question on return/fedund policies

[afhm]

A friend of ours sold a steer to a boy and his ffa advisor about a month ago and now they want to return the steer.  The buyers showed up unannounced, picked out the steer in the run by theirselves and bought him without any sales pitch or anything.  They loaded up and left with a good calf that they thought was a great one at a great price.  The advisor calls last week and want to return the calf because a couple of people have looked at the calf and do not like him.  The calf is broke and structurally sound.  My question is should they be allowed to return the calf just because for those reasons?

 

[red]

was there any discussion on a possible return? I've offered a return if there was a problem like an injured leg or of course if sterile. Never had one returned because it didn't live up to expectations. My question is- do you want to ever sell them another calf? If so, I'd probably take it back. If not, then probably not. Can you charge a restocking fee like they do at stores? 

 

[SKF]

No they have had the calf for a month and there is nothing wrong with the calf. If they do not like they can find someone to buy the calf. It would be different if there was something really wrong with the calf.

 

[showsteerdlux]

Id say depends on if the seller could find someone to sell the calf to. Also Id make them trade out or move up to a more expensive calf since they dont want him for the reason of somebody doesnt like him.

 

[DLD]

Nope. If he's sound and not wild or mean, there's no reason they should expect to be able to return him. Now, if your friend wants to work with them, he (she) might tell them that trading up might be an option, but the buyers need to know up front that they'll be expected to pay some difference. I've done that a time or two with families that are regular customers and good feeders, when I knew that the one they fell in love with early on wasn't near the steer they thought he was. But again, only if your friend thinks it's worth it for him to do so, not because he should feel obligated to.

 

[justme]

Only way I'd do it is on a "on the farm" credit.  Buy one from me if your returning the purchase with nothing wrong.  I'm a thinking some said they have a better steer and wants to move it.

 

[knabe]

i'm thinking a contract is in order for situations like this.

anyone got one they'd like to post?

my farrier has a pretty extensive one.  he only uses it when a customer starts to complain or the expectation gap gets a little out of hand.

 

[chambero]

When they set foot on their trailer they belong to them.  I wouldn't give them their money back the next day.  You can't return calves to a sale barn even.

Breeding cattle usually have some kind of fertility guarantee.  Show cattle never do.

If I have somebody buy a calf that doesn't turn out, I'll take care of them next year with a reduced price if they come back.  But we don't give money back. 

 

[DLD]

i'm thinking a contract is in order for situations like this.

anyone got one they'd like to post?

my farrier has a pretty extensive one.  he only uses it when a customer starts to complain or the expectation gap gets a little out of hand.

I know several traders/breeders who have signs posted on their barn wall or even at their front gate that clearly states "All sales are final".

Some do also have something to this effect below that; "Please let us know a.s.a.p. of any problems you might have with your purchase, and we'll make every effort to help correct them"

Not so much to do with this thread, but also included on some of the signs are clipping/fitting prices and policies, such as ;"1 clip job and fitting help at 1 show included with each purchase, additional clipping/fitting $150 per head per show"...

I think the theory is that if such policies are clearly posted in the place of business, they're legally binding. I'm not sure if that's true everywhere, though (or even anywhere, for that matter).

 

[jason]

Nope, it's not Wally World.

I would possibly offer a trade-up possibility, but not a straight refund. 

 

[dori36]

Nope, it's not Wally World.

I would possibly offer a trade-up possibility, but not a straight refund. 

I'm with you, Jason.  It' s not a breeding animal and it's not like they're returning a pair of shoes!  I'd not be v ery sympathetic and frankly wouldn't care if they didn't buy  from me again.

 

[Dusty]

This is kind of related to this topic.  An acquaintance of mine purchased a bull in the fall of '06, the bull was to be picked up in the spring of '07 when he was approx. 1 yr old.  The buyer took delivery of the bull and took him to get collected right away before he turned him out.  Bull was no good.  Shooting blanks.  Buyer calls seller and tells him what happened.  Seller tells buyer to come back in the fall and pick out another one.  Buyer goes and picks out another bull in the fall of '07.  This spring the seller takes the bull to the stud to get semen pulled.  This bull is also no good.  Buyer is very frustrated. Seller sends replacement of equal value to buyer.  Bull is not "equal" value.  Buyer refuses delivery of the replacement bull.  Buyer is very frustrated and tells seller he just wants his money back.  Seller refuses.  Seller tells buyer to pick out another one this year.  Buyer is pissed.  I didn't mention any names because the breeder is pretty well known.  The bull in question wasn't a $2000 commercial bull either.

It is now coming up on 2 years since the seller was parted with his money and still has no calves and no bull.  What is the procedure or commonly accepted remedy to this situation?

 

[P-F]

We will take anything back for any reason, but we will only issue a sale credit, or trade.

 

[afhm]

On the credit towards an upgrade, how much credit do you offer?  A full credit, price paid minus salvage value, or just an agreed upon amount?  I told them not to give any money back.  In over 30 years in the cattle business only once has anyone gave me money back and that was for a infertile heifer.  There have been several times that I didn't like a calf after I brought it home but never expected my money back, I just took my lumps and went learned the lesson.  I guess that is because I did not grow up in the "I deserve" generation.  Thanks for your opinions, they thought I was being a bit harsh by saying no money back just because they don't like him anymore.

 

[gocanes719]

I had a guy that lives 10 miles from me return a $5000 steer 3 hours after he picked him up on Easter Sunday.  He told me he was green but could be the best one he has in the end.  3 Hours later he calls and says he can't justify it to his wife and brings him back.  I teach ag in the area and was in total shock so I agreed to let him bring it back if he wasn't happy and basically swallowed my pride.  I don't want my name run in the dirt by anyone that lives around me and I am always honest and straightforward. I was already gone when he returned him and found out a week later that he took him to his barn and clipped on him before he returned him.  I keep my trader cattle at my in-laws and only see them on the weekends. I guarantee you that will never happen to me again.

 

[DLD]

afhm, I'd say that depends on what your friend has left for them to upgrade to and whether or not the one they bought can be resold at this point. I doubt that I'd allow the full price they paid for him because it's getting a little late in the game at this point, and the calf has prob'ly lost some, maybe alot of hair - unless your friend feels pretty sure that he can still sell him for what they originally gave, or more. There's no simple answer here, there are just too many factors in play - basically it's going to come down to how far your friend feels he needs to go to make them happy, and whether or not your friend even has another calf that will make them happy. But let's just say they paid $2500 for their first purchase, and come back and decide they want one that's priced at $5000 - if the first steer is still worth $2500, then they need to pay $2500 difference, but if he looks like a $1500 one now, then they need to pay $3500 difference...

 

[kanshow]

He's had him a month.. there are no returns...    Who knows how much he has been slighted in feed and /or hair care.   

 

[rtnok]

I sold a two year old bull to a cousin once he had him for 8 ys and he died, he asked me if I would return some of what he paid for him, I just laughed and didn't answer. Roni

 

[knabe]

This is kind of related to this topic.  An acquaintance of mine purchased a bull in the fall of '06, the bull was to be picked up in the spring of '07 when he was approx. 1 yr old.  The buyer took delivery of the bull and took him to get collected right away before he turned him out.  Bull was no good.  Shooting blanks.  Buyer calls seller and tells him what happened.  Seller tells buyer to come back in the fall and pick out another one.  Buyer goes and picks out another bull in the fall of '07.  This spring the seller takes the bull to the stud to get semen pulled.  This bull is also no good.  Buyer is very frustrated. Seller sends replacement of equal value to buyer.  Bull is not "equal" value.  Buyer refuses delivery of the replacement bull.  Buyer is very frustrated and tells seller he just wants his money back.  Seller refuses.  Seller tells buyer to pick out another one this year.  Buyer is pissed.  I didn't mention any names because the breeder is pretty well known.  The bull in question wasn't a $2000 commercial bull either.

It is now coming up on 2 years since the seller was parted with his money and still has no calves and no bull.  What is the procedure or commonly accepted remedy to this situation?

statistically speaking, there should be more infertile bulls distributed to more customers than just one.  i think at this point, i would say for the buyer to do what they do at bull tests, test the bulls first, provide results, let me test him again, to verify.  if still not satisfied, would they take a trade on some semen or some other item, not cattle since the seller will probably be going out of business if all bulls are sterile.  perhaps he's a trader and trades to make a profit, and is essentially creating a loss on purpose?

 

[Jill]

This is kind of related to this topic.  An acquaintance of mine purchased a bull in the fall of '06, the bull was to be picked up in the spring of '07 when he was approx. 1 yr old.  The buyer took delivery of the bull and took him to get collected right away before he turned him out.  Bull was no good.  Shooting blanks.  Buyer calls seller and tells him what happened.  Seller tells buyer to come back in the fall and pick out another one.  Buyer goes and picks out another bull in the fall of '07.  This spring the seller takes the bull to the stud to get semen pulled.  This bull is also no good.  Buyer is very frustrated. Seller sends replacement of equal value to buyer.  Bull is not "equal" value.  Buyer refuses delivery of the replacement bull.  Buyer is very frustrated and tells seller he just wants his money back.  Seller refuses.  Seller tells buyer to pick out another one this year.  Buyer is pissed.  I didn't mention any names because the breeder is pretty well known.  The bull in question wasn't a $2000 commercial bull either.

It is now coming up on 2 years since the seller was parted with his money and still has no calves and no bull.  What is the procedure or commonly accepted remedy to this situation?

My lawyer would be contacting him! And that would have happened after the 1st bull was no good and there was no refund.