New plan--Buying a coop

[Seaecho]

Any chance you can cancel the order before it ships?

It's already been shipped out

 

[nminusyplusm]

Okay, so I'm not losing my mind after all! They put the dimensions for the big coop in the small coop's description! Well, how was I, a completely newbie to chicken keeping to know that? I took them at their word. Now I'm really upset. We've been planning on how to do a coop and run for MONTHS now, and were thrilled to find this coop, and, to my untutored eye, it appeared to be the size I wanted for 3-4 banties. I'll look at it when we get it, and knock out the wall to the nest box if we have to, but hubby is getting fed up (and I can't blame him) with all this "will this work or not?" when it comes to chickens. Please do remember the chickens will ONLY be in the coop at night, and out in their run for the rest of the time. From dark until light is the only time they'll be in there. And the door will NEVER be closed. There are air vents on the back if you read the description. I saw those dimensions, and I trusted them to be telling the truth! I'm fit to be tied.

That was on Amazon. Wayfair didn't do that, but they did omit the interior coop dimensions and they claim the nest box is larger than it really is, either that or Wayfair is really bad at math.

 

[nminusyplusm]

It's already been shipped out

I'll bet you could get free return shipping if you tell them they listed the wrong square footage for the nest box. They have it as 16" x 16" AND 2 sq ft. It can't be both...

 

[nminusyplusm]

There are air vents on the back if you read the description.

I did see a description for vents. Here's a pic of what I believe are the "vents" on the jumbo:

See those 7 little slits?

 

[nminusyplusm]

I made an account just to comment on this,

I've never understood the conflicting opinions on sizing of coops that i read when getting into this as a hobby, I keep 3 bantams and 3 medium sized chicken in a coop that is around 4' X 4' and have never thought they look cramped. They only use it to sleep in and are out all day with trees and bushes to hide under in the rain. Never had ventilation issues or humidity problems, and the coop stays nice and warm in the winter.

Seems like some people also get muddled with the difference between foot squared and square feet, as they are different.

Welcome to BYC!
Maybe if you live in a mild climate year round, somehow that coop works for you? I have no idea how though... it wouldn't work where I am or for my birds. If I tried to put 4 of my chickens in that coop even just to sleep I think they would kill each other.

 

[Seaecho]

I am in the S. California high desert and it gets no colder than about 20F here in winter. We rarely have any snow. I don't want the chickens killing each other, but it seems it might take a long time to get Wayfair to make good on what they sold me. We'll look at it when we get it and see if there is anything we can do to make it bigger.

 

[nminusyplusm]

I am in the S. California high desert and it gets no colder than about 20F here in winter. We rarely have any snow. I don't want the chickens killing each other, but it seems it might take a long time to get Wayfair to make good on what they sold me. We'll look at it when we get it and see if there is anything we can do to make it bigger.

As a former professional shopper and complainer (if something was not listed accurately, for example, it was my job to make sure the vendor got it right), I can tell you it will usually be 3-4 business days from your phone call to them. You don't even need to wait for it to arrive. I've gotten my money back from Wayfair for a very similar problem too, when they listed outside dimensions for a planter saucer that the manufacturer listed by interior dimensions so it was impossible to tell what planter it fit. Who does that? Anyway, I know you *can* get ALL your money back if you want to including shipping. If you want help with this, let me know. I'll be happy to guide you on what to say. Of course, it's your choice.

 

[Seaecho]

Thank you so much for your offer, nminusyplusm! I really do appreciate that! Just a rough outline of what I should say when I email them would be wonderful.

 

[nminusyplusm]

Thank you so much for your offer, nminusyplusm! I really do appreciate that! Just a rough outline of what I should say when I email them would be wonderful.

Do not use email for this. It will not work. You need to call on the phone.

OK, first thing, and sorry if I’m telling you stuff you already know but I want to cover all bases, is you want to be nice to the customer service person.

You want to be the nicest person they’ve ever dealt with who called to complain and get their money back. If they like you they will go the extra mile to help you and keep you as a future customer. I’m pretty sure Wayfair tells them to refuse you unless you’re very insistent, at least that’s been my experience, still be sweet and keep in mind the CS person has a terrible job and doesn’t get paid much. They have to deal with unpleasant and angry people all day. Be the bright spot in their day. If they’re friendly and want to chat, do that. If they say where they’re located or what their day has been like, ask them about it and how they’re doing. Be relatable, friendly and courteous. Be a human being and not just one of the hundreds or thousands of these calls they have to field each day.

"Hi, I hope you can help me with a problem I have with a chicken coop I ordered from you. Since I placed the order, I went to the manufacturer’s site and now I see that it’s far too small for my 4 chickens.”

(You don’t need to confuse the CS person with getting into bantam vs large fowl, just stick to “chickens”)

Because of the exterior dimensions listed I thought this coop had close to 16.5 sq ft of interior space which would have worked out fine for 4 birds. But in reality it has 5.13 sq ft. That’s a big difference. 16 would have been perfect as each chicken should have 4 sq ft of personal space in a coop (nest boxes aren’t included because obviously we don’t want chickens hanging out in them and getting them and eggs dirty, etc.), but 5-ish sq ft is way too small and can cause all kinds of problems.”

(From the manufacturer: Interior L (in) 34.1, W (in) 21.7, H (in) 25.2

Offer them the link to the manufacturer so the CS person can see for him or herself, either over the phone or by email:
http://www.newagepet.com/product/ecoflex-fontana-chicken-barn/)

If the CS person seems like they are not on your side, doubting you, or saying there’s nothing they can do, go into the kinds of problems a too small coop can cause, respiratory from ammonia build up, feather picking and bullying, even death and cannibalism)

"Can you help me return this before I even receive it? I won’t open it, I just need a return label to send it right back. I know it’s not your stated policy to do free return shipping but in this case since there was no way for me to know how small the actual interior square footage of the coop was based on the exterior dimensions listed on Wayfair, I’d really appreciate it if you can help. Could you please make an exception this one time? I’m down to the wire, with needing to get a coop set up and can’t afford to lose money on shipping, I need all the money I can round up asap to get materials now that I know this coop won’t work for me."


From Wayfair:

Weights & Dimensions
Overall 28.9'' H x 45'' W x 53'' D
Nesting Box 17'' H x 16'' W x 16'’ D


• Chicken Capacity: 4

Nesting Box Capacity 2 Square Feet

Don't get upset if the first person rejects giving you all your money back. Maintain composure, still be courteous. Give up with that person but don't give up, call back and hope you get someone more sympathetic next time.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Do not use email for this. It will not work. You need to call on the phone.

OK, first thing, and sorry if I’m telling you stuff you already know but I want to cover all bases, is you want to be nice to the customer service person.

You want to be the nicest person they’ve ever dealt with who called to complain and get their money back. If they like you they will go the extra mile to help you and keep you as a future customer. I’m pretty sure Wayfair tells them to refuse you unless you’re very insistent, at least that’s been my experience, still be sweet and keep in mind the CS person has a terrible job and doesn’t get paid much. They have to deal with unpleasant and angry people all day. Be the bright spot in their day. If they’re friendly and want to chat, do that. If they say where they’re located or what their day has been like, ask them about it and how they’re doing. Be relatable, friendly and courteous. Be a human being and not just one of the hundreds or thousands of these calls they have to field each day.

"Hi, I hope you can help me with a problem I have with a chicken coop I ordered from you. Since I placed the order, I went to the manufacturer’s site and now I see that it’s far too small for my 4 chickens.”

(You don’t need to confuse the CS person with getting into bantam vs large fowl, just stick to “chickens”)

Because of the exterior dimensions listed I thought this coop had close to 16.5 sq ft of interior space which would have worked out fine for 4 birds. But in reality it has 5.13 sq ft. That’s a big difference. 16 would have been perfect as each chicken should have 4 sq ft of personal space in a coop (nest boxes aren’t included because obviously we don’t want chickens hanging out in them and getting them and eggs dirty, etc.), but 5-ish sq ft is way too small and can cause all kinds of problems.”

(From the manufacturer: Interior L (in) 34.1, W (in) 21.7, H (in) 25.2

Offer them the link to the manufacturer so the CS person can see for him or herself, either over the phone or by email:
http://www.newagepet.com/product/ecoflex-fontana-chicken-barn/)

If the CS person seems like they are not on your side, doubting you, or saying there’s nothing they can do, go into the kinds of problems a too small coop can cause, respiratory from ammonia build up, feather picking and bullying, even death and cannibalism)

"Can you help me return this before I even receive it? I won’t open it, I just need a return label to send it right back. I know it’s not your stated policy to do free return shipping but in this case since there was no way for me to know how small the actual interior square footage of the coop was based on the exterior dimensions listed on Wayfair, I’d really appreciate it if you can help. Could you please make an exception this one time? I’m down to the wire, with needing to get a coop set up and can’t afford to lose money on shipping, I need all the money I can round up asap to get materials now that I know this coop won’t work for me."


From Wayfair:

Weights & Dimensions
Overall 28.9'' H x 45'' W x 53'' D
Nesting Box 17'' H x 16'' W x 16'’ D


• Chicken Capacity: 4

Nesting Box Capacity 2 Square Feet

Don't get upset if the first person rejects giving you all your money back. Maintain composure, still be courteous. Give up with that person but don't give up, call back and hope you get someone more sympathetic next time.

Great Post!!!