MY PET CHiCKEN has made me very angry !

[NYREDS]

On the one hand when you order chick you are ordering a product nut they're a different sort of product.
If you order widgets the Widget Company may know 2 months in advance they won't be able to fill your widget order on time.
With chicks it's a little different. It's a little hard to tell 2 months in advance how hens will be laying, how many eggs will be fertile & how many fertile eggs will hatch. These outcomes are subject to a number of variables that are hard to predict.

 

[carriehelene]

At least they offered you an option, and let you know they were unable to ship what you wanted when you wanted. They didn't bother to do that with me. I also ordered the sussex, along with a columbian wyandotte, and several other breeds. They sent me an e-mail last week to get ready, they were going to start shipping soon. Keep in mind I've talked to these people by phone and e-mail at least 4 times in the last month since I sent my pre-order. Not one mention of the unavailability. I called them yesterday when I was considering adding to my order. That was when they informed me that they had "taken the liberty of changing my order", and that it wouldn't be shipped for a full month after my requested delivery date! I was furious. Seriously considered cancelling my order altogether. Then I calmed down, and reminded myself that we were dealing with living animals. Still not happy with the whole thing, I mean, would it have killed them to let me know, and ask how I wanted to handle the shortages? Sorry for the rant, I guess I haven't calmed down quite as much as I thought. All's I can say now is these had better be some darn good chickens for both of us.

 

[halo]

They may not have known there was a problem until they hatched. Maybe they had plenty of eggs, but the hatch went badly. Theres no way to predict that. People ordering chicks have to give hatcheries a little slack here. They want to keep their customers happy; they sometimes just dont know what they have until hatching time.

 

[Oblio13]

Quote:
You have to look hard to find "hate" in that notification. I figure that life is full enough of hate without going looking for it.


Quote:
I sure can't predict how my hatches will go two months in advance.

Sounds like you and MPC might both be happier if you cancel your order and go someplace else.

 

[DarkUnicorn]

Sorry but I still think MPC needs to rework their site and policies.

I had a problem with them last year. I will never use them or recommend them to any one.

Customer service is a joke, if you can get thru the phone line.....

I ordered directly from the website with a hatch date 2 weeks away. They charged my credit card within 24 hours. So I arranged with my boss to use the company vehicle to go to the post office if I had to on lunch break. The post office was out of the school district I drive for so had to get permission. I even had permission to keep them with me if I had to! I had self heating pads and all to keep them warm at the end of May.

Got an e-mail 2 weeks later about the shipping of my order, yes I skimmed it but was expecting a shipping e-mail since that is when the hatch date was set for. Remember my credit card was charged.

Got no call from the Post Office so I checked my e-mail from my phone.

The ship date was for 2 months away the end of AUGUST.... I was not going to be here! That was the one long weekend I was taking for myself. I had arranged for my sister to care for 2 month old pullets not day old babies!

Worse their own website was still available for the breeds I ordered.

I asked to cancel the order and they had the nerve to tell me there was a cancellation fee. I don't think so! It took them about a month to refund my credit card and it was for the full amount.

I will hatch my own eggs from members of BYC before I ever buy from a hatchery!

 

[luvmychicknkids]

I read over their email one more time since I seem to be alone in the way I am reading it. Nope, still stand by my original assessment. This is from a company. I guess I just expect professional treatment from companies. They aren't your buddy, they are there to provide a service. In that context, this message seems quite insulting.

I had the exact same problem with my order from Ideal. I received a phone call. They were polite, professional, explained my options and then patiently helped me through choosing replacement chicks for the ones unavailable. THAT is how a company should work, and I would highly recommend them to anyone.

I truly believe the only thing keeping MPC going is the fact that you can order such a small quantity and the sexed bantams. It certainly isn't their good customer service. Anyone can sound sweet and helpful when nothing is going wrong, it is how they handle the problems when they arise that defines the quality of their business.

 

[Buster]

Quote:
I actually read it the same way you did. I ordered from Ideal last year and whether it be through phone calls or emails, my interactions with them were always personal and courteous, not patronizing and insulting as this email from MPC sounded to me.

 

[luvmychicknkids]

Quote:
I actually read it the same way you did. I ordered from Ideal last year and whether it be through phone calls or emails, my interactions with them were always personal and courteous, not patronizing and insulting as this email from MPC sounded to me.

OH THANK YOU!!! I KNEW I wasn't losing my mind!!!

 

[Oblio13]

Here's the whole email again:

"My Pet Chicken has been working through its list of preorders for baby
chicks, and we've come to your reservation! You must have
extraordinarily good taste, because a couple of the breeds you
requested on your reservation has been "hot" this year: everyone wants
a Salmon Favorelle or a Speckled Sussex. (or two, or three or
fourteen... ). In fact, they are so popular, they are temporarily back
ordered until late May and June. (Having good taste and being on the
cutting edge of chicken fashion is usually awesome, but it must be
disappointing this time!) Only relatively few of these hatch each week
in comparison to, say, Rhode Island Reds or Barred Rocks, so if we
have a run on them, it can mean a disappointing wait. We're are sorry
these babies are not immediately available; our dear hens rightly
refuse to listen to us when we demand they lay a dozen a day!"

I can see "goofy" in there, but I sure don't see "snippy", "hateful" or "insulting". I'm curious about what specific parts of that email some of you are looking at.

I'm also curious about how you'd handle the situation if roles were reversed. Imagine owning a company (MPC) and having one of your suppliers (Ideal Hatchery) not hatch enough of some breeds to fill all your orders. What would you do differently?

 

[HeartLunger]

I think the email sounds cute with notes of charming hilarity.