[GTRaven]

Hi guys,

Im working on an idea at the moment and keen to see how much if any interest there would be. Would you use a online shop that deals specifically in supplies for rodents or is it just as easy to buy your supplies from any local or online pet shop?

Thanks

 

[polishrose]

I think rat rations pretty much covers all my rodent needs, as well as zooplus and ecf, sorry.

 

[mices4]

Yup, sorry, I think you'd have a hard job competing with rat rations and ECF

 

[Wobbles]

You'd get my vote if you were cheaper than rat rations! Especially their daylight robbery delivery prices!

 

[thedogsmother]

I would have to see your range and prices first, I tend to go for the cheapest if its a branded product so if you were cheaper than the other places Ive used then I would use you.

 

[kodakkuki]

I'm the same as above- I use my local petshop, ecf and vetuk... But if you were cheaper...
I also don't buy from places that give stupid advise on products- such as 'this hamster cage is brill for rats'

 

[thedogsmother]

I'm the same as above- I use my local petshop, ecf and vetuk... But if you were cheaper...
I also don't buy from places that give stupid advise on products- such as 'this hamster cage is brill for rats'

This is an excellent point, I buy very little from Pets at Home, I would need to be desperate, I hate that none of the cages are suitable for the animal they are marketed for, in fact most that they sell arent suitable for any living thing.

 

[peter0]

Depending on what things you stocked and your price i'd probably buy from you. It's always good having a choice and different places have different stock

 

[kodakkuki]

This is an excellent point, I buy very little from Pets at Home, I would need to be desperate, I hate that none of the cages are suitable for the animal they are marketed for, in fact most that they sell arent suitable for any living thing.

I do often break my rule with [email protected] - but I go in for what I need and straight back out again to stop myself getting mad at them

 

[CRL]

also delivery times. some companies do next day deleivery if you buy before a certain time. if not they take 3 or 4 days. many dont want to be waiting a week or more for food to turn up of their rats are running out.
also over a certain weight some give free delivery. would you do this? others dont, but then ratrations etc delivery is extortionate, i would have to sell a kideny to pay for shipping on the ammount of food i would have to buy for my boys if i bought it from them.

 

[salemsparklys]

I love RR, dont love the p&p, plus I end up spending more to make p&p worth while
I would use a rodent online shop for toys etc though

 

[CRL]

I can get 75kg of rat food with £5 delivery every 2 months for 27 rats. if i got the same on ratrations the delivery would be about £30 and the food would be about £150 without delivery

 

[GTRaven]

Thanks for the feedback so far!. The concept has come about through the ownership of our own 3 rats, and the problems we have had with both delivery times and dodgy advice from the big chains, we are hoping to specialise in rat products that are suited to their needs.

 

[niki87]

Thanks for the feedback so far!. The concept has come about through the ownership of our own 3 rats, and the problems we have had with both delivery times and dodgy advice from the big chains, we are hoping to specialise in rat products that are suited to their needs.

I think if you mean that, and get in stock that is actually beneficial for rodents (this would need research) and yes obviously if your prices were good, then I would happily buy from you. Like TDM anything branded I will research online before each purchase. For instance my rabbit and guinea pig food, I have bought the last three lots from three different stores becuase I found cheaper each time.

OK in short if you offer good products, for cheap prices and offer a reliable service I would certainly use you.

 

[GTRaven]

Hi all,

How would you feel about items being posted the day after the order was placed if the shipping was free or signigicantly subsidised?.

 

[salemsparklys]

As long as I didnt need it ASAP then I wouldnt mind, I never leave ordering food etc to the last second anyway

 

[Maltey]

Perhaps you could offer two options?
Free if posted next day or pay for special delivery if you need it quickly.
Like many others I have a look at about 6 places to find the cheapest and buy from there.
I would certainly buy from you if you were competitive.
You don't necessarily have to have cheaper prices than RR but if they were the same price but you offered free delivery that would help a lot.
As others have said I have to buy a lot from RR to make it worth it for me.

Slightly off topic- CRL where do you order your food from?

 

[CRL]

i order from 2 places. for the fruity rabbit (30kg) and the nutty hamster food (30kg) i order from www.foodforwildbirds.co.uk
for the rupert rat and mouse food (15kg) i order it from Pet Feeds UK - A new and exciting online pet, equine and small animal retailer based in th UK

that lasts 26 boys 2 months. both companies deliver quickly, the first does next day if you order before a certain time, and the other normally arrives by wednesday if i order on the friday. all that food costs around £75-80

 

[RetroLemons]

Do you mean if the order was dispatched next day postage would be free or have I got confused? I'd be careful with postage, as you don't want to make losses!

However yes if you have a good range, good prices and decent postage I would order of you

ETA: I think RR tend to do their P&P based on weight, and with postage prices as they are they aren't being unreasonable. Other companies get away with it by compensating postage with their products. It's something you'd have to try out for a while and see how it affected your profit margin.

 

[mices4]

RR have a policy of not increasing the price of the goods to cover postage - it's all weight-based, but if you ring up, they will tell you which delivery option would be cheapest - courier or standard mail etc:
Shipping & Returns : ratRations.com
I agree that Royal Mail charges are ridiculous. Sadly they've got us all over a barrel.