Odd Situation with Breeder on Ebay

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

Just wondering what you guys think on this:

I won an auction on e-bay for some bantam eggs last Wednesday. According to the page, I had 7 days to pay for them. So.. I sent her a prompt e-mail and told her I'd send it through on Friday. She e-mailed back and said ok. On Friday, I sent the payment through. Eggs due to be shipped out early this week.

On Monday night, get an e-mail. All is good to go, she'll be collecting the eggs the following morning and shipping them out. That was fine with me. I also got a notice from Paypal that she had printed a shipping label for the box.

I get an e-mail on Tuesday. She says that her chickens have stopped laying. She DID have eggs the Wed before, she says, but since I didn't pay 'til Fri she threw those eggs out. Do I want a refund, or a different breed of chicken? I reply that I do not really want this other breed, to give it a week, and to see if she can get me at least a few eggs of the breed I paid for, and to give me the other breed for the remainder of the six. She is supposed to e-mail me on Mon to see where we're at.

Our conversations have been completely civil. I'm a bit irritated that I felt like she was saying it was *my* fault that she didn't have my eggs. And I'm VERY irritated that she hasn't added any feedback for the auction (after all, I already paid just like I said I would). But, I do understand that we are dealing with animals here, and no one can predict what they will or won't do. I'm not happy about the situation, but I can't say I'm really angry either. I guess my #1 pet peeve is that she didn't say she was sorry.. but there are a lot of people who don't seem to know how.

My mother, who sells on e-bay is IRATE. She says the seller lied and said she had eggs to sell, but in fact she did not. My mother thinks I should leave bad feedback, and report her to e-bay.

What do you guys think? As of right now I'm giving her until Monday. She has offered to ship me eggs in the spring, but personally I think it will be awfully easy to forget about me by then. And don't you only have like 30 days or something to put feedback on e-bay? Maybe I'm wrong on that...

Meghan

 

[arlee453]

I'd give her until Monday since she has promised to get back to you by then, and then decide what (if anything) to do.

I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt, at least 1 time.

Although I agree she should have let you know up front if there would be a problem if you didn't pay until Friday...

Susan

 

[Wynette]

I've had similar situations with eBay auctions (not for livestock, though). I do as much as I can to NOT leave negative feedback. I've even gone so far as to send a message stating that - something like, "I'd prefer not to leave negative feedback, but if this isn't resolved by ____ I'll have no other option."

 

[rooster-red]

I sell and buy on Ebay.

Remember that when you type an email there is no inflection on the words, so it is easy for things to be taken the wrong way.

When something like this happens with a perishable product such as hatching eggs, it is irratating for both parties.

You were expecting these eggs, maybe the ones already collected were getting a little old, so the seller threw the out intending on collecting a fresh batch, then the hens stopped laying. that puts the seller in a bad light with the customer, so they did the only two things they could do in that situation, offer a substitute or a complete refund.

Since the seller is honestly trying to work with you the best they can given the situation, I wouldn't give negative feed back.

Since you aren't interested in the other breed offered, I would take the refund.

The seller hasn't left you feed back because they aren't sure how you will react yet, so they're keeping the option open to be able to respond to scathing feed back if need be.

 

[Arklady]

Most eggs gathered for hatching can last for up to 4 weeks in a controlled environment of 45ºF. The lady had no reason to throw those eggs out.

When I purchased eggs from a private breeder all of the eggs were marked with the eggs laid date and most of those hatched even though they were 2 weeks old! Its rare that they go bad if they are in the controlled enviroment such as a holding fridge set for that purpose. Even eggs on the shelf in your house after 2 weeks would hatch if left in a bator!

Sorry I smell something fishy.

Arklady

PS I do understand about the hens stopped laying.

 

[rooster-red]

Quote:
I learned something from this.
Thanks Arklady

 

[Arklady]

Yeah, and some even handle 6 weeks but they lose a percentage every day after say 4 weeks so if you gather eggs from your birds keep them at like 45ºf for a few days till you get enough...

they should most of the hatch!

Heck this one gal I read her post on hatched out Cage Free Eggs from the grocery store and got 50% hatch and you know how old them eggs can be!!!!

Arklady

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Quote:
I learned something from this.
Thanks Arklady

Me too, I was just about to post a question about it under a different topic! lol

 

[Buckguy20]

While I agree hatching eggs will last a long time if properly treated (right temp and turned). The census by most is to keep them for no more than three to five days. Most people I have dealt with in egg swapping and buying is they would send no eggs older than three or four days. I have hatched many many eggs much older than that.
Monty

 

[lexustami]

Meghan,

That sounds similar to what I was told by someone selling eggs on Ebay a couple of months ago. I didn't get my eggs for over a month. Who was the seller? If you don't want to post that publically you can send me a private message.

Take care,

Tami