Stacy's Pet Depot Disappointment

So I'm posting feedback on my experience with a local pet store in Cornwall, Ontario. I first started looking into getting a snake about a year ago, did a bunch of research, and finally settled on a Ball Python. In that time I did a massive amount of research on proper husbandry and care and when I felt I was finally ready for the responsibility, I started looking around for a breeder. Unfortunately, there aren't any in my area so I decided to go to Stacy's and have a look at what they have. They claimed they acquired the two BP's they had from a breeder in Toronto, who runs the shop "All Reptiles". I have since contacted the " breeder" and they have no records or knowledge of ever selling any BP's to Stacy's. When I first showed interest in purchasing an animal, I asked the basic questions. Everything seemed fine, except the fact that the girl said they were feeding them a pinky rat very two weeks. I commented on how the prey or frequency of feeding didn't seem correct, but all she said was that's how they do it and that its fine. I held both, one they claimed was a Caramel, and one they claimed was a Cinnamon. (Now that I know more about morphs, i know they're both normals) I instantly fell in love with the "cinny" set everything up, and had her within the month. In this time I would go in and handle her about three times a week so we could become comfortable with each other. During these visits, I received conflicting information from the girls... When I mentioned the feeding frequency again, the same girl was adament that she never said that, and that they were fed a fuzzy every week. Later, on a separate visit, I asked what day she would be fed to make sure I wouldn't come in for two days after, and the girl said "oh, they were fed only last week, so you're good for another three weeks until we feed them again". I almost ran out of the store with her right then, and if I had had everything properly set up and regulated I would have! I asked to speak to the owner about the conflicting stories, and she confirmed that they were only feeding them ONE pinky rat, ONCE a month. I finished everything up as quickly as possible and had her home a week later. I gave her fuzzies from the time I got her and started feeding her every 5 days. She was 8 months old and only 110 grams when I brought her home. A little while after, I noticed her soaking in her dish and thought "oh no!! Mites!!" I borrowed a friends microscope to confirm and sure enough... It was mites. (It wasn't a bad infestation, and you couldn't even see them on her unless you looked really hard, you might have seen one.) Ordered PAM, did the treatment, and thankfully they're all gone! She is now a very happy snake who has not refused one meal from me yet, is now on pups, is now 288 grams, and had a very nice shed a few weeks back! All this to say that I was lied to and deceived by the owner and employees of this store and just on the off chance that anyone on here would think of going there... DON'T!

Danipanda

I am truly sorry that you felt mislead and or lied to. We do take pride in our ownership and look after our pets. I must say that neither owners were approached or asked any questions regarding our snakes, and secondly the distributors name was wrong. If you would like the name of the breeder, let us know. As an owner, I was unaware that someone was coming in and holding our snakes regularly for a good month or so. Transfer of bacteria could cause a number of things especially if you were holding other snakes for instance. We try to hire knowledgable staff and as for feedings, we have a log book of when the snakes are fed. The girl you dealt with is one of the best employees a store could have and would do anything to answer all you questions and if not able to, would research it for you! With all this said we were here with open arms when you were looking to purchase and we are still here if you need any help.

How do you explain the animal sold as a cinnamon that clearly is not Petdepot?

I'm really confused. did some random person create an account specifically to pose as a Pet Depot manager and provide this half ass response? is it actually a staff member....like...what?

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Originally Posted by AllThatInThemGenes

I'm really confused. did some random person create an account specifically to pose as a Pet Depot manager and provide this half ass response? is it actually a staff member....like...what?

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Agreed, there were absolutely no explanations in the response.

As an owner you should have been aware that I was coming in to hold her... It was approved by your staff and I had already put a deposit down on her and payed in full two weeks later. I saw you more than once in the store, and you saw me handling her on more than one occasion. I did NOT handle or come into contact with any other reptiles in this time, and she is the first I own. I also washed my hands before and after holding her without fail. Your other BP was soaking constantly in her water (so I can almost guarantee she has mites also) and my girl was constantly glass dancing and stressed. I'm not sure about the other BP, but mine had a terrible shed before I decided to get her and had stuck shed all over her because of improper husbandry. I asked more than once the name of the breeder and was always told "All reptiles" in Toronto. I asked the owner and two separate employees regarding feeding schedule and was told a different story every time. You also sold her as a "Cinnamon" morph, when it turns out she is a normal... I paid three times the amount for her that I would have if you would have advertised her properly. Your employees also claimed that my BP went off feed regularly, and that's why she was so small. I've had her now for almost three months and she is an extremely enthusiastic eater and hasn't refused a meal since. (I know this could change at some point, but as of now she's an amazing eater) Your staff was nothing but friendly and helpful and I appreciate that they tried to do their best, but it does not change the fact that I was lied to and deceived by your establishment.

[QUOTE=danipanda;2388734 except the fact that the girl said[/QUOTE]

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I received conflicting information from the girls

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the same girl was adament that she never said that

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and the girl said "oh, they were fed only last week

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I asked to speak to the owner about the conflicting stories, and she confirmed

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I see the girl, the girls and a owner
So what I want to know is why if she spoke to employees and a owner why is someone who claimes to be the owner knows nothing

First off I am sorry you had a bad deal with your new pet and am glad to here he/she is doing better
as far as morphs go granted a new bp'er would not know a cinny form a normal but it is not hard to check that if you have the internet. so no one should ever get fooled on a morph unless it is a mixed morph(then even some experts can get it wrong) because there are quite a few people here that will be more than willing to help you to make sure you dont get fooled, again sorry that this did happen to you
and realy if you love your snake who cares what morph it is

Second do you have any pictures of her when she was first bought as compaired to now? these things not only help the bp community as a whole to help identify your snake . they also show the conditions she was in when you got her to add weight to your story

And last
and this one is to pet depo
I would like to see pictures from you as well on your set ups and log books with the dates and what food item was given
you did not even try to defend yourself as to the feeding once a month or the cinny being a normal? or mites. why even post if you cant defend yourself?

This is a pic my husband took about two weeks before I brought her home... Notice the stuck shed all on her face/head. (she has some on her belly and sides too, but not noticeable in this pic.)
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...fb&oe=56C74C95

This is the first time I held her (Love at first sight <3)
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...5f&oe=5687D420

Two days after I held her for the first time, I went and put a down payment on her. Here is a picture of the enclosure and the receipt with my name on it stuck to the glass and the price on the bottom says "Sold" on it. It was after this day that I went in and held her as often as I could. (but not after meals!)
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...8c&oe=56CE7488

These are the best pics I have of most of her body... This is after her last shed. She moves and explores so much when I have her out so It's a little hard to get a good full body pic of her. :P She's 288 grams and exactly 2 feet long now! She was 110 grams when I brought her home, but not sure of her length. She's grown quite a bit though! :)
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...33&oe=56BC9792

https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...ab&oe=56C2BF23


And yes, I know I could have looked up the morph and such but I honestly didn't and still don't care. I fell in love with her immediately and can't imagine not having her now. I'm still upset that I was deceived and they passed her off as something she isn't.

wasnt trying to preach on looking up the morph just stating it can be done for any who are unsure
and she does look like a nice normal to me
glad you are happy with her and that she has a good home

sorry that you had a bad time with that shop. I wouldnt go back if i were you

I know! I wasn't offended and didn't think you were preaching! :) I was very uninformed on the different morphs when I first decided to get her, I did so much research on husbandry and care that I didn't really take the time to research it more. I will not be returning to this establishment again, that's for sure.