The downside of selling birds (rant)

[J_Robbo]

I recently advertising Gouldian pairs for sale locally,a couple soon turned up and bought a pair off me.
After talking to them I was a bit hesitant in selling the birds but did so anyway,they turn up with no travel cage so I lent them one as long as they bring it back.
So a week passes cage not returned time to go a get it back, on asking for the cage they inform me that both birds are dead but would like to buy some more
"NOT A CHANCE" this whole episode has been very disappointing .

[Craig52]

Lesson learnt,never sell birds to anyone who turns up without a carry cage As it's pretty obvious they are not bird minded and they maybe casing out your setup and birds. Craig

[SamDavis]

It's not pleasant. I've often waved goodbye to birds I've sold thinking it is probably 50/50 if they'll survive the next 24 hours. There are times when I've been totally mistaken and later find they've bred a bucket load from them. Unfortunately, the reality is most birds don't survive to breed or we'd be swamped with excess birds.

[Niki_K]

Yep, I've had a lot of people show up without any way of transporting the birds (even after I have told them they need a carry cage BEFORE they come over), and asking me to just put them in a cardboard box

I hate advertising on Gumtree, to be honest, as I inevitably get the following:
1. People who want me to send them more photos of the birds
2. People who say they're coming at a certain time and are either late, or don't turn up
3. People who ask me to hold the birds, and then never contact me again. Or, expect me to still be holding the birds for them 2 weeks later.
4. People who want different colours to those advertised, even though my ads spell out exactly what birds are for sale
5. People who call to say they're on their way over as they apparently expect me to be at home at all hours of the day- e.g. 11am on a Wednesday- then get pissy when I tell them I'm not home.

GRRRRR!!!

[elferoz777]

Number 5 is my favourite.

I just tell ppl first in first serve. That speeds them up. I've only had one buyer that concerned me. He just kept asking for what was expensive. I could have sold him a zebra finch for 800 if I told him it was worth 900.

Rip to my weavers his parting words were explaining ghe small cabinet he was going to jam them in.

[Alf63]

I understand the frustration but it is only likely to get worse than better in the future. As a whole people are becoming far more demanding and less considerate in this electronic age.

These days I sell 95% of my birds at bird sales and the rest to people I know.

No advertising, no strange phone calls or people in the yard. You come across some "winners" at sales but at least they don't have your address and most people come armed with a carry cage. Not hassle free but better

[Nye]

I agree with Alf63 I find it easier to sell my surplus birds at a bird sale rather than have people I don't know in my yard.

[elferoz777]

I been dealing with quite a few guankers on gumtree this week.

Honestly! Who calls someone at 2345 and asks if his budgies eggs have hatch? More that likely the same person who trues to widdle 5 bucks off a pair of dhiw budgies only to text back and say they found them elsewhere then call back and try to haggle some more. All this before I have even got a word in!

[finchbreeder]

It sure can be frustrating. The "But why are they so expensive?" to a mutation that has taken years to develop. But the "Oh thank you for all the advice and the beautiful bird/s, and later a call to let you know how well the bird/s are going" make it all worth while. Yes the first are more common, but while the 2nd exist so will we.
LML

[gouldianpaul]

Yep, I've had a lot of people show up without any way of transporting the birds (even after I have told them they need a carry cage BEFORE they come over), and asking me to just put them in a cardboard box

I hate advertising on Gumtree, to be honest, as I inevitably get the following:
1. People who want me to send them more photos of the birds
2. People who say they're coming at a certain time and are either late, or don't turn up
3. People who ask me to hold the birds, and then never contact me again. Or, expect me to still be holding the birds for them 2 weeks later.
4. People who want different colours to those advertised, even though my ads spell out exactly what birds are for sale
5. People who call to say they're on their way over as they apparently expect me to be at home at all hours of the day- e.g. 11am on a Wednesday- then get pissy when I tell them I'm not home.

GRRRRR!!!

Totally agree Niki...I've lost count of the number of times number 2 & 3 have happened to me....that's why I don't hold birds for people I don't know.

I also can't get over the number of people who attend bird sales without carry cages....the organisers of the Ballarat sale have noticed it so much they sell disposable carry boxes.

But then you get the real fincho's who you want to know how you breed, feed and maintain your birds....these are the people you can talk to all day