Is this really annoying or am I just a curmudgeon?

[katharinad]

Quote:
I may sounded really cold, like here they are your business now. I'm not really like that, but I'm also a business woman and over the years I've learned to guard myself. People will trample all over you, if you let them. You will get hurt so you have to set rules. We were also picky when we had puppies years ago. Sure they were mutts, but we still were selective with the buyers. One wanted 2, because their daughter thought they were so cute. We refused to sell 2 to one person, because we know it is very hard to train 2 hunting dogs at a time. Plus the dog was for the dog. They took one and the daughter turned out very happy, so did the parents. We were also open to question etc. We ended up taking one dog back, because he was to wild with their toddler. We were unaware of them having a toddler. He was just playing and for them they did not know how to deal with it. We still have him 13 years later and love the dog. The point I've tried to bring across is that when we get to involved we may get hurt. So we need to separate ourselves from the business end in some sort of way. This does not mean we are not there to answer questions or should not be selective when it comes to buyers. We still want the best for the animal. I agree there is not much money in selling ducklings considering all the love and work that goes into it. I still think a care sheet and answering questions correctly is more then people get from the feed store ducklings and it does show that we care.

BTW I tell people that one duck poos as much as a full grown 50 pound dog per day. An that chopped up in 50 piles all over the place. Just to get across how messy they are on the one end alone.

 

[AdamD77]

Maybe in the future you could offer more of a package sale, where you charge the price of the ducklings and some food to get them started, then they can go from there.

I'm not saying she shouldn't know what they eat by now, but maybe just the option would be nice for people who are worriers and are always concerned that they might do the wrong thing. In buying food from you, the seller of the ducklings, they can be reassured that they are giving the correct thing and that their ducklings will be safe, then you can tell them what you use and where you get it, then they can continue with that feed without any problems

 

[FireTigeris]

work out with the feed store for coupons and have a copy (photocopy) of the front of the bag for each stage of growth (listed in weeks) then these people can take the paper to that feed store and say I need this... I get $0.50 on this order. But is says here I need a feeder and a waterer too and in three months I need this type of food instead.

You might get a discount for sending so many customers to buy things from them if you have a good relationship with them.

Have the feed store if they are willing make up a 'duck brooder package' with everything they need and charge more for having it all put together, then a meaningless coupon for 5 off when they charged 10 for putting it together.

Real duck people will already have bought the stuff or already have the stuff and not need the package... the newbies will have everything handed to them.

 

[FenDruadin]

I LOVE those ideas. I already offer a duckling hatching kit to educators on a rental basis, but there's no reason why I couldn't sell the food and/or arrange something through one or more of the feed stores in the area to offer a brooding package. I like it!

I talked to the second lady today, the one with the manicured lawn and marble floors, and it actually was a really good conversation. It turns out she was already having many of the same thoughts she shared with me, in terms of being worried that they would be unhappy with the ducks in the long run and that maybe a different pet would be a better choice for them. She says her daughter is taking it pretty hard. But I am relieved that they are having the conversation and that they came to an intelligent decision without further input from me. Apparently, someone they talked to told them that ducks are no trouble at all and simple to raise, and they just figured in that case they would run to Petsmart and get what they needed and go from there. It actually makes sense in a way--that's why Petsmart is successful--because that's how most people make their decisions. But now that they understand ducks are a little more complicated than they were led to believe, they are having second thoughts, and I think that's smart.

So... thank you all SO much for the support, and also for the excellent ideas. I think I will put together some kit ideas and offer some options to future newbies. Most of my customers seem to be folks who already have chickens and ducks and want to try a new breed, so those folks don't need it. But first-timers will appreciate some extra help, I'm sure. And maybe I can offer the rental kits just like I do to classrooms--after all, most folks don't expect to raise more than a single batch of ducks, so if they can get everything they need for the first six weeks for $25 and then return the materials, rather than spending $60 on materials they have no further use for, then I imagine they might do that.

And an update--seven ducks in the brooder, two in the incubator, six pipped and/or zipping. Looks like a decent hatch.