What's a fair price for Serama chicks?

[TommyVT05]

Hello,

Oh wow. Really? Geesh! $60 for shipping for a pair sounds way out of it. They barely weigh anything so tops I would say $40 with the box included for a pair...

Hummm...even if its from the FAR East Coast, it should still only run at about $45 or so tops.

Anyhow, who you got yours from and what lines are they? : )

- Tommy

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[SeramaLife]

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Shipping any chicken across the country generally does cost $60 ish including box. You must not ship far. If you ship

 

[TommyVT05]

Hello Ondra,

Maybe its the post office here or whatever, BUT shouldn't ALL USPS rates be the same regardless of state if shipping the same thing and about the same weight?

Over the years, I basically ship to almost all the 48 states besides Hawaii and Alaska and none would cost nearly $60 EVEN with the box!!!. unless of course, they got like 5-6 birds / fowls which end up being like 6lbs - 8 lbs total weight.

Most places I don't understand. They charge a FLAT rate of $60 which is outragous!!!

I don't ship nearly as much as those places and I can still get shipping boxes at around $8 a box only. I am sure if you get 100 boxes or more, it should only cost around $5 each.

That leaves a $55 gap for shipping cost. That is just wrong...

I don't believe in overcharging customers on shipping...that is why sometimes I end up paying out of pocket. At least...that is better than charging $60 when it only cost $40...

- Tommy

Ondra's Seramas :

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Shipping any chicken across the country generally does cost $60 ish including box. You must not ship far. If you ship​

 

[BluegrassSeramas]

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I also would like to see if anyone has any other comments or experiences with shipping live birds....I would be happy to post pics of my receipts or see if I can get one of my New Friends to post........

Maybe we can all find a way to save 20 bucks!! Thanks!! ~Jessi

 

[TommyVT05]

Hello Jessi,

In regards to all that. This is basically the detailed breakdown of all the cost.

1. ) Box cost an avg. of $8 each, shipped to me.

I charge $10 for box TOTAL meaning that is the Box, The Bedding, The Fruits AND the prep for the birds before I ship out. All of that for $2 : )

Now having thought about what you mentioned, I actualy do believe I undercut my charge by a lot (not accounting for the gas money to the post office, the vitamine water I give them before they are shipped out, etc), but oh well...

2.) Shipping rate had always been the avg. for me of around $28 - $38 dollars. The most was close for $40 but that was when I had 3 pretty good sized birds in the container and the overall weight was at its peak per box which is 8 lbs. What that having said, I had these birds shipped to Texas which was quite a ways away as well so that leaves it to only $50 total, but I remember I charged the customer only $45. Undercharged $5 there.

Basically, I think the issue is the insurance. The rate changes a lot with insurance. Live shipment comes with a basic $100 insurance with any loss. UNLESS whatever you are shipping is worth more than that, then insurance is needed but if not, then its not recommended anyhow.

When I shipped my American Onagadori and older Seramas out, I do insurance because their value is anywhere from $150 - $300 (but of course I don't sell them for that much) so that is when its worth the insurance.

Anyhow, that is about the best price breakdown I can give you and others.

I almost forgot but I don't order in bulks of 100 boxes either because like you and a few others here, I am just doing it for a hobby. I usually order 15 - 20 boxes at once only and that usually last me from 6 months to 1 year unless folks order different breeds and age groups in which shipping double boxes is a must.

My best advise is ask the USPS about the charges for shipment and find a better source for the boxes : )

Best of Luck!

- Tommy

 

[KittyKelly]

Ondra's Seramas :

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Hatcheries?

I've never heard of a hatchery or feedstore that sells serama...... are you talking about Jerry? because he has so many birds that I guess you could call it that....but we have a lot of birds too so do you consider that a small hatchery??? I'M CONFUSED

 

[TommyVT05]

KittyKelly,

Oh really? That is odd...
Well out of the 10 or so feed stores here, about 3 of them has the Seramas for sale BUT, not all the time. They get them once in a while from local breeders who most likely bought eggs from online or something because they look rather big...

Anyhow, some of them saw my Seramas and actually wanted some as chicks to sell but I don't really want to because if they ever do mix them up and peeps bought some other folks Serama classified as mines, thats not good so I rather not sell like that. Besides, I am not in it for a business anyhow so it doesn't hurt not to.

Well if you ever take the time to search for "Serama" online, you will be able to find a few small hatcheries that sells Seramas...

I saw them while searching a while back. Pretty sure those pages are still there : )

- Tommy

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Hatcheries?

I've never heard of a hatchery or feedstore that sells serama...... are you talking about Jerry? because he has so many birds that I guess you could call it that....but we have a lot of birds too so do you consider that a small hatchery??? I'M CONFUSED

 

[KittyKelly]

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I think that maybe you are confusing hatcheries with "breeders".... McMurray is a hatchery..... they do not sell serama.
BluegrassSeramas is a "breeder".... I don't think her farm is considered a hatchery.
Paradise Seramas is a "breeder" I don't believe that just because you can buy birds from her website, that it makes it a hatchery. You have a website where you sell birds.....
Do you get what I'm saying?

And...as far as local feed stores, maybe they just offer a place for local "breeders" to sell their birds. It would be like me taking my birds down to Tractor Supply and selling them.

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I do not understand why you would write this if you sell your serama from your website....

 

[TommyVT05]

KittyKelly,

I have been in the bird world for years so I am pretty certain I know the difference between breeders and hatcheries. I am a breeder, and so are you but hatcheries are hatcheries.

Their website CLEARLY states, ".................. Hatchery" and they have a collection of over 50 kinds of breeds. Perhaps the definition of a HATCHERY does NOT say how many breeds you need to have to be a hatchery but I am sure anywhere that works with 30 breeds are more and have "employees" are considered a hatchery and not considered a breeder anymore.

Don't recall those websites now so I can't point it out

but when I come by it again someday, I will let you know. Do some research, take some time out to check it out, I am sure you will find some...

Anyhow,

No. Those feed stores buy and sell for a profit, not just a place for breeders to sell their birds. Heck, if it was that easy, I wouldn't have to bother to ship any of my birds to make some money for feed, supplies, etc. Remember San Diego, or CA rather, is ALWAYS on the battle for the "bucks" so nothing is free. Those feedstores actually make 3x what they buy in so you can't consider that "selling for others"...

Lastly,

I don't sell my birds at those places because they might mix my stuff with whatever they bring in for a cheaper price, for instance and classify ALL of them as mine. I don't want to take that chance. I am sure if you have some quality stock, you wouldn't want to take the chance of others bringing it down by pointing other stock as yours just to make the extra buck off your work, would you?

The birds I sell on my page is mine; I raise them, I nurture them and I know where they are from, that is why I sell them online through me only. I learn it the hard way a while back with others posting and selling for me and end up doing some funky stuff and I took the blame for it. Nowdays, I still have those folks who wants to be me, to sell what I sell, but not really, and I have to clean up the mess...

- Tommy

PS: I am only putting my input on what I saw, heard, and learned from. Seems to me like a few are starting to show that they are misunderstanding my intentions...so please be advised what I am here for. Not to prove anyone wrong, not to put down anyone, not to make a sale, none of that stuff...just explaining what I know and I hope it helps... Sounds fair? : )

 

[KittyKelly]

I can agree to disagree
...sent PM