Hay guy, how to easily tell him no thanks:)?

Question

I've been getting hay from the same person for 7 yrs, and last yr was the worst hay ever, he bailed it wet, lots of sticks and branches, pickers and so on plus the dust! Yes we had a very bad drought last yr and we paid 3.50 a bale, well this yr he tells me it's good hay, and the yeild is great (lots of rain), but again I noticed he's cutting right after a rain, and know this yr he want's 5 BUCKS a bail, we knew with gas it would be higher but, wow.

Anyways I've found a new source it's great hay, ONLY cut when dry out, and it's 3 bucks, (cheaper) than last yr. Well I have to tell the other guy thanks but no, and I don't want to burn my bridges due to it's hard at times (most) to find hay, I'm thinking to give him a call, and say:

I'm sorry but I have to pass on hay this yr., I've located another source at a $200 dollar savings. I don't know. What do you think?

Answer 1

Tell him this: "I'm sorry that I have to tell you this, but I can't in good conscience buy hay from you until you can get me a good product.  My horse's health comes first and foremost, and your hay isn't something I can feed them.   I won't buy any bales until you can show me that your hay is worth the price. Right now, what you're offering, it's not."

Answer 2

Just be polite and tell him you don't need any hay right now.  You've had a long-term relationship with this guy and I don't blame you for not wanting to alienate him, especially in this market.  In matter of fact, you want the best for your horse at the best price and you don't have to explain yourself to this person.  This is a BUSINESS relationship.  It is amazing that you think $5 is a WOW high price.  I'm in central Florida and good grass mix hay here is $20-$24 per bale (75#) or almost $400 per ton (supposed to be a better deal).  From where I sit, your hay is amost free.  Again, I would not recommend explaining your financial position - just tell him you don't need anything right now and you will call him when you need to - all of that is the truth.

Answer 3

Well i would just tell him that you dont plan on buying hay from him this year. I wouldnt mention the other guy, he may ask who it is. Just say, hi, srry to say this but i will not be buying hay this year. Thanks for all the help then by.

Ha ha during the winter we paid over 160 dollars for a large bail of hay!

I want to just steall all the hay bails that are laying around her in MO there is a bunch! And there extremely big. one giant hay bail feeds my horse for two months, during the winter to. she never finishes them during the summer. but when she is full she will stop eating unlike some horses lol.

best of luck i would make the switch too.

Answer 4

Your friend boarded her horse with you for the summer right? Well just say that since she is boarding her horse with you, she decided to "foot the bill" for hay for the horses, and has bought the hay from one of her contacts. You are just calling to let him know that you will not need any for this year. You might need some next year, unless she continues to board her horse at your house.

But i would also tell the guy. I really appreciate buying hay from you, but i have started noticing the past few years that i have been getting a lot of sticks, pickers (weeds), that it has been bailed wet and it turns out really dusty when i feed it.

See what he says, plus, by saying any of this, he will still want buisness and maybe this could help for next year. find out someone else who buys his hay,and before you call for his hay again, find out from them what the quality is and how much it is.

Answer 5

say i think im going to look around for some cheaper hay

Answer 6

I wouldn't do anything to risk losing preferred customer status right now.  Hay growers around here are starting to sell to middle men who buy tons and haul it to other states at huge profits.  Only the most treasured customers are safe at this point.  It's not that you shouldn't be looking for better quality hay...I just think the timing is bad.  If you have done okay with his hay up until now, waiting until the hay shortage passes before changing might be wise.

I'm curious about the hay that is so good and offered cheaper than last year's crop...it waves a big red flag for me.  

I just think that if you don't buy from the guy that you've been with for 7 years, it will burn bridges no matter how you handle it.  I'd want to know more about the other dealer, and how he can provide better hay so cheaply, and the likelihood that he'll keep supplying you.

Answer 7

I don't think I'd tell him I found it cheaper because he may lower his price in an attempt to get you back as a customer.  Instead, just say you don't need any hay right now, but you'll let him know if you do need some at a later date.  If he asks why you don't need hay, just tell him a friend hooked you up with some hay and you don't think you'll need any for a while.

This will help prevent burning bridges you may later regret burning.

And just so you know, I'd be happy to pay $3 a bale for some good hay.  It's between $5-7 a bale here and for alfalfa mixes it's $9.25 and up.  Wish I knew your source!  I live in Central KY.

Answer 8

First- get the cheaper better hay. Get it stored on your place ( or whatever you usually do) then you tell him that you bought a job-lot off someone who was giving up and just wanted rid but you aren't sure how long it will last so you may want some later.

That way if the cheaper hay turns out to be a bad deal your usual guy will still be talking to you and as for next year - well you never know what may happen, the cheaper hay might not even be available then so you're best keeping things friendly.

Answer 9

I think that would work! Tell him: "Money is tight right now and i have found another source that has the same quality hay for less so i wont be needing hay anymore. Sorry Thanks but no thanks." Just be as polite as possible and if he tries to keep you  or argues so No thank you and walk away. Your getting a GREAT price for hay though in RI we are paying $9.99 for one bale!Try to keep contact with him though because you never know he may change his ways and you could regret it

Answer 10

5 dollar is pretty expencive!!!!!!!

just tell him you cant affort those HIGH prices and less quality hay!!! Plus its important for a horse to have good hay as it the biggest part of their diet!!!

Answer 11

I was in the same situation last year.

The man I got hay from for the last three years called me and wanted to know how much we would be needing.

I was honest with him. I said, " The first two years I got hay from you it was good but this last year it had lots of weeds and the quality was much less than what it had been. Now you want to charge $110 per large round bale. Which would mean I would be spending about $1650 for a years worth of hay. I have a person who is wanting me to buy their hay crop. It has been sprayed for weeds and fertilized and they are going to have it tested and the nutrition analyzed for me. They are charging $85 per ton and will deliver it for that price. Meaning I will spend only $722 for a years worth of hay and it will be better quality."

It did not make the man happy but I felt that honesty was the best in my case.

I notice he is now running ads trying to sell hay. Meanwhile my barn is full of high quality hay.

Answer 12

I read in an article that you shouldn't go to someone else because they are cheaper, because someday you may need then again, and they might not be so inviting when you come back.

BUT, if the hay you are paying for isn't quality, and he is raising the price, then that is different.  

So here are your options:

1.  Try his hay this year, if you gat a bad experience again, then just be honest with him.  You can tell him that hay is getting more expensive, and you really don't have any other option but to switch.

2.  Don't get his hay this year.  You can just be honest with him, like what I said in the first option.

You are quite lucky, because in CA, hay has almost doubled.

Answer 13

Tell him you understand that he has to increase his price, but that you also have to support yourself & your family (if you have one), and that you will be using someone else who is slightly cheaper.  Let him know that you are not cutting all contact with him, but his price per bale is more then what you have found elsewhere.  I wouldn't bring up the other price unless he asks.

Answer 14

I agree with the answer to say that a friend hooked you up for a while. don't burn the bridge if there isn't a reason cuz someday you may need it again.  i moved to florida from Michgan and couldn't believe the difference in hay costs.  in michigan we could get a good bale of timothy for 2 bucks and down here in florida your paying almost 13 is freakin crazy.  i feed alfalfa which you could get for 3.50-4 in MI but in florida for a little compressed bale your talking 15-16 bucks