06/03/2026
I had a best & worst customer experience yesterday. I met an amazing couple picking up duck eggs. There was a lag in communication & I felt awful that they were waiting for me. I hugely apologized & spent some time visiting with them answering questions. Good energy people. I felt it & know we will not only do business again, but I see these people becoming real friends.
I also had someone set to pickup ducklings. After responding to what seemed like a zillion questions, me sharing my price & location, I requested a pickup time. I'm a stickler for appointments. I'm not down for "Ill be there after I cook brunch & fold the laundry". When it comes to live animals & this heat, I want to box them up minutes before you arrive. She asked me to meet her. I declined. She asked for a discount because I was "so far". Nope. Said she was "on her way" whatever that means & never showed up. I wouldn't sell a thing to her again if she did. Black list. You know who will get the discount , the other couple, for being good vibe people, easy to work with who respect my price & values my input. I'm not door dash. I'm not Instacart for ducks. My time is as valuable as yours.
Convenience Culture is the laziness epidemic of America. I drive across states to get the quality livestock I want. Some won't drive 20 minutes & that's their loss, not mine. I won't "meet up" & don't even get me started on the price haggling. I'm not a sale barn, auction or yard sale. You want cheap low quality "someone else's problem" with a side of illness, go there. Then there is time leeches. Don't get me started on people who don't value your time. Time leeches who ask a zillion questions then want to either ghost you or lollygag their way over at 9 PM. Nope. I don't think you tell your doctors office or lawyer "I'll be there in a bit" . No, your pickup appointment is at 5 PM you don't show up at 6 and expect me not to charge extra for wasting my time.
I offer the discount, if you ask for one, my price might double & I've been petty enough to post reels of me feeding your expensive hatching eggs to my pigs. Don't ask me how much I've spent on quality hatching eggs or how far I've driven for registered sheep because your 20 minutes "too far" drive is embarrassing if it's something you truly want.
I don't produce enough excess to ever "need" a sale. It's more valuable in my freezer or refrigerator. I appreciate those who support me, especially the good vibe peeps who become lifelong pals. I prefer to do business with those people consistently because they make it easy & fun. The other type will usually be the ones not around in five years because of all the work it takes to find hardy quality stock over cheap mini CAFO issues that often make for a lot more work & lessons in the end.
That's the good & the bad of dealing with the public, remember, big or small, it's important to treat your local farmers like a business but it's also important for us to treat ourselves that way as well. Set times. Set days. Take breaks. Say NO. I don't know anyone out there who works for free or is willing to take a pay cut for your convenience.
