Other Turtle Discussion :: If you were going to have a turtle store...

[Tertule]

Ok, here's a fun one...let's pretend

You are the proud owner of a new Turtle Shop! What would you put in your shop, and why would you put it there?

(If you have multiple ideas, list them by number please )

Examples:

1. I would display groups of turtles (like you usually see a bunch of RES's) in a specially modified bath tub with working fixtures.

This way it is easy to fill, you can insulate underneath the tub, it is easy to drain, and the shops name would be "Turtles N Tubs"

2. I would have some sort of stringent guidelines to pass in order to own one of these "certified" turtles.

There is talk about licensing fees and what not, why not make it a pain to get a turtle to weed out those who "just want" a turtle.

3. I would have special stock of hatchlings I've bred and documented that would bring in some extra cha-ching

Same reason people bought and still buy cabbage patch dolls...and lord knows how long some people have had those things.

These are just a few ideas, nothing set in stone, no scientific evidence, just a great brain storming activity.

[pumpkinsherbet]

i remember about 6 yrs back i wanted to get a cat, and i actually got turned down for the adoption i see virtually nothing wrong with doing the same for turtles. if i owned a turtle shop i would

1. require something along the lines of a test like the dps does for giving you your driver's license.

2. definitely have to have some homemade stuff in there. like, i wouldn't sell tanks. i would sell tanks with custom made basking spots or nesting areas or little ponds if it's for a tortoise.

3. definitely make it clear that they require a lot of attention and tlc the second you walked in the door.

4. make it homely for the animals. they'd have like a screen room in the back (with windows so i could close them if it gets drafty or rains) that's going to mostly be heated by the bulbs and of course the screens are for air circulation. there'd be separation of species (for the safety of all) but they'd share the habitat.

5. i am actually looking up botany to find out good plants for my turts to eat. i would likely have a bit of a nursery in there as well.

[SpotsMama]

I would:

1. Charge a lot of money for them. People value what they pay for. What I'd lose in volume I'd make up in price.

2. Offer a range of equipment and tanks at different prices. Once a person has paid for the turtle they shouldn't have to go broke with the setup.

3. Have an arrangement with a decent vet. He'd check the turtles out and make sure we only sold healthy ones. As an incentive for him, we'd refer the buyers to him as a qualified vet should the need arise.

4. Provide a complementary registration on Turtle Talk.

[DavidY]

SpotsMama, #4 would be a great idea! They should make a law requiring that with the sale of every RES instead of an annual registration fee.

[Tertule]

Beautiful! The ideas with this thread are off to an awesome start.

Spotsmama is absolutely correct about idea number 1. In one of my first economics classes we discussed that exact situation with Lowenbrau sp? german beer. They raised the price of their beer to cut production but still maintain the capital they needed by only selling to their "hardcore" fans. Excellent assesment, and business accumen used Spotsmama!

And David, "They" shouldn't make a law for it...WE should make a law, you'd be surprised how many laws get started in grass roots efforts.

Maybe we should start a thread on creating a law, based on the same ideas developed in a thread like this?