Question for sellers-do you replace eggs for bad hatches-when and why?

[EweSheep]

Quote:
Blue and Black Orpingtons both in bantam and LF are hard to hatch out even Catalupa Farms is not far from me but the shipping took a toll and none hatched. Not their fault since they packed the box really well! Their faverolles are a little better but not in great numbers. Usually one or two chicks I get from hatching.

So if you are thinking about getting some of these breeds, keep it in mind.

 

[pips&peeps]

I will replace eggs once, if they get four or less chicks. I have actually replaced 3-4 batches so far this season, but I think I will stop doing that in the early winter as you are taking your chances with hatching eggs this early, considering the weather.

I always make the person pay for the additional shipping, but I usually have to fit them in. If I have an auction ending and they want eggs the same week, well they'll have to wait. You have already sent them what they paid for, your replacing eggs as a courtesy, not because you owe them anything.

I know there are those that do dabble in the art of getting more than what they paid for, but for the most part it creates a better reputation for your business which equals more sales and more profitability when you can charge more for your eggs.

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

We have replaced many eggs, even people that have 3-4 chicks hatch out of a dozen eggs, we really do want everyone to get what they paid for, but it comes with a sacrifice. I recently went through our numbers and because we are being too friendly with replacement eggs we haven't made any money on hatching eggs. We do test our hatches and feed our chickens a balanced diet. We store our eggs in a cool basement and rotate them everyday until shipping day. When they leave our hand we can no longer control how they are handled or the temps. I think if someone wants a guarantee of 12 chicks they need to order chicks, not eggs. Next year I think we will be selling chicks only. We haven't decided yet.

 

[cottagegarden]

When we buy hatching eggs we know the risks, we know how where to read to improve on our process, we know what tools to get for better success. I have spent tons of money on hatching eggs since my kids starting showing with varying degrees of hatch and would not think of complaining. Both their chosen lil fluffy breeds can be prone to fertility issues, too.
There is good advice on here, make a policy and stick to your guns. That you would even consider it and Jean does it means you are both sellers I will strongly reccommend to people for your integrity(and wonderful birds)

pips&peeps :

I will replace eggs once, if they get four or less chicks. I have actually replaced 3-4 batches so far this season, but I think I will stop doing that in the early winter as you are taking your chances with hatching eggs this early, considering the weather.

I always make the person pay for the additional shipping, but I usually have to fit them in. If I have an auction ending and they want eggs the same week, well they'll have to wait. You have already sent them what they paid for, your replacing eggs as a courtesy, not because you owe them anything.

I know there are those that do dabble in the art of getting more than what they paid for, but for the most part it creates a better reputation for your business which equals more sales and more profitability when you can charge more for your eggs.​

 

[4boysmom]

Melissa, I've not sold eggs yet, but I've bought a few batches over the last couple of years ( have some of yours in the bator ready to take off the turner tonight )

I agree with what most of the others have said, that once they're shipped, it's not really your responsibility - we all know the dangers that await eggs going through the mail....I'm just in awe that they arrive in 1 piece! I think maybe if they were all clears, then I might replace, but as long as they start developing, it's probably related to the incubation environment if they don't hatch...... I think too that if the seller is kind enough to send replacements, that the buyer should pick up the shipping tab!


I'm hoping for some little Faverolles this weekend - boy are those eggs hard to see into!

oh....on a personal note for me - I try to let the sellers know when I received the eggs and then when I candle them after day 7.....I'll also let you know how many hatch....but since we already know that they all looked good but the one that looked like it stopped, we know they were fertile!

 

[texasbartrambaby]

Well Paso - you know my stance on this. I think that it is not up to the breeder to replace hatches, despite if the hatch went bad. I do think however, if your hatch goes bad, the buyer needs to *politely* ask to be put on the waiting list and pay the full price again. We all know that the PO is hard on eggs. We all know that hatches can go bad and if you are new, the odds are against you.

I know that when my first hatch went bad with you, you were MORE than accomadating and resent the eggs when my name showed up on the list. (I started with an LG and the temp spiked on it. I then bought a genesis for those who didn't know why my first hatch bombed). I was more than happy to wait for the eggs and that is why I bought more - because you are so sweet!

 

[Katy]

I'm new to the selling and shipping of eggs, but have bought quite a few. I haven't decided what I'll do yet on a low hatch of my eggs. I suppose if I've been having good hatches here at home I would tend to blame it on the shipping and incubating and be less inclined to offer more eggs.

On eggs I buy I try to always let the seller know how my hatch turned out....not because I expect them to replace them, but because as a seller I'd like to know how my eggs are hatching.

I agree that certain breeds seem more likely to be affected by shipping.

 

[asher]

I take it on a totally case by case basis. I rarely sell eggs for this reason. I'll do swaps or trades, but in general, I just stress too much to sell eggs. I can get 100% fertility here, but shipping them in the mail can do so much to them. Seriously. It amazes me how irate I have seen people get when they get eggs in the mail that don't grow b/c they are adled and/or clear, etc.

I am shocked people send more if they "only" get 3-4 to hatch out. I generally only send 6+ extras, though so 3-4 hatching out of 6 shipped eggs sounds like a good hatch to me considering how bad it could be. I know I've bought some before and had like 5 hatch out of 48. Now THAT ratio is not so good.

I don't recall ever asking for replacement eggs, even when I got a 0% hatch (or grow) rate. I mean...really...as many hands and machines as it goes through one it leaves their hands to get to me...yeah...I don't know how anyone can afford to gurantee hatching eggs, honestly.

 

[klf73]

I don't sell eggs, yet. I have offered to send eggs to people when my birds start laying for the cost of shipping or a minimal charge (otherwise expensive breeds). Most of my birds are rare but I got them for my own enjoyment, not to make money. I give birds away frequently, and am not well off, just like seeing them get good homes. It would depend on the circumstance if I would replace eggs. It would depend on if the eggs arrived in one piece, whether they were scrambled, and if fertility was bad. If it was an incubation error then I would replace on a case by case basis...I may even offer chicks for the price of shipping plus a few dollars for the extras that would be needed to be shipped...
But hey, maybe I'm just a sucker

Now this is how I would handle my sales on BYC, if I ever auction I would have to rethink things....I have been had way too many times on ebay.....

 

[klf73]

Quote:
huh, never thought to ship myself eggs, that's a good idea