What would you guys do in this situation?

[GorbyJobRabbits]

Hypothetically, you just got into a new breed of rabbits, and the folks that introduced you to them, you went out of your way to find them and buy your first rabbit of your new breed from them. They make you a 'great deal' on a nearly perfectly marked Harlequin (not common), he has one grand champ leg, and they tell you they'll make an even better deal because he is stained. -He's 2 years old, and one leg remember

Anyway, first show you have him at, and you find out his teeth are DQ'd.

- Yes I should have paid more attention to that. Sooo, sort of my fault.


And now you're finding out he's sterile as well.


Theres more to it, and everything points to they knew. My question is, would you contact this person again and request a refund? My mother wants to bring this up to them. And I honestly don't know what I want. The show next weekend they SHOULD be at, they always go to it.... So I was curious as to what you all would do in this particular situation?

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

I guess it would depend on what you were promised with regards to the rabbit. If he is not sold as proven, then the breeding aspect is buyer beware as you could get a sterile rabbit. Now if you were told that he is a good breeder and he was sold for the purpose of being bred, then it is different. The teeth could be another issue, since he does have a leg, it could be assumed that his teeth have been good in the past. I would get them looked at to determine how bad the teeth are and what could have caused it.
In that case, then I would ask for a refund or a new rabbit. If you are attached to him, then get back everything that is more than the cost of a pet from them since he cannot be bred or shown. Assuming that he was sold as a show and breeding rabbit, then I would contact the breeder and get a refund, you did not get what you paid for.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

I most certainly get in touch if they mis-represented the bunny to you. Also, if they are breeders and belong to any organizations, I would register a complaint as they aren't living up to the standard.

 

[GorbyJobRabbits]

When I picked him up the lady went on and on how he had 1 leg. His father had 19, and I knew THAT was what the family shown, and he was obviously left to the side.

She said how he'd do well on the table, and I even called them a few weeks later asking if they would like to ride to a rabbit show with me because there would be 2 other Harlie breeders there and for once there would be compition. They made an excuse and said you should easily get another leg. He is VERY nicely marked.


and the day I was buying him she kept saying how she had thought about keeping him because the rabbits father had just passed (the one with 19 legs) and that she'd like to have his bloodlines kept. I told her any time she wanted to use him for breeding she was welcome to call me and I'd gladly do that. They've never called, and I don't have a single kit from him either.


when I looked at the leg he won, it was when he was a JR. I did take him and get his teeth clipped and they're coming in crooked again. It looks like he only chews on the one side of his mouth.


So she laid it all out there.

 

[Debacus]

Oh dear they really led you up the garden path. I think even if you got back in touch they wouldn't do anything as they sold you him in the first place probably knowing his faults.
I'd put it down to a lesson learnt. At least you know what to look for next time.
If it were me, I'd wait until I was at another show and get a feel for other peoples stock, have some chats and try to find a reputable breeder. Good luck.

 

[jubidyjub]

wow, this is tricky. First, try doing some research, if they have a website perhaps, on a policy. If you find some you're in luck. Maybe you'll find a loop hole.

If you don't find a policy, wait until you have a chance to see them at a show. Bring up to them about what you found, and then ask them directly if they knew about the problem before selling it to you. Maybe they'll offer refund. But that's probably all you can do.

In the future always take time evaluate the animal. Especially when the breeders can't seem to come up with a fault.

 

[GorbyJobRabbits]

They def don't have a website. They're not on any rabbit sites and such. Most other Harlie breeders don't know them either.

 

[TinysMom]

I'm going to start out by saying that I'm sorry this has happened. I'm guessing they're not very reputable and I'm betting that they don't have any policies in place as far as refunds, etc.

It would not hurt to contact them and ask for a refund (or partial refund).

But I have found that in the rabbit world - the mantra seems to be "let the buyer beware". It doesn't seem fair or right - but it seems to be the way it is.

For me - I try to tell people every known fault for an animal...and when I go to buy an animal - I always check the teeth now (and try to check for split penis too).

As I said - I'd ask them for a refund but I highly doubt you'll get one.

 

[GorbyJobRabbits]

They'll be at the show tomorrow. I guess if they mention him I would say something...but my mother wanted to speak to them. She knows how long I've been in rabbits, and I wouldn't do this to someone, and she's pretty mad they actually did... especially when they nearly beg for people to get into Harlequins. Is that any way to get them started?

but I would be happy tomorrow if I could beat them. I know that sounds awful, but I'd be happy with coming out with top Harlies tomorrow.

 

[TinysMom]

There's always the veiled threat of "I'd hate to let others know about the problems I've had with this buck as I explain why I'm looking for new harlequins. It might make everyone start to think twice before buying from you....".

Or the outright, "I will be talking to other breeders about this if I don't get my refund."

Teeth issues are a pretty major thing and all it takes is folks to start hearing that so and so's lines have teeth issues and people stop buying.

 

[SMALL S RABBITRY]

TinysMom wrote:

There's always the veiled threat of "I'd hate to let others know about the problems I've had with this buck as I explain why I'm looking for new harlequins. It might make everyone start to think twice before buying from you....".

Or the outright, "I will be talking to other breeders about this if I don't get my refund."

Teeth issues are a pretty major thing and all it takes is folks to start hearing that so and so's lines have teeth issues and people stop buying.

That is so right but when you have a breeder that dont give a rats patoot about anything it makes it really hard to deal with them for example I bought a Castor Mini Rex Buck from this women and my son showed him today and he got DQ for haveing a closed ear canal and the breeder was there and I told her and showed the problem and told her what the judge told me and she looked at me and said so are you going to eat him and I told her NO and she told me that she could not do anything about it at all so I am going to sale him or give him awayas a pet cause I think he would make some a very nice one and he is healthy so there is no use to do what she said and I will never buy from her again...........And I also talked to Carol Hooks a Judge here in Texas and she told me that she should make it right but she did not make it right..........

 

[GorbyJobRabbits]

the price some people charge for show rabbits, if one of them told me 'you goin' to eat it?' I may hall off and slap them. I'm sorry to hear about that Toby. I think it's 100x worse when they do it to a kid. Kids live on hope, and don't do good with disaster. There are sooooo many rabbit breeders in Ohio that help out young kids or 4-H kids.


I'll let people know how it goes today =)

 

[Momto3boys]

I hope everything goes good for you and I hope all your buns beat theirs arty0002: I'll be over here in Canada cheering you on

 

[OakRidgeRabbits]

I think first of all, we need to not assume that these people intentionally sold you a rabbit with bad teeth. I know I don't check the teeth on my rabbits very often, and they may very well have not known about it.

Considering this, I would let them know what you discovered and just see what they say. You will know where they stand on the issue, depending on their response. If they are apologetic and agree to help you out somehow (refund, replace the rabbit, offer a breeding, etc.), it's clear that they did not purposefully decieve you.

Hopefully they will cooperate and help you out. But even if not, it's a lesson learned. Always check teeth before you buy, and always ask if the rabbit is proven. It is always good to refer to other breeders too and see who they recommend as being honest and helpful before you buy.

As a side note- do not threaten to call them out publicly, and certainly don't act on it either. This will not ruin or threaten them, it will only reflect badly on you. People pop up now and again in my breeds and publicly start arguments on e-mail lists or Facebook or even privately with me at shows. Those people are the FIRST on my do-not-sell list because I have no idea what their intentions are. What if I make a mistake and I'm the next person they start talking about? Or what if I don't even do anything wrong, adhere to my sales policy, but they are not happy with a sale and call me out publicly as if I did wrong? I don't want to be involved with trouble-starters. Don't put yourself in a position where you are threatening your own reputation. I know how tempting it can be to call someone out when they did you wrong, but it's not worth ruining your own reputation over it.

 

[SMALL S RABBITRY]

OakRidgeRabbits wrote:

I think first of all, we need to not assume that these people intentionally sold you a rabbit with bad teeth. I know I don't check the teeth on my rabbits very often, and they may very well have not known about it.

Considering this, I would let them know what you discovered and just see what they say. You will know where they stand on the issue, depending on their response. If they are apologetic and agree to help you out somehow (refund, replace the rabbit, offer a breeding, etc.), it's clear that they did not purposefully decieve you.

Hopefully they will cooperate and help you out. But even if not, it's a lesson learned. Always check teeth before you buy, and always ask if the rabbit is proven. It is always good to refer to other breeders too and see who they recommend as being honest and helpful before you buy.

As a side note- do not threaten to call them out publicly, and certainly don't act on it either. This will not ruin or threaten them, it will only reflect badly on you. People pop up now and again in my breeds and publicly start arguments on e-mail lists or Facebook or even privately with me at shows. Those people are the FIRST on my do-not-sell list because I have no idea what their intentions are. What if I make a mistake and I'm the next person they start talking about? Or what if I don't even do anything wrong, adhere to my sales policy, but they are not happy with a sale and call me out publicly as if I did wrong? I don't want to be involved with trouble-starters. Don't put yourself in a position where you are threatening your own reputation. I know how tempting it can be to call someone out when they did you wrong, but it's not worth ruining your own reputation over it.

That is so right but when I told the breeder about our problem he kinda smiled but I did not ever say a word in front of anybody else..........Toby

 

[GorbyJobRabbits]

They didn't show up at the show anyway.

They said he was proven and even made the comment like I stated how 'I hate getting rid of him, he's our only buck left from Tigger (the father with 19legs) and we'd love to keep Tiggers blood.' I offered to bring him back so they could use him as a stud.

I would have just mentioned it. I'm just out the money and have learned to check the rabbit over super well and to rely on more known breeders.

 

[Jaded]

If you don't want him offer him back, for a refund and buy a better one.

Some rabbits become sterile if its to hot or cold or if there's a sudden change of temperature.

Unfortunately this happens allot in the breeders community, I have learnt my lessen when I bought a rabbit home that had something in its eye then it turned blind.

Hope it all goes well.