at the end of the rope

[Tallcool1]

After reading some of the responses on this thread it makes me not want to sell calves. It is quit amazing how some never seem to want to take responsibility for their actions. It must just be the breeders fault, not what they have or not done.

Apparently you have never had one that you just couldn't manage?  You can just break 'em all?

There are some fairly experienced members sharing real life experiences on this thread. The woman that started the thread comes from generations of cattle showing. Chambero...30 years. My kids are 3rd generation.

Tell us ALL where we went wrong...I will listen. I'm always looking for ways to help my family be better at this. 

I don't know that there has to be "fault"...unless the seller knew. Otherwise I believe that it is a fact of showing cattle. Some calves just don't want to give in. They don't want to be show cattle and will hurt someone to prove their point.

I think that is Frostback's point, there doesn't have to be a fault unless the seller knew. Not every project we take on will end in success.
Some animals change disposition when put in different situations. I have seen a quiet animal load on a trailer act like a crazy thing when being unloaded.A few times at our 4H club a calf that was manageable at Achievement day went nuts when arriving at the large interclub show in Calgary. It's unfortunate a large amount was spent on the steer and I can understand the disappointment but hopefully quitting altogether is not the lesson that will be learned.

That is my point and another one is that some people are choosing their calves and then complaining about the breeder. Unless you send money and tell someone to send me a calf, it was their choice. Stand behind your decision. She went and looked at the calf, no one sent it to her. How on earth is the breeder supposed to know how a calf will act at a new location. If there were not red flags when the calf is at home. If there was then yes shame of the breeder, funny how everything wrong is always someone's else fault, some have no accountability. 
Our criteria for choosing what we sell is if its not something our kids would show or could show it doesn't sell. My 12 year old helps with the calves so if I don't feel comfortable with him around them they don't sell.

Ok, I want to be sure that I have this straight because YOU are a producer.

If these people had bought this calf from you, you would tell them to go "pack sand", and that they should have known better than to screw him up.  You picked him, you own him.

Oh, and we thank you for your business...please stop back again next year.

That is just plain Pi55 poor business.

I own a used car dealership and will replace a transmission 60 days later that I can PROVE the purchaser blew up.

Hope your sale goes good this year.

STAND BEHIND WHAT YOU SELL......PERIOD. 

That philosophy is what built the largest retail empire in the world.  Imaging Wal-Mart 20 years ago..."Yes, I need to return this fishing reel.  I have my receipt, but it doesn't work".  "Well what do you want me to do about it...you broke it. You picked the defective fishing reel sir.  You now OWN the defective fishing reel"  "But ma'am, I didn't know it was defective when I bought it"  "You screwed it up.  You are probably not smart enough to run it.  Oh, and one more thing Mr. Customer...you need to learn to accept responsibility for your actions."

Listen to yourself before you start whipping the life out of that keyboard. 

I am going to make my kids read your post and use it as a Rule #1 for how NOT to do business.  If I EVER caught one of my employees treating one of MY customers like that I would THROW their crap out of my building and give them a trash bag to pick it up.

 

[BTDT]

Let me offer some advice from my grey hair and years of owning, operating, and having a successful business.
1. Sometimes there is no "blame" - but that doesn't remove responsibility.
2. The customer is always "right", unless you do not want them, or their acquaintances to do business with you.
3. Expect people to treat you as you have treated them. NOT the other way around.
4. I do not care if your selling sticks, calves, cars, or balloons - If you are selling it, you should know it, forwards and backwards, in and out.  If you do not, then do not sell it.
5. Do not spend money you receive from a sale, before you can afford to return it.

Many in business, regardless of what they are selling, chase checks with checks, and then when they should return money from a sale, they simply do not have it, and then start making excuses. That is not only bad business, but bad management.

In this case, the seller should have offered to take the calf back and work with it to the satisfaction of the buyer, regardless of how contact was made.  If the calf was never able to be handled, then the money should have been returned.  It really isn't complicated.

I wish you well 4-H mom.  Tell your daughter that not everyone has a business philosophy of the seller you did business with, or some that are represented here on this board. Some of us have been in business long enough to realize that just because there is no "blame", doesn't mean responsibility is absolved.

 

[knabe]

Did the seller's side get represented?

I do agree fixing things can go a lng way towards unanticipated future sales

 

[frostback]

Any updates on the calf's attitude?

 

[knabe]

Any updates on the people's attitude?

 

[4-h mom]

Any updates on the calf's attitude?

thank you for asking. he seems to be a little better. the smaller calf tends to keep him calm. He seems to be over the kicking and seems to enjoy being in the chute now .
as for my daughter , im very proud of her. tagging is saturday and we have decided to tag him. If so happens he dosent show and sell,  my daughter has decided to  sell tickets and raffle him off , donating to the ranchers relief fund. if he does show and sale she has still donating a percentage to the ranchers anyway. how awesome is she. She just trying to make the best of a disappointing experiance.
never got a return call just to throw that out there. we will definately be going elsewhere.. SOO...we will be looking for fall borns soon ..and thats always fun. hopefully that will give me the pick me up i need...nothing like new calves 

 

[obie105]

Where are you located? Maybe somebody on here can point you in the right direction for a good breeder.

 

[SandyB]

Wow 4-H mom, your daughter is an amazing trooper for sure. I am so sorry she is having an unpleasant experience with her steer. Hopefully the steer will get more relaxed and more broke as you go along.

It does amaze me that the sellers, especially if they are of any reputation and size would not make the situation right. Even if they offered a substantial discount on a steer next season or a replacement. To me what is important is that sellers continue to treat their customers as they did before the actual purchase takes place. I am amazed at the sellers that will schmooze you prior to and at time of a purchase then slam the door shut and no longer treat you like you are important. After all, its not like you bought a freezer steer for your own use, you are promoting his ranch, his name, his breeding stock. He should be thanking you and making sure you are a customer who is happy.

 

[frostback]

Any updates on the calf's attitude?

thank you for asking. he seems to be a little better. the smaller calf tends to keep him calm. He seems to be over the kicking and seems to enjoy being in the chute now .
as for my daughter , im very proud of her. tagging is saturday and we have decided to tag him. If so happens he dosent show and sell,  my daughter has decided to  sell tickets and raffle him off , donating to the ranchers relief fund. if he does show and sale she has still donating a percentage to the ranchers anyway. how awesome is she. She just trying to make the best of a disappointing experiance.
never got a return call just to throw that out there. we will definately be going elsewhere.. SOO...we will be looking for fall borns soon ..and thats always fun. hopefully that will give me the pick me up i need...nothing like new calves 

Make sure you take the buddy steer with you to weigh in. If its anything like ours its kinda loud and hectic. Keep real calm, let everyone know to be real calm and slow around this calf. A good experience away from home can make or break it now. If its a good time it might be what you need to get him done right. You may even try to go to a friends house that is set up with a wash rack and place to blow him dry but with panels around so he cant get away. Sometimes a new place, but the routine of a wash and blow will help him see its not too bad. If you are getting even more calves that should help too but be carful to not get him too dependent on the buddy. He may have separation anxiety when you take one to the ring and leave one either at home or back in the barn at a show.

 

[loveRedcows]

Any updates on the calf's attitude?

thank you for asking. he seems to be a little better. the smaller calf tends to keep him calm. He seems to be over the kicking and seems to enjoy being in the chute now .
as for my daughter , im very proud of her. tagging is saturday and we have decided to tag him. If so happens he dosent show and sell,  my daughter has decided to  sell tickets and raffle him off , donating to the ranchers relief fund. if he does show and sale she has still donating a percentage to the ranchers anyway. how awesome is she. She just trying to make the best of a disappointing experiance.
never got a return call just to throw that out there. we will definately be going elsewhere.. SOO...we will be looking for fall borns soon ..and thats always fun. hopefully that will give me the pick me up i need...nothing like new calves 

Congratulations to you on the way you're raising your daughter!  She obviously has been taught to think more of others than just herself - this will carry her to success in her life.