Ferret Nation 142 setup/delivery

[LovinTheSmallAndFurry]

I got my Ferret Nation (through Amazon) yesterday. It came on time. But when it got here, the box was totally beat up, and even coming apart on one side. When I opened it up, I thankfully had all of the parts, and it was packaged well. However, I discovered that on the front of one of the doors, one of the bars of the grill (?) had completely been yanked out at the bottom somehow....and it's made of metal?And the one next to it--at the same angle--was bent in somewhat. Also when putting it together I noticed a hole in one of the posts had not been drilled out completely, so the bolt wouldn't fit all the way in (I took my screwdriver and carefully chipped away at the extra metal, which worked ok).

I worked on putting the cage together for two hours, and I finally gave up because I only got halfway done. And I noticed that the grids don't fit very well into the door and back panels...the protruding ends fit into the holes, but not as well as I was expecting.

Maybe it's just the one I got, but it seems like this cage is not manufactured very well. I would send it back, but I'm getting my chins this weekend so I wouldn't have time to ship it back and get another one. Also, I don't know that the structural issues with the cage are because of the manufacturer or whether they occurred during shipping/delivery.

I thought I'd be able to put the cage together by myself--theoretically it's easy enough--but I'll have to ask my bf for assistance which I hate to do cause he works 11 hours a day. Blah. I think once he helps me, the cage will come together ok. It will certainly be safe enough and structurally sound for them (the protruding wire is not so much that they could get caught on it).

This is just really really frustrating. :hair: :wacko:

 

[rutherford]

hmm, i'm considering order a fn142 from amazon as well because i have an amazon.com gift card from selling back my old textbooks earlier this month that will bring the cost down by quite a lot. it's terrible to hear that your package arrived so poorly... definitely a reason to be concerned.

i hope it all comes together in the end in order for you to welcome your chinchillas warmly!

 

[LovinTheSmallAndFurry]

hmm, i'm considering order a fn142 from amazon as well because i have an amazon.com gift card from selling back my old textbooks earlier this month that will bring the cost down by quite a lot. it's terrible to hear that your package arrived so poorly... definitely a reason to be concerned.

i hope it all comes together in the end in order for you to welcome your chinchillas warmly!

Thanks Rutherford! I'm not sure what happened. But SO many people on here have raved about the FN142s and Ferret Nation's in general that I'm sure overall they're good quality. I would say--especially if you get it super cheap with your gift card--definitely purchase one. It would be worth it, and like I said many people on here are happy with theirs. I just got bad luck I guess. It'll work out somehow. :crossfingers:

 

[jordanln97]

I got one in December as Rocco's (and my) Christmas present. The box was in TERRIBLE condition, but the only thing that broke was one of the plastic pans I wouldn't be using.

 

[Sandi]

I've bought 2 FN 142's from Amazon at different times and both arrived promptly and each box was in good condition. My suggestion would be to call them right away as I've only experienced great customer service from them. I would not keep that FN.

 

[Tulula]

I would also contact Amazon - whenever I have had trouble with anything ordered through their site, they fixed it right away. They should ship you a new one AND pay for return shipping on the defective one. I also have 3 3-level FN and love them, I think once you have one that is not defective you will love it too.
Jeanne

 

[Dewdrop]

I'd call them and see about getting it replaced. And then if your getting your chins from a breeder, and their close see if they can just hold them a few extra days. Or see if they have a smaller travel type cage they'd be willing to lend/sell/give you. Or just go to the store and get one yourself. It's not ideal, but keeping them in a smaller temp. cage for a few days isn't going to hurt them.

 

[Pikaia]

I received a FN142 from Amazon about two months ago and it arrived in the same condition. The pieces were all there and I started to put it together myself. What a pain in the butt! I got about halfway and had my boyfriend help me the rest of the way. It is easier with two people. I had one of the pieces bent where you slide a rod in. Call the company and see if there is anything you can do. We managed to put it together, but it would be better just to get a new one shipped to you.

Good luck!

 

[Essentia]

I've bought 2 FN 142's from Amazon at different times and both arrived promptly and each box was in good condition. My suggestion would be to call them right away as I've only experienced great customer service from them. I would not keep that FN.

Agreed. I have 2 FN cages that I purchased from Amazon. They both arrived in good condition. Contact amazon. I also would not use that cage.

 

[mishellyshel]

i agree with sandi........def contact amazon.
they may shipout a new one over night.
the FN's are well built but definitely easier with 2 people. i am sure your bf wouldnt mind helping a damsel in distress!!!

 

[LovinTheSmallAndFurry]

Yeah, I'll contact Amazon. I can't have the ppl I'm getting the chins from hold them anymore because they've already held them a week for me, and because of family issues they can't keep them anymore.

It just angers me that I'll have to box this one back up, send it back AND wait for another one. :banghead:

My luck is not good these days.

 

[partygirlha]

Asuming Amaozn agrees to an exchange - explain that you have an animal that needs to have a cage ASAP and try to get them to overnight it for free. there is no reason a company that huge can't have it to you by Monday if you call today.

 

[Twilight Chinchillas]

Could you maybe find a temp cage on Craiglist or something to tide them over until a replacement came? I'd be pissy too!

 

[LovinTheSmallAndFurry]

I called Amazon Friday night. The lady said that due to the size of the box/package, the earliest they could ship the new cage would be Monday, with it getting here Wednesday, no charge on shipping that one or returning the other one. She did give me the idea to go ahead and set up the damaged cage, then once the new cage comes, perhaps taking off the defective parts (mostly the one front door, so far), and replacing it with the new ones.

But, I'd feel weird having a mish-mash cage, particularly with these being my first chinchillas. So what I decided to do is just set up the bottom half of the cage I have for now, so the girls will have sufficient room, until Wednesday. Then I'll just take that down and put up the entire new cage. Because putting up all of the defective cage, only to take it down in three days sounds really annoying, and I imagine it'll be a total b*$ch as well. :idea:

Christine, I have been checking almost daily for Craigslist cages, to no avail. :wacko:

 

[ChinnyMom]

sounds like a plan, only using half the FN for now. maybe don't put in the shelf, since it's plastic and Amazon may get finicky about chew marks on it. hope you have a fleece liner to cover the bottom plastic pan too.

 

[LovinTheSmallAndFurry]

Heh, I don't have fleece liners right now cause I'm not sure if they're going to be the kind to chew it up, so I'll just have to deal with the chewing for a bit. Maybe Amazon will let it slide...since it's already defective. :crossfingers:

The upside is that I got an email notification this morning that Amazon has already shipped my cage (lady told me the earliest would be tomorrow), so at the latest it should get here Tuesday, not Wednesday.

 

[Dewdrop]

If they chew the pan/shelf just exchange those out with the one their reshipping. So you keep the ones your using now, and they get the new ones back.

 

[LovinTheSmallAndFurry]

If they chew the pan/shelf just exchange those out with the one their reshipping. So you keep the ones your using now, and they get the new ones back.

:duh: Excellent idea, Dewdrop!

 

[ChinnyMom]

i'd also be concerned about plastic ingestion and impaction more so than amazon being persnickety about chew marks. any way you might get to a fabric shop today to get a piece of fleece? just wrap it around and tuck it under the pan real good.

 

[LovinTheSmallAndFurry]

i'd also be concerned about plastic ingestion and impaction more so than amazon being persnickety about chew marks. any way you might get to a fabric shop today to get a piece of fleece? just wrap it around and tuck it under the pan real good.

I've already decided not to put any of the plastic trays in their cages for that reason. Right now they're getting along just fine (they're sisters), but I'm going to buy some granite tiles this week just in case I need to separate the cage into two levels. And at the moment I'm using one of the plastic shelves under the bottom floor of the cage as a catch-all for their poop/etc.

I'm waiting for the new cage to arrive before I put the hammocks up, and after that I'm going to observe if they chew them. If they don't, I'm definitely investing in fleece liners.