Ghosted by farmer!

pistolpete

pistolpete

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Ordered hay six weeks ago from reliable farmer I’d used in the past. Delivered within three days no issues. He was very chatty and fine. He’s made me order a reasonable about to make it worth his while delivering. Fair enough. So last Friday tried to order again. No reply. Texted again Monday. No reply. Again Tuesday. You guessed it! Has he run out of hay is he ill. Who knows! So bloody rude! Edited!! He’s just replied. Been out of the country! Phew. I have hay.
 
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pistolpete said:
Ordered hay six weeks ago from reliable farmer I’d used in the past. Delivered within three days no issues. He was very chatty and fine. He’s made me order a reasonable about to make it worth his while delivering. Fair enough. So last Friday tried to order again. No reply. Texted again Monday. No reply. Again Tuesday. You guessed it! Has he run out of hay is he ill. Who knows! So bloody rude!
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Depending where you are hes probably busy, farmers are making the most of this weather and working 14+ hour days
 
It is rude and I am constantly nagging at OH to let poeple know if he can't do something and he will reply along the lines of " i think they will realise we are flat out at the moment and their muckheep/straw is the last of my worries"
Not right, but they are so stressed out right now. We are possibly looking at one of the worst harvests ever. When they can work they need to go.

I got ghosted really odldy i thought by a farrier! Genuinly no idea why. He did two trims once for me. Horses were beautifully behaved, In , clean and dry for him. I paid cash there and then. Booked for 6 weeks time, he text and said I cant come that day but will be there Monday at 9am. I replied no problem but can't do Mondays sorry- any other day?
Never heard back!

It is annoying. a text takes seconds.
 
It's not yet been a week, so wouldn't worry about being ghosted yet - farmers are very busy & often in areas with intermittent signal.

I work on a two week period with my farmer, sometimes it's days they've come back but sometimes longer at certain times of the year. He's flat out so know he'll get round to me when he can.
 
I had that issue in March trying to get my fields harrowed and rolled. 3 different people I tried and ended up having it harrowed last week! Almost a waste of a job as ground was too hard (so didn’t bother with the roller), but it did spread about the winters poo so it had to be done
 
I was ghosted by the farmer who was going to remove my dung heap. If he'd have just said he was too busy I'd have made alternative arrangements and phoned him again the following year. As it was he let me down last minute twice and then I didn't hear from him again. I did hear he was struggling for money and I can see why. It would have been an easy few hundred pounds for him for probably an hours work!
 
pistolpete said:
Ordered hay six weeks ago from reliable farmer I’d used in the past. Delivered within three days no issues. He was very chatty and fine. He’s made me order a reasonable about to make it worth his while delivering. Fair enough. So last Friday tried to order again. No reply. Texted again Monday. No reply. Again Tuesday. You guessed it! Has he run out of hay is he ill. Who knows! So bloody rude!
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You don’t think a chap you describe as reliable might just be really busy managing his grass crop right now? Which will have far greater ramifications for his livelihood than a tiddly bit of horse hay?
Anything like my husband - won’t have even read a text, phone is purely emergency conversations, not something requiring spectacles, fiddly concentration, etc!
Why don’t you have the courtesy to call round and ask in person? Usually works better than a preremptory instruction, sounds like he was very chatty and sociable last time you saw him, anyway.
Few people enjoy being ordered about by text.
 
I agree that the farmer may well be snowed under with work (and also people phoning up nagging to get hay as they've run out - but it's not been haymaking weather lately due to the intermittent rain plus the grass growth has been too poor to make it worthwhile and last year's hay has run out).

My OH works with an old farmer friend to help out for no pay. The farmer himself is late 70s. There is virtually no signal anywhere on their farm of 300 acres - yet it's near Gatwick airport so you'd expect mobile signal to be good.

As above they are working flat out and equipment like balers, etc are breaking down or needing repair before they can be used. Both of them spent 3 hours monday assaulting a seized bearing with hammers to shift the rust on a 'new' 2nd hand tractor that had been bought to cover the work needs.

They've done the first load of silage last weekend and only got 60% of the normal yield so are holding off making any more yet and by the forecast they are going to have to dodge rain next week to get any made. Hay growth is dire but picking up now.

They are also trying to catch up on the fertilising for crops as it's been too dry to fertilise without 'burning' the crop.

Where my pony is we get our hay from where my OH works and we are on the last knockings of what is left in the barn from last year and hoping it lasts until the new hay is made.

Don't knock the farmers needlessly. They are under great strain both physically and mentally, not helped by the hammering they are getting from this labour government.
 
My hay man/sheep shearer is the same at the minute. It's really annoying! But I've spoken to his wife and she's having the same problem. :eek: 🤣

Because of the weather he's ultra busy with lambing/shearing/silage making and just isn't around to take calls or reply to messages. He had planned to shear my sheep this weekend just gone but he never got back to me or turned up. I'm guessing he got his head into something else and forgot about my poor sweaty ladies.
 
I think it's a common problem these days. I use several people for various things to do with the horses and they're all fab at what they do but some are really bad at replying. It's not that I don't understand they are busy, but if they don't reply you're left in limbo, not knowing whether to make alternative arrangements or not. Once you get to know them well enough, and know they will get back to you eventually, you can relax, but when they're a relatively recent connection it's very stressful! I think dealing with 'service suppliers' has been the biggest hurdle since leaving livery and having the horses at home.
 
poiuytrewq said:
It is rude and I am constantly nagging at OH to let poeple know if he can't do something and he will reply along the lines of " i think they will realise we are flat out at the moment and their muckheep/straw is the last of my worries"
Not right, but they are so stressed out right now. We are possibly looking at one of the worst harvests ever. When they can work they need to go.

I got ghosted really odldy i thought by a farrier! Genuinly no idea why. He did two trims once for me. Horses were beautifully behaved, In , clean and dry for him. I paid cash there and then. Booked for 6 weeks time, he text and said I cant come that day but will be there Monday at 9am. I replied no problem but can't do Mondays sorry- any other day?
Never heard back!

It is annoying. a text takes seconds.
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FARRIERS! OMG don't get me started on farriers. Do they miss out the module "on how to run a business and keep your clients happy"?

It used to be OK, just booked 6 weeks every visit. Until my horse died. Farrier just dumped me. After all those changed visits because he wanted to go shooting, bottles of scotch at Christmas and cups of tea and coffee. Didn't even have the decency to tell me by text that he wouldn't/couldn't come anymore due to .........

I have tried at least 6 to come and trim the pony. The third or fourth turned up nearly straight away, having gone to a meet to find a farrier in person rather than by telephone. "Oh good" I thought. They want to come over our fields and keep us happy, he should come when I need him. Then I tried to contact him numerous times to come again. No good. Told vet who is in the same position with her horse and pony. Tried another farrier. No answer.

Saw dentist -"Use my name he used to work for me." Ok, very chatty on the phone, I will let you know later tonight when I can come."

Have I heard from him? No.

Pony's feet are cracking and breaking off.
 
Hackback said:
I think it's a common problem these days. I use several people for various things to do with the horses and they're all fab at what they do but some are really bad at replying. It's not that I don't understand they are busy, but if they don't reply you're left in limbo, not knowing whether to make alternative arrangements or not. Once you get to know them well enough, and know they will get back to you eventually, you can relax, but when they're a relatively recent connection it's very stressful! I think dealing with 'service suppliers' has been the biggest hurdle since leaving livery and having the horses at home.
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Part of the issue is that individual horse customers require a disproportionate amount of time and organisation for whatever the task. It’s very different from taking a boom sprayer/ topper / roller/ mower out for 16 hours straight operation across umpteen acres. And this time of year, depending on the crop, that’s exactly what happens - along with all the standard frustrations of breakdowns and weather.
Typically, pony hay and straw is in minuscule amounts, often fiddly access through householders’ drives, awkward feed storage areas, etc, and when there are other really necessary jobs to get your teeth into....
I strongly advise going to see someone in person, will at least get an answer then and there, establish a contact, or offer to collect your own until less busy.
 
Orangehorse said:
FARRIERS! OMG don't get me started on farriers. Do they miss out the module "on how to run a business and keep your clients happy"?

It used to be OK, just booked 6 weeks every visit. Until my horse died. Farrier just dumped me. After all those changed visits because he wanted to go shooting, bottles of scotch at Christmas and cups of tea and coffee. Didn't even have the decency to tell me by text that he wouldn't/couldn't come anymore due to .........

I have tried at least 6 to come and trim the pony. The third or fourth turned up nearly straight away, having gone to a meet to find a farrier in person rather than by telephone. "Oh good" I thought. They want to come over our fields and keep us happy, he should come when I need him. Then I tried to contact him numerous times to come again. No good. Told vet who is in the same position with her horse and pony. Tried another farrier. No answer.

Saw dentist -"Use my name he used to work for me." Ok, very chatty on the phone, I will let you know later tonight when I can come."

Have I heard from him? No.

Pony's feet are cracking and breaking off.
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Also Farriers, like most people avoid paperwork / chasing payment and need to know you are a good prompt payer , so try adding ‘I like to settle my bills promptly so prefer to pay in cash on the day’.
 
Exasperated said:
Part of the issue is that individual horse customers require a disproportionate amount of time and organisation for whatever the task. It’s very different from taking a boom sprayer/ topper / roller/ mower out for 16 hours straight operation across umpteen acres. And this time of year, depending on the crop, that’s exactly what happens - along with all the standard frustrations of breakdowns and weather.
Typically, pony hay and straw is in minuscule amounts, often fiddly access through householders’ drives, awkward feed storage areas, etc, and when there are other really necessary jobs to get your teeth into....
I strongly advise going to see someone in person, will at least get an answer then and there, establish a contact, or offer to collect your own until less busy.
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I understand this, but at the other end I do need to know that I can feed my horses. If the farmer can't deliver and he let's me know then I can arrange something else. No problem. The issue is not knowing. (Luckily my hay supplier is very reliable!)
 
Exasperated said:
You don’t think a chap you describe as reliable might just be really busy managing his grass crop right now? Which will have far greater ramifications for his livelihood than a tiddly bit of horse hay?
Anything like my husband - won’t have even read a text, phone is purely emergency conversations, not something requiring spectacles, fiddly concentration, etc!
Why don’t you have the courtesy to call round and ask in person? Usually works better than a preremptory instruction, sounds like he was very chatty and sociable last time you saw him, anyway.
Few people enjoy being ordered about by text.
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There is no point making a crop if he has no customers left to sell it too!! I’m pretty sure the OP isn’t ordering him around by text, just wishing to know if she can feed her horses or not 🙄 to run a business you need to communicate with customers
 
Identityincrisis said:
There is no point making a crop if he has no customers left to sell it too!! I’m pretty sure the OP isn’t ordering him around by text, just wishing to know if she can feed her horses or not 🙄 to run a business you need to communicate with customers
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I am pretty sure next year you won’t have trouble selling your hay, whatever your attitude!
 
Identityincrisis said:
There is no point making a crop if he has no customers left to sell it too!! I’m pretty sure the OP isn’t ordering him around by text, just wishing to know if she can feed her horses or not 🙄 to run a business you need to communicate with customers
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For sure, and on hearing first hand, so would the customer be.
 
Hackback said:
I understand this, but at the other end I do need to know that I can feed my horses. If the farmer can't deliver and he let's me know then I can arrange something else. No problem. The issue is not knowing. (Luckily my hay supplier is very reliable!)
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Of course, so go and ask, then you’ll know instantly.
If supplier agrees but lets you down without any explanation or notice, then you’ll know not to deal with them again - goes for farriers, too, in my book.
 
I do find it so frustrating when they just don’t reply.
I don’t really use hay this time of year but had it a couple of times in the winter (so not an harvest excuse!) and I find it the most frustrating thing.

I do everything to be a good client; I don’t leave it last minute, I pay cash on delivery, I get as much as I can store and usually order with my neighbour so it’s a good £600 worth. My access isn’t the easiest admittedly. Then after 3 weeks he’s finally replied and by then I’ve had a crazy scramble to find more. It’s so stressful.
 
Exasperated said:
Of course, so go and ask, then you’ll know instantly.
If supplier agrees but lets you down without any explanation or notice, then you’ll know not to deal with them again - goes for farriers, too, in my book.
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I just realised I don't actually know where any of my 'service providers' live. Added to that i know they are all very busy and not likely to be at home if I did call round. I've actually replaced most of my unreliable contacts with reliable ones. There are just two left and if I make another appointment when they are here there's no problem. For some reason I didn't have an appt in my diary for my trimmer and after several messages that he didnt reply to I got it into my head that he'd decided not to come to my area any more - I know he's very busy and trying to cut down on work - and was on the point of ringing a farrier when the trimmer got back to me. By that time the horses were 2 weeks past their due date, despite me contacting him in plenty of time when I realised we had no date booked.

I know he's a bit chaotic but hes a lovely guy and he's a fab trimmer and absolutely brilliant with the horses so I don't want to lose him, I just had an upsetting few weeks when I was wondering if he would come and then panicking that he wasn't. If he'd replied and said I can't get there for 3 weeks, fine. And I do realise that these people are probably overwhelmed with messages from their clients.
 
Hackback said:
I just realised I don't actually know where any of my 'service providers' live. Added to that i know they are all very busy and not likely to be at home if I did call round. I've actually replaced most of my unreliable contacts with reliable ones. There are just two left and if I make another appointment when they are here there's no problem. For some reason I didn't have an appt in my diary for my trimmer and after several messages that he didnt reply to I got it into my head that he'd decided not to come to my area any more - I know he's very busy and trying to cut down on work - and was on the point of ringing a farrier when the trimmer got back to me. By that time the horses were 2 weeks past their due date, despite me contacting him in plenty of time when I realised we had no date booked.

I know he's a bit chaotic but hes a lovely guy and he's a fab trimmer and absolutely brilliant with the horses so I don't want to lose him, I just had an upsetting few weeks when I was wondering if he would come and then panicking that he wasn't. If he'd replied and said I can't get there for 3 weeks, fine. And I do realise that these people are probably overwhelmed with messages from their clients.
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Nobody needs unreliable contacts, but this all sounds fine: trimmer got back to you as soon as he’d got time, and now you know to pre book appointments unless you want to wait until he’s free again, that’s not an unreliable person, just a busy one.
Worth at least finding out where he is ‘tho’, in case you need to take a horse in an emergency.
 
pistolpete said:
It’s all sorted. Phew. He was on holiday and is back and delivering today. I was just shocked cos he’s usually super efficient! Which of course he is!!
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I’m more shocked he was on holiday! 🤣Good on him getting a holiday in
Don’t see many farmers doing it

Glad you got sorted as well ☺️
 
Exasperated said:
Nobody needs unreliable contacts, but this all sounds fine: trimmer got back to you as soon as he’d got time, and now you know to pre book appointments unless you want to wait until he’s free again, that’s not an unreliable person, just a busy one.
Worth at least finding out where he is ‘tho’, in case you need to take a horse in an emergency.
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Are you being intentionally awkward and difficult in this thread?!
 
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