Clarity, Compassion, and Commitment
At EliteAfricanGreys, we approach every placement with the goal of it being a joyful, permanent union for both parrot and family. We understand that life with a highly intelligent, long-lived companion is a profound commitment, and we strive for absolute transparency in our financial policies. Our Refund Policy is designed to be fair, clear, and reflective of our deep responsibility to both our clients and our parrots.
The Core Principle: We Are Breeding Living Beings, Not Merchandise
Please understand that a live animal transaction is fundamentally different from purchasing an inanimate object. Our policies reflect the immense investment of time, resources, emotion, and risk we undertake in raising each chick to weaning and beyond. When you reserve a chick, we cease all other marketing and invest deeply in its individual care for the 12-16+ weeks until it goes home. Therefore, our refund structure is based on the stage of the process.
Deposit & Reservation Policy
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Reservation Deposit: To place a specific, weaned chick on hold for you, or to reserve a spot on our waiting list for an upcoming clutch, a non-refundable deposit of $500 is required. This deposit is applied toward the total purchase price.
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Deposit Meaning: This deposit secures your commitment and ours. It compensates us for the loss of other potential homes and the dedicated care we provide your chick during the holding period. This deposit is non-refundable if you change your mind. However, in cases of severe, documented hardship (major illness, etc.), we may, at our sole discretion, offer to transfer the deposit to a future clutch one time only.
Payment Balance & Pre-Shipment
The remaining balance is due in full two (2) weeks prior to the scheduled shipping/pickup date. We will not schedule travel or release the parrot until the balance is paid in full. If payment is not received, the chick will be made available to another home, and the deposit will be forfeited.
Refund Scenarios After Taking Possession
Once the parrot is in your possession, our refund policy is governed primarily by our Health Guarantee (see Health Guarantee page for full details).
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Health-Related Refunds (Within 72 Hours):
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If your certified avian vet discovers a life-threatening or contagious illness during the 72-hour examination period, and we receive the required written documentation, we will offer you a choice of:
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A full refund of the purchase price, contingent upon the safe return of the parrot to us (shipping at our expense).
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A replacement chick of comparable value when available.
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Refunds will be processed within 14 business days of receiving the parrot back in our care in good condition.
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Sexing Discrepancy Refund:
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As outlined in the Health Guarantee, a refund of any price differential will be issued if DNA testing proves the sex incorrect.
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Congenital Defect Refund/Replacement (Within 1 Year):
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This results in a replacement chick, not a monetary refund, as per the Health Guarantee terms.
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Non-Refundable Situations
The following situations are not eligible for a refund:
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Change of heart, lifestyle change, allergy discovery, or personal circumstances after taking possession of the parrot.
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Behavioral issues arising after placement (feather plucking, biting, screaming). We provide exhaustive lifetime support to help you through these challenges. Please call us first!
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Illnesses or injuries that occur after the 72-hour vet check, as these are beyond our control.
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Failure to follow care guidelines regarding diet, housing, or safety, leading to illness or escape.
Our Lifetime Rehoming Safety Net
This is the most important part of our policy and our ethics: If, at any point in the parrot’s life, you cannot keep it, you MUST contact us. We have a FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL and a LIFETIME REHOMING COMMITMENT.
We do not offer a “buy-back” or monetary refund in these cases. What we offer is infinitely more valuable: the guarantee that your Elite African Grey will never end up in a shelter, on a classified ad, or in an uncertain situation. We will take the bird back into our care and place it in a carefully vetted new home. An agreed-upon surrender fee may apply to cover quarantine and care costs.