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Stupid Pet Stores

L

LeeC

New member
Theres a certain pet store by my house I always goto becuase its close... but everything is 2x-10x more expensive then other pet stores. The thing is they're really not smart about their reptiles.
I see lizards with bad sheds, missing digitis... snakes with mites... a cornsnake snacking on another cornsnake he was caged with. Just stupid stuff, makes me wonder about these paces... :(
 
There are tons of stories on here about Petco and other pet stores, most of them are just plain bad. I also have only one pet store in my town so I have to go there even with the less than perfect conditions of their animals. :(

---Kenny
 
LeeC said:
Theres a certain pet store by my house I always goto becuase its close... but everything is 2x-10x more expensive then other pet stores. The thing is they're really not smart about their reptiles.
I see lizards with bad sheds, missing digitis... snakes with mites... a cornsnake snacking on another cornsnake he was caged with. Just stupid stuff, makes me wonder about these paces... :(
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So don't go. There is nothing you canpurchase in a pet shop that isn't available elsewhere, be it catologues or internet shopping. If you feel that strongly about it...stop giving them your money.

These types of topics always bother me because the bottom line is...we all have a choice of where we make purchases. If the pet shop nearest you sucks...don't go there. There are other ways to get what you need.

The other thing that bothers me about these topics is that alot of people seem to think that a pet store is supposed to keep snakes the same way we do at home, and, quite frankly, it's not practical. You shouldn't expect a pet store to house a cornsnake in a 20long enclosure, because that snake(hopefully) won't be there but a couple months. A store cannot afford the space nor the cost of enclosures to provide that sort of housing. Sure...keeping the snakes in racks would be ideal...but then nobody would look at them, and they would never sell.

Than you hear complaints about prices. Why? The average "mom and pop shop" down the road is, most likely, barely breaking even every month. Any other retail store you go to has a minimum 300% markup on retail products. But people complain if a pet shop has even a 100%. Why? Are pet stores there only to provide you with what you need? Or are they there to try and make a profit?

Of course...you then hear about the Big Box pet stores that hire people who don't know what they are talking about...Do you have any idea how hard it is to convince a knowledgable person that their time and information is only worth minimum wage? Can you convince a doctor that his time isn't worth as much as another doctor's because you can't afford to pay him that much?

Yes...I agree that there are alot of pet stores out there that totally suck. Yes, I know there are shops that give out bad information. Yes, I know that there are shops that do not even attempt to properly care for their animals. But it is YOUR responsibility to do your research and have your information before you go in the shop. It is YOUR responsibility to know what the "going price" is for materials and supplies, and to get them from the right places. It is YOUR responsibility to spend your money in places that deserve it, not just the most convenient hole in the wall.

If you don't like a shop...don't spend your money there. Don't "rescue" the animals, because the shop will just buy more. Don't buy their products, because the shop will just make a profit. Don't ask for information, because you will be given wrong or misleading tips.

When are people going to start posting topics about how GOOD some shops can be? You never see a topic that says, "I just had the best pet shop experience". It's always "pet stores suck" and "pet shop employees don't have a clue." If you don't like the shop...don't go there. There is ALWAYS another place to get what you need...

And yea...before you ask...I DO work in a pet shop. A very clean, healthy, and knowledgable pet shop...that barely breaks even every month, because most people would rather go to a crap shop and spend $2 less for aspen, than go to a good shop and pay for the service they recieve. And yea...it sucks to read these topics, and KNOW that you are going to go to this same shop when you need mice because they are cheaper than the GOOD shop in the next town over. Wanna take a guess on how many people come in every day for information, and then go buy there products elsewhere because we are 10% more expensive???
 
I really agree with most of what tyflier wrote. I happen to drive 2 towns over to go to the local private owned non name brand pet store because I like it so much more. Yes, I do pay more. Though, the animals are kept better, they know their stuff, and they are actually willing to sell you live feeders unlike Petsmart and Petco. Unless I hide what I am buying mice for, they refuse to sell to me. It's kinda suspicous to them that I keep coming back for live mice every week. I find the service so much more friendly, so I will go out of my way to spend more money if it means I'm happier there. I go to Petsmart for crickets because it is the only place that sells them here, and I stand there for 20 minutes before being noticed.

I understand how some places aren't that great and overprice things, it's because they have to to stay in business. =\

It's a hit or miss thing for most people. Do you pay much more but get excellent service, knowledgable staff, and a good experience, or do you pay less where the employees couldn't care less about you and you are generally unhappy there? EDIT: Oops. I meant to say I'd chose the first. :bang:
 
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Sorta off topic, but concerning petco selling live feeders, that's weird we had regulars they would come in and we'd know exactly what they were feeding.
Rats and mice.
 
Jenn, here I go in and ask for a mouse, they only sell adults like (which I understand as a pet, but not as a feeder). And then they ask you what its for, as soon as I say snakes they say "We do not sell feeders here." :( It sucks. I'm glad yours was ok with it.
 
Chris, it was a bit before I could not go to a pet store and want to 'adopt' everything because of bad conditions. While I live in a very small town we have six pet stores, I have narrowed it down to one, and that is rare. I found I can get everything I need at the co-op, or any feed store. The co-op is clean, prices are competitive on most things, they only sell rabbits and guinea pigs, in spring chicks (for the farms trade), they have even started carrying crickets. I went in this weekend and asked about crickets they said they were out, but had meal worms. They were in a can so no idea if they were freeze dried or what, no count either. I thought well OK I don't need them now but for the future, then I looked at the price $9.95. Even the clerk laughed when we saw the price, he suggested I check the local "fly shop," of course people fishing use them and of course the "fly shop had them $2.50 for 100, pet shop cheaper, but not in the long run.
I agree with viv size and display of animals, but sadly at least here they do sit a 5 gal viv for months, with the dinky usually dry, but Oh! so attractive water dish. I have ranted in the past about pet shop conditions, and have just had to limit any use of lacals to the odd emergency. :wavey: susan
 
NonVenomous said:
unlike Petsmart and Petco. Unless I hide what I am buying mice for, they refuse to sell to me.
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When Lucius was still eating live mice, I bought them at Petco every ten days. I never found it necessary to hide why I was buying them. The clerks ended up knowing me on sight and would ask how my snakes were doing.
 
NonVenomous said:
Jenn, here I go in and ask for a mouse, they only sell adults like (which I understand as a pet, but not as a feeder). And then they ask you what its for, as soon as I say snakes they say "We do not sell feeders here." :( It sucks. I'm glad yours was ok with it.
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I went to the Petco when I first had Holden to get live feeders. They knew exactly what I was getting them for and didn't really care.
Funny thing is that when they were out, the lady who had just told me they were out till wednesday (or whatever day it was) caught me later eyeballing a small hamster. I just opened my mouth to speak and she snapped, "Don't even think about it!" That kind of made me chuckle..
 
tyflier said:
And yea...before you ask...I DO work in a pet shop. A very clean, healthy, and knowledgable pet shop...that barely breaks even every month, because most people would rather go to a crap shop and spend $2 less for aspen, than go to a good shop and pay for the service they recieve. And yea...it sucks to read these topics, and KNOW that you are going to go to this same shop when you need mice because they are cheaper than the GOOD shop in the next town over. Wanna take a guess on how many people come in every day for information, and then go buy there products elsewhere because we are 10% more expensive???
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I agree here. There are two exotic pet stores near me, but I travel to get to the one farthest away to buy mice, despite the closer one being cheaper. The store I go to has much better quality mice, more knowledgable staff, and better animals, and that's worth paying more for.
 
NonVenomous wrote:
...It's a hit or miss thing for most people. Do you pay much more but get excellent service, knowledgable staff, and a good experience, or do you pay less where the employees couldn't care less about you and you are generally unhappy there? I'd choose the latter.
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This is my point. Most people WOULD choose the cheaper store. The problem with that is...the cheaper store is the one scrimping and cutting corners to have lower prices. The cheaper store is the one using a bare bulb in the BP enclosure...with 5 BPs inside a 2.5g aquarium and an empty water dish. The cheaper store is the one housing 70 mice in a 10g aquarium to save space because "they're just mice". The cheaper store is the one with the twisted high school dropout telling people to feed their hatchling cornsnakes crickets for the first year. The cheaper store is the one seeling you over-the-counter de-worming medication for your dog, without asking what breed, what size, and what types of worms your dog has been diagnosed with. The cheaper store is the one that didn't return the dog food that was re-called because shipping was too expensive, and instead they cut out all the UPC codes, signed the destruction of food agreement, sent in the bar codes, got their money back...and then sold all that food anyways, to make some extra profit.

And everytime you go there to by a pre-packaged product, like aspen or a heat mat, because it is $2 cheaper than the GOOD shop that gives a $%^&, and the cheap shop "can't hurt aspen", you are contributing to that shops profit margin, and allowing it to continue to act in such a disgraceful manner. Of course, you will then go home, get on CS.com, and write a whole topic about how hoirrible the shop is, and how bad the conditions of the animals are...but as soon as you need more aspen...you're right back there, saving yourself $2.(I am using the word "you" in very broad and general terms, not directing it towards anyone specifically).

The bottom line is, every penny that is spent in a crap pet store contributes to that shops existence. Instead of saving yourself $2 and buying your aspen from a horrible shop...spend the extra $2, and buy it from a shop that DESERVES to stay open, that DESERVES to make a profit. The money you save by going to the cheapest shop around isn't going to make or break you, in the long run. But it could make or break the good shop, and it definitely makes or breaks the animals found in bad shops...
 
Grt point Chris, I agree. Petco is nasty..for buying fish, etc. Ours has a grt set up for adopting cats & dogs. They let the humane society come in every wkend. But other than that, I just don't go. I buy online now. Easier & there is a lot of grt places you can trust & lots more to choose from.
 
Oops. I've gone and edited my post. I meant to write I'd choose the first. :bang: I dunno where my head was. I thought it would be obvious though by the way I wrote that I go to the local store instead.

But yeah, msot go with the cheaper places =\
 
NonVenomous said:
Oops. I've gone and edited my post. I meant to write I'd choose the first. :bang: I dunno where my head was. I thought it would be obvious though by the way I wrote that I go to the local store instead.

But yeah, msot go with the cheaper places =\
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I figured that is what you meant, which is why I didn't immediately respond. But after consideration, I decided that the statement was true, even if not for you, and still expressed my point very clearly.

That's why I wanted to make the disclaimer that I wasn't specifically referring to anyone...I especially didn't mean to refer to you, personally, NV. I assumed you made a typo, but still wanted to express the point in my own words...
 
The petstore I go to the most is called Snakes, in Gainesville, FL. All adult lizards and snakes are kept in separate appropriate-sized vivs. Baby snakes are kept in acryllic jewelry box display cases, separately, on aspen with a tiny water bowl. Every staff member I've talked to has been knowledgeable and most have large personal collections. And even more cool- they are cheaper than Petco/Petsmart!

Nanci
 
Unfortunately, we have nothing in my town or the surrounding towns- in the way of pet stores that don't serve the beast. Well there is one store for hippy dogs and cats, but they don't carry anything that you would need for a snake. So when I need something today and I can't wait for shipping, I've got only the 2 choices, Petco or Petsmart. I prefer the Petsmart, but I work across the street from a Petco that I hate. Only thing I ever buy from them is aspen though really, and I always feel it's my duty to call in and complain about the way their snakes are kept on every visit! May not make sence to you, but it works for me. If I was really honest about it, I could get the aspen at Petsmart, but I need the excuse because I'm a spiteful person...
Also every time I see someone looking at their reptiles, I walk them over to the BP's or Corns and say see those black spots in the water bowls? Mites. I wouldn't buy anything living from here. And they gasp and leave every time.
No use defending them cause I don't care.. If someone makes it their business to sell animals, no excuse will work for bad conditions. Especially if said excuse is going to have anything to do with "profit"..
 
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A standing ovation

If I could stand and applaud in cyberspace it would be for Chris' beautifully stated vent. I work at a family owned pet store that is just scraping by. If I had a penny for everytime people pick my brain and then buy elsewhere for "cheaper" or bring me a sick animal they brought at another store to ask for advice I'd be a millionaire many times over. We should let our actions speak for us. Don't shop at bad shops and they will cease to exist. Also please don't dump on retail people. A lot of times it is just bad training on the store's part and many of these employees are young ie. first jobs. Try to educate yourself before you buy a live animal. Ultimately it's life is in your hands not the person who sold it to you. Thanks for the true words, Kudos Chris!
Terri :cheers:
 
Tom E-

I really hope you don't think my intention is to defend crappy pet stores. Nothing could be farther from the truth...
 
Yeah, my bad..
I went back and reread.. you were very clear, and yet my argument came out of my stupid skimming habit :cheers: My apology on that one..
I only wish I had a local store like yours..
I would be thrilled to spend more on aspen if that's what it takes to support something worthwhile, and most likely would probably end up being one of those annoying customers who just won't leave!! :cheers:

EDIT, for those of you who still have such stores, please support them.
You have no idea how you'll miss them when they're gone. When I was a teenager we had 3 GREAT petstores locally. Now one has changed to a fish store to stay afloat, and the other two are gone..
 
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