Eggs, eggs! I am inundated with eggs! (Mille Fleur Cochin Bantams)

[sloallie10]

Quote:
YES!!!! We who have the smaller incubators can only fit 7 eggs in.

I try to buy the "6+ eggs" auctions. I actually toss into the forest the extras.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

I would buy some, but chicks are hard to raise here in the winter and I could never afford that.

 

[BlacksheepCardigans]

I know that for me, as much as I understand not wanting to settle for bargain prices, I have to immediately chop the order in half mentally. I'm not getting 12 chicks for my [whatever], I'm really going to get six in the end, and that's if all goes well. It's really hard to mentally adjust to the idea of paying $10 per day-old chick.

If I know the seller is going to include LOTS of extras in a dozen, so I'm honestly likely to get 12 out of it, or if it's sold as 6+ and 10-12 actually arrive, that changes my whole attitude. Now it's a fantastic, great deal that I got.

Speaking generally, not about this sale in particular, the trick to creating demand is to make the buyer feel like they won - like in the negotiation they had the victory. That's why auctions work so well - the buyer "wins" against the other bidders - or why LOW buy-it-now prices work (buyer thinks "Oh my goodness, did she really mean to price it that low? I need to grab that RIGHT NOW!"). Having a reputation for sending a ton of extras does the same thing - buyer feels that they're getting a good deal.

What the eggs are intrinsically worth is up to you as a seller - personally I'm not sure there's a big difference between selling four lots of 6+ at $10 plus shipping (and I think they'd go crazy fast at that price) and one lot of 24+ at $50 plus shipping.

 

[annaraven]

One idea: stop including shipping. Set the price for the eggs, then shipping is based on where you're shipping to. So folks close to you are cheaper and farther are more. When I see $42 or $50 or whatever, I automatically think that's PLUS shipping.

I agree with the auction rather than "Buy it Now" idea as well. Here's to more sales!

 

[ultasol]

Quote:
Then eat them. If they aren't selling you can either eat them or sell them cheap, rather than coming on a forum and complaining about how people much be cheap because they aren't buying your eggs.

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
Then eat them. If they aren't selling you can either eat them or sell them cheap, rather than coming on a forum and complaining about how people much be cheap because they aren't buying your eggs.

When I sold eggs I never did it to make money I did it because I didn't have room in my incubators and to offset a bit of the feed cost. Fancy poultry is not a profitable business unless your a big time breeder or a hatchery and then your not necessarily doing what is best for the breed. I always broke even or a few dollars about even and I was selling good faverolles from show parents.

Henry

 

[bantyman]

Mind if I jump in here ? I sold my eggs this year for $35 for 12+ That included shipping I sent several people 30 eggs I was covered up with sales Hope I do that good next year I have been selling eggs for about 6-7 years Havent kept up on alot of things so my rep has fallen down some But hopefully it will come back Good luck with selling 6+ That could help tremendously

Mike

 

[TurtleFeathers]

I think its more about what the eggs are worth TO THE BUYER - not what they're worth to the seller. So I tend to like the "auction style" format better than BIN listings, whether I'm buying OR selling.

And I don't care HOW LONG someone has been selling eggs - if the seller has a good reputation for good packing and fast shipment and is pleasant to deal with, and if pics of the parent stock are good quality photographs, and show birds that are healthy and typey and in clean surroundings, somebody out there will want them - but they will only pay what they are worth TO THEM, AT THAT TIME, not necessarily what they're worth to the seller, all the time.

To me (as a seller), they're only eggs, not gold, and I've got plenty more where they came from. To the buyer, this may be the only chance they have to get some good stock in their chosen breed or variety - but the price they will pay depends entirely on how badly they want them, timing of the auction, their finances, and whether they have a way to successfully hatch them and house any resulting chicks. And of course, we all know shipping is always a gamble - so for high dollar shipped eggs, we're always taking the chance that nothing will hatch - some people are just more willing to take chances with their money than others.

Right now, people are concentrating on holiday shopping, and at other times of the year, some people simply have deeper pockets than others. Some people may not have incubator space or broodies available at the time of an auction - right now, many may not want to chance shipping or have stopped hatching for the year altogether, because the weather is getting colder. I would think the best time for selling/shipping eggs is in spring or early summer - no holidays, warmer weather, tax refunds, etc.... To me, eggs of ANY type ain't worth squat right now, simply because I'd have to house the chicks inside all winter - but my feeling on that will definitely change in the spring, when I can house chicks outdoors.

I've seen auctions here on BYC for 1 dozen eggs start at $1, and the final bid was over $150 (and probably would have gone higher if the time hadn't run out) - so at that time, someone was willing to break the bank and get those eggs at any cost. But I've also seen the same auctions by the same sellers at other times of the year start at $1 and top out at like $30 - so the people at that time didn't think they were worth so much, or just didn't have as much money to spend on eggs, or didn't have any way to hatch them.

But again, to me, as a seller, whether my eggs sold for $150 or for $30, I've got plenty more where they came from, so its no big deal if I don't get top dollar every time. But at least they SOLD, and I have a few bucks to put towards more feed - if I ATE them purely because I wasn't getting top dollar, I'd only be spiting myself!

JMHO, of course.

 

[shelleyb1969]

For what it's worth...
customer service IS very important when selling eggs. However, a person's OVERALL personality and interaction with EVERYONE they come in contact with is equally as important. It's all fine and dandy to be nice to folks who currently are or have been customers...but all sellers must remember that potential FUTURE customers are always watching and "listening". It's a wise thing to keep emotions and sharp tongues in check.

 

[TennesseeTruly]

Quote:
Wow that was rude...speechless that you would imply that fattie has bad customer service or shipping etc? Think you had better read what you type and try polite yourself.Have you ever bought from her? I have..her customer service is just fine her chicks are super...I have 10 of them growing up right now more pricey than her eggs but also worth the money.The incentive to buying quality eggs should be good chicks not start n grow that would never be a deciding factor for me to buy from you or anyone else.
I think all auctions are down right now because of the Holiday...I know as soon as my cash flow picks up I want more eggs

I didn't think I was rude at all and I'm sorry that you thought I was. She was asking a question and I was telling her to evaluate EVERYTHING. I didn't point out one specific thing or accuse her of anything and if she, you or anyone else thought that I was, I apologize. I think sometimes when things aren't working the way we want them to, we need to rethink the way we're doing things and maybe change things up.

That's all I was suggesting, nothing more. I don't know her, I've never bid on her auctions or have had any contact with her at all. Personally I always look for constructive criticism so that I can make things better. I thought she was looking for suggestions.

Laurie