Yesterday marked the END of the 2012-2013 trapping season for us, Bob sold the rats!

It was sort of a let down as far as I was concerned because of the fact that the last auction sold rats at a record high of over $14 and even less than quality rats sold at over $13…that being said, it made our quality rats look like they should be worth over $12 to a buyer.  However, the local buyers didn’t see things that way.  Greedy I guess.

So, Bob was inclined to sell the rats for what he thought was a good price and so be it.  I’m happy, he is happy and the whole deal is over for another season.

The one thing it did do was make us think that maybe we should send our rats off to the auction in future years.  It’s a gamble for sure because in most cases you can’t say “I don’t want to sell for that price” and get your furs back.  It’s usually a send them off and hope you get a good price.    I’m willing to gamble on that one.  There is also the cost to ship the furs and there is always at least one ding for the auction house to make some money by charging you a processing fee for them doing your selling for you.  That is usually a percentage of the selling price.  At some auctions there is a handling fee up front and then a percentage of the selling price…double dings!

No matter, if we decide we will be sending off our furs next year, we won’t have to deal with the local buyers and take their price in the shorts.  We did get a good deal this year, it just wasn’t what the rats were really worth and the buyer will make at least $3 on each of the rats we sold him.

Did we cover our costs?  Yes, and then some, but it would have been nicer to have enough over the costs to cover the bed with money and jump in with the wife for a little play time.  Do people do that these days?  HAHAHA!

So there you have it…the Trappers catch the furs…the fur buyers catch the trappers!

Bears Butt

June 13, 2013