Fair Return Policy

[kjcmsw]

Asking for opinions:
Because I wouldn't want my pups to end up dumped in a shelter or worse, I plan to ask that the buyers return the pup to me first should they no longer want it/unable to care for it - will return their money..."within reason" This is all based on the pup would be sold in a healthy condition/no issues, etc and is being returned 'just because' (I guess).
Buyers want to know/expect seller to provide vet records that pup is healthy...is it a fair expectation of the seller when offering to return the money that the pup come back healthy also - 'essentially' in the same condition it was sold? ----> so here's my question:
Such as (example purposes only): 2/3 months post sale the new owners are moving (whatever excuse) and decide they can no longer care for pup...but they bring it back infested in fleas...is it a reasonable expectation that the costs to de-louse the pup comes out of the money expected to be returned? (assuming in this example the pup obviously didn't leave the seller to the buyer with fleas) What other things are reasonable? They wanted a vet record pre sale, does it go both ways...the seller should expect a vet record in return?
What types of things/conditions do you place on returning people's money?
I'm thinking they're are more likely to return a pup to the seller if they at least believe they'll get some of their money back.

[chachi]

well I would take the pup no matter what the circumstances but as far as the money back I dont see anything wrong with expecting a vet record thats current and up to date for full money back. If a dog had fleas I dont see anything wrong with taking that out of the refund money. However Im giving a dog owner perspective not a breeder perspective so Ill be interested to see what they say

[magicgenie]

It took me a while to figure out that once a puppy has been sold and left my home I really can no longer guarantee anything about its health. I think it was on here that I read about a puppy that was returned to the breeder with a devastating head injury that I think was discovered after a refund had been given. When I tried to be a little lenient with a return policy I had a horrible run of people taking puppies home and returning them days to weeks later for allergies and/or crying at night. This was bad for me and my puppies and I had put a stop to it. There are no more full on-the-spot refunds. If someone has to return a puppy I will compensate them whatever amount I can recover by selling the puppy to someone else, minus any direct costs I incur in the process. They will be paid after the puppy has gone to a new home. I've had no returns since putting this into effect and all customers have agreed this is perfectly reasonable.

[kjcmsw]

Originally Posted by magicgenie

It took me a while to figure out that once a puppy has been sold and left my home I really can no longer guarantee anything about its health. I think it was on here that I read about a puppy that was returned to the breeder with a devastating head injury that I think was discovered after a refund had been given. When I tried to be a little lenient with a return policy I had a horrible run of people taking puppies home and returning them days to weeks later for allergies and/or crying at night. This was bad for me and my puppies and I had put a stop to it. There are no more full on-the-spot refunds. If someone has to return a puppy I will compensate them whatever amount I can recover by selling the puppy to someone else, minus any direct costs I incur in the process. They will be paid after the puppy has gone to a new home. I've had no returns since putting this into effect and all customers have agreed this is perfectly reasonable.

Thank you all for replies received thus far.
Yes, I was also thinking no 'on-the-spot' refunds...I think these things should be reasonable on both sides. I won't sell you a sick dog, so don't try to "sell" me (back) a sick dog.
Yes, I'd take them back no matter what...the refund portion was what I was trying to make reasonable and where my question(s) were - thus it was never about "would" I take them back rather only about "refund offer fairness/standards to the industry".
I do think it should depend on resaleability - a 3 month puppy would sell easier (I'm sure) than say an 8 month old..., so while trying to resell a person incurs other costs.
I just want to be fair. I realize that just because I'll try to do the right thing doesn't mean everyone will and I don't want to be taken advantage of.

[YorkieRose]

I took back a puppy after a week and another after two weeks...I resold and gave the owner what I got..this was agreement upon when I took the puppy...minus any vet expenses to make sure all was well and I could promise a new owner a healthy puppy.

[Ringo1]

So, what if someone comes to you four years later and says; well I can't keep the dog any more? Would you still refund that person? I would guess that person should not expect a refund; at least I wouldn't.

I was just curious because my breeder has one of those lifetime return policies . the dog is always to be returned to her in the event I couldn't keep her, etc.

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by Ringo1

So, what if someone comes to you four years later and says; well I can't keep the dog any more? Would you still refund that person? I would guess that person should not expect a refund; at least I wouldn't.

I was just curious because my breeder has one of those lifetime return policies . the dog is always to be returned to her in the event I couldn't keep her, etc.

I was wondering the same thing.

[kjcmsw]

Originally Posted by Ringo1

So, what if someone comes to you four years later and says; well I can't keep the dog any more? Would you still refund that person? I would guess that person should not expect a refund; at least I wouldn't.

I was just curious because my breeder has one of those lifetime return policies . the dog is always to be returned to her in the event I couldn't keep her, etc.

Yes (God willing) I would always take back a dog. And I did incorporate that into my agreement (lifetime return - I also said I wouldn't hold them from reselling/giving the pup to another person but I'd need to approve the person, they can't be associated with a kill shelter, broker, pet store, etc, etc --- I thought that fair to them also, maybe one of their relatives fell in love with the pup and after they couldn't care for it that relative wanted it???) but I did limit the time they could receive a portion of their money back...as I thought that was fair. When I sold the one pup and utilized this agreement the buyer thought it was more than fair.

I included that if they sold it they couldn't sell it for more than they paid for it or the extra goes to me --- I think that's fair, hopefully that would keep someone who gets "a good deal" from me from trying to profit/buy/sell. The one boy we currently have I am selling cheaper as I want him to go to a good home while he's young...and I could see, with his bloodlines and quality someone thinking "oh yeah, buy him cheap and then resell him for more"

If anyone would like to see it you can PM me your email and I'll attach a copy of it and then anyone can give me feedback (the good/the bad) - or if you like it use it for your own purposes - I share!
It's a full page...possibly a little long and wordy, but I utilized some of my former legal skills to try to make it appropriate.
Thanks for all the input, I truly appreciate it.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by kjcmsw

I included that if they sold it they couldn't sell it for more than they paid for it or the extra goes to me --- I think that's fair, hopefully that would keep someone who gets "a good deal" from me from trying to profit/buy/sell. The one boy we currently have I am selling cheaper as I want him to go to a good home while he's young...and I could see, with his bloodlines and quality someone thinking "oh yeah, buy him cheap and then resell him for more"

I never thought of this, but I could see it happening. The contract with my boys' breeder forbids resale or re-homing. If I cannot care for the dogs at any point in their lives, I am obligated to return them to the breeder, no money back (which the way it should be, ideally, but some people need monetary motivation to do what is in the best interests of the dog).

[kjcmsw]

I know I wouldn't expect my money back either, but yeah, that's why I'm including it in the agreement as a monetary incentive for them to do the right thing.
It's not to my advantage, just the puppy's.
For those that have PM'ed me and included their email I will send a copy tonight/this weekend. Please let me know what you think I am requesting the good/bad/ugly -- feel free to tell me what you like about it, what you don't, anything you think I forgot, feel free to trash it altogether (nicely lol)
I'm want to do the best thing for our puppies so I will consider all feedback
Thanks

[YorkieRose]

Originally Posted by Ringo1

So, what if someone comes to you four years later and says; well I can't keep the dog any more? Would you still refund that person? I would guess that person should not expect a refund; at least I wouldn't.

I was just curious because my breeder has one of those lifetime return policies . the dog is always to be returned to her in the event I couldn't keep her, etc.

I will take the dog back at any age..BUT it is agreed upon I will not pay for it. A 4 yr old Yorkie is little monetary value anyway...

[kjcmsw]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

I will take the dog back at any age..BUT it is agreed upon I will not pay for it. A 4 yr old Yorkie is little monetary value anyway...

Yes, mine was time limited also...as far as money returned.

[caw]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

I will take the dog back at any age..BUT it is agreed upon I will not pay for it. A 4 yr old Yorkie is little monetary value anyway...

I don't find that to be true "at all".....especially for a nice-looking yorkie. I've conducted many searches on some of these rescue sites and if the yorkie is a nice looking one, they ask ALOT for a dog of an "uncertain" and "undesirable" background.....and a lot of them have been quite sickly. I wouldn't want to take them on. I've also looked at some breeder sites even some of the "reputable" breeder sites and they want to sell some of their adults yorkies (6-8 years old) with a nice price-tag attached to them..."still". Pretty good business to sell the original puppy for say.....1,800.00-3,000.00 and get it returned later at a "no buy back" from the breeder. Then the breeder re-sells the adult yorkie for another 800.00-1,200 (perhaps more) AGAIN. WOW!!! By the way...you breeders are always complaining that you sell your pups for "barely" any profit to "none at all". So......if you don't get a profit in the first place ( or much to speak of)....where is your reasoning for saying that a four-year-old yorkie is of no value????? I would'nt expect to get anything for my dog Daisy but she is INVALUABLE as far as I'm concerned. Money would NEVER be the object with concern to her. Only the "best" of the "best" of homes, if something horrible were to happen to me.

[caw]

Originally Posted by Maximo

I never thought of this, but I could see it happening. The contract with my boys' breeder forbids resale or re-homing. If I cannot care for the dogs at any point in their lives, I am obligated to return them to the breeder, no money back (which the way it should be, ideally, but some people need monetary motivation to do what is in the best interests of the dog).

I think you have fallen for a line by some "master manipulator".

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by caw

I think you have fallen for a line by some "master manipulator".

Our breeder cares deeply where her dogs end up. She doesn't want to see her dogs in a rescue or with the wrong owner. She also makes herself available to answer questions at any time. That support is priceless.