Interesting topic !

I agree with Cameron ... and I agree with Dimitri ....

You can't really separate the topic on pricing of rare T's from the importing of rare T's... The one hand washes the other.

So, don't be so defensive ... If you are publicly going to boast about having recently imported tarantulas in your collection, be prepared to receive some public flack and scrutiny .. not because everyone is necessarily walking the straight and narrow route, but because it is wrong, no way to argue out of that. In Afrikaans they have a saying: "Die deler is net so goed soos die steler", so when buying tarantulas from these importers, you are helping them to break the law. Now I'm not saying buy imported T's or don't buy imported T's, but South Africans in general don't have a very good reputation in the outside tarantula world, as we have no problem breaking the law to make a little money. I see this on the Facebook groups (Local & International) every day. And I think a forum like this should strive to live and breathe the letter of our country's law - whether or not everybody agrees with that law.

Regarding the pricing - it's not really going to be something set in stone - The first person to import and/or breed with the imports will make the most money, so that person will set the price. From there, as the supply grows.. the price will start to fall.... either gradually or very steep. There is only one person I know that can slap a 100% markup on T's and still get away with it! (check Gumtree if you don't believe me).

You can't really use overseas prices, as they have a different supply/demand chain in the hobby. And as Dimitri mentioned: What makes these rare T's so special? Is the attraction towards the tarantula .... or the price (i.e. somebody slaps a price on it and makes you think 'hell, that T is expensive, so it must be special, I need to own it now!')? Some of the most interesting tarantulas are the cheap ones!

If you REALLY want to compare prices, rather visit Tarantulacafe or contact Hendrik directly - he has always been very fair when it comes to pricing!

@ Dimitri - It would be nice to see the REAL interest in the hobby if you take away the pricing, I'd bet on a 80% fall in number of keepers !

That is why the hobby is where it is today...

Only about 30 active hobbyists EXCITED about the hobby to share information and knowledge! The rest too interested in breeding the rarest species and call his hobby an INVESTMENT!

Hendrik is a completely different example and cannot be compared to any breeder. He keeps the hobby going. He breeds what the hobby needs and his prices are great. He is not a fly by night for a quick buck. He has never sold all his "cheaper" species to focus on more expensive species. I gaurantee you he has every single species that is available in South Africa in his collection because he loves his spiders and animals.

I think there is already a Trading category in the classifieds.

The problem with the trading scenario is: People will still (in the back of their minds) attach a price to those T's. You won't find someone trading a P.metallica for a B.albopilosum, just because that person likes the B.albopilosum more? That person will want compensation for the difference in "value" .. Sad story, but true

And that is exactly the way it should be? Why is it sad? If you came to my car dealership with a brand, spanking new BMW 760 and I square traded you for the 1995 Fiat Uno on the pavement, would you be happy? Why is it different with Tarantulas?

Everything in life has a value, be it houses, jewelry and yes even livestock. That value is determined by various factors. With Tarantulas this will be factors like Behavior, Aesthetic Appeal, Prestige etc...But largest of all Supply and demand!! If there is a flippen million B. albopilosums in the country do you honestly expect I would trade a O.diamantinensis or P.sazimai for it? Let me ask it differently- Spunky I will send you a beautiful A.geniculata female, in return I would like your T.stirmi please?

Everything in life will has a value, albeit a fluctuating value. And that is the way it will be... Otherwise we would still be walking around with beads and knives, trading for food and services....

I would love to see this practiced and not just preached...

Cameron- You were selling Tytus stigmurus for the horrendous price of R450? Why not giving them away?

Spunky- You have spent a fortune on very, very nice Tarantuls. Tarantulas that I would love to own too. Why would you spend that amount on T's if everything has the value of B. albopilosum?

Dimitri- Man you guys run the best Tarantula stand at every expo-do you honestly want to turn it into a charity stand? Giving away Tarantulas for free? Please just tell me- I'll be there!!!

There is actual pricing for tarantulas, and I've seen a lot of times people bargaining for prices. If you bought tarantulas and over paid, that was when you were inexperienced and desperate. At a later stage you've grown more accustomed, now you have an idea of the prices. On all forums I've visited, I've seen many a time people refering to people selling as having better prices. So even if youd like to shy away, fact remains pricing is out there. Also a set parameter for different species, like zane said with everything in life it has a price determined by factors. So I fully understand what zane is saying, and I support his views. Just like to add, not everyone wants to breed tarantulas, like me. To even think that shows there's more to this. I just would like certain ones, and would like to know round about what I should be paying.