Egg prices and DH's oppinion UHG

[Want Less]

We sell our eggs for $3 a dozen (mostly to coworkers) and we consistently have a waiting list 3-4 people deep waiting for eggs. We only have five laying hens right now and we only sell what we dont use, but even with that we sell probably 2 dozen a week every week. We dont advertise that we sell eggs because we cant keep up with the demand as it is.

No one has ever balked at us charging $3 a dozen even though the stores are much cheaper.

 

[sonew123]

I get 3$ a dozen for Lg -ExLg. I had one of my customers ask me last week "when are you going to start giving me a deal?" I said what do you mean?...He said I buy eggs all the time and pay the same price can you give me a buy one get one free deal from now on?. Mind you folks this person makes 2x as much $ as me and gives me empty eggs cartons from organic eggs he buys at 6$ a dozen when Mine arent available-I said sorry ..no deals..ever. Feed went up and Im actuallt not even breaking even selling them to you at 3$ but I do because you folks enjoy them so much-If you want to stop buying them I understand as I have a waiting list of folks who want them.... He shut up and walked away-he only buys 2-3 times a MONTH!!! Stick to your 2$+

 

[mcf3kids]

Wow I can't even imagine selling eggs at such a cheap cost - it has been said many times already here but your eggs are just worth more and if hubby doesn't get that then maybe he should be left out of the selling side. Even as a middle man bringing the eggs to work and collecting the money he will feel like he is very involved in the business side of selling the eggs. I would cut him out and sell to other people so that he doesn't have any say in how you price the eggs. I am planning on selling mine for $3 a dozen.

 

[NHchicks]

I think the whole issue here is who you are selling to. Can you not sell to co-workers and find different customers? I always feel uncomfortable "charging" people I know, too.

My eggs go to the feed store for $1.50 a dz, they sell them for $2.50/dz, and that's so I don't have to do the whole "selling" thing because I'm not set up for people to drop by the house, etc., and I'm not committed in case my egg numbers drop or we go on an egg eating binge.

But that's just me.

I can understand him being uncomfortable about selling to his friends. I say, find other customers.

 

[lotzahenz]

This is a common problem, and I just give away most of my eggs. I think $3.00 per dozen is a fair price, but I charge $2.00 or they are free. But, if you truly add up the cost of producing these eggs, it was way more than the $3.00 per dozen. Maybe if you break it down for him like that, he may understand. It is not just the cost of feed that goes into the price of eggs, it is the time for their care, the cost of getting and raising the hens, the cost of their housing and around here an egg carton is $.39 or $.49 each! So, breaking it down, if you feed store bought feed at around $15.00 for chick feed and that or more for a really good Layer feed for 50#, plus bedding, straw or hay for nests, cost of coop and nest boxes, well, surely he would get the picture? I think the problem is he feels uncomfortable selling the eggs. Co-workers who know you well think you should give them for free, but explain that the only way to keep the hens at all is to charge for the eggs to pay for the feed. Also, go to Mother Earth News and print out some copies of how much better backyard are than store bought ones. Hey, my DH gives eggs to his co-worker, but it is one lady and she had done so much for him.

Just rambling here, remember, we have your back. Send him here with his own survey!

 

[NHchicks]

One nice thing about selling to my feed store is he gives me tons of egg cartons. People drop off their egg cartons to him all the time, and it's just one big recycling loop.

 

[birdicus7]

If you sell at that price you are doing yourself and your hens a huge disservice. Those not willing to pay a fair price for home grown or free range eggs are free to range to Walmart for their specials. Trust me once they try your eggs they will pay your price. I was recently approached by a local restaurant to buy our eggs. They asked for every dozen I wanted to sell at $2.50 per dozen. And that's their offer, we were selling to friends and family for $2. Since our other friends and family heard about the restaurant agreement they now bring me $2.50 and a carton to refill! The restaurant returns my cartons so I don't need to buy more and increase costs. We have one customer that will not eat any other eggs, if they run out they won't buy more unless they come here. Anyone not willing to pay extra for your quality eggs won't appreciate them anyway so let them get their cheap eggs somewhere else!

 

[SourRoses]

Ditto!
I also think Fred has a point, did you maybe ask your hubbie to try and sell to the coworkers so you can expand your customer base? If so, thats completely understandable, but your hubbie just may not be comfortable with it. So he wants to sell the eggs at a tiny price to make him feel like hes not haggling his coworkers. If he wanted to sell the eggs in the first place, then make him come look at this thread to see theres not one person who disagrees with you, and many sell for much, much more. We had a local farmer who was a churchmember, and he sold eggs every sunday to everyone for $2/dozen.. that was his special church price and he normally got $3.50 for them.. and that was 7 years ago!!! Food prices are going up, and trying to raise prices later will probably loose you some customers. If it was your wish to sell to hubbies work mates.. what about instead, you make up a nice flyer, with the added benefits of farm fresh, cruelty free, eggs.. list your price ($2.50 I think!!!) and your phone number.. so they can call *you* to talk about the eggs, and then hubbie can just be the pack-horse!

 

[angelbabyamy]

I sell my eggs for $2.00 a dozen. I was giving them away, but with the price of feed going up I started selling them. I have 29 adult chickens and 45 chicks I am feeding. It is getting expensive!
I sent out an e-mail at work - there are about 70 people that I work with. I still have more orders than I can fill every week. I supply my parents, sister, daughter and brother and my family with eggs. I usually keep the smaller, misshapen or stained eggs.
On Craigslist people sell their eggs for 2-3 dollars a dozen. Eggs at the store are about $1.99 for a dozen and $3.49 for 18 pack. (regular white eggs) I have one lady that gets 2 dozen every week that loves to bake. Baked goods turn out so much better with fresh eggs! Another lady buys them and gives them to people at her church.

 

[Louise's Country Closet]

As of right now, we only sell our eggs to the people my husband works with. We've had a lot convert to our eggs by giving them a free 1/2 dozen. We started out at $2.50 and then decided we wanted $3.00. You'd be surprised at how many people are more than willing to pay more for those better tasting eggs! I think your hubby is worried WAY too much. The people here who are saying that your real customers won't mind paying a little more, are completely true. When we switched to $3.00 we told our older customers that they could stay at the $2.50 but a lot of them have started giving us the $3.00 because that's still nearly $2.00 cheaper than the 'organic' stuff that's at Wal-Mart -- and they think they're ripping US off!