I just have to share my recent experience with Kirk's so maybe other people won't make the same mistake. In late February, I put my name on their chick list and told them I wanted 2 each of 4 common breeds. They said no problem they'll be in end of March. They weren't in when I called and finally when I called in early April, they said in a couple weeks. So I kept calling and they finally said they were in and to come in on the 18th. We did go in and he said they're not ready, maybe Monday.
So I went in that Monday and the guy told me I wasn't on the chick list. I said I knew I was because I had called several times and they had always found my order. He said, I'm sorry but you're not on my list. I basically refused to leave without chicks after waiting so long. He went and found the master list and what do you know, I was on the chick list. He then told me that my whole order hadn't come in and that there was a big run on chicks and all special orders were off and I could take what they got. So I took four--two each of the two breeds they had. He said there was no guarantee that their June order would have the breeds that I had ordered either.
Then he proceeded to be completely unhelpful with the supplies I needed. I asked for pine shavings and he said they were out. No idea when they would get some in. I asked if he knew if the pet store had any or where I could get some and he said, "I have no idea.". So I left with my 4 chicks and was glad I got out with that much.
Then this last week I got the idea to get some of the older chicks that they had in the store when the baby chicks had come in. So I went in on Friday and they had 3 left of the now 3 month olds. I thought that would be okay and would be good to supplement my 6 week olds with older chicks. Besides, I had a friend of a friend with two 3 month olds that they would be willing to part with. So I bought two of them, and said we'd pick them up tomorrow because we still needed to finish the coop. The same guy who told me I wasn't on the chick list in April took the "SOLD" sign from the owner to tape on their cage. I went to pick them up yesterday and that same guy had sold them to someone else that day! Said he couldn't understand where the sign had been because he hadn't seen it. I said, I find it hard to believe he didn't remember putting the sign on their cage since it was just YESTERDAY. He kept apologizing and saying he'd give me a refund. Well I didn't want a refund, I wanted my chicks! I said maybe they should call the person they sold them too and say there was a mistake, that those chicks she bought were already sold. He said she paid cash and he didn't know how to get ahold of her.
I'm thinking that they either asked the woman for more money and got it and so renigged on my purchase, or the woman buying them offered more. I just can't imagine they truly forgot about the sale from the day before--the owner and I had chatted at length! Even if they had got more money, how much could it have been--$5? Chickens just don't go for that much. So maybe that is the price of their integrity. Or maybe the guy is such a complete idiot that he really did forget putting the sold sign on the cage less than 24 hours earlier. I don't know. I just know I will never set foot in that store again. I will drive to the feed store in Issaquah rather than buy from this store that is only a few miles from my house. And you're right Rickie, time is money. But the aggravation and disappointment isn't worth it. read more