IDEAL HATCHERY-Customer Service Issues a Problem?

[Spaceglider8]

I would REALLY like to know if anyone here has had problems with Ideal Hatchery and their customer service? I was working with someone there about a sebright order where I was having 5 to 7 birds die per DAY while my Russian Orloffs and Ameraucanas were doing fine, plus my order of OE Bantams were perfect as well...long story short, they told me to tally up the dead way beyond the four day guarantee period, and I reported that plus my order from the week before (mallards) and they turned around and said "no, you're way beyond the due date for reporting"--which I knew beforehand as that was why I called them???? They acted like they had no clue about the other emails I had had with them, but then referred back to me over and over saying "we already talked about this" and there was NOTHING in the emails to prove such.

They also did not read my email to them about four DOA mallards the day they arrived, then accused me of not reporting that on their "holy" Monday due date as well--however I did so obviously.

Anyhow, anyone else having issues with the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing over there? I doubt I will ever order there again, the way I was treated in the emails yesterday and today was just this blunt, "no way" attitude and then also there was an accusation that "we explained this all before" when indeed they had not concerning credits back. Not only that, but who calls customers by their first names when they don't put their own first name at the bottom of the letter? I was referred to as "Mark" over and over and I would never do that to a customer--what happened to respect for the customer as well? Wow. Never again.

I have never written a letter to someone voicing such dismay about their service until now.

 

[EweSheep]

I never had any issues with Ideal Hatchery and the girls there are absolutely wonderful!

Get a hold of Misti......she can do you right and insist that BYC send you to her!

 

[Spaceglider8]

thank you SO MUCH! What really threw me was how the entire summer everything was great, I ordered no less than FIVE TIMES from them. Then all the sudden I get these terse emails from someone and acting like I was a kid trying to get free money or ???? More than anything, it made me sad. I think I said this before but I am a pastor and as such I'm one of those sensitive guys as well--always wanting to give someone the benefit of the doubt--but it was like all the things I talked to the person the week before were thrown out the window. God bless, and thanks.

 

[GingerB]

I have never had problems with Ideal Hatchery"s Customer service or my orders in 10 years, however I purchased 50 ameraucana and 50 production reds this past year and they were very disappointing. About half had horrible problem legs, those that were left didn't start laying until 9 months and then stopped after only 3 months and haven't started again. The company said it was customer error. I have been raising chickens all my life and am almost 60 yrs old. Never had these problems, instead I usually have hens that are so healthy and prolific they continue to lay for years past the expected prime. Needless to say, I won't buy from them ever again. Waste of time and a lot of money!

 

[Spaceglider8]

A friend of mine ordered through me 100 mixed Sebrights this past summer, most arrived in good shape and were looking decent until about 3 days into it when they started to die. This has continued until he has about 20 left I believe, and the ones left do not look right, crooked legs, feathering is not correct, etc. He had them under heat at one time thinking well, its Colorado weather. No luck. Changed to better feed he thought, no luck. Story goes on and on. Very very sad and disappointing. The ONLY ones we got this year from them were our mallards, we lost half but the rest have made it through -15 degree F weather so perhaps its as simple as too much inbreeding on the specialty chicks/bantams and then the climate change from a relative mild clime to Colorados ups and wayyyy downs...I just dont know, very very upsetting to all of us I guess. Live and learn..too bad you have to learn at the cost of hundreds of bucks tho...

 

[EweSheep]

That is pretty unfortunate! Something IS going on! I've ordered chicks thru Ideal two times this year and never had any issues at all. Every one of the chicks made it alive this year.

Maybe it's best to go elsewhere and hopefully you don't have the problem again. If it does happen again, then it would not be the hatchery, something is going on at your end.

Wish you the very best and hopefully 2013 will be successful for you!

 

[Spaceglider8]

I was wondering what breeds you ordered from them this past season? After talking to a bunch of folks we either believe theres a disease on some of the stock there or theres so much inbreeding with a few breeds they are just weak--it'd be nice to find out rather than just have these issues pop up for more folks--whats funny is also I ordered from Cackle and Country and NEVER lost a one, but my Ideal order was just kaputt before I ever got them older than 6-8 weeks. So sad.

 

[Spaceglider8]

UPDATE: I have 10 of my reds and layers left, none of the sebrights are left from my buddies order, and none of the orloffs or ameraucanas. I just am shocked. We took basketfuls of birds out every day during the first cold spell and four or five every day til the remainder was left, it was if they could not handle any stressors at all. my other birds are fine from Cackle, its just weird.

 

[cracked egg]

We dealt with them last season,they were great. Lost a few orders due to the postal service,Ideal insured the replacement order on their dime.
Sorry to hear about the problems.

 

[myfinefeatheredfriends]

I was going to order some ducklings from them, probably if not this year (because even though I just got a new coop there are a lot of other projects needing to be done such as building a new run, painting it, getting the garden started, etc.) then most likely next year. When I have a new coop, I can't bear to leave it empty for very long I have never ordered from them before - about the only hatchery I haven't tried besides efowl lol. We'll see how it goes... so sorry to hear about your troubles, especially after being a repeat customer.