Tuesday, May 10 2022 I’ve discovered that I have a problem with my heart. In the good ole days I was selling alpacas with gusto. One of my alpaca friends (who eventually hired me to sell her alpacas) said “you could sell ice cubes to an Eskimo!” Now I don’t know if that’s true but I had a very healthy background in sales and marketing and it was a different game back then. Prices of nice alpacas hovered around 15,000 to 20,000 and higher. And most everyone buying alpacas did their homework – wouldn’t you at that price? They knew you couldn’t have single alpacas, they knew males and females were kept separately, and they invested in educating themselves about caring for these unique creatures. We offered monthly classes for our customers on alpaca care and we covered everything from birthing to emergency care and all things in between. One class a month after your purchase, so after 12 classes you had a good grasp on alpaca care. Life was good. We met wonderful people selling them alpacas and made many new friends.
And then came the crash of 2008, alpaca prices tumbled along with housing, cars and much more. But I thought it would be OK. I was making income from the fiber and I figured the lower prices would just bring more buyers. I was still passionate about these animals and wanted to share them. But people who were buying at the new prices were not like the first buyers. I found a bunch of boys that I had sold in a different pasture with no shelter. They had been given away for free to the new owner because the original owner got tired of them. Oh my heart. And after I watched them freeze in a Utah winter with no shelter (I think 2 of them died) I approached the owner and said “Would you like to build these boys a shelter, or would you like me to help you find them a new owner?” He said let’s find them a new owner – he wasn’t going to spend $$ building a shelter for animals he got for free! So we did find them a new home. And I learned a lesson. My heart was no longer into it, keeping me too attached to the animals here to allow them to go to new homes.
So I sat with me feelings and listened to my heart and I have to admit I just can’t sell alpacas right now. Not a good business plan, I’ll admit! I removed all tags from the web site about alpacas for sale and my new motto became “Breed what you can feed” So we do tours and sell a few things on line so we can afford the ever increasing hay bill. I still get many inquiries about alpacas for sale – people often want only one (Nope) or a male female pair (Bigger nope) and I can simply say we have none for sale. I have much information on my site for new owners or wanna be owners and still people don’t read it. ☹️ It’s never been about the money for me, it’s about being sure that they go to the very best homes. I’m just not sure I can do that anymore.
How many alpacas can an 80 year old couple take care of is the next question I’ll face! We have a few years till we need to answer that one but it’s coming. Cheers to an evolving business plan and a happy heart!
Photo of the Day: These are my boys and I love everyone of them. Even the one who I sold and who boards here with us. ❤️
Lana
Oh dear, this made me cry because we are in the same boat. It keeps me up at night worrying about what will happen to our herd as we age. We too sold alpacas to homes that like the ones when we first started. And now we have only a few who would ever sell anyway, as the youngest is now 7 and most are in their teens. Fortunately, like you guys, we are still healthy enough to care for them and hopefully will be for a number of years to come. I got so I hated selling them, as I discovered over time how stressful it is for them to leave here and go to a strange herd or worse to go with one other to a place that isn’t prepared for them. I wish I knew of a sanctuary for older alpacas where they could be sent if/when we can no longer care for them. Thanks for the post. I don’t feel so alone with my feelings now.
Linda
I have a dear friend who is over 80, widowed in the past few years and she still cares for her own herd. She inspires me every day. Those of us who got into this business for the love of the animals and not as a way to make a few bucks will find a way. Fingers crossed.
Lana
Thank you, that makes me feel better. May I be like her. 🙂
Lana
s/b ‘homes that were not like the ones when we started’. Damn keyboard…
Linda
No worries, i knew what you meant.
Beth
Well said, everyone.
Gigi Caito
I understand completely, Linda.
Linda
Thanks Gigi.