A little dilemma - what would you do?

Ravenwood

Ravenwood

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For the last three years I have bought my small bale haylage from a friend at a very reasonable price and he delivers and stacks it all for me.

Last year I bought 90 bales but had 20 left over, so this year I bought just 50 - paid for it month and months ago.

Last week he delivered the first lot for me and for the first time ever - its not very nice
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Its usually really good quality.

Now my mare would eat a bale of mouldy old straw if it was put in her haynet
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but even she is leaving loads of this new stuff and the other mare is hardly touching it. It doesn't smell very nice and is very clumpy.

What would you do?

Ring and tell the friend that his haylage is rubbish (not forgetting that making hay and haylage was very difficult this year)?

Ask for a partial refund and guess the horses will eat it if they are hungry and use the refunded money to buy more from another supplier?

Cut my losses, go elsewhere and buy a new supply?

I don't know what to do - its not so bad that its going to give them colic or such like but I am worried that if I continue with this then I will really struggle to keep weight on my mare over the winter without using something else to supplement it anyway.

Gah - its always difficult when good friends are involved
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i would just speak to the friend...explain that you know it was a bad year, but ask if he could come and look at it. if he sees it for himself he may be more willing to do something to help....
 
I would perhaps politely mention to friend that first few bales you have opened haven't been the usual high quality which is understandable due to weather and your ultra picky horses arn't finishing it like previous years. And in turn ask whether the whole crop is of similar quality or if just unlucky odd bale. See what he says, if you play on the fact you know this year was awful meaning everyone's quality was affected he hopefully won't be offended.

From there I would see what he says either, it should only be a few bales apologies, or unfortunately yes everything will be like that (and depending on his reaction mention you may have to buy additional hayledge to mix in) or he will say nothing wrong with it in slightest in which case whack him in the face with a kipper for being so unobservant
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if you approach tactfully and he is understanding it should least give you an idea as to the quality of the rest and whether he will give you anything back if all iffy without alienating him!
 
the thing with haylage as opposed to hay is that it being wrapped up means it is an unknown quantity till opened. Hence friend wont know what it is like probably either.

So I would speak to friend.
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QR: All very sensible replies - thank you:)

Unfortunately for him he had his own horse PTS last year so he won't have seen any of this haylage himself until he comes to see mine and he is such a nice chap that I am sure he will offer me money back - but as I know he is so nice and generous, I will feel so guilty asking him about it.
 
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QR: All very sensible replies - thank you:)

Unfortunately for him he had his own horse PTS last year so he won't have seen any of this haylage himself until he comes to see mine and he is such a nice chap that I am sure he will offer me money back - but as I know he is so nice and generous, I will feel so guilty asking him about it.

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What would you do if you had bought it from any-one else? Would you expect your money back? If you returned the haylage would your friend be able to sell it to some-one else e.g. a farmer for their stock?
I do think that you have to try to forget the friendship for these purposes and treat this as a business arrangement.
 
I think you are doing him a favour in that case Ravenwood.
Far better to hear it from a friend than someone who may be a "disgruntled" customer.
 
You are all right - I will give him a ring tomorrow and mention that the haylage isn't very good and see what he says - God, I will feel so awful!

I just love HHO - its great to mull over a little problem
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ETA: Arghh - just thought of another problem now - what if he refunds me the rest of what I have bought - where on earth will I find another supply of haylage at this time of year!!
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I would let him know that the horses are turning their noses up, and he will probably be really nice about it and may offer a partial refund/replacement.

I wonder if this is the same person we are thinking of contacting for some haylage to be delivered to us. We've been buying from the feed store and it's crippling us. This person advertises in the Gazette and is from your way out.
 
LDM - no he doesn't advertise, its all word of mouth and only a small amount made each year from one field - there is my 50 bales and another of the same amount.
 
we were once given some hay that even cows would not eat.. our horses would not touch it, they just wanted to give it to us to get rid of it...
my dad talked to the farmer and basically said we couldn't feed it to them and weren't happy to pay for it... he delivered a new lot for half price..
i would just talk to your friend!
 
My husband makes some small bale haylage and will always take back /replace any bales that people's horses don't like. I guess he would give a refund if there was not a choice of alternative bales available. As someone else said, it is very difficult to know the quality without opening the bales.
 
you can kill your horse with bad haylage. if your horse wont eat it it isnt fit for purpose!!! why wait til your horse gets botulism, a large vet bill and possibly PTS? sorry hard if he is a friend but in the broad play of things i would ask for a refund or replacement with a better quality.
 
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