ComplaintsforFarmers Feed

• Initial Complaint

  04/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I purchased 10 baby chicks at a price of $25 each for a total of $250 on Friday, April 21, 2023. The chicks appear to be sick and are showing visible symptoms of what I suspect to be an upper respiratory virus, and one of them died less than 3 days after the purchase date. I returned to the store and spoke with an employee letting them know that I was sold sick chickens, and asked to be provided a replacement or a refund. The employee declined and stated that all sales were final. I asked to speak with the manager or owner, and the manager declined to speak with me, and told the employee to again decline any resolution to my problem. I am now stuck with sick chickens that *** die, and I have to quarantine them so they dont infect my healthy chickens.

  Business response

  05/10/2023

  On the 21st when the customer came in, our employee informed them that we do have signage explaining that there are no guarantee on live animals, both chicks and Hens. She was adamant on getting a full refund for all 10 hens not just the one that had passed. We explained that all the hens are on display and customers are even encouraged to pick out the ones that they want, this is done to ensure that we are not held responsible for natural defects or being accused of giving them the runts or sickly hens. As to the sick hens, when they (like the ones that were purchased) are subjected to stress by being transported or relocated their immune system can be weakened and that in turn can lead to the hens getting sick. After being told that we could not refund all the hens she proceeded to ask for a manager, but I was coming out  she was already upset and decided to leave before I even had a chance to speak to her. We would happily offer a discount on a replacement for the one that died, or a discount on medicine that could be given to the entire flock to make sure that there are no more losses even though it is our policy that we do not offer exchanges or refunds on live animals. As for the quarantine, that is always recommended even if there are no visible signs of distress or health issues especially around this time when it is more common for hens to get sick. 

  Customer response

  05/12/2023

  I am rejecting this response because: the statement provided by the business is false. I did NOT ask to be refunded for all 10 hens, I asked to be provided an exchange or refund on the one that died. I did ask to speak to the manager, and did NOT leave before he spoke to me, I waited and someone came out from the back who I assumed was the manager, and he stated that all sales were final. He did not identify himself, nor did he offer any discount on hens or medicine, or even begin to suggest any type of resolution. I have now lost 2 of the 10 I originally purchased, and its simply wrong that this business is being allowed to sell sick animals at inflated prices and do nothing if they die shortly after. No other store would allow a purchase of $250 and then proceed to do nothing to satisfy the customer. It is wrong to take $25 from a customer for a faulty or defective product, and not provide any type of compensation for this terrible experience. 
  

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