AWFUL experience with Cackle.

[Marlaina]

I had posted a week or so ago on someone else's thread saying that I was hopeful that my Cackle experience turned out OK even though it wasn't looking so great at the time.

To review what had happened up until that point (sorry this is so wordy but it's all important to the final outcome):

On April 11th I placed an order for 5 Dominiques using the city pullet special that Cackle has for small orders. On the 16th I got an e-mail saying that the order had been canceled. This is a direct quote from that e-mail "Order #030722 placed on Sunday, April 11th 2010 can not be filled as placed. The minimum order to ship is 15 birds. That is for the safety and well being of the birds.Please look at our specials online. You would qualify for a City-Town Pullet Special 5 or you can order the total of 15 birds required."

My first thought was "Huh? I did order the city pullet special." But, since they don't send any form of invoice until something ships, there was no way I could verify. I called them and they apologized for the mix-up and told me to re-order. They said the Dominiques were available for immediate shipment.

I re-ordered on the 17th. In the notes of the order I told them that they had to ship ASAP and that they had to go out on or before the 27th because I wouldn't be able to receive them after that. Long story shorter, after tomorrow I will be working over an hour from the local post office where birds in my area arrive. I go to work at 8am and get home after 6pm. That's before the post office opens and after it closes. I was assured there would be no problem shipping before the 27th.

Last week when I had heard nothing and received no more e-mails, I called for an update. I was first told they would ship on the 28th. I explained my situation in detail. I was put on hold for almost 10 minutes and then the lady I spoke to told me they would be able to ship on the 26th. Confirmed. I received an e-mail confirming the 26th. This happened on the 20th.

On the 22nd I got a phone call from a NASTY girl there (she literally said she didn't care if they sold me anything or not) saying that they would be shipping the 28th. I once again explained my situation and then due to her nastiness and lack of desire to work with me (I offered another possible ship date of May 3rd but explained they would have to go out on the 3rd because I could take off on Wednesday the 5th to pick them up and NO OTHER DAY WOULD WORK) I asked to cancel the order. I was broken hearted but they left me with no option.

On the 23rd I got a phone call telling me that there would be a 10% fee for canceling the order. I was floored considering all I had gone through. I spoke to them again and they agreed to waive the fee based upon my experience and said they wouldn't charge my card.

Guess what... I just looked at my bank account and they charged me for the entire order on the 26th. If they had shipped and charged me on the 26th, fine. But they didn't ship. I am hoping they didn't ship them yesterday because they wouldn't arrive in time to meet my deadlines.

I have tried to call them to find out what the heck is going on and they're at lunch. Good grief. What an awful experience.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Ugh, that is an awful experience! I'm sorry to hear they gave you so much trouble.

 

[Marlaina]

On hold AGAIN with them now. Can you believe that after all of this they actually shipped them TODAY? They are now trying to find out if they have actually left the premises or not. UN-FREAKING-REAL!

 

[Katy]

Maybe it has to do with the timing of your order. If you tried ordering on the 11th and then again on the 17th, but had to have them by the 27th that really doesn't give them time to fill your order unless they know that they're going to be hatching that many extras from the breed you wanted. You didn't even give them 3 weeks notice for your order.

I realize you were told that they were available for immediate delivery, but sometimes hatches don't go as planned.

 

[Marlaina]

I would agree with you on the timing. BUT... I clarified with them when placing BOTH orders that the birds would be shipping immediately. I discussed my time frame restrictions with them at each step of the way. And now they have shipped and charged for a canceled order. I really don't know how much more communicative that I could have been. It seems that they want the business but only if they can do it according to their schedule. I appreciate the fact that we're dealing with live animals. That's why I communicated so heavily throughout this process. I have NEVER had this problem with the other hatcheries that I have used when stating from the get-go that I had to receive by a specific date. If they couldn't meet the deadline, they just said so.

As it stands now though, it looks like 5 poor little pullets are going to die in the post office unless I can figure something out quick. This wasn't something that I could "fix" with the deadline and that's why I continually stated it was so strict. I have NO ONE to pick these little girls up except for me and I can't afford to not be at work that day while I wait for the post office to receive them. I am just hopeful that once again Cackle is wrong and somehow they haven't shipped. It's truly a nightmare.

 

[Marlaina]

Oh... and the part about hatches not going as planned... I get that too. Fine. But the least they could do is actually cancel the darned order like they were supposed to.

 

[jbowyer01]

If they have shipped them maybe a fellow BYCer that lives nearby would be willing to at least pick them up from the P.O. I'd do it for you but I dont know where your located.

 

[Marlaina]

Conway, SC.

It looks like it is all working out though.

They are refunding me.

They did ship them. I ***may*** have someone to pick them up and hold them for me as long as they arrive on Friday. I frantically called around to almost everyone I know begging favors. Hopefully this one will turn out good after all.

Worst case scenario according to the very NICE lady I just spoke to at Cackle is that the post office will give them to a local farmer if no one else picks them up. I am going to try my best to keep that from happening though.

I will certainly give Cackle another chance next year as long as they follow through with the promised refund and such. Maybe they're just having a bad Spring. She mentioned that this isn't the way they normally do business and I appreciate that.

Here's to hoping for the best!

 

[Lotsapaints]

I hope my order goes well...Cackle called me last week and said that the hatches were not so good for my order. It would be delayed until May 15th so I don't know I had only 3 losses with my McM order in March and it was mailed on a Sat. I have turkeys and chicks and I was bummed about them not coming on time as I ordered from Welp after I was given a shipping date and the Welp order is here on time so far waiting for my turkeys that should be here tomorrow.

 

[()relics]

I order from them yearly in Feburary and have never had anything but good things to say about them...If they are trying to correct things I would tend to give them the benefit of the doubt....