PetSmart rant!

I know a pet store that tries to sell theirs for more.

MohrSnakes said:

There is one thing I admire about those big box stores........................
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The prices!!! I wish I could sell a normal or "fancy" for what they do!!!! LOL

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Yea, really...have you seen the ones that come up with their own names trying to make the morph sound like it is one of a kind? I saw one in Petsmart some time back for like $100...said something like anery/amel albino...hello....

I know this thread is pretty old, but I have to say, I'm surprised it isn't still going. I work at a petsmart in Colorado and you should see the way they are allowing these animals to be fed. Babies are coming in younger and younger and because the company wants all the animals to be fed at one week intervals now managers are trying to power feed them. This is causing the snakes to stress out and if they even do eat, they have to go right back into their cold ass enclosures and end up regurgitating or with gastro enteritis. I feel like people should be doing more to get the company to stop selling snakes of any kind. They don't even sell very fast and end up living in tiny little tanks that they can't even stretch out in. And PETsMART does encourage employees to recommend uvb for corn snakes and balls to increase sales! It's all about money, not what's best for the new owner and animal.

A happy customer is a repeat customer. You mess with the bull, you get the horns.... yeah... I get that as well, but so many simply write it off as the employees simply being ignorant. With that being said, there should be something in place to ensure uvb lighting is not sold for corns ...i.e. some quick care sheets.

It's always ignorant employees that give customers bad advice. As an employee at a pet store, it is our job to know what animals need to be taken care of, because we are a resource for owners to come to. Yes, they should do research on their own, but they should also be able to depend on us for good information, not just ways to waste your money and ruin the hobby for you.

http://www.mypetsmart.com/care-guides/reptile/kingsnake-milksnake-corn-snake/setup-steps.shtml

They have at least improved the care guides, it only mentions a fluorescent bulb for better viewing, but when the bosses are telling under trained employees that they need to sell this that and the other, they don't know any better and why? Because the boss is supposed to be your reliable resource. Who goes into any job and says right off the bat, well I know that these people that are paid to do this job don't really know what they are talking about, so I'm just going to learn all on my own.

Many employees think that the stores is a smaller version of the 'right' setup for any and all animals, especially when the dept of agriculture oks these setups.

I certainly hope that all makes sense, I hate typing on my phone.

If you want a healthy well cared for snake, you don't go to places that sell co habbed snakes fed crickets, dog food, bird seed and chew toys.
Your best option is always to find a hobbyist who is passionate and takes great pride in the species of animal you are seeking.

Chip said:

Where is the curiosity we all had when we discovered these animals? So many customers seem to want a reptile, but no interest in learning about them. I can not even relate to that.

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I ABSOLUTELY agree with this!! 100%, It actually boggles my mind at how many people will go out and buy any animal they can afford at the time and not put ANY thought into the care and needs of that animal... I Don't Get!

I'm glad that you brought this up cause it happens so often, I think one of the greatest things about getting a new pet is learning about them! I love learning about animals and I think that anyone who wants to own a pet, should have to read up on them before there sold the animal.. I know this will never be reality, but I do wish more people has common sense.

I wish that there were more people out their like us, that actually enjoy learning about animals.

tiamat said:

It's always ignorant employees that give customers bad advice. As an employee at a pet store, it is our job to know what animals need to be taken care of, because we are a resource for owners to come to. Yes, they should do research on their own, but they should also be able to depend on us for good information, not just ways to waste your money and ruin the hobby for you.

http://www.mypetsmart.com/care-guides/reptile/kingsnake-milksnake-corn-snake/setup-steps.shtml

They have at least improved the care guides, it only mentions a fluorescent bulb for better viewing, but when the bosses are telling under trained employees that they need to sell this that and the other, they don't know any better and why? Because the boss is supposed to be your reliable resource. Who goes into any job and says right off the bat, well I know that these people that are paid to do this job don't really know what they are talking about, so I'm just going to learn all on my own.

Many employees think that the stores is a smaller version of the 'right' setup for any and all animals, especially when the dept of agriculture oks these setups.

I certainly hope that all makes sense, I hate typing on my phone.

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I work at a PetSmart too and totally agree. My store is very good, most of my coworkers are passionate and own many of the animals we actually sell, and we know that the care guides are not the absolute best, so we will carefully give advice. As long as it's not a massive deviation, it's ok, but the danger is giving out "unapproved" information and if something goes wrong, we'll get in s--t over it.

I work in pet care and I try to learn as much as I can about each of our animals, and if I don't know something, I go to someone who does. But some people just don't want to be educated and it is incredibly frustrating.

I used to work a Petsmart PetsHotel.

Needless to say, I am so thankful to have liberated myself from that environment.

Petsmart is extremely bloated and corrupt. One does not understand the mass inefficiency and waste caused by corporations such as Petsmart.

Bottom line: they are interested in pleasing shareholders. There is no other way for a corporation this big to sustain itself.

This is why they enforce PnP so hard. It's nothing to do with safety. Its everything to do with them not getting sued.

I urge you to not worry about financial security... instead leave your Petsmart job, preferably for a small business. The sooner you escape Petsmart, the better.

Average customers will fall for the finely-tuned marketing veneer of Petsmart, while the animals are the ones who suffer. I am ashamed to say that I was a part of this, as a brainwashed former Petsmart employee.

I have a HUGE problem with most big box stores and the animals they sell (of all kinds) The worst I have seen is at a local Petco where they were cleaning some mice cages and didn't want to touch the animals so in staid they chased them around with a vacuum. My GF dragged me out physically because I was going to physically stop them and she didn't want the cops called.

Also when I got my corn I went into the local PetSmart and got her a new UTH cuz the guy I got her from had a heater that was WAY too small. When I was talking to the employee at the check out I mentioned that it was for a corn and was talking about how they are a really great first snake and how docile they can be and he was like "tell that to that little jerk over there" pointing at the little snow they had left, "he is an angry jerk and tries to hurt everyone, I wont go near him." He wouldn't listen to me when I tried telling him it is cuz at that age he doesn't know better and needs to be handled and taught that biting doesn't do him any good.

The problem is as stated back quite a ways that big box stores see their animals as merchandise, same as a hide or a sack of dog food. Some employees can be very good and knowledgeable but the whole place runs on a business model that includes selling as many of everything in the store as possible and it is hard for the people who know what is right to stand up to that crap.

I would very much like it if big pet stores did not sell any animals and stuck with just doing rescue stuff to move pets but that isn't profitable.

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.

Todd120 said:

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.

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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.

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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..

Zeina said:

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.

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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.