Central Illinois | Red Fox - 12/3/2015 08:15
It not only cattle. feeder pig's an butcher hog's are way out of line also.
I sell butcher hogs on craigslist and I ask above market, not because I am trying to rip someone off but because it takes more work to deal with private sales than taking a load to market. I am paying myself for taking time to advertise, take calls, keeping orders straight, scheduling slaughter appointments, deliver small loads and I can give customers guarantees about their products that otherwise may not be possible. I will add I don't feel like offering a different price every other day, I won't raise my price unless market consistently hits above my price and if the market settled back down I would lower my price back to my current number. Even with my above market price I do not sell my pork above store price, though I do see some on craigslist that do sell well above store price, but if people are willing to pay and are happy then who are we to argue. All that matters in a transaction is that both parties are happy.
I also have sold weaner pigs on craigslist at or slightly above market for similar reasons. If a pig dies I will either replace it in the first 28 days or if longer I may give a significant reduction on price on another pig; no sale barn will do anything close to that kind of a guarantee.
I have had people call that simply want to tell me my price is wrong ( actually had someone call once to say I was undercutting the market). I simply explain that with my inputs and standards my price fits my operation. I am never rude about it, though I do in the back of my head have more blunt answers I would like to give. It is my operation and I can ask whatever price I see fit, just as anyone else should be able to do. If my customers will pay and are content I will continue to ask my going price, if they no longer will pay then I will have to find the appropriate price point.
I have yet to have an unhappy customer with which I could not make things right. I will also add that I try to be pre-emptive I sell market hogs based on their weight at 300lbs and call to get hanging weights. If a hog is light hanging I will offer a refund based on said hanging weight immediately, if it is heavy I have a happier customer. Usually I have happier customers. |
Asking price of cattle on Craigslist! Wow!
