Nevermind

[Naughty]

It used to be kids behaved because all of the mothers had each other's backs!

If you caught a kid doing something wrong, you reprimanded them and took them to their mom or let their mom know. Now the mom yells at you for talking to their kid!

I always have lived by the Golden Rule myself - mostly tried to be nice to folks. But then again - I am out in the country - and that's what we do...

 

[Rozzie]

Hmmm. I don't sell eggs. So, my perspective is as a potential buyer (who will need some coturnix eggs next year).

If I'm buying six eggs, I would not expect the seller to put in more than six eggs. If I wanted 8 eggs, and the seller sold in batches of six eggs, then I'd buy a dozen, and just not put 4 in the incubator. I'd never expect a seller to ship 18 eggs if I was buying 12. I wouldn't even expect them to ship 13. If I wanted 13, then I'd order enough eggs -- and pay for them -- so that I'd have the number of eggs that I wanted. If someone sent extra, they might not even go into the incubator because I might not want extra birds hatching that I wouldn't have a need for at that time. (The original number that I set would already have made allowances for whatever "extras" I was hatching as insurance.) I don't expect the grocery store to sell me 13 eggs for the price of 12, so why would I expect a private seller to do so?

Are freebies nice? Sure, at times. Not always! I'd be really ANNOYED with a hatchery for putting in "filler chicks" (or packing peanuts, if you want to call them that.) Why? Because I don't eat meat, don't want extra cockerels, and don't want to give any of my birds to someone else, especially someone who will probably view them as soup or roast. If I order 24 birds then I want 24 birds, not 28 or 30. If you need me to buy 30 in order to ship them (or whatever number) then tell me that so I can buy what I can use.

 

[CityChicker]

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[joebryant]

I've bought eggs from people here on BYC three (maybe four) times, and I have never had a problem with the integrity of the seller. I did have the misfortune of dealing with one in Washington who was not a member of BYC when I was trying to buy some chicks for my good friends, my doctor and his wife. I got jacked around several times, lied to, then told a fantasy and treated like I was expected to believe it or not. I finally just hatched out 18 eggs for her myself. I think we're lucky to have sellers on BYC, most of whom have the best of intentions; at least that's how I read many of the evaluations written by BYC customers. I've read some complaints though that showed inconsideration and blame for circumstances that the seller had no control over.
NOBODY would pay what I'd charge for doing all that's involved with shipping, so I give my eggs/chicks away. That way I don't have to listen to anyone's bull. Like most people on here, I've spent so much on this money-pit hobby that I could never get .0000000001% of it back as a business venture... no, make that .0000000000000000000000000000001%, so why bother with the small stuff.

 

[CityChicker]

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[phaethona]

Quote:
I STRONGLY disagree with you. I work hard to make my customers happy, I have hand-held newbs through their first hatches, and have helped improve many a bloodline with my stock. I am always open to questions...but I don't think I'm out of the ordinary. I'm just a regular Joe, and I'm sure there are many others out there.

Folks need to remember ALL that can go wrong with hatching eggs. Once they leave the farm, the seller's responsibility is over. Anyone that does anything over & above just shipping clean, fertile eggs is going above & beyond, but it's absolutely not necessary.

that either wasn't written or read as I intended. my first sentence explained that I can't relate my opinion about buying/selling hatching eggs. I was talking about people in general. I'm sure you do work hard to keep your customers happy, I never doubted that, matter of fact I never gave any opinion of anyone who buys/sells eggs.

I'm hoping I wasn't one of the one who was way off the point of the OP, I took it as doing the right thing because it's it's the nice thing to do, common courtesy. And my opinion was that common courtesy isn't all that common these days. sure, there are people who do the "right" thing because that's what they do, but my observation of society(where I am anyway) is that a lot of people don't want to go out of their way for others unless there's something in it for them.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
I disagree. You ARE saying that sellers are obligated to go to the extra steps you are mentioning; that if they do not, they are not kind or caring people, but rather are sharks out to make a killing or wolves out to steal the wool off some poor lamb. The reality is that they are people too, with as many distractions, other interests, time and money constraints as anyone else.

What about the purchasers who complain over the least little thing; that they did not get 100% hatching rate who all later grew up to be grand champions of large sanctioned shows? Who ordered blue and got "grey" (blue) instead of a "real" blue, or who purchase pet quality birds and are angry that they are not show quality? Or that all the eggs hatched out as males, and they cannot keep roosters.

For many years there have been some lines of some breeds where the breeders will never sell or trade their birds. I've seen people buy birds that were significantly discounted "for 4H" and turn around and sell them for high $$. I also see people sell and even give excellent quality birds to 4H kids.

If I sell birds, I will be as honest as possible about their gender, potential, faults, etc. But I don't normally throw in extras or expect someone else to, either. I do not sell eggs or chicks (and will usually ignore any emails requesting that I do), but if I did, any ad or auction I placed would state the terms. Would I negotiate (8 eggs instead of 6, 6 instead of a dozen, etc.)? Maybe; it would depend on whether I felt comfortable with meeting the request.

 

[Reinbeau]

My philosophy is to expect nothing, that way I am usually pleasantly surprised

 

[sonew123]

I have to dissagree with the statement that people dont go out of their way anymore-I have ALWAYS gone out of my way to be generous with all my eggs. When I advertise for 6+ it winds up being 10 or 12-shoot the other day I said 18 silkie eggs and I sent 22. I always send above and beyond the amount that was being auctioned-( thanks to my girls) When I list in an auction that I will send all thats collected I honestly mean-even if it doubles the original auction amount promised..I speak for myself on that note-but I also speak for some others on BYC who I have recieved alot more than what I paid for. If I have ever had a probelm with the eggs I contact seller and they have always made good on it-I have yet to have 1 problem with the generosity of the BYCers I CHOOSE to buy from. I guess Ive gotten really lucky?? IDK but Im sorry you had a bad expereience or two with it:-( I might have to ad too that I have auctioned of strictly 6-8-12 eggs and thats all I could send due to the girls slacking -but they got what they paid for and were very happy regardless of not sending "extras".

 

[MuranoFarms]

Keep in mind that many times sellers post small amounts of eggs because of small incubators! If I send a dozen eggs to someone who ordered 6 eggs and they have a small brinsea....they simply don't have room for the eggs! Maybe they can squeeze in 8, but the rest end up in the garbage. Other times they might have ordered eggs from several different places and even a large bator can become full. I always send a few extras, but it would be awfully presumptuous of me to assume they have an empty incubator waiting around just to see what I send!

Lets not forget that all buyers don't live in the country and city flocks generally have to be smaller. Somebody may order 6 eggs hoping for a 50% hatch rate....and when I send a dozen they suddenly have birds they cant keep! As a general rule, I send 2 extra per 1/2 dozen. I think that's a fair amount to insure they have room for them and don't end up with more then they want.

Also, keep in mind viability. I always send eggs out by day 6 for the first egg. Add on 2-3 days for shipping time and they get in the bator by day 10. So if I only have 2 silkies laying all I can do is a dozen before they get too old to send. So maybe I list 9 or 10 knowing I'm sending 12. In this instance it's not about cheap....its about getting the freshest eggs to the customer. It's about giving them what they pay for. They certainly don't want old eggs!