New Chicks

[AgentJEM]

Hey ya'll!

I was expecting the arrival of my new chicks on Friday. (I ordered 25 Buff Orp. pullets and 5 cockerels, and 5 st. run Buff Silkies and 5 St.Run Buff Laced Polish) Much to my dismay, they didn't come... so I phoned Welp's Hatchery where I ordered them, and they said a Saturday delivery wasn't entirely uncommon... I also phoned the local post office and the county distribution center, both were glad to help, though the chicks I ordered were not there. I asked the man at the distribution center to please phone me and let me know as soon as they came. I didn't hear from him at all for the day on Friday... So I figured okay... they're coming tomorrow (Saturday).

Saturday, I tried to call the distrubion center. The phone rang and rang with no answer. So, I called my local post office, and the man said they hadn't come in yet. He offered to call the distrubion center himself, and find out where they were. He called me back within a few minutes to say that someone from the distribution center would call me. So, I waited, and no one ever called! So I called the distribution center and got now answer... needless to say, here it is, 1:58 on Sunday afternoon, and still no chicks...

I'm getting to my question; being that they were shipped out on Wednesday... obviously there was some delay or something? They should be here tomorrow (I hope)... but do you think they would have survived the trip? Now, Welp's reassured me that they would replace them if they were dead... but that's not my concern...

Now, I'm no looney animal rights activist... but this seems a little inhumaine! Especailly the USPS's nonchalant attitude over the situation. I would think that it would be a very unpleasant death... 40 crowded in a small box, with no food or water for 5 days! Now, I know they can survive for three days... but 5?

[Evy]

Normally, the USPS is wonderful about handling live shipments but occasionally someone messes up...usually an airline...& they go to the wrong place. No, they aren't apt to survive beyond the 3rd day. Contact the hatchery tomorrow & start over.

[AgentJEM]

Originally Posted by Evy

Normally, the USPS is wonderful about handling live shipments but occasionally someone messes up...usually an airline...& they go to the wrong place. No, they aren't apt to survive beyond the 3rd day. Contact the hatchery tomorrow & start over.

Thanks, Evy... that's what I thought It's very unfortunate that this happened to them...

let's all pray for a miracle

[Leo]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Let us know what happens. The hatchery could have even been a day or 2 late shipping them out and didn't want to tell you that. Let's hope for the best.

[AgentJEM]

Originally Posted by Leo

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Let us know what happens. The hatchery could have even been a day or 2 late shipping them out and didn't want to tell you that. Let's hope for the best.

I spoke with the hatchery this morning... they confirmed that the chicks were sent on Wednesday. I then asked the guy I spoke to if he thought the chicks had died in transit... he thought it was likely, and that the post office just threw them away!!! They offered to replace or refund my order, but I'm not sure what I want to do at this point. If they're still alive, I don't want 80 chooks running around...

I called the distribution center back, and they didn't answer the phone... silly me forgot the work 12-2 with a 2 hour lunch! So I called my local P.O. and got the same guy I spoke to on Saturday, who assured me someone would call me back. I made it very clear to him that I wanted my call returned regardless.

Then I called the USPS 800 number and filed a complaint.
I'll let you know if they come.

[AgentJEM]

hey all... I have something of an update for you all!!!

I don't feel like typing it all out again, so go to my blog to read more:

agentjem.blogspot.com

[Leo]

Well gee...I hate that that happened to you. I have ordered chicks thru the mail a few times and I always got them. Seems like once or twice they arrived a day later than I thought they should have been but they arrived safely.

[AgentJEM]

Originally Posted by Leo

Well gee...I hate that that happened to you. I have ordered chicks thru the mail a few times and I always got them. Seems like once or twice they arrived a day later than I thought they should have been but they arrived safely.

I've ordered chicks through the mail before too... but we're talking a few years ago... and I always got them too, and usually on time, and all in good shape... that's what threw me off. I was like... where are the chicks?

[Leo]

I thought that now, with all this modern technology, they could track a package and tell exactly where it had been and where it is at present.

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by AgentJEM

I spoke with the hatchery this morning... they confirmed that the chicks were sent on Wednesday. I then asked the guy I spoke to if he thought the chicks had died in transit... he thought it was likely, and that the post office just threw them away!!! They offered to replace or refund my order, but I'm not sure what I want to do at this point. If they're still alive, I don't want 80 chooks running around...

I called the distribution center back, and they didn't answer the phone... silly me forgot the work 12-2 with a 2 hour lunch! So I called my local P.O. and got the same guy I spoke to on Saturday, who assured me someone would call me back. I made it very clear to him that I wanted my call returned regardless.

Then I called the USPS 800 number and filed a complaint.
I'll let you know if they come.

It is unfortunate, but it does happen. I'm not saying that you just have to accept it, or that you shouldn't file a complaint if that's what satisfies you, but think about the situation a little more. What would you think if I sold my house, moved to your state, and then called your office and complained about mistakes that the Century 21 agent made while selling my home? Is it at all reasonable for me to demand an answer from you, or a call back from the owner of your office? Making snide comments about the work habits of all real estate agents probably isn't going to win me any friends or encourage anyone to help me. It's practically impossible that they will ever be able to track down and hold responsible any one individual who made a mistake.

If you think about it, it's amazing that live chicks can actually be shipped just about anywhere in the US, without any problems, most of the time. Accepting that there is a risk when shipping them through the post office is part of the price that we pay for depending on such an inexpensive and convenient method. File your complaint if it makes you happy, but it won't bring your chicks back. The hatchery has offered to replace them. Take the offer, and let them recoup their loss through the post office. They surely are familiar with the process. By attempting your vengeance through your complaint, you're adding yet another statistic of chick shipping mortality to the list, to be used by those who would try to prevent the Post Office from accepting chicks altogether. You'll never hurt the PO, nor any individual within, but by going to the newspapers or trying to get the activists to rally to your cause, as you threatened in your blog, you're creating just another PR headache for them, by another chick shipper nut who's upset. It won't help make things any better. It may help in creating more PO employees who are not in favor of shipping chicks due to the hassle that they get for mistakes that are not always their fault.

[Evy]

Amen to Patricks post. I've shipped birds all over the lower 48 states & Alaska & never had a loss ! We came very close to loosing the PRIVILEGE a few years ago & were lucky that the USPS came to an agreement with the airlines. You'd probably be even less happy to find yourself either unable to do anything but drive to the nearest hatchery or pay several hundred dollars for adult birds to come by air freight. Suck it up & be reasonable. Most hatcheries are good to work with.

[AgentJEM]

Originally Posted by Patrick

It is unfortunate, but it does happen. I'm not saying that you just have to accept it, or that you shouldn't file a complaint if that's what satisfies you, but think about the situation a little more. What would you think if I sold my house, moved to your state, and then called your office and complained about mistakes that the Century 21 agent made while selling my home? Is it at all reasonable for me to demand an answer from you, or a call back from the owner of your office? Making snide comments about the work habits of all real estate agents probably isn't going to win me any friends or encourage anyone to help me. It's practically impossible that they will ever be able to track down and hold responsible any one individual who made a mistake.

If you think about it, it's amazing that live chicks can actually be shipped just about anywhere in the US, without any problems, most of the time. Accepting that there is a risk when shipping them through the post office is part of the price that we pay for depending on such an inexpensive and convenient method. File your complaint if it makes you happy, but it won't bring your chicks back. The hatchery has offered to replace them. Take the offer, and let them recoup their loss through the post office. They surely are familiar with the process. By attempting your vengeance through your complaint, you're adding yet another statistic of chick shipping mortality to the list, to be used by those who would try to prevent the Post Office from accepting chicks altogether. You'll never hurt the PO, nor any individual within, but by going to the newspapers or trying to get the activists to rally to your cause, as you threatened in your blog, you're creating just another PR headache for them, by another chick shipper nut who's upset. It won't help make things any better. It may help in creating more PO employees who are not in favor of shipping chicks due to the hassle that they get for mistakes that are not always their fault.

Patrick, thanks for the well thought out reply. I do agree on many points, however, my biggest qualm is the attitude taken by my local post office. If I got a simple "I'm very sorry, but we cannot locate them" I'd count it all as loss, and let it go, and order the new chicks. They simply don't care.
Now, in the example you provided, I'll tell you exactly what I would do (which is exactly how I would have handled the chick situation if I were on the other end). I would apologize to you, and say "I'm sorry that this happened to you, please, let me take your information and I'll see what I can do to help you out" then I'd pass your information along to corporate. I'd give you a call to let you know what happened, then follow up with you to make sure you recieved a call from them. Just because I can't really do anything about a problem doesn't mean that I can't make you feel better about what happened... know what I mean?
I wish the post office had just simply said "we're sorry..." but they didn't. They said "They're just chickens". That's what bothered me.

[Evy]

Originally Posted by AgentJEM

Patrick, thanks for the well thought out reply. I do agree on many points, however, my biggest qualm is the attitude taken by my local post office. If I got a simple "I'm very sorry, but we cannot locate them" I'd count it all as loss, and let it go, and order the new chicks. They simply don't care.
Now, in the example you provided, I'll tell you exactly what I would do (which is exactly how I would have handled the chick situation if I were on the other end). I would apologize to you, and say "I'm sorry that this happened to you, please, let me take your information and I'll see what I can do to help you out" then I'd pass your information along to corporate. I'd give you a call to let you know what happened, then follow up with you to make sure you recieved a call from them. Just because I can't really do anything about a problem doesn't mean that I can't make you feel better about what happened... know what I mean?
I wish the post office had just simply said "we're sorry..." but they didn't. They said "They're just chickens". That's what bothered me.

I see your point. I'm lucky that my PO goes out of its' way to be helpful. (Maybe the box of cookies at Christmas helps ). I have heard of others that encounter that attitude...some that refused to handle bird shipments. Ask for a number of your district headquarters & explain to that supervisor what happened. It really is a service we can't afford to jeprodize.

[AgentJEM]

Originally Posted by Evy

I see your point. I'm lucky that my PO goes out of its' way to be helpful. (Maybe the box of cookies at Christmas helps ). I have heard of others that encounter that attitude...some that refused to handle bird shipments. Ask for a number of your district headquarters & explain to that supervisor what happened. It really is a service we can't afford to jeprodize.

I agree, Evy. We really do need this service... I do remember a few years ago when PETA (gags!) made a big stink over the shipping of day old chicks. I did also explain the entire situation to the district manager of my local PO, and said "if they cared, I wouldn't be so upset"... she agreed with me, and said she would try to locate them. I explained to her that I just wanted some peace of mind... I explained that I didn't care if they "fell of the truck" just as long as they're not lying in a box somewhere... dead.

[gregrag]

Well who's at fault then if it is not the post office? You have every right to complain! Its much easier to understand losing a letter--but a box of baby chicks??? I think HEADS SHOULD ROLL !!!! One thing we can for sure count on is Price increases for the same service....sorry this happened Greg