When a mare owner gives a declined CC# for Fed X - what do YOU do?

[JY]

Stallion Owners - what do you do when a customer gives you a credit card # to use for the Fed X roundtrip of your frozen semen shipper, and the credit card is declined? Immediately, on the first decline, Fed X charges it to my account, and I am responsibble for paying, being the shipper. But what do you do when the mare owner won't return your phone calls, emails - asking for a good credit card to reimburse me for the Fed X charges? I am stuck paying someone else's responsibility ........ how do you protect against this? Charge the card BEFORE you even send out the semen with estimated charges, or what? On the whole, I have had excellent customers, but this one lady seems to have difficulty owning up to her responsibility to repay me. Won't even call me back! I hear all the complaints from mare owners about how they are treated by stallion owners, but we are not treated so fairly at times as well!
Help.......

[Daventry]

It is written in our contracts that Mare Owners MUST have their own Fed-Ex number. That way, it ensures that the transaction is strictly between the Mare Owner and Fed-Ex and...if problems occur, you're not stuck trying to get paid. Getting a Fed-Ex number is quick and painless...and free!

[JY]

Thanks for that advice. I will implement it immediately.

[talloaks]

What about mare owners who don't want to have a FedEx number, can't we continue to use our cc # which has always been successful in the past??? I personally don't want to have to get a FedEx number I would only ever use one time. Would that mean I couldnt buy semen from you, JY, anymore?? I know you have never had any problems with my credit in the past.:confused:

[CathyKb]

Bernie, it is so simple and easy to get a Fed Ex number. Years before I just used my cc#, but this year I got a Fed Ex number and it took maybe 5 minutes. I will probably only use it this year for the FS shipment and will totally forget it by next year, so I guess next year I will get another number.

Judy are you sure that they still won't charge it to you, if the client's Fed Ex number is declined? I know they did not charge me until the shipment was received. I really don't know.:confused:

[talloaks]

Perhaps I am thinking of something else, but wasn't there a real problem getting FedEx accounts for airline shipments since 9/11???? As I recall you had to be an established user to get the account, or is it different if it travels by ground only???:confused:

[Daventry]

What about mare owners who don't want to have a FedEx number, can't we continue to use our cc # which has always been successful in the past??? I personally don't want to have to get a FedEx number I would only ever use one time. Would that mean I couldnt buy semen from you, JY, anymore?? I know you have never had any problems with my credit in the past.:confused:

As CathyKb said, it takes 5 minutes max. to get a Fed-Ex number and it's completely FREE!! I don't understand why it would be such an incovenience? With the problems that many horse owners face nowadays with scams, bad cheques, etc., I just don't want to take the chance of running into an inconsiderate Mare Owners...and unfortunately, they are out there! Many, many of the top stallion farms require the Mare Owners to have their own Fed-Ex numbers for shipping semen. It's definitely not something new. I actually got the idea from Hilltop Farm!!

If a Mare Owner is extremely interested in breeding to one of our stallions and isn't willing to take the five minutes to get a Fed-Ex number, what's it going to be like to ship semen to them, scheduling the mare with the vet, promoting the foal, etc. We try and accomodate our Mare Owners any way we can but I don't think asking them to get their own Fed-Ex number is a huge inconvenience! :confused:

[Daventry]

Perhaps I am thinking of something else, but wasn't there a real problem getting FedEx accounts for airline shipments since 9/11???? As I recall you had to be an established user to get the account, or is it different if it travels by ground only???:confused:

Nope, getting a Fed-Ex number, regardless of how or what is being shipped, is extremely easy. You're thinking of the airline companies. If a Stallion Owner wants to ship semen directly through the airlines, such as American, Northwest, etc., they must have a "known shipper" account with the airlines. This came into play after 9/11. It can be very expensive to get an account set up with the airlines, plus, they must come out and inspect your property and there can often be a long wait time for that. Fed-Ex is completely different.

[talloaks]

Nope, getting a Fed-Ex number, regardless of how or what is being shipped, is extremely easy. You're thinking of the airline companies. If a Stallion Owner wants to ship semen directly through the airlines, such as American, Northwest, etc., they must have a "known shipper" account with the airlines. This came into play after 9/11. It can be very expensive to get an account set up with the airlines, plus, they must come out and inspect your property and there can often be a long wait time for that. Fed-Ex is completely different.


Thanks for clearing up the confusion I had. :winkgrin: I am a MO who really likes to be able to pick up the fresh cooled semen locally, as in Hilltop, a 3 hour drive. or those breeders who use SSB at Hilltop. I have driven to SW VA also but that took a little longer but was a pretty drive!! Now Yes I know, I could never drive to Alberta to pick up fresh semen!!:lol: Would definitely have to do something else!! Guess it would be a FedEx # for you!!

[ShowjumpersUSA]

I have found it easier to include the first shipment in the price of the semen. But, that can't always be done.

Another thing I've done is to have the mare owner call the clinic with her credit card number for them to process. Campesino was at UGA where they collected and shipped the semen after getting the credit card information from the mare owner.

When I bought some Quinar semen from Karen, her vet's office took my credit card info and processed it while I was on the phone with her.

Hope this helps.

[JY]

I think the Fed X account is the only way to go. It has happened to me 4 times already this season. Two of them I was able to process the credit card (it had probably been paid up in the interim from when Fed X tried); but the other two are still non-responsive. And the totals is over $800.
Bernie, I could also do a "known shippers" list (!!) , of those who I have done business with before. As I said, on the whole, I think I have the best customers ever.
And Kathy, you may be right that Fed X might end up charging me anyway, because the new accounts set up with Fed X are not credit accounts, but they merely take your credit card to process the charges as they come in. I guess if one's card was full and the charge was declined, it COULD revert to shipper........ I will ask. It's just that there is little profit enough in this, and I am trying to be savvy ... I am lacking in business skills, I admit. I am an arTIST' ! ;-)

[Marieke]

I know what you're talking about, sadly.

I have done the following in the past. I have a merchant account and charge the card myself. I provide the merchant bank with all the information and paperwork, and I've gotten the money.

For the larger amounts I have sold the account to a collection agency.

I have the best clients ever, too :D But there are bad apples and people who think it is ok to do this. I have since heard from many others that it is always the same people.

I know ask people to sent it to me through paypal most of the time, ahead of schedule. Works great.

[talloaks]

Bernie, I could also do a "known shippers" list (!!) , of those who I have done business with before. As I said, on the whole, I think I have the best customers ever.


Thanks JY, I like that idea best!:winkgrin:

[Home Again Farm]

I am so lucky. I live close enough to pick my straws up from JY. ;) :yes:

[Clear Blue]

This seems to be an increasing problem with frozen semen shipments. Twice I have been charged (as the receiver/vet clinic that has a Fed-Ex acct) when the MO's card didn't work.

The second time I did a little digging and found out that the client had changed banks in the interim period of prepaying for frozen semen and the card being processed for the actual shipping (months later). They ended up paying Fed-ex directly with a check - but what a PITA.

I agree with working off of a "known" client list. For a new client they can either prepay the shipping or provide their own Fed-Ex label with account info.

Fed-Ex has come up with a lot of extra charges lately (fuel charge, rural delivery charge) that has pretty much doubled what we have paid in the past. Because UPS comes to the office on an almost daily basis we have started using them. It has been about a third less $$. So far all shipments have made it on time.

[JY]

Clear Blue .. I have worked so successfully with Fed Ex for so long, that I haven't checked into UPS lately. How do they collect their money; i.e.: does it have to be on MO's credit card or my own account? I just don't need any more paperwork, payment processing to keep up with.
Yeah, breeders around Ocala have a pretty good deal here! I don't even charge them a handling fee, because I consider them my friends and it's always nice to have a visit!
But, back to the subject - I will look into UPS tomorrow, if it is appreciably less expensive, I would change for the MO's sake. As long as the service is as easy and overnight.

[Draygonfyne]

Just a heads up about UPS...if you're dealing with Canadian/cross border shipments they charge a horrendous brokerage fee (on top of all the standard fees) to the receiver when the package is delivered.

You may want to keep the Fedex option for Canadian customers...but just require their own Fedex number.

[HSGF]

I agree 100% with DF. I will never use UPS again due to the horrendous brokerage fees.

[YankeeLawyer]

I have personally had some bad experiences with UPS this year actually losing packages, an issue I never had with FEDEX, though I suppose all of the carriers have that issue from time to time. Also, for some reason, our UPS guy insists on just tossing packages over our front gates instead of bringing them up to the house or barn. I really would not trust them with a semen shipment.

[STF]

I use disosables, so far from the risk some of you take with vapor shippers and equitainers, but even then they have to have a Fed EX account to ship semen.

[MagicRoseFarm]

I would find a way with Fed Ex NOT to be automatically billed when a CC is declined,( possibly this is solved by forcing the receiver to have a Fed Ex number) and not allow the semen ( or my shipper) to leave my hands without payment...

[ShowjumpersUSA]

I don't know if this is possible with the type of shipping we do but, maybe PayPal would be the easiest answer. Some people add a % for the convenience to the customer's bill. They can calculate the shipping charges online and clear the customer's charge imediately. Very easy.

[JY]

The conundrum is that now , with all these new surcharges from Fed X (previously mentionied), it is near impossible to calculate the charges.
Nope, I agree that the only , probably not perfect, solution is for MO to have a Fed X #.
See how a few bad apples spoils the barrel?
PS. As of this morning ,the two ladies in question still have not supplied payment. I was hoping they would see this thread and see what a real issue this is. But, don't you find that people , more and more, just think of themsleves and how the world around them is, without thinking of others' feelings or the ramifications of thier thoughtless actions?
Thanks for all the input, and I will now initiate a Fed X # only policy. Bummer.

[pintofoal]

I have it where folks can pay for shipping on line, we use a flat fee, which generally covers the costs. I charge more if the breeder wants me to process their card or if they want to send a check - this is just more work and time for me then getting the payment immediately via Paypal buttons, so I actually reward my breeders for paying this way instead of adding a surcharge. In the long run it cost me less even with the fees taken by Paypal. We will also keep a breeders Fed Ex # on file, but we are still owed a collection/lab fee, so again the payment on-line really helps. Here is our shipping page if you want to see how we do it: http://www.silverwoodfarm.com/ship.html The average shipment to CA, WA, Western areas for a 4 pound box is $100+ and I can't afford to foot that bill any longer.

I have gotten to the point where I just will not ship without payment up front unless it is a known/pass client with a good history. The past couple of years I have been left with $1000's owed to Fed Ex, which I am still paying off. Like you JY I hate the paper work but the paypal and pre-payment has really cut down on that. I have also really buckled down with a new software program and am keeping really good track of who owes what. It has made my life easier and will hopefully keep me debt free this year with Fed Ex.

[clint]

I had to get a Fedex number to breed to a fresh stallion. I did it a couple of years ago, it is very easy, and actually, I like having the charges go directly to me that way.

[Equine Reproduction]

Ahhh, the joys of shipping semen. Even if the customer has a FedEx number, you as the shipper, can be held responsible for the costs if they don't have a valid credit card number or don't pay their FedEx account, ESPECIALLY if they are listed as being billed as a third party (if you're shipping the semen to a vet facility, for example). And, you also want to be sure that you get your dry shipper back! So additional fees for the return of the shipper are also going to be added to the mix.

I know that when you ship (referring to Judy), that you enclose all the paperwork including the breeding certificate on the particular stallion you're shipping semen on. I would suggest that you do not include the breeding certificate or any pertinent documentation until ALL fees have been paid. While it's not a guarantee as many breeders don't bother registering the resulting foals, it can at least be one more thing to help prevent being left holding the proverbial "bag".

Hope that helps!

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
http://www.equine-reproduction.com