petsmart

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Originally Posted by simplechamp

I think a big reason why corporate insists employees stick to telling customers the official corporate approved care and husbandry policies is for standardization. They need to have a standard, so that no matter what location a customer goes to they will receive the same information. Unfortunately the standard care and husbandry information isn't always good.

But like someone mentioned it saves them from an unhappy customer saying they received differing information from each store. There are plenty of people who think they know what they are talking about, and think they are helping, when in fact they are giving equally bad or worse advice than the official caresheet employees are supposed to abide by.

The big chain petstores rely on misinformed, uneducated people to buy their animals. Its worked for years, so why change? The money is coming in, so who cares if a few animals die? To us it's a poor helpless animal that died. To corporate it's just numbers, a business expense, a write-off. Sad but true.

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I would have thought the only reason that they would misinform anyone is so that they buy the animal and all of the supplies on the spot from their store. I mean, you can inform someone the correct products to buy from petsmart and get by. Sure its not ideal, but their conditions will be ok.

My wife and I had to sign a contract that we were going to be taking care of the mice we purchased. I found it really odd especially since I had made it clear that they were going to fed to our snakes. The employee helping us told us that they weren't supposed to, but she didn't see why not. There was another employee there, a guy, that asked us outright if they were feeding, we said yes, and he said, "Awesome, what do you guys have?" I guess it really depends on where you go or who is on shift.

its nice to know that some employees would rather be comfortable with themselves then worry about a silly rule. I just wonder about the employee who owns a snake and knows that feeding live sometimes works better. Do they buy pet mice. just wondering

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

I would have figured as much. One mouse there is 6 bucks :/

I think pet supplies plus is the only place that sells specifically feeder mice at a low price.

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PSP is my place...I go there and get 4 mice & a small rat for like 8 or 9 dollars. Just about every week I get the rat for free too because of the "frequent feeders club"

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Originally Posted by dreese88

PSP is my place...I go there and get 4 mice & a small rat for like 8 or 9 dollars. Just about every week I get the rat for free too because of the "frequent feeders club"

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i also go there its the cheapest place for those nice 20L tanks with the sliding lids.

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Originally Posted by nixer

i also go there its the cheapest place for those nice 20L tanks with the sliding lids.

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Yea when I got Bustos I got my 20l there for like $40

They also had a real pretty light banded normal there the last time I went to get feeders, but the guy said they don't sex their snakes and I didn't really feel confident in my popping abilities and didn't want to buy a possible normal male for $55

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Originally Posted by shadi11

I had to laugh tonite. Now i can't remember where but I know i read it here. They actually will not sell you a mouse at all after you tell them you feed live food. You go on a do not sell list or something i guess. My husband had to brag that he had to feed off 20 rats today to my juvies. She told us then we will not sell you any mice or rats because its against company policy. This coming from a girl standing 10 feet from a display of snakes including corns, kingsnakes, ball pythons and an empty boa constrictor cage. I asked what they feed their snakes then and she told us that isn't her department and she didn't know. Im always amazed when people are so ignorant about snakes but are still willing to sell one to the public. This is the same person that probably never understands why snakes owners who buy from them let a 6 foot boa loose because they can't house it properly anymore because "petsmart" doesn't sell a tank that is large enough to house it. My rant for the day.

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I love dealing with idiot customers in retail that blame hourly employees for company policies. And oh my god, it must be so horrible of an idea to keep someone OUT of the department if they don't know what they are doing.

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Originally Posted by Pandora

What I don't understand is why they sell small packs of tiny frozen mice but they won't get frozen rats...
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10.99 for 2. Check the freezer :)

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Originally Posted by nixer

its simple dont shop there period for anything!
its also their store policy to abuse reptiles, and give false husbandry information about all of their reptiles.
since when do cornsnakes eat lettuce?
should turtles be housed with chinese water dragons?
then their supposed vets are nothing but jokes.

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And it certainly couldn't be that your local store isnt following its own policy?

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Originally Posted by stormwulf133

I love dealing with idiot customers in retail that blame hourly employees for company policies. And oh my god, it must be so horrible of an idea to keep someone OUT of the department if they don't know what they are doing.

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I didnt say that it was totally the hourly employees fault. and if you would have read on you would have seen that. Its the companies. and I did admit that. and I dont see where it was mentioned for anyone being kept out of a department for not knowing anything.
This may not be standard thru the stores, but typically you go to the chain stores over here and they cant help you much except to sell you useless things for your reptile pets. Its even in that department. I know I am not the only one around who feels that way. as I have seen complaints everywhere.. From all the states...
I have taken my 2 foot long bearded to petsmart with me.. And I have been told "hey, Nice Iguana" or I have been told I dont feed my dragons properly, they are over fed and un healthy.. Thats news to me but still.
I have also been yelled at for that dismayed customer walking down the isle trying to figure out what is needed for their childs pet because they are confused about what to choose. and I suggested something outside of the caresheet.
Stuff happens people get misinformed we all know this. I think the whole point of the story was actually the amazement of being told that you do go on the do not sell list for rodents because you feed live.

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Originally Posted by Laterr

Yes, it is store policy. That's also why the prices are a little higher for those rodents. They're "fancy" mice and "fancy" rats (they have pretty color patterns. unlike plain white or whatever color your common feeder rodents are). But I don't care about the whole animal cruelty part behind live rodents as long as it isn't the snake being abused with ignorant snake keepers (too many bad pictures of injured snakes who were left unattended with their food running through my mind).

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Wanna see pics of my "common" mice or even rats? They are quite fancy and pretty. And look just as good as the pets. Actually my first breeder male(mouse) came from petco. Because I didnt want all plain white mice.
None of the snakes care what color they are so I have mostly fancy since it adds other enjoyment to breeding the mice or rats

I too also work at Petsmart. I think most of the care of the animals is set by a vet who Petsmart hires to come up with a set guide on how to care for the animals. So that means tank set up, feeding and what not. I will say most of the reptiles are not cared for properly or are the associates knowledgeable enough to be instructing new owners on how to care for their pets. I dont think I can blame the people working there as they are trained on how to care for the animals Petsmart's way and if the people dont know any different then they cant be wrong. Once someone has figured out the right way of caring for the animals, most of us will tell people to ignore the careguides and do it this way. Like with the bearded dragons, we have someone who is very good with them and has cared for them a long time. She is the one who is our go to when someone is interested in them. Since I came across the ball python we have I joined here and learned how to care for them properly and now I see we werent housing them right or anything! I ahve shared my information with the manager but she is so stuck in her thinking she knows everything that it doesnt really matter what anyone tells her. If she thought the sky was green there is no telling her different! Snakes are force fed when the vet instructs them to do so. Of course the vets they take them to are never certified herp vets.

As far as the pet training.... I am a pet trainer at my store... it is all about money and sales. We are to ask anyone with a dog to sign up for classes. The training you go through is ridiculous and they dont fail people who just dont understand and people who think Schutzhund is a breed of dog. There are some good trainers out there who have had previous experience and ride the fine line to teach the classes better than what petsmart says. I ahve been looking for another job just because I cant put up with a lot of the stuff that goes on in that store. They are supposed to be all about the animals and they arent. I have seen way more than I have ever wished to see in my life but I know now and I just want to pass on the word and educate people who dont know.

its sad... just sad... oh and frustrating.....dumb.. that too

Man, it always sucks to hear about that kind of stuff. The petsmart by me sure doesn't do a great job of taking care of their animals. I think it is mostly just the lazy employees.

That does suck about your hard headed manager. If I ever worked at a pet store and my manager was less than knowledgeable, my higher ups would know it.

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Originally Posted by pitbulls4me

I too also work at Petsmart. I think most of the care of the animals is set by a vet who Petsmart hires to come up with a set guide on how to care for the animals. So that means tank set up, feeding and what not. I will say most of the reptiles are not cared for properly or are the associates knowledgeable enough to be instructing new owners on how to care for their pets. I dont think I can blame the people working there as they are trained on how to care for the animals Petsmart's way and if the people dont know any different then they cant be wrong. Once someone has figured out the right way of caring for the animals, most of us will tell people to ignore the careguides and do it this way. Like with the bearded dragons, we have someone who is very good with them and has cared for them a long time. She is the one who is our go to when someone is interested in them. Since I came across the ball python we have I joined here and learned how to care for them properly and now I see we werent housing them right or anything! I ahve shared my information with the manager but she is so stuck in her thinking she knows everything that it doesnt really matter what anyone tells her. If she thought the sky was green there is no telling her different! Snakes are force fed when the vet instructs them to do so. Of course the vets they take them to are never certified herp vets.

As far as the pet training.... I am a pet trainer at my store... it is all about money and sales. We are to ask anyone with a dog to sign up for classes. The training you go through is ridiculous and they dont fail people who just dont understand and people who think Schutzhund is a breed of dog. There are some good trainers out there who have had previous experience and ride the fine line to teach the classes better than what petsmart says. I ahve been looking for another job just because I cant put up with a lot of the stuff that goes on in that store. They are supposed to be all about the animals and they arent. I have seen way more than I have ever wished to see in my life but I know now and I just want to pass on the word and educate people who dont know.

its sad... just sad... oh and frustrating.....dumb.. that too

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I don't know what to say. I guess you have confirmed what some of us thought. I know that all petsmart employees are not to blame. But like you said your manager doesn't care enough to listen to someone who may have more knowledge than she does on a subject that is just bad for you to have to deal with I hope you can find a better job soon. It is very frustrating to know that a non herp vet has to make the decision on how to care for a herp but atleast it sound like they consult a vet at all is amazing. I do wonder how this vet earns a paycheck. Are they the same vets that are in the store I believe up here they are called banfield. But that on the vet if its a conflict of interest. All together its has to be hard to know the right answer and give a different one if you are one of the people who is afraid of losing there job by giving the right answer versus the corparate answer.

I'm glad the Petsmart I work at doesn't fall into any of these bad stories.
I'd be pretty upset too if I had those experiences.

But I guess it all depends on which store you go to.
I shop around other pet stores in the area and i could have equally bad experiences with them to write posts about.

Well i can tell you stories about every pet store out there. I know every store has its problems. But I think this thread has gotten way out of hand. Our only point in the original post was to point out the irony in the fact that a store sells snakes and it won't sell you a live feeder. Even if its due to PETA. I think that live is live weather its insect, fish, or mammal. I think that anyone who knows snakes know that its built in to eat live food. Im so happy that some stores never have a problem eater i just can't actually grasp that concept being a small hobbiest breeder and i don't get all my animals to eat. Several of our friends have the same issue so how is it a store that is nationwide never has this problem i don't get but i guess i did get my answer a few hours ago when another employee posted. If done under a vets care who is trained to help animals then I can't say anything seeing how i am not a vet.

we go to petco petsmart dont have 4 snakes *edit*

Lots of complaints have been put up against this manager. And I think because of her the employees slack so things arent cared for properly nor are the associates being informed correctly on things. Its like the woman's pride is more important than animals lives. I tell the petcare associates they cannot slack even a little bit... its different if they were a cashier or something but they have animals' lives in their hands. People dont realize how important and serious that truely is. I am working on a big letter to corporate on the manager and situations there that could have been prevented. I would like to do it after I get a new job so I dont get fired for some of the things I will say.

I think it is a good thing for Petsmart not to sell live food. I personally own snakes but could not feed live because of my love of animals. If I had to feed live because thats all my snake would eat that would be my boyfriends job then on out. I would feel so bad boxing up a mouse knowing that it will be dinner. Thats just me and a lot of people that work at Petsmart are the same. Now in the same breath I understand why a lot of you get frustrated that we dont sell the mice as feeders. Snakes need to eat too.I see things from both lights.

I worked at Petsmart, and depending on the store, they really aren't a BAD place to shop.

The reason they DON'T sell live rats and or mice is because people DO see them as pets. The company wants to promote "healthy" feeding. I wouldn't buy live rats from a pet store just because there is no telling what kind of gunk they carry on them :(

Frozen rats and mice are available and it's what is recommended by the company and the little guys that work there to feed.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Man, it always sucks to hear about that kind of stuff. The petsmart by me sure doesn't do a great job of taking care of their animals. I think it is mostly just the lazy employees.

That does suck about your hard headed manager. If I ever worked at a pet store and my manager was less than knowledgeable, my higher ups would know it.

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If you were to walk into that store and tell the store manager it's not up to standards and that adequate care is clearly being ignored, I'm relatively sure they would change it up. Petsmart is a really good company to work for. I thoroughly enjoyed my job, and I was hired because I knew the most about reptiles and have lots of experience :D

i know it off track. the point we were hoping to make is why is it that if you know i choose to feed live animals to my snake can i not buy a mouse for a breeder. To say its not health to feed live rodents that were typically breed at facilities that also freeze rodents to sell is in my opinion not necessarily true. feeding frozen rodents should be more about the safety of your snake than the possiblity of "gunk" on the live rodent. I know theres no "gunk" on my rodents in my house. but not everyone has that ability. theres also the fact that most balls tend to prefer live over frozen. There arent many that will go for frozen, most with big collections know this. i was avoiding this thread do to the fact it got off topic. But i am still trying to get it back on the general point. This wasn't about bashing petsmart. Just trying to understand the policy of not allowing me to buy rodents for any reason because i own snakes and i might feed them.

I worked at PETCO for 7 years. ::O: I was the fish specialist, and wanted to be the reptile specialist, because the guy who they gave the position for SUCKED, and didn't know a damn thing about the reptiles he cared for, and didn't own a single reptile. However, I had the fortune of working for a manager who KNEW I knew what i was talking about. The guy was fired after several(unfortunate) accounts of negligence, and the guy that took his place was a friend of mine who, was hired by my manager after much coaxing by me. He was the best reptile guy (under my guidance, of course ;)) the store ever had. And even though my manager knew the store's policy, he just let us "run" our departments the way we wanted, as long as the animals were taken care of, and the cages looked good. I'll tell you, I think we were the only PETCO in the whole tiny state of DE that sold their snakes sexed. Just goes to show you, not all PETCOS are bad. But, I do admit, most of em' are. The one by me in Jersey is not bad. I've been impressed so far with the way the reptiles and fish look.

the fact i still dont get is i cant buy a live rodent and feed it to my snake that gets killed the way nature intended, but i can buy frozen which were killed by some person on an "assembly line".

now i have never seen a rodent factory (which i dont beleive to be regulated by the fda) but if you think of a chicken or cattle processing plant (which are regulated by the fda) some of them can be pretty bad so just how bad can a unregulated factory be? throw in the fact that majority of people look at rodents as a pest that they want to be rid of

i would imagine they just Carbon Monoxide gas a bunch of them. there are not people killing them one by one on a line.

but if you think about it, its not that nice.... kind of the way people were killed in a sertin history event... makes me feel like feeding live is a more humane way as its letting nature take its natural course.

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Originally Posted by 771subliminal

the fact i still dont get is i cant buy a live rodent and feed it to my snake that gets killed the way nature intended, but i can buy frozen which were killed by some person on an "assembly line".

now i have never seen a rodent factory (which i dont beleive to be regulated by the fda) but if you think of a chicken or cattle processing plant (which are regulated by the fda) some of them can be pretty bad so just how bad can a unregulated factory be? throw in the fact that majority of people look at rodents as a pest that they want to be rid of

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Now this was exactly our point...:gj:
Some rodent suppliers gas.. some smaller ones dont kill in such the friendly way.. I have heard of some throwing them in freezers as well. I am not really sure how the bigger ones do it. But even a large gas chamber its going to take longer to die than the typical constricting snake

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Originally Posted by nybp

completely off topic....this was from an older thread, but for all ex-employees/ current employees of petco/petsmart...is it true that they only sell males???
any truth????

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:)

^^^^wow im batting 1000% tonight with mis-posts....so since im an idiot forgive me :oops::oops::oops::oops::oops:

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Originally Posted by nybp

how would you know that??? NOT ATTACKING, i think that is an amazing fact...makes sense, they dont want people going home with one, and waking up to a clutch= lost revenue + pissed off parents:partyon:

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so is there any truth to the only males comment?? from any ex employees/current employees....anyone??? bueller? bueller

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Originally Posted by nybp

^^^^wow im batting 1000% tonight with mis-posts....so since im an idiot forgive me :oops::oops::oops::oops::oops:




so is there any truth to the only males comment?? from any ex employees/current employees....anyone??? bueller? bueller

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That's true for their hamsters, rats, and gerbils. Well, not quite. Each store only sells the same sex rodent. So, the PetSmart by the Avenues mall and the St. John's Country Mall only sell girls. And the PetSmart by Regency Mall sells boys. Company Policy from what they told me.

When I worked at PETCO, 95% of the baby BPs we got in sexed male....and that was for the 7 years I worked there.

At Petsmart each store either sells male or female small animals. It does not follow over with reptiles though. We sell what we are sent. I am pretty sure the snake I am planning on getting is a female from there. but I wont know until I get her to the vet.

I popped my BP about a week after I got it from petsmart. No hemis and I saw the white bumps so I got lucky and got a girl. She was also in really good shape and active and is super tame. The two they have in their display tank now look really scrawny and dehydrated... The petco near me has BCIs from time to time and they look good too. Only issues is that they do not sell a display big enough for them and I can guarantee you that most people there will have no clue how bit it will actually get.