JackDaniels1
Well-Known Member
...As title! interested to know your views!
Do dealers actually make much money?
- Thread starter JackDaniels1
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bigboyrocky
Well-Known Member
enough to keep them ticking over but not mega bucks i woudl imagine
LadyRascasse
Well-Known Member
they obviously have to make a living otherwise they wouldn't do it.
3Beasties
Well-Known Member
Dodgy dealers probably make more money because they buy them at rock bottom prices, tidy them up a bit, stick them on Bute etc and add a zero to the price tag! (OK maybe a slight exaggeration but you get what I mean
)
The good dealers must have to work harder for their money but will build up a better reputation over time and make more money in the long run as people will go back to them time and again.
The good dealers must have to work harder for their money but will build up a better reputation over time and make more money in the long run as people will go back to them time and again.
X
xspiralx
Guest
I would have thought it would be very difficult to make anything much unless you have a decent name and reputation.
They've got to buy the horses in the first place, which fair enough might be pretty cheap, but then unless they are literally turning around and selling, for them to put value on the horse they've probably got to have it for a few weeks at least, all the while costing money to keep and feed and shoe, entry fees and diesel to take it out to shows to increase the value, staff to pay.
Some horses will then only go on to sell for 4-6k, and I imagine that can't be a massive profit for the dealer when you take purchase price, plus all fees and expenses into account.
They've got to buy the horses in the first place, which fair enough might be pretty cheap, but then unless they are literally turning around and selling, for them to put value on the horse they've probably got to have it for a few weeks at least, all the while costing money to keep and feed and shoe, entry fees and diesel to take it out to shows to increase the value, staff to pay.
Some horses will then only go on to sell for 4-6k, and I imagine that can't be a massive profit for the dealer when you take purchase price, plus all fees and expenses into account.
Achinghips
Well-Known Member
Not unless they're crooked, I should imagine.
Perhaps running some broods/studs on the side with good blood lines might make them a living, or if they have a basic farming product to sell, too.
Perhaps running some broods/studs on the side with good blood lines might make them a living, or if they have a basic farming product to sell, too.
jendie
Well-Known Member
I think they are a bit like builders. There are fly-by-night set ups that change their names by the season, buy horses in cheaply and sell them at high rates and with false descriptions and there are the dedicated professionals who do a good job and make a steady and well earned profit. The big problem for the public is being able to tell the difference. Con men are good at conning!
horsesfornow
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Dodgy dealers probably make more money because they buy them at rock bottom prices, tidy them up a bit, stick them on Bute etc and add a zero to the price tag! (OK maybe a slight exaggeration but you get what I mean
)
The good dealers must have to work harder for their money but will build up a better reputation over time and make more money in the long run as people will go back to them time and again.
[/ QUOTE ]
With the dodgy dealers, where are they getting the horses in the first places, I now the auctions but are these poor horses coming from us horse people first?
I have bought from some dealers that get the horses from auctions but horses have been great and I have had to have a couple of things done to them to get on the right footing but I think some poor horses are bought from novices that don't know what they are doing half of the time!!! Sorry but I have seen tooo many horses going this way.
Dodgy dealers probably make more money because they buy them at rock bottom prices, tidy them up a bit, stick them on Bute etc and add a zero to the price tag! (OK maybe a slight exaggeration but you get what I mean
The good dealers must have to work harder for their money but will build up a better reputation over time and make more money in the long run as people will go back to them time and again.
[/ QUOTE ]
With the dodgy dealers, where are they getting the horses in the first places, I now the auctions but are these poor horses coming from us horse people first?
I have bought from some dealers that get the horses from auctions but horses have been great and I have had to have a couple of things done to them to get on the right footing but I think some poor horses are bought from novices that don't know what they are doing half of the time!!! Sorry but I have seen tooo many horses going this way.
mac
Well-Known Member
As said it depends where you draw the line between dealers and professional producers.Dealers must make enough to cover their costs
MHOL
Well-Known Member
We know of dealers who are getting loan ponies and selling them for thousands, 4-5k, they are unsound and companions only but they are buted up and sold on for a quick buck
natalia
Well-Known Member
It is possible to make a healthy living from it but to suceed really you need a good client base (returning customers are fab), a good eye for a horse that just needs "making up" and to actually like what your selling helps a lot too. I'm lucky in the fact that I have customers who have been buying off our yard for 15 yrs, so taking over the selling side of things came with est. clients who know what they should be getting. Source wise for horses there will always be big importers, we have first choice of freshly imported irish horses, so I go, ride lots and bring back those I like. I also know breeders whom I buy young stock from to break and produce and also you get private people calling with sales liveries or horses they can no longer care for. A good dealer will always tell you how they came about the horse! Often people call me with very cheap horses they need to sell for a small amount but TBH I'm not a fan of taking on any one elses problems and normally don't buy them. Selection of horses for me is ALWAYS firstly conformation, then temp, then movement. There's no point buying skanky things that won't get through a vetting and all of our horses are flexioned at home and trotted on the hard to make sure they will pass (if not they go back. Simple) vet is called in on the more expensive ones to check eyes and heart also. Hope this explains a bit. It's hard work and the first few years of trawling round the countryside looking for stock is hard, but once you have your sources it gets much easier! Also you find that the old boys in the game are a hard bunch to crack but once you've been doing it long enough, earned some respect you find people do often go out their way to help you out. Sometimes horses are passed between yards simply because one yard may not have the rider who clicks with the horse and another may be able to show it off better or specialise in certain types.