curlysue]

Several people told me they dont even answer out of state emails because they dont ship.I try too answer all emails even if in some cases its too say i dont raise the breed they are looking for.

 

[LauraNJ]

Several people told me they dont even answer out of state emails because they dont ship.I try too answer all emails even if in some cases its too say i dont raise the breed they are looking for.

I always answer emails, return calls too. I feel like it is just the polite thing to do, whether or not I have something for sale. When I was selling parrots and had show dogs I received tons of calls, I always spoke with the person, maintained a waiting list. I never had to advertise or had leftover anythings, they were all sold before they were hatched or born and I could be super fussy about my buyers. I also think it would be awkward down the road if I didn't respond and then met up with them later, how awkward would that be? I would just feel bad.



As far as out of state, those breeders could be losing out. We live in NJ but husband is military, currently in NC so the rabbits I just bought were from a breeder in NC. We combined camping and visiting him with a rabbit run . How addicting is rabbits that I traveled almost 11 hours for one more?

I've sent him for rabbits before he has come home for a weekend, have lots of states between us and him. I just think people are so mobile now a days that if you don't respond because of what you perceive as too much distance you could be losing out.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

We live in NJ but husband is military

:thankyou:

 

[tnelsonfla]

Wow ok thanks for the input, so I am not totally alone. So I'm guessing distance from them may be putting them off. I would think that a friendly email back would be expected. I know I try to answer any and all email I get, but I don't get much thou maybe 1 or 2 a month. I have a return call to make today. So I am hoping for good news.

 

[LauraNJ]

MSD- no thanks necessary, but it is appreciated.

tnelsonfla- I hope you find an awesome breeder, you'll hit the right one and then this time spent will have been worth it. THinking good thoughts for you.