Farm stores that don't like farmers

[shoe]

We live about hour from any of the major farm stores that sell chicks. So about 3 weeks ago we stoped in at one to buy feed for the month like we always do and they were getting everything ready for chicks and had a sign up to call so and so after feb 28 to order chicks in large numbers. So I took down number and waited and called yesterday. They were unloading trucks so they had to call me back and that was fine. They called told lady we wanted 50 production red pullets and 25 meat chicks they said we had to prepay. Ok I told her we would give them a credit card over the phone. Nope they can't do that they want us to drive 1 hour up there and 1 hour back just to pay for them and them drive 1 hour up and 1 hour back to get them. This is the store we buy most of or feed from (everything but what we mix ourselves) I told her that we couldn't afford to drive up there just to pay for them and come back and get them week later. All she could tell me was that is what the manger says we have to do but if we happen to get that number of chicks in of what you want we can call you but won't promise the will be here when you get here unless they are paid for. So why put up a sign to call and order if I can't call in and order with a credit card. Called other farm store (ts) and was told come in on wed. and see what we have but they don't last long we can special order them and have them shipped to you for $3.50 each way over what they sell them for in store. I may just have order direct from hatchery but that is more expensive then the other way I still have to drive to get feed anyway. Rant over what life out here is really like lol.

[Old Vet]

Most all farm stores her will only take credit cards on hardware not feed and chicks. It cost them to take credit cards and they want to pass the saving on to you.

[unregistered168043]

Originally Posted by shoe

We live about hour from any of the major farm stores that sell chicks. So about 3 weeks ago we stoped in at one to buy feed for the month like we always do and they were getting everything ready for chicks and had a sign up to call so and so after feb 28 to order chicks in large numbers. So I took down number and waited and called yesterday. They were unloading trucks so they had to call me back and that was fine. They called told lady we wanted 50 production red pullets and 25 meat chicks they said we had to prepay. Ok I told her we would give them a credit card over the phone. Nope they can't do that they want us to drive 1 hour up there and 1 hour back just to pay for them and them drive 1 hour up and 1 hour back to get them. This is the store we buy most of or feed from (everything but what we mix ourselves) I told her that we couldn't afford to drive up there just to pay for them and come back and get them week later. All she could tell me was that is what the manger says we have to do but if we happen to get that number of chicks in of what you want we can call you but won't promise the will be here when you get here unless they are paid for. So why put up a sign to call and order if I can't call in and order with a credit card. Called other farm store (ts) and was told come in on wed. and see what we have but they don't last long we can special order them and have them shipped to you for $3.50 each way over what they sell them for in store. I may just have order direct from hatchery but that is more expensive then the other way I still have to drive to get feed anyway. Rant over what life out here is really like lol.

You are probably dealing with a chain, like Tractor Supply. The downside of these big, corporate retail stores is that they have their policies and that's that. Not like dealing with an individual who owns a local store, lives in the town and knows who's who.

[Maura]

I’ve gotten all but a few chicks by mail from the hatchery. The few I got from the feed store never did as well. I think it is less stressful for them to be shipped direct from the egg to their permanent home rather than to a feed store where they can get drafts, its noisy, and they get moved again to their permanent location.

[shoe]

There are no local feed store around here anymore all have closed not many people raise animals. They would take the card if I was there just not over the phone. We buys tons with a card over the phone and take them over the phone in our business cards are just a way of life when your a business. Yes a chain store not tractor supply that is where we used to buy till they changed managers last year new one some big city guy that knows nothing. Last year this store let us order in same way but they have a new manger wants slip singed which we could do when we pickup or could even pay with cash when we pickup. Motels do this all the time put reservations on card and pay with cash when you get there. My problem with mail order is the postal service. We are on the end of the line out here and everytime we order in chicks they don't come in time frame they should and we end up having to drive hour and a half to regional hub on sat morning to pick them up or lose them. I have always had good luck with farm store chicks we have maybe lost 2 meat birds last few year and never a pullet. I know they must have their reasons but sure make life hard when it don't have to be. They lady taking orders knows us from buying chicks and feed before and I think I will get a call next week that they are in and she will just put them back for me but not sure. That is the problem the not sure.

[TerriLynn]

Originally Posted by shoe

All she could tell me was that is what the manger says we have to do

You should of gotten the name of the person you were talking to, then asked her to connect you directly to the manager who instituted the policy. If that then failed to work I would have (especially if it is a national chain store) gone to the store website and found the "contact us" choice. It should give you an email address to send your comments to. Those emails are generally sent to the corporate office, not the local store.

Corporate may be very interested to know the store wont accept a credit card from an established and regular customer. I would most definitely include the store location, and the names of every person I spoke with and the date I spoke with them.

I have gotten results by sending an email of this type more than once.

[Nimrod]

How well do you know these people? Would they have a conniption fit if you mailed them a check? The last time I looked, the US Post Office was still a going concern, although I don't know how much longer that will last.

Can you send them a check drawn on a bank in that town? They could just run across the street and cash it.

[arabian knight]

Originally Posted by shoe

There are no local feed store around here anymore all have closed not many people raise animals. They would take the card if I was there just not over the phone. We buys tons with a card over the phone and take them over the phone in our business cards are just a way of life when your a business. Yes a chain store not tractor supply that is where we used to buy till they changed managers last year new one some big city guy that knows nothing. Last year this store let us order in same way but they have a new manger wants slip singed which we could do when we pickup or could even pay with cash when we pickup. Motels do this all the time put reservations on card and pay with cash when you get there. My problem with mail order is the postal service. We are on the end of the line out here and everytime we order in chicks they don't come in time frame they should and we end up having to drive hour and a half to regional hub on sat morning to pick them up or lose them. I have always had good luck with farm store chicks we have maybe lost 2 meat birds last few year and never a pullet. I know they must have their reasons but sure make life hard when it don't have to be. They lady taking orders knows us from buying chicks and feed before and I think I will get a call next week that they are in and she will just put them back for me but not sure. That is the problem the not sure.

They may not have set up taking a CC over the phone.
You HAVE to contact the CC company and set it up that way. My friends that have a coffee service can't take a CC if a person comes in to use the Machine they can ONLY call in so my friend can Enter it into the CC site they set up. They don't have a CC reader at all in their office.
They may ONLY have a CC machine and not one that they can Enter the CC number into.And have not set up to have a call in feature by said CC company.
There are many circumstances and fees that go along with accepting CC's and to blame a store for not taking it over the phone may just be one of economics only, and that way can help those that are on the poor end of things.

[shoe]

I could mail check only 4 days to get it there lol. our mail service is horrible anymore. I have a buddy going up that way for work tomarrow going run them a check over. Last year they would not hold anything till after easter first come first serve which I understood but they finally let us pre buy and special order if we picked them up when they came in. This is now what they are doing this year because I talked them in to it last year and it work good. But why put up a sign that says call to special order then not let you special order over the phone see what I am getting at. Not a big deal we got it taken care of the long way around it just stupid we had to do it that way. I am just venting. This store was managed by the same man and wife for over 30 years for several name changes and they understood life out of town. Since they have retired they have trouble time keeping mangers and they are townies that don't get that not everyone is 15 min away and can just run in and take care of it anytime they want. If we didn't want hybrids we could run down 45 min south and get them from a local lady that hatches chickens and no big deal. But we tried rhode iland reds last year and didn't like them as well as the production red. They take more feed and less eggs. My teenage boys have had a egg bussines for the last 3 years. so we want pullets as early as possible so we can get them to laying so we can cull before get so cold no one wants hens.

[sisterpine]

I think it is just the way business's are changing/ evolving or devolving as the case may be. Remember when you could not use bank cards to buy gasoline? Later you could use your card but you had to take it inside or the service guy would come out with a small clip board to get your card info.

Business's and customers are getting hinky about using bank cards with all the data theft that has been going on. I know I look at my bank records every single day and every once in a while I catch something that is not supposed to be there. It seems to help if you have some kind of a personal relationship with the store person. Like my feed store guy is a rock hound and we both go to the Tucson Gem and Mineral show so we always talk about the beautiful rocks we have seen. Now I can call him up and tell him my DB is stopping by from Tucson en route to the farm and he will be picking up such and such and here is my debit card info.

[Ceilismom]

Originally Posted by shoe

I could mail check only 4 days to get it there lol. our mail service is horrible anymore. I have a buddy going up that way for work tomarrow going run them a check over. Last year they would not hold anything till after easter first come first serve which I understood but they finally let us pre buy and special order if we picked them up when they came in. This is now what they are doing this year because I talked them in to it last year and it work good. But why put up a sign that says call to special order then not let you special order over the phone see what I am getting at. Not a big deal we got it taken care of the long way around it just stupid we had to do it that way. I am just venting. This store was managed by the same man and wife for over 30 years for several name changes and they understood life out of town. Since they have retired they have trouble time keeping mangers and they are townies that don't get that not everyone is 15 min away and can just run in and take care of it anytime they want. If we didn't want hybrids we could run down 45 min south and get them from a local lady that hatches chickens and no big deal. But we tried rhode iland reds last year and didn't like them as well as the production red. They take more feed and less eggs. My teenage boys have had a egg bussines for the last 3 years. so we want pullets as early as possible so we can get them to laying so we can cull before get so cold no one wants hens.

Here I thought I was missing something. I get that businesses are gun-shy about accepting credit cards these days. Processing fees, charge-backs, hackers etc. I don't get why a business would instruct customers to call to do a transaction that is impossible to complete over the phone.

[shoe]

Originally Posted by arabian knight

They may not have set up taking a CC over the phone.
You HAVE to contact the CC company and set it up that way. My friends that have a coffee service can't take a CC if a person comes in to use the Machine they can ONLY call in so my friend can Enter it into the CC site they set up. They don't have a CC reader at all in their office.

I think he should have a way to take a card if you come in in person even if it is just putting it in on his site. I have a card reader but no printer you just get a payed in voice saying paid with what brand of card even if taken over phone we just put phone order on invoice.

They may ONLY have a CC machine and not one that they can Enter the CC number into.And have not set up to have a call in feature by said CC company.

Your right they might not be able to but that's not what they said they said they won't do that anymore.


There are many circumstances and fees that go along with accepting CC's and to blame a store for not taking it over the phone may just be one of economics only, and that way can help those that are on the poor end of things.

Yes there are fees and circumstance that go with taking cards and more for taking them over the phone. It is their right to do that my right to think it is bad business. As far as economics yes could be but helping out the ones on the poor end of things I really don't think so. How is making someone drive 2 hours and $20 fuel which is cheap right now helping out those on the poor end cause we aren't rich. My boys raise chickens to sell eggs for their spending money. The meat chickens I raise to feed boys.

[shoe]

Originally Posted by sisterpine

I think it is just the way business's are changing/ evolving or devolving as the case may be. Remember when you could not use bank cards to buy gasoline? Later you could use your card but you had to take it inside or the service guy would come out with a small clip board to get your card info.

No ma'am I don't to young for that I remember mom having a 66 card and them swiping it. My lifetime we had keys to turn the gas pump on and coop sent me a bill lol.

Business's and customers are getting hinky about using bank cards with all the data theft that has been going on. I know I look at my bank records every single day and every once in a while I catch something that is not supposed to be there. It seems to help if you have some kind of a personal relationship with the store person. Like my feed store guy is a rock hound and we both go to the Tucson Gem and Mineral show so we always talk about the beautiful rocks we have seen. Now I can call him up and tell him my DB is stopping by from Tucson en route to the farm and he will be picking up such and such and here is my debit card info.

I never had a debit card till this summer because every place would take a check but more and more places no longer take a check. I tried to buy something at dollar general and they would not take a local check because their machine wouldn't accept it in the same breath we have had trouble with them reading that bank for a week. Next breath was I don't know why you people think we should take checks you just need a bank card. lol Other farm store machine won't read my checks to send thru electronicly because they have 5 number check number instead of 4. Go in at the wrong time with a new clerk and they don't want to take them but card always works. But yes I know what you mean.

[M5farm]

If I take a card over the phone and it is not swiped Its an extra 3% on top of the 2% I already pay. Im not in feed business but in roofing 5 % is a lot of money and people don't want to pay the extra for the convenience. I will take them over the phone all day but I pass the fees and then some on to the purchaser.

[michael ark]

I know what you mean .The local oshlands wont order stuff for you can't tell you if stuff they say they have ordered is in in person or over the phone.

[shoe]

Originally Posted by M5farm

If I take a card over the phone and it is not swiped Its an extra 3% on top of the 2% I already pay. Im not in feed business but in roofing 5 % is a lot of money and people don't want to pay the extra for the convenience. I will take them over the phone all day but I pass the fees and then some on to the purchaser.

Mine is the same way if I take over the phone and I don't mind I just add it in to bill also. But to lose 2.5 hours even at $10 hour is $25 dollars + $20 in gas we are at $45 instead of $7.50 what the Extra 3% would be I would still have been money ahead to pay the extra. Big business (chain stores) have credit card fees already figured into pricing weather We use a card or not. They turn so much more volume then the rest of us they get lot better rates. They have money going straight to the bank equals less handling lot of other perks when they look at the big picture. I see more and more people who don't carry cash or checks just a debit card also see more and more signs sayng no cards under $2 to $5 dollar amount because of the cost of taking the card.

[Lazy J]

How do you make the assumption that the Farm Store doesn't like farmers just because they won't take your credit card over the phone?

[GeneMO]

My pet peeve is box stores in general. The put the mom and pops outa business, then hire help that is dumb as a box of rocks. The old hardware store owner was a wealth of information Go to Lowes or Menards and "dumb looks are still free"

Gene

[arabian knight]

In case you don't know John Menard owner of Menards Started in business by going Door To Door selling Pole Buildings. Just a little FYI..~!
A nice story about a person that had initiative to Work Hard and build it up a very successful set of stores.

[wr]

As a business owner that depends on credit and debit transactions, the store has sound reasoning.

A credit or debit card payment is verified and approved based on the PIN but an over the phone payment is a subjective approval and if the card holder claims they did not approve the transaction, there is a huge chargeback fee (mine is $200.00 with the chance of losing my transaction system if it happens a certain number of times).

The other common problem is that an employee scribbles down the card numbers incorrectly and I'm unable to process the transaction and if all that isn't a big enough challenge, there is the concern that customer card information is comprised because of a dishonest employee.

My policies are stringent and once in a while it seems inefficient to someone a compromised credit card can harm a business much quicker than firm policy.