© 2007 Birds Just Wanna Have Fun.  All rights reserved.

HOW TO REACH US ...

    Phone: 1-800-246-1018 (orders only) or 512-401-0536
     During normal business hours (central time zone).  Located in Austin, Texas.

We can be reached via e-mail at   kit @ birdsjustwannahavefun.com (remove spaces before and after the @).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)...

FAQ 1.  Why We Started the Business ... 
New Bird. We bought our first larger bird, a cockatoo, and while we waited for her to be weaned, we started shopping for toys.

• HARD TO FIND TOYS & PARTS.  We went from store to store and even online stores but we weren't happy with the selection, quality, and price of bird toys for mid-sized and larger birds.  Safe toys and toy parts were hard to find.  

• PET STORES HAD POOR SELECTION.  Pet stores didn't have much (if anything) for larger birds.  What they did have was expensive and often unsafe (zinc, S-hooks, bent wires, unsafe rope, etc.).

• ONLINE CATALOGS WEREN'T GREAT EITHER.  The online stores were better but the selection of toy parts was limited and you couldn't ever pick your colors.  Often they listed items that were out of stock.  The first we knew something was "back ordered" was when our order arrived with several items missing!  The extra shipping for backordered items added a lot to the cost of the toys!

• We thought we could do better.

  • We stock a large selection of safer toy parts in addition to lots of fun and unique toys (many are our own design).

  • We let you pick the color part you want.  If there isn't a specific color choice beside the item, tell us in special instructions and we'll do our best to give you your first choice.

  • We update inventory levels daily.  If it's on our web page, there's almost a 100% chance the item you want is in stock.  If it's not, we let you know right away and work with you to get you what you need, when you need it, at the best price.

FAQ 2.  Why Our Web Site is Our Catalog ...

• COST.  We can't maintain both a web site and a paper catalog and keep our prices low.
• CURRENT.  We revise the web site almost daily, adding new items and deleting discontinued items.  You can't do that with a paper catalog.
• INTERNET ACCESS.  Most customers have access to the web or have a friend or relative who can help them. 

FAQ 3.  How We Decide What to Carry in the Store ... 

• EDUCATIONAL & UNIQUE.  We try to bring you many "classic" items but, mostly, we try to offer bird toys and parts you won't find in other stores.  
• SAFETY. We won't carry items that aren't as safe as possible. However, there is no such thing as a 100% safe bird toy.  Select toys that are appropriate for your bird and supervise your bird with any new toy and all  potentially  risky toys.
• SIZE.  Most of the items we carry are for mid-sized (such as African greys, Amazons, small cockatoos, etc.) and larger birds.  
• SUGGESTIONS?  If you want us to consider a new item, contact us.

FAQ 4.  How We're Different ... 

• TOY DESIGN.  Most toys are our own design and/or items you won't find in other stores.  They are as safe as possible.  We carry only bird safe materials and strive to inform our customers about bird toy safety.
• CUSTOMER SERVICE.  We treat you like we would want to be treated.  
• STOCK AVAILABILITY POSTED DAILY.  We hate to order something only to be told it's backordered.  We constantly update availability of merchandise and confirm your order within one business day (rare exceptions when we're out of town for a show).
  • If something you order isn't available, we call or e-mail you to ask how you want us to handle your order.
• CREDIT CARDS SECURITY AND PRIVACY.  We are extremely careful with your credit card and personal information.  We don't share it except to process your order and if required for law enforcement.  See credit card security for more info.
• ZERO FRAUD.  Other stores build the cost of bad check and fraudulent credit card fraud into their prices.  We have very tight procedures to prevent fraud.  This includes 100% address verification (matching your shipping address to your credit card billing address).  If you want your order sent to an alternate address such as work or a family member, that's fine, we just ask you to contact your bank to add the information.
• SHIPPING COSTS.  Your shipping cost is only what it costs us to send your package.  Companies that offer "free shipping" simply build the cost of shipping into their prices or go out of business. 
• NOTIFICATIONS (BY E-MAIL and PHONE).  
  • Order Confirmation.  The shopping cart sends an order confirmation within minutes of when you place your online order.  (If you don't get this notice, CALL US.)  
  • Shipping Notices.  You get additional notices when your package ships. 
    • UPS E-Mail Notification.  If you select UPS shipping, our shipping software sends you a tracking notice by e-mail the day we send your package.  It comes from QuantumViewNotify@UPS.com and it might look like Spam,  but it's your tracking information.
    • Shipping Notification.  We call when we ship your package.  Usually the same evening or the next day.
• OTHER SERVICES.  
  • Personal Shopper.  We provide a personalized help.  Tell us about your bird and the amount you want to spend.  We'll give you a suggested shopping list.  
  • Toy Making Ideas.  We provide free toy making ideas on our web site and teach toy making workshops.

FAQ 5.  Visit or Pick Up in Austin...

• VISIT/SHOP.  We get requests to visit the store from people in the Austin area or people passing through.  
  • Our work and storage areas are "clean rooms" so the toys you receive are clean and do not present an infection control risk to
    your birds.  We can't allow non-employees in the work areas.  Also, our insurance policy does not permit customers in the work areas.
    • PARROT FESTIVAL.  We set up the "store" at Parrot Festival in Houston, Texas each January.  (See ParrotFestival.org.)
  • If you need an order fast and you're in the Austin area, we can usually arrange next day delivery by UPS or Post Office Mail. 
• PICK UP.  We can make special arrangements for pick up on orders:
  • MONTHLY.  Austin bird group dinner at a casual restaurant with the cost usually under $10.  Contact us for the location in NW Austin or Round Rock.  If you're in Austin and want to join us, let us know.  
  • Note: We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and cash/money orders for pick up orders.  We don't accept checks.
• MEET THE OWNER.  You can meet and speak with the owner, Kit, at the Parrot Festival or other conferences.  See Schedule.

Memberships and Community Service...

• BIRD CLUB/ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS
  • Austin, Texas -- Capital City Cage Bird Club.  
    Past President (2003), librarian (2001-2002), alternate membership chair, and back up speaker.
  • San Antonio, Texas -- Alamo Exhibition Bird Club (AEBC).  Member and alternate delegate to American Federation of Aviculture Convention, 2002.
  • American Federation of Aviculture - member and alternate club delegate
• SERVICES
  • TOY MAKING WORKSHOPS.  See Schedule.
  • MENTOR.  Owner assists small businesses with start-up and business operations.  She also mentors high school and college students.
  • EMERGENCY ANIMAL RESCUE SERVICES (EARS).  Owner is a trained (including FEMA disaster courses) volunteer for regional disaster response and community education about animal disaster  preparedness.  Get a disaster planning checklist for bird owners.
• CHARITIES AND SPONSORSHIPS
  • DONATIONS.  
    • Austin and San Antonio birds clubs, Parrot Festival (Houston, TX), Long Island (NY) Parrot Society (LIPS), African Parrot Society (for cape parrot preservation).  Donated raffle items.
    • Charlie's Bird House (handicapped birds), Texas.  Donate toys and supplies.
  • SPONSORSHIPS.
    • Parrot Festival sponsored speakers: Dr. Scott Echols (2003), Mattie Sue Athan (2004), and Sally Blanchard (2004).
    • Parrot Quest (Tulsa, OK, June 2003).  Corporate sponsor. 
    • Oklahoma Aviculture Society.  Sponsored speaker, Dr. Irene Pepperberg (Alex the African grey), June 2004.
    • GREY PoopON CHALLENGE 2001 supporting the funding of Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD) research.

REFERENCES - You are welcome to contact these organizations and individuals to ask what they think of us and our toys. 

• Bird Clubs in Texas & Oklahoma - call the president or a bird club officer.  See schedule page for a list of workshop locations.
• National Parrot Rescue and Preservation Foundation  (NPRPF) in Houston, Texas.  Contact any of the officers or members.  See ParrotFestival.org or schedule page.
• Bird Behavior Consultants
  • Mattie Sue Athan (OK) at PositivelyParrots.com
  • Pamela Clark (CA) at Parrothouse.com/pamelaclark/index.htm
  • Liz Wilson (PA)  at www3 .upatsix.com/liz/ 
    (copy URL and remove the space after www3)
  • Barbara Heidenreich at goodbirdinc.com
• Companion Parrot Quarterly - Sally Blanchard and her staff.  (We advertise in CPQ.) See CompanionParrot.com.
• Better Business Bureau (BBB) - We are not a member but you may contact BBB about any company.  The Austin, Texas number is
  (512) 445-2911.  
  • We did join BBB several years ago and then we read the fine print.  We were only allowed to say we were a member in the Austin area.  We could not mention it in publications (except local ones) and not on the web site.  The cost is an application fee of $360/year (local), and online membership is an additional $170/year.  
  • It was too much to pay for such limited coverage.  We ended our membership in good standing with BBB.  As far as we know, there have never been any complaints filed.

   
My bird and my husband.
Click to enlarge photos