Buyer grief, what would you do?

[patyrdz]

Quote:
That is a good letter! I would never refund all the money! I think you did an awsome job of packing them too! I agree that if you put "hatching eggs" on the box it could get abused. I have had eggs with and without the warnings on the box and have not had a problem with either! But wanting a refund because they are frozen(not your fault) is like wanting a refund because they did not hatch!! I have had some not hatch and I knew when I bought the eggs that this was possible. So it is a buy at your own risk when it comes to eggs! If my eggs were sent with a bad packing job, then i might have a problem!! Try to figure out how much the negative feedback will hurt your score! I still buy from people who have a 98 and above!! I just read the complaint and the response.

 

[Chickie Mamma]

I wouldn't be surprised if the eggs are incubating as we speak...
As a seller on Ebay, the buyers have the upper advantage with the whole feedback system. I have had some people say they never recieved the item and I would issue refunds and weeks later see it on auction etc.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Quote:
I've never dealt with hatching eggs so I don't have a horse in this race, but I'm going to speak my mind anyway.

How much more clear can you get? She gambled by buying eggs that were going to be mailed. She lost. You did your part. No refund. End of story.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Quote:
I completely agree...

 

[emvickrey]

Very true. It is a gamble with shipping eggs. I would still offer the buyer replacement eggs and mark the box all over with what is inside. That way it would be covered if it happened again. I have had a buyer harrass me on Ebay also. It is't a fun experience. The man just about drove me nuts.

 

[asher]

Quote:
sorry, I have to agree with this post

when you are the shipper, you do all that you can to CYA.. a plain brown box ??? see what I mean??

attach a neon sign to it if you could

No harm in stating do not freeze.
do not bump, kick or stomp on.
then if it happens, you are off the hook..

And then you have the people getting a box that's kicked and stomped on saying "Don't EVER write stuff like that on the box! Leave it plain or you're just asking for it to get abused!"

You cannot win. You just can't.

 

[Harley's girl]

Holy Moly!

I can't believe she is actually threatening you with a negative!!!! I would be taking this to ebay! That is so wrong!!! I shipped eggs to WI i had clearly marked on the box LIVE HATCHING EMBRYOS!!!! But the PO still stuck them outside and they were little frozen rocks. They buyer was upset but, not with me. I did reship for the cost of shipping (he actually sent more than I had told him) I reshipped and all is well. I would not refund......I would reship for the shipping cost. If she doesn't want that then it is too bad for her. But really you need to take this to ebay! Good luck.

 

[NancyDz]

Who's to say they arent frozen and he did put them in his bator?
If they all arrived unbroken and well packaged.. you held up your end of the bargain. Marking the box wouldnt have done anything.. even LIVE chicks that are well marked get left in unheated area's on a regular basis. There is no guarantee for "frozen eggs"

Tell him to ship the eggs back and see if he does it.. I gotta wonder if it isnt a ploy for free eggs.

Report him to ebay if he leaves negative feedback and explain the situation.

Good luck!


Nancy

 

[Chicken Fruit]

To me my business is only worth the reasonable happiness of the buyer. I dont see it being unreasonable to refund her the cost of the eggs- less shipping.

As someone who not only has a DH working for the PO, but being someone who frequently ships things, I always mark things for what they are. Pictures are pictures, glass is fragile, urgent is urgent, do not freeze is do not freeze. Its not going to guarantee that the PO employees can or will follow those directions- but at the very least it shows your aptitude and desire to be thoughtful and one step ahead.

I never spend the money I make until I hear back from the buyer. Whether its chickens, or house hold items or anything like that. Unless it was specifically agreed upon or expressed beforehand in the purchase listing or agreement "no refunds on any level".

That buyer should have insured her eggs- or rather paid you to do the same. But on the flip side, doing business a lot of the times means out smarting your clients. You need to require insurance- in any or all forms available.

Edit: you should also out smart them by making it clear that you do not ship to the north during the cold months of the year- if they insist you are NOT liable on any level and they need to agree to that in some written language.

Theres what applies to morals and decency, and then theres being sharp and smart in business practice. Its always going to remain true that one angry customer costs you ten good clients.

Refund her the price of her eggs, make her feel better about her transaction, and then log what you've learned away for later use.

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
sorry, I have to agree with this post

when you are the shipper, you do all that you can to CYA.. a plain brown box ??? see what I mean??

attach a neon sign to it if you could

No harm in stating do not freeze.
do not bump, kick or stomp on.
then if it happens, you are off the hook..

It wasn't just a plain brown box. The OP clearly stated that it had a 8X4 priority sticker on it. It went priority and was marked fragile. When I order hatching eggs in cold weather I have them sent to me general delivery at the post office. That way they sit inside the post office until I pick them up rather than freezing on my front porch. The buyer lacks common sense. Shipping eggs to South Dakota this time of year is a risk.