Why are people so weird?

[RhodeIslandRed5]

You need to start telling people: no money, no eggs. A lot of people are rude, inconsiderate, disrespectful and will take advantage of you. You must teach people that you DON'T do handouts and expect money for your eggs. After all, you put money into those chickens. Getting money back for something that comes out of those chickens helps keep them in food, right. Tell people if they want free eggs, they can get their own chickens.

 

[KDrake]

Do you have any kids? I go on and on about how selling these eggs is my daughters small business, so while I wouldn’t really charge them if it was my business, I really need to support her in her efforts, etc... They never balk at paying when I say that! A friend of mine does something similar. Even if you don’t have kids, I bet you can come up with some hard luck story about the price of feed or whatever that has made it impossible for you to give eggs away...

I do have kids! That's a great idea!

 

[jaxonann]

Don't expect your cartons to be returned. Charge for them by raising the price of your eggs a bit. If someone whines about it, tell them why. Go to some of your local restaurants, especially breakfast places. Ask if you can have their empty egg cartons. It's what I do and you will get stacks of them. I charge $3.00 a doz for eggs. If I take them to the feed store, they give me $4.00 (either cash or in trade). Maybe you aren't charging enough? Farm type eggs, free range, sell for $6.00 a dozen in the store here. Even more if they are organic.

I don't charge for my eggs. To me, eggs are a happy benefit of having chickens. I'm am perfectly fine with sharing, otherwise they will spoil. I do get irritated with my cartons not being returned. I know I'm fussing over .32 cartons. I suppose I should lower my eggs-pectations.

 

[RhodeIslandRed5]

I will admit I like giving away things to. It makes people happy, and makes me feel good. However, there's a line that needs to be drawn if people want to take advantage of your generosity.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I have a couple of elderly ladies that buy my eggs and faithfully return the cartons, bless their hearts! When I have more than they or my family need, I will give away a dozen or two to a near relative whose husband hunts. Come hunting season, she shares with me a pound or two (or more!) of good ground deer meat. So it works out pretty slick. Barter system, anyone?

 

[Sea Wolf]

I don't charge for my eggs. To me, eggs are a happy benefit of having chickens. I'm am perfectly fine with sharing, otherwise they will spoil. I do get irritated with my cartons not being returned. I know I'm fussing over .32 cartons. I suppose I should lower my eggs-pectations.

I charge for several reasons. People respect you, it also helps to pay for the feed and materials for care. The birds pay for their own feed by the eggs they lay. They also help to pay for dog food. as well as occasional bales of hay. I get almost 2 doz eggs a day some days and still, sometimes people have to wait. I have people that buy 6 doz at a time. Mostly because they travel a bit to get here to get eggs. I don't buy cartons, I get second hand ones for free. Only a couple of people return them and I do appreciate and say thank you when they do.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I will submit that your customers are only doing what you have trained them to do. When they received their first dozen free eggs they probably thought, "oh wow! Free eggs!" After that they did not know how to bring up the subject of paying you for eggs, and neither do you, without it being really awkward and yes, weird.

May I suggest that the next time you give away a dozen eggs you put on an apologetic smile and say something like this: "you know, I'm really sorry, but I just can't afford to keep giving away eggs for free. My hens are eating me out of house and home! I figure I'm going to have to start charging ($x) a dozen just to break even. Does that sound okay to you? How many should I bring you next week?"

 

[RhodeIslandRed5]

I like the trading idea! If people won't pay money, tell them you allow trades for something else useful.

 

[Birdsong 82]

I don’t mind sharing with family but when it’s expected on a regular basis I do start charging because we could sell them elsewhere to supplement the cost of their feed and such. I don’t mind sharing some but don’t like free to be expected. Mom always gets them free no questions asked because moms are special. But otherwise expecting is rude. I feel as though the people who expect Them free don’t appreciate them As much of a paying customer
I knock 50 cents of the price with return of my carton

 

[Birdsong 82]

I don’t mind sharing with family but when it’s expected on a regular basis I do start charging because we could sell them elsewhere to supplement the cost of their feed and such. I don’t mind sharing some but don’t like free to be expected. Mom always gets them free no questions asked because moms are special. But otherwise expecting is rude. I feel as though the people who expect Them free don’t appreciate them As much of a paying customer
I knock 50 cents of the price with return of my carton