Tractor Supply Company Above The Law?

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Recently I encountered a small problem at my local Tractor Supply Company feed store. My oldest daughter has been saving up the money from selling eggs to neighbors so that she could buy a few more chicks during chick days. She has been looking for another Polish. The local feed store got one Polish chick in and several Cochins (my favorite). We have been going to this feed store for over two years. It is where we buy our chicken feed. It has been the same employees working there since we first started going. So they recognize us.

This year they enclosed all the chicks behind locked fences. The other years you could walk right up to look at them. Then they put a large sign up on the fence so that you can't really see the chicks at all unless you are tall. I'm not. My youngest daughter ran up to the pen ahead of me and put one foot on the railing to pull herself up to try to see the chicks. One of the women who works there snapped at my daughter to get down. Mean and nasty sounding. I hadn't even had time to get there yet. I would have gotten her down. She was just excited after all. If they hadn't put that large sign in the way, then kids wouldn't be trying to climb the fence in order to see the chicks. Strike one.

Leslie, the new and less efficient store manager, told us that they had to put up the fence because "corporate" said people will no longer be allowed to touch the chicks, because of the salmonella risk associated with chickens. That risk is no more than touching raw meats or eggs, or even no more than touching your shopping cart handle. No big deal- you just wash your hands well afterward. We've been handling chickens and chicks for over two years. They put up large bottles of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, but then aren't going to let you touch the chicks. That makes perfect sense. It irritated me. Strike two.

Then after waiting damn near forever for assistance, Nathan finally went and got one of the stockers. Adam tells us that we have to buy six chicks again. Another new development. Every other year we bought six chicks the first time and then however many we wanted the times after that. We weren't held to a minimum number each time, which was good because they never get all their chicks at once. Their shipments are staggered out over the course of chick days. I got into an argument with Adam. We had already bought six chicks earlier in the week. This new shipment had the one Polish. The last shipment did not. If they got ALL their chicks in at the same time, then I could maybe see the six minimum. Another example: Day One- they get a shipment of Orpingtons and you buy six. Then Day Two- they get a shipment of Polish and you want a couple, not six. If they had gotten them in the same day, then you could have bought your six divided between the two breeds. Instead they are trying to force you into buying twelve chicks. Why a minimum of six anyway? You are buying them locally so they won't be in shipment for hours. Besides you can buy three chicks from some hatcheries and have them shipped to you. So really the whole six minimum makes no sense. I argued with Adam. Finally I just agreed because my daughter desperately wanted that Polish chick. I was super irritated by this time. Strike number three.

Meanwhile Nathan is trying to get help to get chicken feed. It wasn't stocked on the floor but could be seen through the doors in the stockroom. He ended up having to fetch it himself out of the stockroom. They have been letting things go empty ever since JB, the old manager, left. JB was really nice to customers and talked to everyone. Plus he owned farm animals and could answer questions. Leslie and the others are completely ignorant when it comes to livestock. Why are they working in a farm store if they have no knowledge of livestock? Shouldn't you have some knowledge of the job you are doing? Wouldn't that make sense? Strike four. 

Then Leslie told us that we could NOT touch and inspect the chicks, even though we were buying some. She said it was a new corporate policy. Hold on! Now that is a direct violation of State law. Virginia Code says that buyers have the Right to inspect any merchandise before deciding to purchase.  What were they (TSC) thinking? Who do they think they are that they can just break an actual good law? Another argument. This time we got our way. But I was fuming inside. My daughter picked out her chicks and we left. Strike five.

Of course I emailed corporate Tractor Supply to complain and inform them of how they were breaking the law with their "policy". No reply. Can you imagine that! A corporation not responding to a valid complaint about them breaking the law. Well, guess what? After the employees shitty attitudes and feed not being stocked and their willingness to break the law to screw over their customers- I am not doing business with them again. There are three other local feed stores in the area (not Tractor Supply stores). I will buy all my feed elsewhere. I'm not the only one. A neighbor said they got fed up with that Tractor Supply store too and started buying their livestock feed elsewhere. They have cattle so Tractor Supply lost a good deal of money when they lost that customer. Now they'll lose even more because we are NOT going back. That store went to shit after JB left.