PetSmart rant!

I live in NYC and I can't stand going into petco/petsmart. I do with my boyfriend when he needs to and I buy nice there when I have no other choice but the way they house reptiles is infuriating. I was in a petco in New Jersey this weekend and I saw 3 baby ball pythons housed together with one hide, and there were crickets in their tank. Every other snake tank had multiple snakes in it as well and the ball pythons, one of them looked like it was shedding or had an old shed attached to its tail. I've tried to many times to politely tell someone they're doing it wrong and no one listens. It's really upsetting.


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As we were learning about Corn Snakes, I read a ton. My wife told me I wa obsessed with it. We went in to Petsmart several times to get a vivarium set up. Almost every time I would ask a question at Petsmart, I got a wrong answer. Heating, substrate, shedding questions, always wrong. You would think they would run it like Home Depot. Have specialists working in the store. Not teenagers that don't want to work at Burger King.

Originally Posted by Todd120

As we were learning about Corn Snakes, I read a ton. My wife told me I wa obsessed with it. We went in to Petsmart several times to get a vivarium set up. Almost every time I would ask a question at Petsmart, I got a wrong answer. Heating, substrate, shedding questions, always wrong. You would think they would run it like Home Depot. Have specialists working in the store. Not teenagers that don't want to work at Burger King.

The Albuquerque, NM area had 4 stores, toss in Santa Fe (60 miles away) and we had 5. I was the specialist for reptiles. Most of the Pet Care associates for those stores were more knowledgeable in fish, followed closely by small animals (rodents). Looking back on it, that also makes sense as fish sales is what actually earns the Pet Care dept its money for hours for the associates. I had people driving in from Durango, CO, NW NM, and NE AZ just to deal with me. I even had a lady that refused to use the Las Cruces, NM and El Paso,TX PetSmarts, driving up to Albuquerque or calling to deal specifically with me - and that was for fish, where my knowledge is far from ideal (IMHO...but I'm also one to not give myself credit where credit is due; I'm too humble even though all this said might be considered bragging).

You can read some of my background by visiting my Herps of NM site in my signature below. That in mind, on my last days with PetSmart 1 year ago my DM, Pet Care Dept Manager, and Store Manager all said to the effect that they didn't want to hear of me working for PetSmart again, that I was too smart and knowledgeable for the job. But if the need ever arose again all I needed to do was make a phone call and I'd have a recommendation to any of the Dallas area DMs.

Individuals such as myself are few and far bettween at PetSmart, Petco, etc., be they reptile, fish, small animal, or bird experts/specialists. The same can be said about your example in Home Depot or Lowes. After spending 3+ years with PetSmart, people like myself don't last unless moved into management. And even then we're looking to better ourselves professionally, instead of making $10/hr while having to deal with customers that won't listen to you, ESPECIALLY during the holidays. Additionally, employees like me don't make the sales due to educating the customer. Instead and should the customer listen, more often than not we kill the potential sale due to said customer having an oh crap moment because they thought the $8 green anole could be setup for less than $40 including the anole turns into $100+ with proper caging (HINT: NOT a $16 10 gallon tank), lighting, etc. Retailers like that want an employee that is a generalist...it's spun as the company wanting you to get to as many customers as possible instead of taking 15, 20, 45 minutes to educate the customer - I vehemently disagree with that philosophy and it almost got me fired from my first PetSmart store.



EDIT: typos courtesy of tricky ipad gen 1 bluetooth keyboard.

(Notice Gen 1 iPad is still running, and will never die...)

Years ago, I got in to Sugar Gliders. They are a little different when it comes to buying one. As long as you dont buy one at a trade show, you typically get a pretty good warning on the animals needs. Most breeders won't sell you one witout a run down of your setup around here. YET, you see them on Craigslist all the time. Typically they are living in a small bird cage. Plus, they only own one. Solo gliders do very poorly. They get bored and stressed. This makes them over groom, and eat poorly. If people do any research, or listen at all, they would know. I can see what you mean about people ignoring you at Petsmart. They want it so bad, they ignore the animals needa for their own.

hi chip you sound like you do know your stuff.. salute brother.. my daughter is fixing to pick up a baby corn from.. yes you guest it petco.. what do you recommend for information on how to deal with the little ones.. is it true NOT to put them in a big tank due to them wasting energy traveling instead of growing.. was told this... and i had a pretty albino adult given to me a few years back.. was abused.. never though i would own one let alone love it.. had her for a few years.. grew from 3 ft to almost 4. thought she was doing awesome.. then.. she stopped eating.. and..then she died.. bout killed me.. how important is the light thing? she seemed to always hide in her box i build.. she was very sociable.. and loving.. when she was out... god i miss her
what book would you recommend to learn about the young ones sir? thank you for your time.... Ben

wow.. you are a rare breed indeed.. salute brother... my daughter is in the process of getting a baby corn.. im a little bit hesitant on this.. had a bigger corn given to me years ago... she died on me.. i pray not due to my ignorance.. dont know how old she was.. she seemed to be in a good spirit. loving.. active when out with me.. but stopped eating.. she was fed live mice when i got her.. tried the frozen thing.. she wouldnt have it.. and then found her two days later dead.. bout killed me.. loved that snake. so im hesitant on this new one.. want to do the right thing for it.. if there is information here on this forum or a book that is worth reading.. please let me know... specifically on small ones.. thanks brother.... ben

I worked at PetsMart for 6 1/2 years- 2 years was with the fish/small animal/reptile- I had no clue how to handle or take care of a snake... I wanted to know, wanted to learn, but since the Lead Pet person knew how to do it, they didn't feel the rest of the associates needed to learn... So I looked like an idiot because I couldn't even feed a snake... I had to ask privately and look stuff up online.
It's not a bad company in general, it just unfortunately doesn't spend more valuable time teaching its Pet Care Associates how to at least properly care for and have knowledge about the animals it sells.

Wow I didn't know all that stuff about Petsmart... I work for the competition.. I was Animal care manager before I quit and started my own company. Now I am back part time as the dog trainer trainer for the district (I set my own hours and have management pay). We have problems with ball python/humidity and shed with the set up and yes they are crowded, but our snakes grow and eat.. But I also have gotten my store to split up the babies so it is not AS crowded. They discovered animals did better and have kept it that way. When one is sold we move another one out from the back room.. and we also take in a lot of owner surrenders (that is how I got my amel), I sold it to them three years ago.. now he/she is mine.. Cousin It... lol But yeah this goes for dog training and animals, depending on the persons own interest you will get better/worse advice... Example Zilla's UVb wavelength is directly unsuitable for beardies (damages their eyes), I don't like zilla as brand at all when it comes to bulbs.. And most kits that are sold are..... zilla... so I don't sell kits, I sell tanks and put them together for the owners purpose and I often send them to CL to pick up used stuff to save money... However, unless you are an intense beardie person what is the odds of people knowing that..

But not all pet stores are bad..

Originally Posted by Zeina

I worked at PetsMart for 6 1/2 years- 2 years was with the fish/small animal/reptile- I had no clue how to handle or take care of a snake... I wanted to know, wanted to learn, but since the Lead Pet person knew how to do it, they didn't feel the rest of the associates needed to learn... So I looked like an idiot because I couldn't even feed a snake... I had to ask privately and look stuff up online.
It's not a bad company in general, it just unfortunately doesn't spend more valuable time teaching its Pet Care Associates how to at least properly care for and have knowledge about the animals it sells.

Everyone has a learning curve, but when information is withheld from dept associates that screws over everyone that hurts all, including the entire store. That lead was someone not cut out for the position as they, and anyone else that supported those actions, were insecure of others becoming better than them.

The better philosophy, and one of a great lead/manager, is training up lower associates and equals from other departments to be able to do your own job. That skill shows confidence and the abilities to lead and develop peers, which while grooming subordinates also brings that lead or manager up to the next level for promotion.