selling babies

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:39 am

To those of you that sell your babies.... do you ever have a hard time selling to certain people?

I got a phone call last night from a woman wanting to buy two finches.
It was obvious she did not know a thing about them and was going to put them in a cage that was too small despite my telling her what type of cage they needed. First she wanted two owls and then she changed her mind and wanted two gouldians. She has never had finches before.

I finally ended up telling her that I would have to see what was available.

When I got off the phone, I told my husband, "no way I am selling that woman any of my babies."

GOULDYGIRL · Post by **GOULDYGIRL** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 11:04 am

That is what is called a "Responsible Breeder". Good for you!

Renee

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 11:13 am

For sure that is your right as a responsible breeder. If she's willing to learn and supply with the finches with the proper housing and food - then no problem.

franny · Post by **franny** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 1:52 pm

Good for you. Must be hard to turn someone away though. It's hard to be brutally honest sometimes. L is right though, I think if she'd asked you lots of questions, about the differences between the two types, and asked for recommendations... or if she'd come right out and said, what size cage do I need, is the one I have big enough do you think?... well then you'd know that she really wanted to do right by them. But otherwise you wonder if maybe she just thought of them as room ornaments.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 2:36 pm

Donna, the world is unfortunately filled with people who shouldn't be pet owners. They might think they look cute, or for whatever reason they want them, but it's more than just wanting them. It's the responsibility of caring for them. Something that a lot of people either don't have the time or committment for. I would rather have too many finches in my house, than to sell to people that I don't feel are ready for that committment.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 3:10 pm

Exactually..... and I do not regret one bit not selling her them. I would rather GIVE them to someone I knew would care for them properly than sell them to an irresponsible person.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 3:24 pm

PssssT Donna - I'll care for them real good!

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 4:27 pm

dfcauley wrote:Exactually.....

Did you just make up that word? Exactly + Actually = Exactually?!

GOULDYGIRL · Post by **GOULDYGIRL** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 5:11 pm

Renee

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 6:04 pm

atarasi wrote:
dfcauley wrote:Exactually.....
Did you just make up that word? Exactly + Actually = Exactually?!

yep..... made it up. That is Donnaism.

BTW..... excuse my mistakes today . Have been in the bed for the past two days.......my students gave me a great Christmas present before I left for the holidays...... a stomach virus.

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 7:30 pm

How horrible that you are sick and having to deal with ignorant people. I am sorry to hear that you had to deal with someone like that. Working at a petstore I get them ALL the time. Unfortunately, all we can do is recommend what is best and write "no guarantee" on the sales receipt if we think the person is going to not supply appropriate care. The only way we can decline a sale is if we feel the person is going to intentionally kill the animal. It makes me sick sometimes when I have to send animals home.

kittani79 · Post by **kittani79** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 9:11 pm

Really?

I have no problem at all refusing to sell an animal if I know it's going to be in danger. If I'm on the fence about someone I will sell it but I won't guarantee it -- and if I think that the customer who sounded good but brings back a dead animal did something stupid or even intentional that I told her not to, I won't replace or refund.

But this may be a state-to-state issue...

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 9:18 pm

I could never work at a pet store unless it was a mom and pop store. My friend who works at a M&P store refuses to sell their hand-raised birds to a lot of people. While they do care about making a profit, it's more important to them that their birds end up in good homes. You couldn't go in there once and expect to come out with a bird unless they know you. By coming back and asking good questions defines how serious you are about bird ownership.

I wish my local PetSmart or Petco did the same, but being a chain, I don't think they really care. At least they have a good return policy on animals.

BirdCrazy · Post by **BirdCrazy** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:23 pm

Good for you Donna in refusing a sale. I do this too once in awhile. I get some real doozies sometimes. I had a guy once talk to me for almost an hour on the phone about Button Quail. Towards the end of the conversation he finally told me he was going to be using them to train his hunting dogs. I couldn't believe I wasted all the time talking to him!! Needless to say he didn't end up with any of my birds.

I have one lady who has a bad rep around my area as being not a very good pet owner. She has contacted me a few times lately wanting to know if I had some Button Quail or Finches for sale. She even had the nerve to change her name but use her same e-mail address thinking I wouldn't notice I guess. I am glad for the delete button! We need to be responsible if we choose to bring these lives into this world. Hope you feel better soon Donna. I had that icky bug recently and it went through my whole family. No fun!!

Post by **Sally** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:17 am

You always have the right to choose not to sell. I think you can tell in conversation with someone whether or not they sound like they will be a good owner. Even at a Mart, you get a feeling about people, and can always say you have changed your mind and the birds are not for sale.