PetLand SchmetLand

[Voodoo]

Over the weekend, I made a stop at my local PetLand to pick up a couple African Cichlids when I noticed they had a Ghost corn snake for sale.

Of course, they were asking way too much for the snake, but I asked to hold him anyway. Tiny little fellow - looked like he was only a few weeks old, if even that!

As I was holding him, some lady came up to me and was looking at the snake. She asked the sales rep a couple questions, and decided to buy it. The sales rep began telling the customer what she would need to take care of her corn snake, and that's where the tragedy began.

The sales rep told the lady to buy the smallest, most expensive terrarium they had in the store, and to fill it with potting soil and jungle bark and keep it really wet at all times. Ummm. I had to interject.

I told the customer that potting soil contains chemicals that could be harmful to her snake, and that it wasn't necessary at all. I pointed her in the direction of the aspen bedding, and also told her that the snake really only needs moisture judt before and during the shedding process.

I also explained to her that the viv she was about to buy for $60+ was going to be far too small for her new serpent friend in just a few short months. I talked her inot buying a $20 gallon fish tank for $20 (they were on sale that day) and a clampig lid for about $10.

Then I told her the snake would need a heat source on one side of the tank, and a hide box on the warm side and one for the cool side of the tank.

I had the customer well on her way to having a happy new home for her little corn, when one of the employees said "She won't get a warranty on her snake unless she buys what we tell her to buy."

I was like, "well, if she does what you people are telling her to do, she'll need that warranty because her snake will be dead before the warranty is up."

hahah. They didn't like that too much. I'm sorry that I know more about animals than PetLand employees do... But that's the kind of service you can expect from someone who works for one of these pet chains. They only get paid minimum wage, and they are told to sell the most expensive products related to the customer's pet purchase.

So, the employees talked their customer out of buying all the stuff her snake actually needs in exchange for purchasing a viv the snake will outgrow in a short time, and reassured her that the extremely wet potting soil idea was best for a corn snake. I was furious. I wanted to buy the snake myself, just for the sake of saving him.. but it was too late.

I also noticed that they had a ball python. His viv looked aweful. There was poo covering the substrate, and at least two full sheds mixed into the mess. I complained to one of the employees, and then to a manager. The manager's reply was that the ball python hasn't been eating for the last couple weeks. Then, I asked her, If the snake hasn't eaten in a couple weeks, that means it's been lying in its own feces for almost a month! To say she didn't seem concerned would be an understatement.

I'm going back there in a couple days. If they haven't clean it up, I'm calling their coporate office and filing a complaint with the ASPCA.

I just wanted to rant here for a bit and share my experiences. I'm tired of these pet chains and their less than mediocre practices, under-educated employees and policies.

 

[Jay@PJCReptiles]

Bravo! You did exactly what I would have done. The pet store chains are over manned and under educated. I couldn't believe some of the stuff you were typing (actually yes I can...idiots). As far as I am concerned you did the right thing. Keep standing by your convictions as maybe someday these imbeciles will see the light.
Jay

 

[Voodoo]

Yeah, I'm really sick of these places. Seems like every time I visit a pet shop, I hear an employee telling a customer a complete lie about an animal or a product.

An employee from the same PetLand mentioned about once told me that green water dragons are completely aquatic! What?!? and this was a manager I was talking to! aaaaaaaarghhhhh! :twoguns: :flames:

 

[Susan]

What's really sad is that the woman didn't question why there was so much of a difference between what the employee was saying and what you were saying. All she heard was "No Warranty" and that was that. Next time, look at where they sell the books and see if you can find one on cornsnakes. Seeing the information provided by you, and not the employee, verified in print would surely make an impression! Or better yet, keep a copy of Kathy's book handy at all times!

 

[dionythicus]

I woud have demanded to see that "warranty" in writing because I'll bet it doesn't have anything in it about buying their stuff. What if someone already has a set-up and is just buying the snake? No warranty? Actually, if you're up to it, go back to the store and ask to see it. There's no reason why they shouldn't show it to you, except that they are hiding something. If you read it and it says nothing about purchasing a complete set-up, then I would file a complaint with the manager, the corp. and possibly the better business bureau in your area for fraud. See how they like them apples.

 

[bjc7487]

which petland in ohio was it? i hope its not any near where i live!!

 

[texastailfeathers]

I've had the same experience in several pet stores. However, we have a PetLand near us in Arlington TX (between Dallas and Fort Worth) and they take WONDERFUL care of their animals. Everything from fish to birds. The reptile area is extremely clean and each habitat seems to have been tailor-made for the species it houses. Obviously the issue you saw was not a chain-wide problem.

 

[Voodoo]

bjc7487 ,

It's the petland in South Point. I know a few people that used to work there. The owner used to own another Pet Land about 20 miles from the one in South Point. His old store was closed down for some reason. Wonder what that was about?

Susan and dionythicus,

Great ideas. I'm sure they have a book about corn snakes there. I'll be sure to point out a few things the next time I'm in there, and I'll be sure to ask about those warranties.

It was really sad when the customer just decided, "well I better buy what they want me to buy so I can get my warranty." Crazy, I tell ya!

I couldn't but wonder why you would want to buy an animal that you know nothing about. When I decide to buy an animal I've never kept before, I research until my brain hurts. I don't just go ask some pet shop employee and take their every word for gospel.

I feel bad for the little ghost corn. I hope he makes it! Hopefully, the person who bought it is smart enough to research a bit more and make some changes for the snake.

 

[aameenah]

I can tell you it's not a chain-wide problem as I'm an employee of Petland. The things that employee were telling the new corn owner are not what is contained in our own caresheets. Could you give me the exact location of this place? I'll see about reporting them, because that is $&^$%&ing rediculous.

All the employees at our store are given weekly quizzes on specific animals we carry and often have to write up caresheets of our own to prove that we know what we're talking about. Of course there is an element of sales, it's a store, but we certainly wouldn't recommmend something that would be detrimental to an animals' health just to make a buck. We do refuse sales.

With every pet adoption (with forms outlining equipment, who's the primary caregiver, landlord permissions etc) they get a 30-day health guarantee, which is effective barring negligence (keeps us from adopting to idiots...you know the type )

I'm sorry if that came off as kind of bitter, I'm just so annoyed at the constant 'blahblahblah all petstores are dens of evil' I hear on herp sites. I (and others in my dept.) have hours of study and homework (lol)every week so we can be well imformed and can inform our customers of the proper husbandry of the animals in our care.

Absolutely report them to the authorities, and I'll be happy to run through the channels of the org as well to do the same!

 

[Guadalupe]

That makes me so sad for the poor little ghost.

 

[Voodoo]

aameenah,

The Petland I mentioned is in South Point, Ohio. I'm not sure what the address is, but the only other Petland in the area is in Ashland, Kentucky (which is a great store in contrast to the one in South Point).

I'm glad the store you work for provides their employees with such a great deal of knowledge about the animals they sell. I can tell you that this is not the case with the Petland in South Point. As I mentioned before, these employees have little to no training on the actual needs of the animals they sell. I've even had friends that worked there in the past, who have told me that they aren't taught anything about the animals in the store.

I'm sorry if I sounded harsh in my previous messages. I meant no offense to you. I'm sure that there are reputable pet chain establishments out there...I've just never really found one in my area. The only good pet shops around here are the family owned places that are being drowned out by the larger corporate types of pet shops that have been moving into the area.

If you could look into this, that would be awesome. I haven't had a chance to go back to that Petland since I first started this thread. But I'm sure I'll be back in there at some point. I get too frustrated in that store sometimes. The pure ingorance of the employees in there infuriates me to no end. :shrugs:

 

[aameenah]

Thanks, Voodoo. I wasn't offended I just got a lil defensive is all lol I love my job, quit my previous job as a legal clerk to work there

I next work on Friday, I think my manager is in and I will bring it up to her, and try to get the wheels in motion to have inspectors go into that store. I hope I don't have a problem with red tape via Petland Canada vs. Petland US (diff. franchise chains but same company) but I don't think it'll be a problem. Definitely make a call to the local SPCA/humane society w/e you have there, even if they don't investigate the complaint will be logged and any subsequent calls will make it a red flag.

Stores like this need to be pressured to clean up thier act. I can't understand how that place fell to that state considering the strict guidelines and inspections we go through, maybe they just fudge through the inspections, I don't know. Either way it cannot continue.

I'm in the same sort of quandary in my town, with a bad pet store that keep thier corns 6 to a 10-gal tank, on sand and feeds live pinks on that sand. Amongst other things, naturally, but I can't lodge a complaint because I work at a competitor. So I encourage everyone I know and many of the random customers (that bring it up to me that they hate the place) to make a complaint or some such.

It might be helpful to keep a record of dates, times, maybe employee names if possible, regarding the negligence you witness, it strengthens your case as well. Every little bit helps, and it's worth it.

 

[Voodoo]

Update:

I returned to the Petland in question yesterday, and made a few inquiries to some of the employees that were in the store on the day of the incident with the ghost corn.

One of the ladies I spoke to informed me that about an hour after the customers left the store, they came back and returned most of the unecessary things they had purchased, and informed this employee that they had followed my advice about the snake.

Victory!

I did inform a manager about the incident and asked her if they could provide more training to their employees. She said that she would see to it that their employees are retrained on the care of reptiles as soon as possible. :crazy02:

 

[Corny Noob]

I hate it when I hear people doing it :/
But I gotta say I work at a big chain pet store, and my regular customers love me because I say "look you don't really need that...that's a waste of money....you don't need to by this [whatever] specific product by this one instead...you can make your own at home." They really appreciate that I'm not trying to sell them anything they don't need, only what I do feel is necessary for the animal. Some people just are stupid though, but I see no point in tryng to sell more expensive products, its not like we get comission or anything so it doesn't matter what we sell them cause we're still gonna get paid. Just my .02 :sidestep:

But back on subject, I'm glad you were able to get between the associate and the sale, because we all know we want that snake to be happy
That warranty thing is just ****ing ridiculous. I mean I can understand telling someone they voided the warranty by taking horrible care of an animal, but because they refused to by the products they were told to by an idiot? :flames:

 

[aameenah]

Woot Voodoo that's awesome!

For my part, I've talked to the manager here who will 'pass it up the chain' so to speak, I haven't heard anything back yet. I'll keep you posted.

 

[Voodoo]

Thanks, aameenah!

I'm just glad that snake has been saved. The customer who bought it seemed very interested in taking really good care of the snake... so I'm sure the ghost is happy.

Now, that Petland has an albino kingsnake and a pueblan milksnake. Hopefully, they'll sell them to people who already know how to take care of them. I almost want to go work there part-time, just to help improve the education there. lol

 

[Daeraelle]

I bought some feeder rats (that I was going to use for breeders) and I was told I got no live guarantee on them because I wasn't buying "dry tail" to go with them, lol. I took them home with no dry tail medication and after 24 hours they (and their poo) were fine. They're actually living terrors, but adorable.

They have a little amel at my petland that has been there for a little over two months now. He's labeled as being a hypo motley (which he most definately isn't) and hasn't grown at all. When he first came in he was active, and alert, now everytime I go in the store he's balled up in a corner. They have him on sand substrate with no water dish. I've told them multiple times he's not a hypo motley, they won't listen. I know they're killing it, but I don't have the time or space for another snake that will most likely end up being a problem by now. The reptile "expert" assured me that it was a hypo motley, and it is doing just fine and eating normally even though soon you'll be seeing it's spine soon. She assured me that she watches their reptiles hatch out and cares for them until they go on sale. Which is weird, because I thought chain stores bought from suppliers.

 

[dionythicus]

Thank goodness the buyer of that ghost listened to the one person who actually knew that they were talking about! Good work, Voodoo!

 

[Voodoo]

I had to revive this thread because I just had another bad experience with that very same PetLand.

Ugh... They have these baby ball pythons (about 4 of them) in a 10 gallon tank. It looks like all of them have shed about 2 or 3 times each in their viv and there are snake poos all over the entire enclosure and even some smeared up onto the sides of the glass. Sick!

I went off (once again) and shouted this time. haha. I'm so sick of walking in this store and seeing their reptiles in such deplorable conditions. What's the point in them even offering these animals for sale if THEY can't even take care of them?

Anyway, I spoke to the owner of the store this time, and told him that if the ball pythons ' enclosure wasn't cleaned out within 2 days, I'm calling the corporate office and reporting them for cruelty. I've had it. ...and normally, I'm a mellow guy. I just can't stand to see animals crawling around in their own dead skin and feces! I mean, it's not like the snakes have any choice, nor are they able to clean up their own poo....

Arrrrgh! I'm following through with my promise to call the corporate office on this store. And when I do, I'm going to make sure to let them know how retarded all the employees are at that store and how they all should AT LEAST have a basic understanding of animal husbandry before being put out on the sales floor!

 

[Monger]

I had to revive this thread because I just had another bad experience with that very same PetLand.

Ugh... They have these baby ball pythons (about 4 of them) in a 10 gallon tank. It looks like all of them have shed about 2 or 3 times each in their viv and there are snake poos all over the entire enclosure and even some smeared up onto the sides of the glass. Sick!

I went off (once again) and shouted this time. haha. I'm so sick of walking in this store and seeing their reptiles in such deplorable conditions. What's the point in them even offering these animals for sale if THEY can't even take care of them?

Anyway, I spoke to the owner of the store this time, and told him that if the ball pythons ' enclosure wasn't cleaned out within 2 days, I'm calling the corporate office and reporting them for cruelty. I've had it. ...and normally, I'm a mellow guy. I just can't stand to see animals crawling around in their own dead skin and feces! I mean, it's not like the snakes have any choice, nor are they able to clean up their own poo....

Arrrrgh! I'm following through with my promise to call the corporate office on this store. And when I do, I'm going to make sure to let them know how retarded all the employees are at that store and how they all should AT LEAST have a basic understanding of animal husbandry before being put out on the sales floor!

You're a pitbull! Give 'em hell :angry01: