WTH is wrong with TSC? Chick purchasing nightmare.

[GhostRider65]

Well I was in TSC tonight to pick up feed for horses and dog food, the gates are up here as well now, I have to agree, children will manhandle the chicks, heck I have seen adults holding to tight or not holding them with there wings down, or letting a scared baby sit on there open palm, only to watch it fly/fall back into the bin or on the floor.
We also discussed people who buy chicks or ducks on a whim and have no clue how to care for them or there needs to raise them, she was as discussed as I usually am about those people. She had 1 today that wanted 1 duck, had no clue what to feed it then when Sue helped her pick out food a lamp ect, she got all pissy because she had to buy so much stuff, she was going to take it home with it's food and throw it in an aqaurium, gee ducks swim right, should I know they also have feet and need dry land??? OMG I wish they had a 10 chick/duck/bunny limit actually, to keep these ignorant idiots from torturing those poor babies to death. argggggg makes me crazy! Kim

 

[FMAFarms]

I went to our local TSC for the first time in two weeks today (been down with pneumonia). My husband had told me that the gates were up and, sure enough, the brooder area was completely surrounded by livestock gates. Every few feet, there were signs saying that only employees could handle the chicks and to ask for help. I have to say that I was very, very pleased by this. Ever since Chick Days began in March, I've had to explain to countless kids and adults how to properly hold a chick, how to return a chick to its brooder, no, not THAT brooder over there, THIS brooder, etc.

I went to find the manager, who knows me very well by now, and asked about the gates. He confirmed that this came down from corporate. He said that he had heard rumors that someone was sueing TSC because they got burned on a heat lamp, rumors that someone got salmonella. He then told me that all of that was unsubstantiated and that he was pretty sure it was because kids were manhandling the chicks and parents were being inattentive, and that the chicks and ducklings were inventory and TSC simply had to protect its inventory from being damaged. Personally, I agree with him. The bottom line for most corporations is $$$$.

While stackable brooders and Eco Glows are good ideas, TSC is not going to set up a brooder with things it does not carry in the store. Every brooder in every TSC I've been to (and we have four that I've shopped at within an hour's drive) is outfitted with items TSC carries, from the stock tanks to the pine shavings to the waterers, feeders, heat lamps, and bulbs. If TSC carried Sweeter Heaters, I'm sure they'd use those. They want customers to buy the gear they carry. That's the main reason they've showcased things like starter, chick grit, and waterers right near the chicks.

As pleased as I am with this development, there's still room for improvement. The bin that was labeled Black Jersey Giants also had some very pale yellow chicks in amidst the black chicks. There was a bin labeled Buff Orpingtons, and they actually were Buff Orpingtons... but that brooder tank's walls still had the violet spray marks on it from the Blue Kote they'd sprayed on Violet, the Golden Comet chick I rescued a few weeks ago. That tank should have been cleaned before new chicks had been placed in it! Seeing the Blue Kote marks made me wonder about the cleanliness of all the tanks they use, because that's eventually going to bite them in the rear if some sort of illness is passed along to healthy new arrivals. There was also one tank labeled White Leghorns. I wish I could have confirmed that. The brooder was covered in paper and, except for four chicks, all the others were sprayed with Blue Kote. My first thoughts were, "They've mislabelled this tank... these birds are already feathering in black." Then I realized what was up. And, just like with our little Violet, the non-sprayed chicks were actively attacking the ones sprayed with Blue Kote. One was on its side, its wing up defensively, and two other chicks were actively pecking and yanking at its feathers. It's for reasons like this that I started that petition... to protect the injured and maimed chicks and give them an actual shot at life. You're all still very welcome to sign it (working towards 200 signatures now at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/tscchicknotification/.

Small steps. I'm glad about (edited, I said "to" before) the fencing and no-handling rules. These have to be across the board, even if it's obvious we know how to raise chicks. If they favor one adult because she or he knows chicks but then come down on Mrs. Sally Clueless, well, Mrs. Clueless could possibly sue the store for unfair treatment. Policies HAVE to be across the board, as much as it may seem ridiculous or insulting to our experience and/or knowledge. BUT... hand in hand with that goes employee training. Do NOT be rude to the customers, allow them to look all they want, offer assistance, allow the customers to pick out the chicks THEY want. A little training in chick handling and customer service goes a LONG way.

I have never seen a logbook of any kind regarding chick purchasing, not at any of the four TSCs that I've shopped at and most definitely not at the one closest to us. It's not a bad idea, especially if the chicks develop an illness or condition to which your chick(s) got exposed, but it has to be explained up front and not spring on buyers as they go to pay, so that people aren't surprised or upset by it. Customer service goes a long way!

 

[patti'speeps]

I work at our local TSC and we do not and have never heard of the notebook thing. I will have to ask my manager about that. It is probably different for different states. We also have the panels around our tanks for the protection of not only the chicks and ducklings but also for the public themselves. Chick Days in TSC is in grave danger of being canceled for future years to come bc of a few isolated incidents. So, bc of one or two individuals everyone who loves chick days will suffer in the future. I personally am referred to in our store as the "Chicken Lady", lol. Anyone with questions is referred to me when i'm there. I have even gotten calls at home from the store about a question from a customer. If a parents child wants to "pet" a chick or duckling then one of us will pick one up and allow them to pet it nicely. Then we will suggest they use had sanitizer. Our store has a huge variety of breeds of chicks in the store. My manager has given me permission to order breeds in that other stores willl not carry. I ask customers at the beginning of chick days what breeds of chicks they would like to see in the store and try to do my best to accomadate them. Today our store got in Buckeye Chicks, Speckeled Sussex chicks, Cochin chicks, standard and bantam. 2 different breeds of geese, 2 different breeds of turkey's, Guineas, and I have also on order 3 different Heritage breeds of turkeys. So every store is different in every state. So to condemn the whole chain of TSC stores is ridiculous. We were required to watch a DVD at the start of chick days on the care and handling of chicks and ducklings. Our tanks are cleaned out completely every morning, and all are fed and watered for the night before anyone leaves at night. If we loose a chick it's bc it was sick when it came in from the hatchery. We have a hospital tank in the back where we put any birds that are being pecked on or look like they don't feel well. No sick birds are ever left on the sales floor with the rest.Well i'll get off my soapbox now about the store I work at. Please people don't condemn all TSC stores, we work hard to provide a service for everyone.

 

[fishnet1971]

I purchased Pekin ducklings from TSC here in Ohio last week and i had to submit my drivers lisence so that they could record the number and # of chicks that i purchased. They told me that if they sold less than the 6 chick minimum they would get fined $10,000. The notebook was to keep track of how many were purchased by whom. I did not have to do it for the chicks, but only for the ducks. Our tanks are also surrounded,and no, i was not able to pick out my ducklings. I got a box of what ever the guy plucked from the bin. I was lucky i think, i got some adorable healthy babies!

i agree, how many of us have seen these spoiled brat kids whose parents do nothing about when their child grabs a chick and holds it upside down by its feet? I grabbed the kid by the arm and snatched the chick away from him. he got mad at me and started screaming at me in front of eveyone. I put the chick back in the bin and walked away. I came back wheni was ready to check out and the same kid had the same chick on the floor pushing it around in a toy tractor. Needless to say, my foot ended up underneath the kid 'OOPS!!!!!!!!!!" and the chick went home with me. and 5 others......

 

[jenni22776rn]

patti'speeps :

I work at our local TSC and we do not and have never heard of the notebook thing. I will have to ask my manager about that. It is probably different for different states. We also have the panels around our tanks for the protection of not only the chicks and ducklings but also for the public themselves. Chick Days in TSC is in grave danger of being canceled for future years to come bc of a few isolated incidents. So, bc of one or two individuals everyone who loves chick days will suffer in the future. I personally am referred to in our store as the "Chicken Lady", lol. Anyone with questions is referred to me when i'm there. I have even gotten calls at home from the store about a question from a customer. If a parents child wants to "pet" a chick or duckling then one of us will pick one up and allow them to pet it nicely. Then we will suggest they use had sanitizer. Our store has a huge variety of breeds of chicks in the store. My manager has given me permission to order breeds in that other stores willl not carry. I ask customers at the beginning of chick days what breeds of chicks they would like to see in the store and try to do my best to accomadate them. Today our store got in Buckeye Chicks, Speckeled Sussex chicks, Cochin chicks, standard and bantam. 2 different breeds of geese, 2 different breeds of turkey's, Guineas, and I have also on order 3 different Heritage breeds of turkeys. So every store is different in every state. So to condemn the whole chain of TSC stores is ridiculous. We were required to watch a DVD at the start of chick days on the care and handling of chicks and ducklings. Our tanks are cleaned out completely every morning, and all are fed and watered for the night before anyone leaves at night. If we loose a chick it's bc it was sick when it came in from the hatchery. We have a hospital tank in the back where we put any birds that are being pecked on or look like they don't feel well. No sick birds are ever left on the sales floor with the rest.Well i'll get off my soapbox now about the store I work at. Please people don't condemn all TSC stores, we work hard to provide a service for everyone.

Good for you! Nice to hear from someone who works for the company! I wish all the employees had the same attitude as you do...but as I am sure you know...all it takes is one bad apple to ruin the whole bunch! Although I do strongly feel more education is needed before some employees tell customers informaiton regarding chicks. It sounds as though you know your stuff..now if only all the employees in charge of the chickens would. I have 2 TSC stores near my home..have had poor service at both when it was regarding chicks...but went back and had a wonderful experiance with a diffrent employee...good for you for sticking up for your company and keep up the good work..those chicks are lucky to have you to ensure they are happy healthy and sold with some knowledge!​

 

[WalkerH]

Gosh I wish our TSC carried Guineas. I would have loved to buy some of those. So tired of these ridiculous amounts, I don't want freaking 10 Guineas, sorry but I don't. Dumb amount limits. I would like 6 Guineas, I just wish they understood that.

As for the breeds, I walked into TSC a week ago, I heard they had Americuanas from a friend. So I went to get some and the guy there was like no those are leghorns...and I was like um okay...I got 6 of them anyway, they were clearly Americaunas. They were actually extremely serviceable. The lady let me look at about 15 before I had the 6 I wanted. Suggested I look at the brooder equipment, until I told her it was already set up. We walked up to the front to pay and leave and the woman there looked once at the chicks and was like aw cute Americuanas, I just chuckled. I guess she raised Americuanas and Barred Rocks for a couple years, from what she told me. They didn't have the signs up on the brooders except on the 'Assorted Rabbits' I was like uh duh they are rabbits. So we ended up with 2 Pekin Ducks and 6 more chicks.

 

[LaStrawberryMom]

We picked up 6 pullets from our TSC a few weeks ago. Both of our local TSC have the gates around them. We were not required to sign a book but the sales associate did have to pick up the chicks to put them in the box although we were able to pick out the ones we wanted. We only wanted 3 but because of the minimum we had to get the 6. We offered to pay for all 6 and only get 3 but they said NO we had to take them!

Even with the gates up, the chickens were still not in the appropriate bins. Fortunately, my darling husband knew what he wanted and knew what they looked like.

 

[Cargbrock]

My mom had gone to TSC and picked up 6 chicks. 4 are black sex link and 2 are mystery chicks. The people there had NO CLUE what they were! They always put all the chicks in the WRONG bens. The breed of the mystery chicks she picked up weren't even on any of the labels!
My brother thinks the man working there said they were Cornish Rocks, but they look nothing like them. Someone suggested to us that they were Delewares, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see when they get all their feathers in.
And, they were in the pullet bin and the two mystery chicks already look like they may be roosters. My mom is really hoping only one of them is.
TSC makes me mad. They should pay more attention to what they're doing.
I haven't heard of the notebook deal, but they don't let you handle the chicks. At ours, they even put the bins inside a corral so you couldn't get to them.

 

[schellie69]

I went to Tractor supply on April 11th and got 7 new chicks, The person let us pick out the ones we wanted yes they had the cattle panels up but he sill let us in to pick the ones we wanted. I do think they need more detailed cards on what they have instead of just pullets. I got 2 SLW and 2 EE's and then 3 bantams from the straight run bin. Both people working were very nice and helpful. I never thought I would buy from tractor supply because they never seemed to know or care about the chicks but I guess it was just the wrong people working. I am very happy with my new babies.

 

[pixiedouglas]

Quote:
post a pic of the two mystery chicks, I have Delaware chicks I think I could tell you if they are Delawares.