Hatching Eggs / Paypal CHAT Thread

[Bettacreek]

Weekend is almost here! With this beautiful weather, I'll be picking up the stuff to build a 12x12 growout run. I figure $200 for everything. Birds sure aren't cheap!

 

[ProfTi]

ProfTi we will be shipping you another box as well. it will have the new labels and we will try other options to keep them safe in transit.

I have had several long conversations with the Minneapolis express dock supervisor at the airport. She did give me some suggestions and I gave her a few. So, I thought I would share what I found out.

1. She tries to get all live birds on Delta rather than Fed Ex whenever possible. SOme places only have Fed Ex. But, in MN if your birds are dropped off during the day they will fly Delta. If they are dropped off at night, they will go Fed Ex. She has all MN shippers try to get on Delta flights. She states she has never had this problem with Delta, but this is common with Fed Ex. So, you can find out what flights your birds will get on based on time.

2. There is one of her at every hub. She has the ability to find the birds, give you a status update and do something. I discussed with at length that is took many of us a lot of time to finally find her number and that my birds would still be alive if I could have spoken to her 24 hours sooner. I am trying to get a phone number list for you guys of the dock supervisors at the major airports from her. These numbers are only available to upper staff. She has been squirrelly, but I think I will get them. Even if one at a time.....In the meantime, I have her number on speed dial and I am sure she can help in the future.

3. Birds are often bumped due to dry ice on Fed Ex. They cannot fly with it and it takes priority over living beings I guess. However, it is against the law to bump live birds more than twice and if this happens the express dock supervisor can step in with Fed Ex and demand that they send the birds on the next flight.

4. If you can find the express hub person at your airport, they can and will track and help. They had signs all over the PO about my birds, you just need to be emphatic enough.

5. I would like to keep the lines open with her and get information that will help us make better choices, but also help her help us do better in shipping. I think it is a brilliant idea for all of us to start sending compliants and letters. Several PO staff told me that no one takes anything seriously until they have to pay for it. Then the PO is very serious.

6. There is a trick I learned. I think it is required training for all PO to pass the buck around and around and around. I got every excuse in the world. I finally learned to look them very firmly in the eye and say "I need YOU to solve this". Literally, my PO guys suggested I call COF's post office to find out what HE should do about my problem. Apparantly, he has never had a claim before??????? They told me over and over that the plant had nobody there? I just stood in their office, "I need YOU to find the number". It worked, just tiresome.

 

[ChickNmamma]

So far this thread is seriously depressing with all the dead, missing and stolen birds. It makes me hope that I don't get my replacements anytime soon through the USPS.

Psyankigirl - I am glad you have found a resolution you and your chickens can live with. It is really hard when plans get derailed because of things outside of your control. You can still use their eggs for Pysanki, right? Can you use Oxine in the water for their congestion? I too hope for a cure for this, because it sounds like it is much more prevalent than we know - and so many other people could have it and just not know. If they don't even bother to treat the lesser cases - and if it doesn't show unless the birds get stressed... I could have it in my flock - anybody could have it - and unless they show symptoms we would never know. I think this needs to be added into the tests for NPIP, its not fatal but it is serious enough to affect the health of millions of birds.

Reesepoultry - I have been very leery of buying anything on RBA that looked "too cheap to be true". I watched a few auctions on birds I would really love to have - but I didn't like the wording or the pictures - something just didn't look right. I am sorry you found proof that there are unethical sellers on there - I too would like to know who it is to put them on the "Do Not Buy From" list. It sounds like they are in it just for the money - and don't care about their birds - which is not where I would like to get breeding stock from. Poor (and incorrect) shipping practices, tricky wording and pictures, not offering refunds for the incorrect and sick birds and making you go through official channels and then being offensive... all somebody I wouldn't want to deal with.

Profiti - I am so sorry at what you are going through. I was so hoping it would be better news.

Idiots who supposedly help but end up making things worse. People who take out what they want - that is a Federal Offense and I sure hope they catch and prosecute them! I also was thinking the chances of all the colored birds dying and being removed and none of the white ones = 0%. If they are so obviously tearing into the boxes I doubt the labels will stop them.. they need to be tracked down and removed from a position where they can steal.

CelticOaks - I sure hope you get your birds soon - and I also hope they aren't going through the problem hub.

for everybody with birds/eggs in the mail!

Oh, there is some happy news - HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kraftyladies and Congrats on LLC COF! Um.. that isn't Lavender Laced Cochins?

 

[kraftyladies]

Ok, I thought turning 40 would really suck, but it has been an OK day. Thanks to everyone on here for the bday wishes.
Everyone already knew I disliked the USPS, but today definitely topped it, and not for me but for everyone else. My goodie box is still missing from Profti, but I am thinking it went with the missing birds. Maybe they opened it and helped themselves.
My Dad found me some 55 gallon barrels for waterers really cheap, but they were gone and had held chemicals anyway. They had 60 gallon ones for a little more that were food grade, so got some.... I am on my way to automatic waterers!! Hubby has gotten my garden ready for me to plant tomorrow. He bought me thus huge stuffed rooster from TSC that crows, the dogs love it and so do I. He also made reservations tomorrow night for dinner.
Oh, and I am selling my ducks because he told me I could buy some SQ ducks from Holderreads!! They might be able to squeeze my order in this year, but if not she said I would be first in line next year.

 

[madamwlf]

Ok, I thought turning 40 would really suck, but it has been an OK day. Thanks to everyone on here for the bday wishes.
Everyone already knew I disliked the USPS, but today definitely topped it, and not for me but for everyone else. My goodie box is still missing from Profti, but I am thinking it went with the missing birds. Maybe they opened it and helped themselves.
My Dad found me some 55 gallon barrels for waterers really cheap, but they were gone and had held chemicals anyway. They had 60 gallon ones for a little more that were food grade, so got some.... I am on my way to automatic waterers!! Hubby has gotten my garden ready for me to plant tomorrow. He bought me thus huge stuffed rooster from TSC that crows, the dogs love it and so do I. He also made reservations tomorrow night for dinner.
Oh, and I am selling my ducks because he told me I could buy some SQ ducks from Holderreads!! They might be able to squeeze my order in this year, but if not she said I would be first in line next year.

Sounds like an all around awesome birthday!

 

[puglady]

Ok, I thought turning 40 would really suck, but it has been an OK day. Thanks to everyone on here for the bday wishes.
Everyone already knew I disliked the USPS, but today definitely topped it, and not for me but for everyone else. My goodie box is still missing from Profti, but I am thinking it went with the missing birds. Maybe they opened it and helped themselves.
My Dad found me some 55 gallon barrels for waterers really cheap, but they were gone and had held chemicals anyway. They had 60 gallon ones for a little more that were food grade, so got some.... I am on my way to automatic waterers!! Hubby has gotten my garden ready for me to plant tomorrow. He bought me thus huge stuffed rooster from TSC that crows, the dogs love it and so do I. He also made reservations tomorrow night for dinner.
Oh, and I am selling my ducks because he told me I could buy some SQ ducks from Holderreads!! They might be able to squeeze my order in this year, but if not she said I would be first in line next year.

Happy Birthday! Sounds like a great one so far!

 

[ChickNmamma]

Quote: Thank you for this information. I tried - at least five times last year and 4 or five times this year to get the information about the hub from my post office, and I was told they don't have a number. I tried another post office this year who actually goes over to the hub, and was told that they don't have a direct number - all they can do is call the main line and leave a message and the hub person will call them back - sometime. I too think we need to start making them pay for their sloppy work. I was told they won't insure live animals - but can you insure the package against damage or delays? Any ideas?

I like the "I need YOU to solve this" approach - I think you are right about their training on passing the buck...

 

[reesepoultry]

Oh good grief. I just got another email from the seller. I don't really understand how they could get scaly Leg Mites and Coccidiosus in the mail on there way here or how they could be so skinny from being in the mail for 3 days. So now I am stealing and cheating for wanting something done for the sickly birds they sent me.

Quote:

 

[ChickNmamma]

Ok, I thought turning 40 would really suck, but it has been an OK day. Thanks to everyone on here for the bday wishes.
Everyone already knew I disliked the USPS, but today definitely topped it, and not for me but for everyone else. My goodie box is still missing from Profti, but I am thinking it went with the missing birds. Maybe they opened it and helped themselves.
My Dad found me some 55 gallon barrels for waterers really cheap, but they were gone and had held chemicals anyway. They had 60 gallon ones for a little more that were food grade, so got some.... I am on my way to automatic waterers!! Hubby has gotten my garden ready for me to plant tomorrow. He bought me thus huge stuffed rooster from TSC that crows, the dogs love it and so do I. He also made reservations tomorrow night for dinner.
Oh, and I am selling my ducks because he told me I could buy some SQ ducks from Holderreads!! They might be able to squeeze my order in this year, but if not she said I would be first in line next year.

Now THIS is some good news... About age, a good friend told me age is mind over matter - if you don't mind it doesn't matter. I am inclined to believe her as she turned 88 last year. My great-grandmother let me in on the secret for long life when she was in her 90s.. "Keep Breathing". Since she lived to 104 - I think she was right too.

Yay for the automatic waterers, gardens, fun stuffed roosters, dinner reservations and SQ ducks! That sounds like a really great birthday!

 

[reesepoultry]

Ok, I thought turning 40 would really suck, but it has been an OK day. Thanks to everyone on here for the bday wishes.
Everyone already knew I disliked the USPS, but today definitely topped it, and not for me but for everyone else. My goodie box is still missing from Profti, but I am thinking it went with the missing birds. Maybe they opened it and helped themselves.
My Dad found me some 55 gallon barrels for waterers really cheap, but they were gone and had held chemicals anyway. They had 60 gallon ones for a little more that were food grade, so got some.... I am on my way to automatic waterers!! Hubby has gotten my garden ready for me to plant tomorrow. He bought me thus huge stuffed rooster from TSC that crows, the dogs love it and so do I. He also made reservations tomorrow night for dinner.
Oh, and I am selling my ducks because he told me I could buy some SQ ducks from Holderreads!! They might be able to squeeze my order in this year, but if not she said I would be first in line next year.

Yeah, how awesome. I wanted adults but they didn't have any left when I went to buy so I get ducklings which is better than nothing.