Bad exp with an egg buyer. UPDATE READ PAGE 5! HOLY

[Crunchie]

Wow...that's nuts. So sorry you had to deal with this. IMHO, though, posting her email on a public and very large internet forum might be a bit much. Though I do know how upset you are, and I totally understand. Maybe instead send her a link to BYC so she can see everyone's opinions?

Yes, eggs need to "breath", but wrapping them in bubble wrap for a few days isn't going to hurt them. Better that then they all break, right??

I pack my eggs like this, too--individually bubble wrapped--and I've had people have 100% develop (not all hatch, but obviously they weren't damaged by not being able to breath while in transit). A lot of people bubble wrap their eggs. I think, with as many of us here on BYC shipping/receiving (and successfully hatching!) eggs, we'd have figured it out by now if it didn't work.

 

[chickfillhay]

Quote:
BWA HA HA HA HA!! That'll learn her!

 

[NurseNettie]

Florida Chick- sorry you're having problems all around!!! You'll always be *my* favorite as far as egg shipping- since I got eggs from you first, and my first hatch came from your eggs!!!
You did what you were supposed to, AND you ship and package so well!!!! After all the battering the PO did to my box of eggs from you, I still got one to hatch on my first time around... Tells me you know what you're doing!
Don't let it bother you, and don't refund this person. They didn't do what they needed to do, and they're looking to justify their mistake, not yours.
You've had so many positive experiences, don't let this one get under your skin!!!!

 

[seriousbill]

Unincubated eggs don't "breathe" really. They maybe shouldn't be hermetically sealed, but until that embryo has been incubated and *developed a means of absorbing oxygen*, the necessity for air is minimal. Individual bubble-wrap and tape is perfectly fine. A far greater danger to shipped eggs than lack of air is rough handling.

 

[DuckyBoys]

One thing I have noticed is that many sellers indicate how they ship eggs - i.e. what they do to ensure they arrive safe such as bubble wrap etc. I have alsways wondered if that is necessary in the listing - but apparetnly IT IS!

If you explained your method and she STILL purchased the eggs then her fault right? I guess this is just another example of cover your butt when selling.

 

[Traveller]

Wow, I certainlyunderstand your pain, and overall I think you are getting some good advice. However, with that said, I am manage a large online store (Local business, not a chain) and also a much smaller businesses shipping and online ordering, along with my own company. I have a different take on this situation.

First, did you offer the customer a written policy (on a website, via a cataolg or other means) to cover this situation?

Second, I had a customer who was VERY unreasonable once, and demanding things we could not, or rather should not have done. My employees took the hardline statement that we were sticking with the store policies, I gave the customer what they wanted. Since that time they have spent over $60,000 with us, and have never been a pain again.

This is my advice, remember that customer service is a dead art in America, and take the aproach that you are the customer and they are telling the truth, then think, what would I expect of this person that sold me this item if it was me?

Too often I see people in these situations demand something of the person they purchased something from, then deny it to the person they sell something to. (I am not saying this is you, or anyone here)

You are certainly not responcible for this, you did live up to your end of the bargain. But small business gets most of its money from word of mouth. Is this a teacher who does this every year, a farmer who will order regulary, or a one time deal from someone who will not appreciate this and help you find more business?

I guess what I am saying is this, we all spend time and effort (Which equates to money, and sometimes we even spend money) to drum up new business. Sometimes a refund should be written off, even in taxes, as advertising and it helps to grow our businesses.

I am not thinking you owe them anything, and not even suggesting you give away the bank, it may be too late to do anything at this point also, just wanting to give everyone here a slightly different perspective, a way to think outside the box. I may have offered a partial refund, or contacted the post office for the customer to demand they pay the customer. We ALWAYS ship our items insured even if the customer doesnt want us to, then we can make the shipper pay for these errors and WE look good to the customer, and gain their business and confidence. Remember, a bad experience, even if it is someone elses fault, costs us money.

Thanks for reading this, and good luck in the future no matter how this all plays out. (And in the very least set up a web page you can direct future customers to with a written policy, this will help you a lot and can be done for free).

Chris

 

[Florida chick]

Thanks guys! I appreciate it, I swear I feel like this woman is trying to make me crazy. Crunchi, thanks for letting me see it from a step back I removed the email links.

 

[Crunchie]

Chris makes good points. I do have a hatching egg policy on my web site, and after your experience, Florida Chick, I think I might do some revising (e.g., be descriptive as to how I package eggs, direct people who want eggs from me to read it...). I definitely don't think you owe this person anything, but I do think that sometimes it is helpful to try to put yourself in the other person's shoes.

ETA: Florida Chick, we were posting at the same time! I understand the knee-jerk reaction to put up her email; I probably would have done that myself in your situation...but I could also see it being something I regretted once I thought about it.

Good luck, I' hope you get some sort of resolution (happy!) to this!!

 

[Traveller]

Two last thoughts after re-reading my last post...

ginasmarans makes a good point, I use that technique a lot, its the one where you say "Mr/Mrs Customer, I appreciate your dissapointment due to the issues that occured with the post office, I will throw in a few extra eggs the NEXT time you purchase from me"

I took some sales training back in my early days, and we were taught that a customer is NEVER truely a customer until something like this happens. We all expect things to go well when we make a purchase, so when they do, we simply ignore it as if some great magician made it happen. Its when a problem arises and we handle it with expert care and attention that we truly sperate ourselves from others.

It is obvious you are a caring individual, who puts your heart and soul into what you do. I do not think you owe this person a dime, and I can see you care or you wouldnt be posting about this here. I think in terms of the people I see on this message board, and have chatted with in the chat room that this a great group of people who are the types I would want to do business with (And will be doing so in the future). I wish you the best of luck, and hope you dont think I am saying you handled anything incorrectly, just thought this post presented an oppurtunity to share some advice, since I am new to chickens but an old hat to business, and want to give back to all of you who have helped me so much!

Thanks,

Chris

P.S. I have a friend looking to buy fully matured laying chickens in Michigan sometime VERY soon. Can someone here help him with that? Then I can start giving back right away, lol. If not, any advice on somewhere I can point them? (And sorry, not trying to hijack this thread, but if Florida Chick offers this service, maybe I can have him contact her?)

 

[Florida chick]

LOL thanks, but that is why I am Florida chick

I am in FL. Sorry I couldn't help.