Egg prices WILL rise again - Page 8

I agree. Now that we are approaching or actually in a recession, everyone is feeling the outcome of it. If the government doesn't step in to help, we could all be in for high inflation which would really hinder things.

It starts with the gas; the more it costs to drive, the higher in price shipping goes and then the higher it costs to get the goods to us. If the price of gas would lower, we could be saved from all this. I hope that this makes sense to the government and they save us..........

It's sad that the dairy farmers have to pay so much for the "Got Milk?" campaign, and they hardly get any extra for it.

Oreo, as far as pricing eggs go, I would say go maybe $.50 above the stores regular eggs.  Then see how many buy.  If you sell a lot, raise it maybe a quarter.  I listed mine on a local yahoo group for $2.50 per doz, they're $2.00 in the store, and am sold out.   I think I'll leave them there though.

Yes-- a lot of it has to do with your location, and your contacts. I just can't see where putting 12 eggs in a box would be worth it for $2. I try to make $15-20 an hour at my job, and a person ought to be able to make at least that with direct marketing any  farm product. If you are selling all you have at $2.50,  I'd say it's time to go up on the price, especially to those of your customers you can sense won't mind. Just tell them your costs have gone up (which I'm sure they have). When you hit the ceiling of resistance, that's where you back off. I had this lesson with pumpkins. I found out I had priced them too low because everyone bought them with no questions asked. I should have asked more. When you start meeting some resistance, then you know you're in the right price range. You can always give certain customers a "discount" if you feel their feelings would be hurt, or whatever. Just tell them, "you've been such a loyal customer, I'm going to keep giving you eggs at the old price, just don't tell anybody, ok?" But I'll be interested to see what I can sell them for once I get going.

Oreo:

I agree with you completely.  Far too often we in Agriculture fail to charge enough for our products to justify our time or effort, Economists call it "Return to Management".  Of course most of the people posting pricing suggestions have no clue what it really costs to produce a dozen eggs.

Jim

Yes, Lazy J. I'm glad someone agrees. Look, if you see this only as a hobby, and you have plenty of money, then sell or give away your eggs at whatever price you want. A dollar isn't worth anything like it was worth ten years ago. Back then, it might have been great to sell eggs at $2 a dozen. But money's too hard to come by for me to just set an arbitrarily low price and sell them all like that. I'll need to sell them at what I can get for them. It takes time, energy, and determination to deal with any kind of animal day in and day out, to feed them, make sure they have water, maintain their housing, clean up after them, monitor their health, and replace them over time. If this is anything more than a hobby, YOU'VE GOT TO CONSIDER THE TIME YOU SPEND. That's how it is with our sheep. There's obviously a learning curve when you're getting going, but once you get into a sustainable groove, you have to do it for all its worth, as long as it's still enjoyable to you. And, as we all know, home-grown eggs are much better quality than the run-of-the-mill store eggs, which we can get here for $1.75. Charge at least as much as the premium "free-range" eggs to be bought in Walmart or your gorcery store. Here, they're like $2.50 or so. You ought to be able to charge near the price for certified organic, I think, even if your eggs aren't organic, as long as they are truly free range country eggs. The reason-- you are providing more than eggs-- you are providing an experience and a relationship along with your eggs-- thus you have a value-added product. People who buy your eggs week after week will tell their friends, "I get my eggs from the family down the road. We like to go and see their chickens. These eggs are the best I've ever had! The man/ or lady is so nice. . . . ." It's not just another thing you grab off the shelf.

BINGO BINGO BINGO BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You nailed it again.  Tell your story and sell your eggs for a profit.

Jim

I agree with what you are all saying.  I'm just saying, if you're just starting to sell, then start slightly above store bought.  Then slowly rise, which I believe is basically what oreo is saying.  I charge different prices for different people.  Family is actually less than store, because, hey they're family.  My first customers pay store price.  My newer customers are paying more than store price.  My first customer, besides family, has brought me a gift everytime she has come to buy eggs.  It's great, and she sent me an email tonight saying she's sending someone else to start buying eggs. 

It's amazing how easily people get spoiled to fresh eggs.  This customer had been buying Eggland's Best, and has tossed them once she got ahold of my eggs.  A really thrifty friend of mine tossed 1 1/2 doz storebought eggs after I gave her some eggs.

Yes. I agree. You've got it right. When you run out of eggs- get more chickens. When you run out of space for all the chickens, keep raising the price until you start having eggs in your fridge again.

I think that is really cool Lubbber. I think people need to get back in touch with the old way of life. I mean chickens that are confined in those commercial "egg factories" do not get to live a good life. Nowadays, people are looking for farm fresh eggs and trying to avoid encouraging that commercialized behavior.

Best of all, it gives people like us a chance to offer good quality eggs that are much better than you would find in a store. It's just a matter of getting the word out there. I have quite a flock and I know when my hens start laying again I am going to sell them for about $1.75/dz.