So everyone knows that the cost of feed has shot up lately, so I came up with the brainiac idea that I'd sell a few dozen eggs to keep myself in organic feed, plus a few people have asked me if I'd sell them eggs. Now mind you I only have seven chickens so we're talking a few dozen a month at most. My problem is with one particular "customer." I've had a really difficult time managing expectations. They'd like me to just come up with several dozen eggs on demand and as much as I've tried to explain that it doesn't work like that it's not sinking in. And everyone else who buys eggs from me totally gets that they get to buy them when I've got them, and they're perfectly fine with that-actually they're more than fine, they're thrilled to have eggs from me. So my not so tactful tongue nearly said "What do I look like, clucking Costco?" But I managed to just shut up and smile. I'm starting to think that it was a bad idea to sell them at all.... Hellllllllllp!!!!!!
You know what I do with ungrateful customers? I just say that I am out of eggs or they are all booked. Simple and done.
This is what you say to him.... NO EGGS FOR YOU! .............OH YEAH, Use a heavy accent when you do it. Then you can call yourself the egg nazi!...................Realistically though. You don't need his money. There are other customers. One thing you could tell him is that he is welcome to come over to the coop and ask the "employees" why production is slow.
I sell to a local organic farm...they sell them in their dairy barn alongside their milk. I just take them to the frig and email with counts and the farm manager mails out a check. It is very nice and I DO not have to deal with the customers AT all!! When I started selling to the farm...many friends were very upset...but I just tell them to buy them from the FARM now!! Gives the farm business too... Guess you'll just have to BUY more hens!! BWHAHAHAHAHA And the addiction continues!!
I would politely thank the person for the eggs that they have already bought and tell them that due to other obligations, that you will not be able to supply eggs to them in the future. Maybe even go so far as to look up the name of some one else in the area selling eggs. It's hard to deal with such situations tactfully (at least for me!). It seems as though they will not be a happy customer, and would be better off doing business elsewhere. Mark
"One thing you could tell him is that he is welcome to come over to the coop and ask the "employees" why production is slow." I love this idea, Or you could say, "You know I'm glad you came by, I haven't collected the eggs yet today, Would you care to join/help me?" And in this way let them realize just how few there are to gather each day. Just a thought
"Clucking Costco" It's tough being unofficially in the egg business. Everyone wants but nobody wants to pay the price whether it is monetary or waiting their turn. "Friends" and relatives want special treatment. They don't seem to realize that feed and materials cost and chickens take some time. Tell them go to the grocery store and buy their organic eggs. If they catch a managers special they might be able to afford them. If I could only think of a nice way to tell them that.
I loathe the day I gave away my first dozen. Thought to my self "You're building your clientele", "You're educating people as to how much better fresh eggs are" etcetera, etcetera. Those same people now occupy far too much of my time hinting they'd love more free eggs, time I should be spending preparing eggs for the paying customers. I don't begrudge anyone free samples, but let's get real.
What Chickfillhay said reminds me of what Groucho Marx said in his Casablanca movie, "If they want a 3 minute egg give it to them in 2, if they want a 2 minute egg, give it to them in one. If they want a 1 minute egg, give them a chicken and let them work it out for themselves." Very clever, Chickfillhay.