Buyer Beware!!!...Chicken Coops NW

[JuniperBirds]

You aren't the only one. Check out Yelp and my recent post about them under their other name: My Urban Farmers:

I didn't do my research and I was taken by Nicole and Alan Hyatt. Their website makes them sound like a reputable, highly-recommended company--they're not. If you read the posts here, on Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau, you get the real story. They are (in my opinion) scam artists trying to make a quick buck.

My story: I purchased a coop from them that I was told to expect within six weeks. 10 weeks later, no coop. I cancelled my order after finally reading reviews and realizing I was unlikely going to get a quality product if I received one at all. Their excuses for the delay are the same as they were a year ago--coop redesign. Also, if I waited any longer, I would be subject to their draconian return policy--25% cancellation fee. My chicks are now in a new home, but it was quite the hassle to get my money back and find something similar at a good price. Like many people, I was drawn to Chicken Coops NW because the prices were so reasonable, but I guess you get what you pay for.

Here are some observations on why you should stay away from this business:

1. They've changed their company name and website to avoid being associated with the "F" rating they received from the Better Business Bureau: Farm To Barn Hay Company, My Urban Farmers, and Chicken Coops NW. They are an LLC--not accredited.

2. All addresses associated with their business are incorrect (one is the local McDonalds!!). PS - I have their actual address--PM me if you need it.

3. They live on a small residential lot--it is unclear where they're making all these chicken coops. It's more likely that they are buying bulk, factory seconds (regardless of the country of orgin) and then passing them on as home-made. This is my guess.

4. Many people report that it takes three months to recieve their order. This is consistent with a business that wants to wait out your VISA's 60-day fraud period (the period in which you can get your money back from your credit card company), leaving you at the mercy of their purchase agreement.

5. Their facebook and business website(s) only post glowing reviews. They seem to delete negative comments from facebook. They report negative posts on Criagslist, etc... Did I mention that they advertise their coops on Ebay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc..., etc...?

6. Their negative reviews: Yelp, YouTube Video of Product

I could go on and on. Please do not buy a coop from this company.

Great review! Pretty much all of what you report here happened to us when purchasing a coop from My Urban Farmer. It is currently unraveling on us, and we will have to replace it soon (received it last August). They are criminals! Do not buy from them!

 

[Creekside_Craziness]

You aren't the only one. Check out Yelp and my recent post about them under their other name: My Urban Farmers:

I didn't do my research and I was taken by Nicole and Alan Hyatt. Their website makes them sound like a reputable, highly-recommended company--they're not. If you read the posts here, on Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau, you get the real story. They are (in my opinion) scam artists trying to make a quick buck.

My story: I purchased a coop from them that I was told to expect within six weeks. 10 weeks later, no coop. I cancelled my order after finally reading reviews and realizing I was unlikely going to get a quality product if I received one at all. Their excuses for the delay are the same as they were a year ago--coop redesign. Also, if I waited any longer, I would be subject to their draconian return policy--25% cancellation fee. My chicks are now in a new home, but it was quite the hassle to get my money back and find something similar at a good price. Like many people, I was drawn to Chicken Coops NW because the prices were so reasonable, but I guess you get what you pay for.

Here are some observations on why you should stay away from this business:

1. They've changed their company name and website to avoid being associated with the "F" rating they received from the Better Business Bureau: Farm To Barn Hay Company, My Urban Farmers, and Chicken Coops NW. They are an LLC--not accredited.

2. All addresses associated with their business are incorrect (one is the local McDonalds!!). PS - I have their actual address--PM me if you need it.

3. They live on a small residential lot--it is unclear where they're making all these chicken coops. It's more likely that they are buying bulk, factory seconds (regardless of the country of orgin) and then passing them on as home-made. This is my guess.

4. Many people report that it takes three months to recieve their order. This is consistent with a business that wants to wait out your VISA's 60-day fraud period (the period in which you can get your money back from your credit card company), leaving you at the mercy of their purchase agreement.

5. Their facebook and business website(s) only post glowing reviews. They seem to delete negative comments from facebook. They report negative posts on Criagslist, etc... Did I mention that they advertise their coops on Ebay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc..., etc...?

6. Their negative reviews: Yelp, YouTube Video of Product

I could go on and on. Please do not buy a coop from this company.

Unfortunately, I already did, but glad you got away from the crooks! I am taking it up with my credit card company and it doesn't seem to matter that I made the purchase back in early February. How did you get their address?!!

 

[Creekside_Craziness]

Great review! Pretty much all of what you report here happened to us when purchasing a coop from My Urban Farmer. It is currently unraveling on us, and we will have to replace it soon (received it last August). They are criminals! Do not buy from them!

It's such a shame!!! I figured ours will fall apart completely within a year too.

 

[Creekside_Craziness]

As someone who takes credit cards ........ you have a year to return it, they have no choice but to refund you due to shoddy material. No choice, it is in everyone's fine print that take credit cards when they sign the paperwork to accept credit cards through whoever company processes the cards. Document all communication......when they refuse, call the CC company and have the charge reversed. Be nice. Documentation of the crappy material and workmanship is important. They will immediately return your CC payment and start an inquiry. if indeed the coup is shoddy, or mis represented, you will get the refund despite the vendor trying to fight it.....even if the company refuses to take it back. You hold all the cards. Anytime anyone buys something of value.....always use a CC, there is a lot of protection in it. Let them know you know your rights and I would be surprised if they don't change their tune.

In over 25 years in business I have only had one questionable situation. It doesn't happen that often and the CC processing companies listen to you. For all you know ....you aren't the only one.

Thank you for sharing your wisdom!! I have started the process and I have plenty of damming communications and pictures to back up my complaints. Feeling hopeful!! And our friends are moving and giving us their solidly built coop for free! Double win!!

 

[TominWa]

You don't have to do much reading to find out how shabby these little pre fab coups are, they look good until they go into actual use. My beef is with the feed stores. They know they are badly made and won't hold up let alone big enough for holding 4-6 chickens. I wouldn't put two in one of those things. Yet they sell them to us newby chick buyers.

Honestly, if it wasn't for this place, I would have done everything wrong. Everything. Now that I am a few month into it I see the same postings over and over again......and the same people that helped me are helping them.....patient, not making them feel bad. Truly a great forum and the old timers are not only helping us out....but providing safe happy places for many many chickens.

I would really like to see more of an organized effort to shut down this shoddy pre fab coup industry......there isn't much to do about on line....but these things in the feed stores should be out of there. I know why they do it. They want to sell that initial batch of chicks. Then the food, the trays, the bedding, and the everything else that goes with them. Shameful practice, and again....thank you to this forum for providing me the info prior to getting one myself. Pure accident.

It was a pain building my coup and run, a pain. But anything worth doing is worth doing right.

 

[Creekside_Craziness]

You aren't the only one. Check out Yelp and my recent post about them under their other name: My Urban Farmers:

I didn't do my research and I was taken by Nicole and Alan Hyatt. Their website makes them sound like a reputable, highly-recommended company--they're not. If you read the posts here, on Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau, you get the real story. They are (in my opinion) scam artists trying to make a quick buck.

My story: I purchased a coop from them that I was told to expect within six weeks. 10 weeks later, no coop. I cancelled my order after finally reading reviews and realizing I was unlikely going to get a quality product if I received one at all. Their excuses for the delay are the same as they were a year ago--coop redesign. Also, if I waited any longer, I would be subject to their draconian return policy--25% cancellation fee. My chicks are now in a new home, but it was quite the hassle to get my money back and find something similar at a good price. Like many people, I was drawn to Chicken Coops NW because the prices were so reasonable, but I guess you get what you pay for.

Here are some observations on why you should stay away from this business:

1. They've changed their company name and website to avoid being associated with the "F" rating they received from the Better Business Bureau: Farm To Barn Hay Company, My Urban Farmers, and Chicken Coops NW. They are an LLC--not accredited.

2. All addresses associated with their business are incorrect (one is the local McDonalds!!). PS - I have their actual address--PM me if you need it.

3. They live on a small residential lot--it is unclear where they're making all these chicken coops. It's more likely that they are buying bulk, factory seconds (regardless of the country of orgin) and then passing them on as home-made. This is my guess.

4. Many people report that it takes three months to recieve their order. This is consistent with a business that wants to wait out your VISA's 60-day fraud period (the period in which you can get your money back from your credit card company), leaving you at the mercy of their purchase agreement.

5. Their facebook and business website(s) only post glowing reviews. They seem to delete negative comments from facebook. They report negative posts on Criagslist, etc... Did I mention that they advertise their coops on Ebay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc..., etc...?

6. Their negative reviews: Yelp, YouTube Video of Product

I could go on and on. Please do not buy a coop from this company.

Thank you so much for posting this info! I just printed it out to send in with my complaint to my credit card company. HUGELY helpful to backup the existing documentation I already have.

 

[KarennFallon]

To all of you wonderful more experienced backyarders, what is a good ratio of chickens to coop and run size? I have a 8 x 8 ft. coop with an 8 x 24 ft run. How many chickens do you recommend in that size?

 

[Creekside_Craziness]

Click on reviews and then click on the blue button that says create an item . Pick poultry products and supplies . Click on that and follow the guide lines of the format . But first do a search of reviews and see if anyone else has already reviewed the coop .If there is a recent review just reply to it .
Oops should have inserted the quote first

Thank you so much! I think I was successful...

 

[kwhites634]

My initial coop was a prefab deal. I bought it only because I was in a hurry for something; didn't expect top-of-the-line quality. First thing I did after I put it all together, and before the first bird was in it, was tear it apart & add another thickness of wall, with sheet insulation between the layers. Then I put it in use & started construction on a new coop, using the original as a pattern & incorporating better materials.

 

[JuniperBirds]

Unfortunately, I already did, but glad you got away from the crooks! I am taking it up with my credit card company and it doesn't seem to matter that I made the purchase back in early February. How did you get their address?!!

We got taken for $600. Didn't get the shipment in time, had to build our own temp coop, kept the birds in the garage. Cost us a lot of time too! Now the roof and sides are all falling apart. Most of the workmanship is apart. The roof molded this winter and leaked on our chickens in very cold temps. It really is a shame. We thought we were spending a little extra and buying an American made product from a nice little company, but they have not replied and taken care of any of there part of the deal. At this point it is so bad, they owe us a FULL Refund no questions asked. It is ridiculous the Better Business Bureau can't put them out of business. Our chickens are the ones that missed out the most!