May 11
18
How to Detect a Rogue Seller
Recently we have received communication from potential new entrants to ostrich farming who have handed over money for promised delivery of chicks that were never delivered. As a newcomer to the industry, how do you recognize if promised deliveries are genuine?
There are a number of steps to verify the authenticity of the seller:
- Does the seller have a physical address and not just a post office box or email address
- Is the business registered and if so which is the country of registration. Can you verify the registration?
- Can the seller provide you with any references from previously satisfied customers
- Are the prices offered fair, reasonable and realistic or are the prices really too good to be true?
- Beware of any buy back schemes.
The first step is to verify that the supplier you are talking to is a genuine business operating from the country they say. Are they acting as an agent or do they have their own production. Whether buying ostrich eggs, chicks, breeders, ostrich meat or ostrich skins, if your purchase requires importing to your country of operation then you will need certain import documentation and licenses in place. The information required by the import documents will be determined by the country of export. If working with an agent, the export country for the paper work is the country where the eggs, birds or meat are shipped from.
When importing the responsibility for providing the correct import documentation parameters is the buyers. The supplier must be in a position to comply with demands of the importing country’s requirements. An experienced supplier may have that information if they have previously exported to your country of operation. If they claim they have – then ask for references for others they have supplied in your country.
The comparative males in the picture show a bird sold to the new ostrich farmer as a proven breeder. The photo along side is to illustrate the extremely poor condition of the bird sold as a proven breeder. Notice the very prominent back bone, very poor feathering and no muscle on the legs of the male in poor condition. An ostrich in this condition will have no resources to be able to breed adequately. Even when back in condition, future production will be compromised.
Be very wary of “buy back schemes”. These are schemes where the customer buys the chicks, carries all rearing costs on the guarantee of purchase when the birds are slaughter ready. These schemes were created as a mechanism for farmers to sell their chick production when starting in a new region/country. Not one of these schemes has operated successfully with ostrich. For now when offered one of these schemes look at the fine detail of the contracts in detail. Check the experience of those offering them to you. Check with any other farmers.
Buyer beware is basic philosophy in any business. When considering ostrich farming, it is especially important given the immaturity of our industry.
