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Years ago, my husband and I raised and sold parrots out of our home. We bred some ourselves, but also bought some from other breeders to finish the hand feeding. Whether the birds hatched at our place or not, they were all our babies, and we cared what happened to them. I dealt with people that I wouldn't sell an ant to much less one of my birds. Usually I could tell just by talking to potential buyers on the phone that they weren't going to end up with anything from me. Then I'd just say something like 'I don't think I have what you're looking for, sorry', not invite them over, and that was that. Sometimes there was a more subtle nagging feeling. I'd struggle with the urge to give someone the benefit of the doubt verses the fear that one of my birds would end up going home with a flake. Pet Birds are simply require a lot more than your average dog or cat and most people do not know this prior to purchasing.

As business strategies go, my attitude was not a good one. 'The customer is always right', my foot! I wasn't trying to just make a buck. I wanted each bird to go to the best home possible. This goal in the world of the pet retailer isn't as common as it should be, but it's out there. Anyone who's shopping for a parrot needs to be aware that you are possibly being screened by the person who's selling. If you feel like you're being interviewed when you thought you were the one doing the interviewing, don't be offended. The seller is likely trying to get a feel for what you'd be like as an owner so they can make recommendations to you, or so they can decide if they want you to have one of their birds at all. It's usually an indicator of a quality breeder or pet shop that puts their animals' welfare above the almighty dollar. Assuming you are, in fact, worthy of a pet from one of these folks, you will certainly want to present yourself as the good person you are, and not a dud.

A good way to get off on the wrong foot with a parrot retailer is to seem like you're in a big hurry, asking a lot of questions really fast like you're taking a survey. Asking about prices right off the bat is especially off-putting. It's true that the process of researching your parrot purchase can be tiring, and unless the right parrot just happens to present itself to you immediately, you have probably talked to and visited a whole lot of breeders and shops. You probably have your questions honed to perfection and just want the nitty-gritty from whoever is next on your list. But think about first impressions, particularly on the phone. If you start off with 'How much are your blue and gold macaws?' you don't come across as a caring owner, just a consumer going through the yellow pages making cost comparisons.

Above all, be polite, even if you are brief and to the point. For shops and parrot breeders that deal with the public every day, a caller or visitor with a pleasant attitude is a breath of fresh air. Introduce yourself and explain that you're interested in getting a parrot. Describe what you're looking for and mention your budget. Then let the seller respond. Hopefully he or she will ask you some questions and you can have a real conversation. The more you get a sense of one another, the better. You may decide this isn't the right place after all, but it's still important to treat the seller as you would like to be treated: With kindness and respect.
Sellers' questions may seem somewhat personal or invasive, but it's not because they're nosey. They will want to know why you've decided on a certain bird and how you plan to keep that bird happy and healthy because they're trying to figure out if you'll do what's best for their birds. To a good breeder or shop, parrots aren't pieces of merchandise that can be sold without a second thought. While there's certainly a responsibility that comes with buying a parrot, good retailers feel a responsibility for selling one.