Scammed, or just shipping damage?

[Kwoka]

I’m sure no one can really know for sure whether I got scammed or not, except for the seller. Am I allowed to just vent here?

I ordered 20 hatching eggs of a couple breeds from a seller about 2 hours away. They were pretty badly packed, one loose, one broken, and most had slightly jiggly or saddled air cells…

HOWEVER after day 5 in a very reliable incubator, nothing is growing, at all, so I cracked open 2 - they weren’t totally scrambled, just not fertilized? (no disc, only a small white speck).

I know that shipping damage can render eggs worthless, but 0/20 developing? That just seems crazy to me, and I wouldn’t put it past someone to sell store-bought eggs anonymously through our version of “Craigslist”. Last year, I bought Bresse eggs through the platform from another breeder and got really great results from shipped eggs (15/20 hatched, 19/20 fertilized/developed something!)

As an experiment, and to fill up my 24 egg incubator, I threw in four refrigerated eggs (for eating) that I got from a friend around the New Year. 3/4 are developing nicely go figure…if anything, I may still end up with a couple chicks, and my curiosity satisfied about the “forbidden” fridge eggs!

 

[nuthatched]

Could be poor shipping or too early in the season for fertile eggs or some schmoe doesn't know you need a male for fertile eggs. Who knows.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

That's too bad. Did your shipment come with any kind of satifaction agreement or guarantee of money back or new eggs supplied if a certain percentage failed to develop by a certain time?

 

[Kwoka]

That's too bad. Did your shipment come with any kind of satifaction agreement or guarantee of money back or new eggs supplied if a certain percentage failed to develop by a certain time?

Unfortunately, no. Shipped eggs are always at the buyer’s risk. Buying eggs online is the closest thing to gambling I will ever do

I’ll probably just send a the guy a stern message and tell him his packing sucks, and call it a day. I’m giving the eggs a couple more days, then after that I’m going to make a huge portion of scrambled eggs for my flock

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

That’s to bad
If nothing starts in any and all are infertile I would be very upset
I don’t ship my eggs out but I do stay in contact and guarantee my eggs as fertile for local buyers
Although I can’t guarantee them all hatching I do offer full incubating instructions and guarantee my eggs are fertile
I haven’t ever had one egg not be

 

[sdm111]

As a very trustworthy egg shipper it's probably a bit of everything. Also best believe that writing anything that indicates eggs or something fragile will surely get the attention of humans. Humans do mean things and it only attracts attention for someone to do something like shake or throw the box on purpose. I've done experiments sending eggs with writing verses no writing and the no writing always did better. I advise every buyer to not have anything written on the box but some do and since they are the buyer I do what they say. Also if you have eggs shipped in the summer I'd also advise to not let them sit for 24hrs to let the air sack settle. I believe if the box is in a hot plane or truck then sits on the counter of an air conditioned home it could kill an embryo that started developing from the heat. Straight to the incubator or hen. Take this advise or leave it but 60-95% hatch rate is common for mine IF the buyer does thier part to give them the best chance of hatching. Have a good day and good luck in the future

 

[gimmie birdies]

That is too bad, I have gotten fridge eggs from my store that sells local eggs, I had gotten from them and hatched before, one time I got 2 doz and 20/24 hatched, so last April I bought 3 doz, and 34/36 hatched.
I have also hatched from my own flock, and fridge before.

 

[Kwik]

I just had some bad experiences myself with shipped eggs, specifically with some sellers on Ebay. I don't see myself ordering hatching eggs online again, probably only doing even trades via this site and local purchases from farmers. With the cost of most hatching eggs it's just not worth the gamble imo, for the same price I could be ordering live chicks from an established hatchery who cares about their reputation. Sorry to hear you had a bad experience as well.

 

[Kwoka]

That is too bad, I have gotten fridge eggs from my store that sells local eggs, I had gotten from them and hatched before, one time I got 2 doz and 20/24 hatched, so last April I bought 3 doz, and 34/36 hatched.
I have also hatched from my own flock, and fridge before.

Oh no, I didn’t need to hear this…!!! It’s good that I was under the impression that the fridge eggs wouldn’t develop - I would have been hatching all winter lol. I already hatched 10 birds from my friend’s mixed sex-link flock, so I want some other breeds. I’m honestly hoping that if these 3 eggs hatch, that they will be cockerels - my kids love chicken and dumplings

 

[Kwoka]

I just had some bad experiences myself with shipped eggs, specifically with some sellers on Ebay. I don't see myself ordering hatching eggs online again, probably only doing even trades via this site and local purchases from farmers. With the cost of most hatching eggs it's just not worth the gamble imo, for the same price I could be ordering live chicks from an established hatchery who cares about their reputation. Sorry to hear you had a bad experience as well.

I’ve been so tempted to buy eBay eggs, but the prices are just way too high. Plus, I would be ordering from a neighboring country, yikes. Unfortunately, the country I live in doesn’t have the amazing hatcheries of the US. I’m so jealous! My best option is to gamble with eggs again, but from more reputable sellers.