This is NOT intended as a flame. The following is the type of statement that, uncontested, gives rise to new people questioning the quality of their 1st fuzzie bought at a pet store. They spend time worrying about the "quality" of the fuzzie instead of learning how to properly care for it and, even more importantly, returning it's unqualified love. I don't question the sincerity of the poster. I believe the breeder said this. I'll assume the breeder is also a nice person. I've sold things as a profession for over 30 years and I've been "storied" to by hundreds of customer who didn't want to simply say, "No. I'm not buying from you." If I (the breeder) couldn't compete with Marshalls on price or delivery and my customer (the pet store owner) didn't want to hurt my feelings so they told me some "story" to stop my solicitation I might make the following statement. re: Marshall Farm Ferrets & Pet Stores= >He said, when he tries to sell them to pet stores, they won't buy them >because if they sell ferrets and not Marshal Farms Ferrets: Marshal Farms >won't sell to them their products. As a teacher of mine used to say, "Put on your thinking caps children." At one time Kodak GAVE cameras to users in order to later sell film and processing. Have you spent $35.00 recently to buy the ink cartridge for your $49.00 printer? It's good business. Do you believe Marshall isn't in business to make profit??? Marshall makes more money on the supplies than they do on the kits. Why do you believe that Marshall Farms would refuse to sell the entire line of products including food, hammocks, Furovite, etc. to a store simply because they bought a ferret from another source??? Further, pet stores generally don't buy directly from Marshalls. They get the products from a wholesaler who has even more to lose by refusing to sell to the store. Come on people. Use common sense. The statement just doesn't make good business sense. This also is NOT intended as a flame but Bill, Hillary and Hershey feel VERY insulted and have threatened to get the FLO involved. >His ferrets beat Marshal Farms hands down. Hillary wants to know, "AT WHAT ??????" Being loving creatures that add to the enjoyment of life? I seriously doubt that. Being mean and aggressive? If so, the breeder should "socialize" the "pet" ferrets better. Having had Marshall and "non" Marshall ferrets for a long time, I don't find much difference in personality, longevity, susceptibility to illness or any other indicator that matters. I love them all. Equally without prejudice about where they came from. Hillary's response to this Missouri breeder is - "SHOW ME!!!". If that's a flame - well OK. Take it off list to: [log in to unmask] . I welcome the debate. Just be prepared to present FACTS and not "opinion", "feelings" or other "everybody knows" type of arguments. I let Hillary answer those. She weighs 1-1/2 pounds and has a large enough brain to deal with them. John Gordon with some help from Hillary the Queen of the Pekin, IL FLO. [Posted in FML issue 3108]