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pet store loyalty

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  • 02-02-2010, 03:25 PM
    photoman100169
    pet store loyalty
    I just don't understand it. I had a friend come over the other day and she had her husband with her. We got to talking about animals and my reptiles so of course they wanted to see them. I took them into the room and while he was checking out my rack system he started asking questions. "why don't you have any heat lamps", "why don't you have lights on them." I tried my best to explain that ball pythons and leos don't need uvb bulbs and that I had flexwatt to provide heat. That is when he started getting worked up, telling me that he used to have a ball and that it did indeed need the uvb, because that is what the guy at the pet store told him. "Why would the pet store lie to me?":O

    After that long conversation I still couldn't make he believe that the pet store was wrong. (even though his bp died after just a year). Then he told me that when I have some babies he wanted to buy one from me. I told him that I would not sale one to him until he did some research. (he didn't like that much..oh well)

    Anyway, what I'm getting at is how do you guys get through to people like that?
  • 02-02-2010, 03:36 PM
    Inknsteel
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Step 1: Direct them to the care-sheet here on this site...

    If they listen to step 1, there shouldn't be a need for a step 2. ;) :D
  • 02-02-2010, 04:48 PM
    RockyTop
    Re: pet store loyalty
    I just came from the store here purchasing some items for a new BP setup :)

    If I listened to the nice lady who was trying to help me out, I would have a dead snake fast.

    She told me UTH was bad because it did not provide UV for them. So she wanted to sell me some UV lights. Then she told me that a BP would get 6-8 ft long, so I needed to buy a 55g tank so it would "grow into it" and reach it's "full potential". She was telling me that even if I purchased a baby, bigger is better and it would only grow to the size of it's tank. I would be stunting it's growth by starting it in a smaller tank.


    I kind of smiled and nodded politely, and only purchased a bag of Aspen and a 24x12 15g tank for the future baby BP I hope to own in a couple weeks :) I'll shop for a UTH, meters/stats, hides, etc online.
  • 02-02-2010, 05:01 PM
    photoman100169
    Re: pet store loyalty
    See that is what I am talking about. People go in there and are told this stuff then take it as gospel. Its like the pet stores are banking on your new pet will die in a couple months so you will come back and buy another one. I understand that these people didn't open a business to lose money but is just really scummy and very sad. Why don't they just stock the stuff that you ACTUALLY need and maybe help some people enjoy this hobbie?

    sorry just on a little rant today
  • 02-02-2010, 05:04 PM
    Kyle@theHeathertoft
    Re: pet store loyalty
    I work in a pet store, one of the large national chains (three guesses which and the first two don't count) and I hate that we sell BPs. Fortunately the folk in our store aren't stupid about them...we do what we can to educate people about their future pet and try to help them make the right choices.

    I oppose the fact that we sell the dang things, though. Not long ago a co-worker who honestly doesn't know jack (seriously, she's been fired for incompetence and then RE-HIRED time and again!) asked me why I'd pay a higher price for a PB from a breeder than just buy one from the store.

    I explained to her that first off, the animals we sell have issues. They are normal-phase, unsexed animals of questionable origin...all we know is that they are captive bred, god alone knows where or by whom. They almost never eat after they arrive at the store and the majority of them die before sale or shortly AFTER sale. That and they're charging about eighty dollars (!!!!) for each one, which...NO. That's insane. I can get a quality normal phase python from a reputable breeder much cheaper than that, and the animal is less likely to up and DIE on me!

    Plus, I explained to her that I wanted a specific colour morph, a Mojave, not a normal-phase animal. I also wanted to know the sex and age and other such details of the animal before purchasing it. That and, let's get real here, much as I like my job and enjoy my "associate discount" for store stuff, I'd rather give my money to a good breeder, thank you very much.

    ...drifting off topic here, sorry.

    I think part of why people trust the word of a pet store employee over anyone else is that they assume that they actually know what they are talking about. This is not neccessarily the case, but still...people assume that with the position comes some kind of knowledge. It would, to most folk, be like saying "No, I never finished college and now work part-time in the fast food industry serving tacos but I KNOW BETTER THAN MY DOCTOR ABOUT MEDICAL THINGS."

    They forget that for most pet store employees, it is ALL ABOUT SALES. The more cash they can wrack up, the better...and that means selling big expensive glass tanks (screw that, I switched to tubs and will NEVER go back!), fancy rocks and bowls for the critter (I think all of my snakes currently have old ceramic dog bowls and DIY shelters), super-special bedding (Simple aspen or heck, paper towels will work in a pinch!), and plenty of fancy lights and heating setups (bellyheat is the only non-ambient heat source I provide) to whoever can and will pay. They sucker people in, and think they somehow help the animals because, hey, don't all reptiles like basking in the sun? Don't they all love those plastic bowls shaped like rocks? Aren't they happiest in a glass tank that loses heat too fast and won't hold humidity worth crap (the air is so dry here I've had shed issues when the humidity drops)?

    Most employees of such places get ultra-basic generic reptile info and are told to sell as much as possible, the actual needs of the animals be damned.

    I say this: if you wouldn't go buy your next dog from a puppy-mill-supplied pet shop, why would you purchase your herptiles there?!
  • 02-02-2010, 05:17 PM
    kc261
    Re: pet store loyalty
    What do you expect from a person who shops at a store called PetDumb? :P

    More seriously, I think it is left over from the days, not that long ago really, when you could have a reasonable expectation that an employee at any sort of specialty store would have at least some level of knowledge and expertise about the subject in question.

    I once applied for a job at a very nice tropical fish store. I'd been keeping fish for about 7 years. I was turned down for the job, because although my knowledge with the kinds of fish I had kept was great, my experience wasn't broad enough. I'd never kept a saltwater tank, nor some of the bigger more aggressive freshwater fish like african cichlids.

    One time, I got a job at a independent, family owned home-depot like store. I wanted to work in the garden section, because I like plants and gardening, but I didn't have enough knowledge. The only job I qualified for was cashier.

    Now, stores don't seem to be so picky. One time when I went to get some hardware cloth at home depot, and asked where it was. The employee didn't think there was such a thing. Even after talking to a manager, and describing what it looks like, I was told they don't carry it, and it still felt like they thought I was crazy and no such product existed. I finally walked up and down aisles until I found it myself, and promptly showed it to the manager I'd spoken to, who just shrugged and said something about that they couldn't be expected to know every one of their products because they carry so many.:taz::taz:
  • 02-02-2010, 05:24 PM
    kc261
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Heathertoft View Post
    I work in a pet store, one of the large national chains (three guesses which and the first two don't count) and I hate that we sell BPs....They are normal-phase, unsexed animals of questionable origin...all we know is that they are captive bred, god alone knows where or by whom.

    I'm pretty sure both petsmart and petco sell captive hatched, not captive bred. BIG difference. Look into it.

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Heathertoft View Post
    Not long ago a co-worker who honestly doesn't know jack (seriously, she's been fired for incompetence and then RE-HIRED time and again!) asked me why I'd pay a higher price for a PB from a breeder than just buy one from the store.

    I think an interesting (and very sad) side effect of the push that "all" dogs and cats should be spayed and neutered otherwise you are an irresponsible owner is that some people think that means breeders are in the irresponsible owner category, and bad. Somehow, they think buying a puppy or kitten at a pet store is better. They don't understand the difference between puppy mills and good breeders, and feel a sale made in a traditional store is more legitimate than anything else. Your co-worker may fall in this category.
  • 02-02-2010, 05:27 PM
    jacob985
    Re: pet store loyalty
    all it is is sales they tell you what they have to so you will buy more stuff and if the snake dies then they think you will buy another one. im telling yo uits all for money they dont care about the snakes. that and most of the time the people behind the counter used to ork at doller general till they got fired . no offence intended if yo uwirk at doller general.
  • 02-02-2010, 05:29 PM
    musicalKeyes
    Re: pet store loyalty
    I always feel the need to buy those poor BPs I see in petstores :( It's not even just snakes; the majority of the animals seem so poorly cared for (at least in my area), and they're just passing along bad techniques. For instance, I have quite a few salamanders, and when I walked into a big chain store they had a yellow spotted, which i do not have. I bought it immediately as soon as I saw what state it was in. They were treating it like a newt, it was in a tank full of water. When they gave it to me to take home, it was given to me in a plastic bag half full of water, like a fish. :mad: When I tried explaining to them that damp paper towels would be better, and they need more land to live on and dig in than water (or at least some way to get out of the water), they got severely offended, and accused me of several very untrue things, despite the fact that I've had countless reptile and amphibians since I was old enough to use a net.

    On a side note, these experiences have just about convinced me to open my own pet store, and sell people animals that are healthy, clean, and well taken care of, along with the knowledge they need to give that animal a long and happy life.
  • 02-02-2010, 06:25 PM
    iCandiBallPythons
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Tell him to come here and read a care sheet, he just might learn a thing or two.
  • 02-02-2010, 06:33 PM
    Kyle@theHeathertoft
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Quote:

    I'm pretty sure both petsmart and petco sell captive hatched, not captive bred. BIG difference. Look into it.
    ...I'll double-check on my next workday (Tuesdays and Wednesdays are my "weekend" of sorts) but I felt sure the documentation I was given said the words "captive bred."

    I'll still double-check though. Wouldn't be the first time they labeled things inaccurately.

    Quote:

    Your co-worker may fall in this category.
    She actually falls into the "if you buy a dog you are a horrible person" category, believing all dogs should be aquired through rescues. Which isn't too bad...my current dog is a rescue pup from a local no-kill shelter. However she does take a dim view on those of us who also would buy a dog...my next dog, for example, is going to be a present to myself and will be a purebred and show-quality animal, which I will not spay/neuter as that would disqualify me from competing. This of course makes me a horrible person. e.e

    Likewise, I intend on breeding Ball Pythons down the road, purely to breed the snakes in morphs I want, and if I break even selling any superfluous animals I'll consider myself lucky. By her logic, I'm a terrible fellow, some kind of cruel animal hating prick or something.

    Thank heavens she also dislikes snakes and reptiles in general and declared I'm some kind of freak for loving them. Ergo, no innocent herps will have to suffer under her blissful negligence.
  • 02-02-2010, 06:34 PM
    Mr_BoaJangles
    Re: pet store loyalty
    I got my first snake form PetCo and sadly didnt know about this site untill a few days after. I had to repurchase alot of items and have learned alot since then and have since purchased a mom and pop pet store that knew as much as I do know and treat there animals much better. My female Red Tail Boa was handled daily and eating live like clockwork. Sadly they dont make pet store employees pass tests on the animals they help care for and assist people in the store on. Even when it comes to brands there are big differents. Like the Exo Terra UTH vs the Zilla one that gets 50 times hotter.

    Since finding this site my snakes have not skipped a meal, continue to grow at a normal rate, show no signs of stress, shed properly and correctly with out my help. Sadly most dont find this site untill they have bought a snake at a petstore first.
  • 02-02-2010, 07:08 PM
    photoman100169
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by iCandiBallPythons View Post
    Tell him to come here and read a care sheet, he just might learn a thing or two.

    yeah that is exactly what I did. I actually brought him to the computer and showed him the site, and told him how much it helped me.
  • 02-02-2010, 07:13 PM
    angllady2
    Re: pet store loyalty
    On the subject of pet store employee ignorance, I heard a Petco employee once telling a prospective buyer that ferrets are vegetarians!

    The sad truth is, 99.9% of petstore employees are ignorant of how to care for the majority of the animals they sell. Many are right out of high school, and these stores tell them little to nothing on proper care. Since almost all pet stores have a "sell,sell,sell" attitude, even those who run them don't know or care to know how to properly care for the animals. After all, if someone buys a pet, and heaven forbid KNOWS how to care for it, that animal will live for years, and how is the store supposed to make money that way??

    But, if the store can sell them all kinds of expensive junk they don't need, and the animals still dies within a few months, the buyer will be back for another animal, as well as all the latest and most expensive stuff to "correct" the problems that killed the first, and so on and so on.

    I made the mistake of buying a baby BP from a chain store. It was tiny and cute, and although it was being sold as a normal, pictures here lead me to believe it was actually a pastel. We got it home, and things seemed to be going well. Then I noticed it NEVER came out of the water bowl. And because I used that compressed coconut stuff, I never saw the mites in the water. It wasn't until they were so bad they got all over me when I picked it up that I knew something was wrong. Off to the same store I went, and came home with a little blue bottle of "mite killer" I sprayed the tank and the snake every three days, but the mites never went away completely. I was frustrated and upset, but didn't know what to do.

    Then my husband and I had to leave for a week on a family emergency, and our animal sitter we told not to mess with the snakes for fear of something going wrong. When we got home, the poor thing was literally CRAWLING with mites, you couldn't even see the snake anymore. I sprayed and sprayed it and it's tank, but by the next morning it was gone. The mites had just eaten it alive. I was so upset, and felt so guilty. I went to the store and asked what the used for mites, and was shown the same stuff I had purchased. When I told them it didn't work, I was informed I had not used it right, because it killed the ones the store got in one treatment. I followed the directions on the bottle, so I am convinced they lied.

    Of course, too little too late I found this place, and after a few weeks of study, I decided to try again. I got my first two from 8-ball, and have added six more since then. I've had no problems at all, I keep them in tubs so their habitat wasn't very expensive. I use Provent -a- Mite once a month as a safety measure, and all my babies are happy and healthy. I won't ever trust a chain petstore again.

    Gale
  • 02-02-2010, 07:20 PM
    unspecified42
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Ah, I'm lucky to have a really great pet store near me! They have lots of different reptiles and are knowledgeable about them to boot. It's a locally-owned pet store, though, not a big chain.
  • 02-02-2010, 07:21 PM
    SNIKTTIME
    Re: pet store loyalty
    I know the Petco/Petsmarts by will have it posted on the name card of the animal if it is captive bred. That is their excuse to charge more i guess. And do you guys have any idea how much UV BP get in rat burrows in Africa? LOL must be tons O_o
  • 02-02-2010, 07:32 PM
    rabernet
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by kc261 View Post
    I'm pretty sure both petsmart and petco sell captive hatched, not captive bred. BIG difference. Look into it.

    You are correct, Petsmart and Petco sell Captive Hatched (aka farmed) babies. From the same supplier in fact.

    I will say that the Petsmart that I go to, the staff does care about giving out good information. If I'm in the store shopping, and someone asks about the ball pythons, they page me to come and answer questions. They even had me come in one day to talk to the folks in the small animal department about them, and what best to offer new keepers (I suggest that they sell a 10 gallon to start with, a UTH and at the very least a rheostat and I show them the hides that I think they should suggest - no half log hides, but the caves or coconut hides). They give most ball python customers my name and phone number (with my permission) if they have any questions after the sale. And they always, always ask me to sex them for them, or show me one that's not eating that they have in the back to ask for advice on the best way to get it eating (and yes, I suggest that they offer live and keep the animal warm with belly heat in a small enclosure). However, their rate of non-feeders is almost non-existent, because they do try my techniques (they'll take the snakes out of the display the night before feeding, let them chill in the back in a small enclosure with a snug hide, the present a warmed up f/t feeder the next morning after they've had a chance to settle into a smaller, more private "dining area").

    So, I do appreciate the staff at the store that I go to. I wouldn't buy an animal there (price), but I still enjoy talking snakes and bringing in pictures of some of my kiddos for them to see.
  • 02-02-2010, 07:42 PM
    musicalKeyes
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by unspecified42 View Post
    Ah, I'm lucky to have a really great pet store near me! They have lots of different reptiles and are knowledgeable about them to boot. It's a locally-owned pet store, though, not a big chain.

    I'm lucky enough to have one of those too, and it's were I've gotten all my BPs from so far, and they've been nothing but helpful with my Spider, who was a terrible feeder. They kept him for almost a month and got him eating again, and they still ask me how he's doing 9 months later :)
  • 02-02-2010, 07:45 PM
    kc261
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Robin, it is great that the petsmart near you is so well managed. Unfortunately, many aren't. This is IMHO one of the evils of big chains, whether it is pet stores or anything else. They get a good name off of some that are well managed, and of course tons of advertising and name recognition, and then even the horrible locations are able to stay in business. Badly managed independent stores go out of business, but big chains allow even badly managed stores to stay open.
  • 02-02-2010, 10:31 PM
    Shiffy420
    Re: pet store loyalty
    I have a couple snakes that solely eat asfr's and the place i was getting them from stopped carrying them suddenly and before i could find a new source i was in a bad place. So i picked up gerbils at a local pet store, (which they took just as quick as the asfr's just cost me more) and the guy at the store started asking me a bunch of questions about why don't i just let him get me some rats (like i haven't tried that one :rolleyes: not to mention buy rats somewhere else that doesn't sell gerbils for the rest of my snakes) and he GUARANTEED ME that if i just kept smacking the ball python in the face with the rat it would eventually eat it. He told me it might seem cruel but i wouldn't be hurting the snake to beat it in the face with a LIVE rat!!! and then even went as far as to tell me that he may just get really angry and strike it a few times but if i smacked him in the face enough and got the snake mad enough he would just eat it!!!!! Then he told me if that didn't work just kill the rat and shove it down the snakes throat. I told him that i'd prefer to just pay the extra money on gerbils and let them eat on their own untill i found more asfr's. THEN that led to an in depth conversation of me telling him what an asfr was and him telling me i was wrong and there was no such thing as a soft fur rat. i haven't even been back to that pet store since then (just started stocking up on frozen asfr's so i'm never in that position again!!) but i'll never go back there solely based on the pure ignorance of his statements. And i thought i was doing better NOT going to petsmart or petco. I really feel bad for the people that go in there that don't have a clue and take this guys advice and go home and beat there snake to death with live rats and then wonder why it starved to death! So just because i pet store tells you something definately doesn't mean it's true!!!
  • 02-02-2010, 10:59 PM
    photoman100169
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Shiffy420 View Post
    I have a couple snakes that solely eat asfr's and the place i was getting them from stopped carrying them suddenly and before i could find a new source i was in a bad place. So i picked up gerbils at a local pet store, (which they took just as quick as the asfr's just cost me more) and the guy at the store started asking me a bunch of questions about why don't i just let him get me some rats (like i haven't tried that one :rolleyes: not to mention buy rats somewhere else that doesn't sell gerbils for the rest of my snakes) and he GUARANTEED ME that if i just kept smacking the ball python in the face with the rat it would eventually eat it. He told me it might seem cruel but i wouldn't be hurting the snake to beat it in the face with a LIVE rat!!! and then even went as far as to tell me that he may just get really angry and strike it a few times but if i smacked him in the face enough and got the snake mad enough he would just eat it!!!!! Then he told me if that didn't work just kill the rat and shove it down the snakes throat. I told him that i'd prefer to just pay the extra money on gerbils and let them eat on their own untill i found more asfr's. THEN that led to an in depth conversation of me telling him what an asfr was and him telling me i was wrong and there was no such thing as a soft fur rat. i haven't even been back to that pet store since then (just started stocking up on frozen asfr's so i'm never in that position again!!) but i'll never go back there solely based on the pure ignorance of his statements. And i thought i was doing better NOT going to petsmart or petco. I really feel bad for the people that go in there that don't have a clue and take this guys advice and go home and beat there snake to death with live rats and then wonder why it starved to death! So just because i pet store tells you something definately doesn't mean it's true!!!

    Of course there is no such thing as soft furred rats. Those things you were feeding your snakes we just your imagination. Come on now, he knows what he is talking about. It truly is amazing how many people really believe everything they hear from these "experts". I have to say that my fav is "this snake will only grow as big as the tank that its in" SERIOUSLY? wow
  • 02-02-2010, 11:17 PM
    Emohooker
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Man, those poor reptile helpers at the pet stores are almost always wrong, There was a guy helping this couple that where trying to decide between a leo, king, corn and ball. the helper guy, was all wrong in almost everything he was saying, he acctually told them that the leo would need a 55g tank so it would have room to run. I stopped the guy mid sentence, and told him he was all wrong.:colbert:He denied every thing of coarse. So, I told him to hold on a sec ran over an got the care sheet they provide and showed him what it said. it was generally correct, I wouldnt look at it for any long term knowledge but basics it ok, but I digress. any ways, I told the couple before they buy any of them, check out this forum, or for the sake of the animal just even google it and not to just buy it a whim...I happen to be back buying crickets the next week and saw the same couple so I asked them what they had found out. they decided on the leo, and bought a 10g tank with a normal heat lamp, not the UVB the guy was trying to sell them.

    So, I guess the moral of the story is if nothing else help the animal. :gj:
  • 02-02-2010, 11:43 PM
    shescountry89
    Re: pet store loyalty
    It's really sad to sit here and read this about all the pet stores out there who do nothing but just want to make money, and not really sell the correct supplies for an animal and not even care for it's welfare. Lucky for me, I work at a private family owned petshop that has been owned by this family for over 23 years. I, myself take care of most of the reptiles and do my best to inform people on the proper care of their future pet. I often go to the local petsmart, petco & of course can't forget petland and find that most of the employees there feed you nothing but nonesence. Like someone previously stated "I just nodded politely and smiled". That is exactly what I did.

    It's to bad that so many pet stores out there are like this. But I would never sell an animal, let alone a baby ball python with a 55 gallon tank & say "he'll grow into it".
  • 02-03-2010, 12:12 AM
    photoman100169
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by shescountry89 View Post
    It's really sad to sit here and read this about all the pet stores out there who do nothing but just want to make money, and not really sell the correct supplies for an animal and not even care for it's welfare. Lucky for me, I work at a private family owned petshop that has been owned by this family for over 23 years. I, myself take care of most of the reptiles and do my best to inform people on the proper care of their future pet. I often go to the local petsmart, petco & of course can't forget petland and find that most of the employees there feed you nothing but nonesence. Like someone previously stated "I just nodded politely and smiled". That is exactly what I did.

    It's to bad that so many pet stores out there are like this. But I would never sell an animal, let alone a baby ball python with a 55 gallon tank & say "he'll grow into it".

    I really enjoy going into the little mom and pop stores.(the good ones anyway). One just opened in the town next to mine. You can tell this guy really enjoys these animals, and takes really good care of them...everytime I go in there they are cleaning something or holding something and talking baby talk to it. lol. I do it to. whatever. I went in there the other day just to buy a couple rats and we started talking, I think I was in there for almost an hour. He wanted to show me some boas he just hatched out and the new bumble bee he just got, anyway what I'm saying is there are always good pet store employees/owners. I just wish that the big chain stores would teach their people at least a little about what they are selling and not try and sale a burm to some 10yr old boy that wants a cute lilttle baby snake. lol
  • 02-03-2010, 12:18 AM
    Shiffy420
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by photoman100169 View Post
    Of course there is no such thing as soft furred rats. Those things you were feeding your snakes we just your imagination. Come on now, he knows what he is talking about. It truly is amazing how many people really believe everything they hear from these "experts". I have to say that my fav is "this snake will only grow as big as the tank that its in" SERIOUSLY? wow


    lol yeah i mean how do you even go about trying to argue that one:confuzd:
  • 02-03-2010, 12:22 AM
    Animals As Leaders
    Re: pet store loyalty
    you even gotta be careful with the mom and pop stores, not saying that all are bad, but its really all pet stores. You just got to have you guard up, and don't take what they say as fact, and do your own research. A lot of these kids just wanted a job I'm sure, and aren't very passionate about animals and their needs, and are just trying to do their job so to speak(if they only knew the real damage they were causing). I do come across lots of employees there who are very helpful though so I guess it can go both ways. Best way to prevent bad advice is to do good research yourself. And never trust ONE source whether it be a person in a pet store or a person online.
  • 02-03-2010, 12:31 AM
    jjmitchell
    SO there are two local pet stores, one that I will not even go to, and the other that is pretty helpful and well informed....The first that I mentioned is owned by a man and wife that run the local zoo, and for someone that is the curator of the local zoo, they are sadly missinformed.... They tell people on a regular basis that hatchling ball pythons should only eat one pinky mouse every two weeks.... an adult only needs an adult mouse every two weeks and so on.... They also sell Supposed "hets" that when bred to normals will produce visual morphs (like carmel, axanthic and they dont know which line....,albino, and pied) I personaly doubt they are even hets... They have thier "huge" female redtail on display that is like 4 years old and only 4 ft long...It is a columbian but they are taking an agressive feeding approach of 1 mouse every two weeks.... So yeah it is sad that people buy into this kinda crap. The first post that I read here was the post about correcting people on misinformation and it made me instanly feel like i was going to be able to learn something. So thank you every one that has helped me, and I hope at some point I can pay it forward....
  • 02-03-2010, 12:33 AM
    PyroPython
    Re: pet store loyalty
    I attempted to work at petland. They refused to feed veggies to a uromastyx, or give it a hide. Every single BP had a stuck shed and was under weight. When I attempted to feed them properly, I was fired.

    I loathe chain pet stores. Refuse to buy anything from them, even if it is at a cheaper price.
  • 02-03-2010, 12:34 AM
    mechnut450
    Re: pet store loyalty
    sad;y and lcuky me ther only 2 places in my area that currently stocking reptiles me ( mostly rescued snakes this year) and a place on te far side ofthe county. All oth other places have either closed or removed reptile ( animals from the option of buying for the most part due ot the regulations and other headaches from permits. I still waiting for the new appications I have to fill out and I only have 30 days before the old one are worthless. I am not gonigo t be bugging them for an appication that the head person in charge promised to send me since I was an pest 3 weeks ago. they claimed then the permit were not yet printed up and would be sent out next week.(3weeks ago)

    I am keeping my snakes and if they ever try ot give me grief over it I point 1 to the old permit I got and 2 say I am still waiting for the state vet lady t osend my appication for the new one as promised( they got tire of me calling about back in 2009 what i point out so I dropped it ) it not my fault that they dropped the ball and never got back with me.
  • 02-03-2010, 12:39 AM
    PyroPython
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Ha. Oh yeah I almost forgot, on the real subject of this post...

    My own sister grilled me after I bought her a ball python and told her how to take care of it. All because I gaver her a book with it to learn more. She started that "I need a bigger tank because it will stop growing if I don't get one." crap.
  • 02-03-2010, 12:58 AM
    rellek
    Re: pet store loyalty
    At a small reptile chain store here in CO my g/f got fired for feeding animals. I removed all there baby leo geckos out of the tank and moved them to the back room because one had prolapsed and the rest had eyes that where jacked up.. Hell, maybe I got her fired for being honest.

    Thats why I am gonna open a reptile only store sometime in the future.... :snake:
  • 02-03-2010, 01:04 AM
    Kyle@theHeathertoft
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Quote:

    I have to say that my fav is "this snake will only grow as big as the tank that its in" SERIOUSLY? Wow
    When people ask me that at the store I work in, I politely point out that if you stick a Golden Retriever puppy into a small tank it will still grow into a 65 pound dog, same goes for snakes...they will get as big as they get, space being largely irrelevant.

    People think the same of fish. I hate it when people buy like eight or nine goldfish or koi and tell me they'll keep them all in, say...a ten gallon. Uhhhh, overcrowded much? That and...dude, they will GROW IF YOU FEED THEM, they don't stay small for the sake of the tank. Poor fish.

    Quote:

    I just wish that the big chain stores would teach their people at least a little about what they are selling and not try and sale a burm to some 10yr old boy that wants a cute lilttle baby snake. lol
    Oh man, some years back a local family-owned pet shop went under, but before they did, they had some terrible things for sale. Balls, all wild-caught, covered in ticks...BCIs with mite infestations they never could get rid of...sick and dying lizards and newts...a very sad little Blood Python...and of course rodents of all kinds kept in filthy, overcrowded tanks with no food and little water. The whole place smelled of faeces.

    I went in there a couple times, and one day they had about a dozen tiny baby Burmese Pythons for sale. The lady told me they'd stay small if I just fed it very sparingly. Yes that's right, STARVE YOUR BURMESE INTO TINYNESS. The babies were all lethargic and largely unresponsive to handling.

    I remember walking in a week later and they were all sold. Kindof horrifying.

    Quote:

    Best way to prevent bad advice is to do good research yourself. And never trust ONE source whether it be a person in a pet store or a person online.
    AMEN.
  • 02-03-2010, 01:27 AM
    steveboos
    Re: pet store loyalty
    You know, its funny reading all these posts and actually seeing the reality of what people think about chain pet stores. I personally work at one and i'll tell you i do have co-workers that have NO idea about some things and will try and bs just to sell you something, these are the people I (keyword) usually end up helping with their return or animal not eating. I feel i can actually help people with most of their concerns because i KNOW Iguanas and Chinese Water Dragons are difficult to keep as adults and you need some good responsibility to care for them. I know a Burmese is going to possibly get 20 feet and eat pigs, its very true and most people are suprised by this when i tell them. I tell people the truth, don't buy those dial thermometers, they DON'T WORK! Or i have to tell them that they can get 1000 crickets for the price they pay for 150. Do you want a Hamster to hold for a while? Do not get a Roborovski Dwarf Hamster. Want to know a lot about Saltwater aquariums? Sorry thats not really my area, so i can suggest somewhere to find information. I feel that if your as honest as possible to people and can sell them what they actually need, rather than what we think they need, they appreciate it. I'll tell you I've only worked there for about 4 months and i get more compliments than ANYONE ELSE in the store, customers WAIT to talk to a manager about me and its only because i'm honest with people. Its a very unfortunate thing that many of the other stores in the world are filled with unqualified people who are just trying to make a buck or two.
  • 02-03-2010, 02:35 AM
    Diamond_1028
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Alot of petstores say different things. They'll about tell you anything to get some cash but anyway the first time I got a Ball Python I did alot of research before I got one, set up a good tank and went out to purchase a ball python. Well I found this place on the southside of town and decided to check it out, I had a weird feeling about it but I decided what the heck their cheap and as I chose one the guy told me, you may be concerned with this one. I really didnt know what he meant so I just left. Right when I got home I put him in his "habitat", whatever you wana call his tank which had everything he needed, he started making weird noises. I did research and it scared me so I took him to the vet and they told me the infection he had was so bad that I had to let him go :( I cried so bad but uh I hated that petstore. Now I have a beautiful Python and he's so healthy and spoiled :D
  • 02-03-2010, 10:58 AM
    Kyle@theHeathertoft
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by steveboos View Post
    You know, its funny reading all these posts and actually seeing the reality of what people think about chain pet stores. I personally work at one and i'll tell you i do have co-workers that have NO idea about some things and will try and bs just to sell you something, these are the people I (keyword) usually end up helping with their return or animal not eating. I feel i can actually help people with most of their concerns because i KNOW Iguanas and Chinese Water Dragons are difficult to keep as adults and you need some good responsibility to care for them. I know a Burmese is going to possibly get 20 feet and eat pigs, its very true and most people are suprised by this when i tell them. I tell people the truth, don't buy those dial thermometers, they DON'T WORK! Or i have to tell them that they can get 1000 crickets for the price they pay for 150. Do you want a Hamster to hold for a while? Do not get a Roborovski Dwarf Hamster. Want to know a lot about Saltwater aquariums? Sorry thats not really my area, so i can suggest somewhere to find information. I feel that if your as honest as possible to people and can sell them what they actually need, rather than what we think they need, they appreciate it. I'll tell you I've only worked there for about 4 months and i get more compliments than ANYONE ELSE in the store, customers WAIT to talk to a manager about me and its only because i'm honest with people. Its a very unfortunate thing that many of the other stores in the world are filled with unqualified people who are just trying to make a buck or two.

    I firmly believe that honesty is the best policy...customer loyalty is driven by it. Due to allergies I can no longer work in the small animal department (though being crosstrained I help out over there when needed) and now work in the salon (don't say it. seriously.) but I do go out into the store to offer customer service.

    I can't tell you how many people I've talked out of crap like the "pedi-paws" (THEY DO NOT WORK!!! For the same price, go buy a cheap dremel at Lowes or the Home Depot.) and whom I've told to look elsewhere. People appreciate the honesty...I take my job seriously: I am paid to help our customers find solutions to their problems, and if that means telling them to look elsewhere I do so.

    These same customers will drive out to our store to buy dog food or cat litter or herp supplies, even though the local Wal-Mart is closer and cheaper.

    This is I think what is hurting large chain stores...they ALL need to emphasize honesty to their people. We've got it at our store, and we don't pull the crap some stores do (I talk people the hell out of buying herps from us, and reccomend the local exotic animal expos). In the short term, it reduces sales...

    ...but long term it drives loyalty and helps people keep their pets happy and healthy. Repeat customers are where our revenue is, dangit...and if talking someone out of a piece of crap makes them want to come back, so be it! ;)

    Must brag a moment. There's a reason I was voted this month's "Associate of the Month," LOL. First time in the like...two+ years I've worked there...totally took me by suprise.

    But like I said, we had a nightmare-store that was mom-and-pop, chain stores are not the only ones that have the potential to suck. Some are better than others.
  • 02-04-2010, 01:50 PM
    MustBeSatan
    Re: pet store loyalty
    I too work at a major pet store, and I know full well there are idiots who work in my store who would sell lights with a BP or say that fish will only get as big as the tank.

    The problem is that people don't think about the fact they are talking to part time high school students who recieve a VERY basic outline of the animals we sell. They assume they know what they're talking about... Why? Because they're wearing the shirt? The real idiots are not the people working at the pet store, they're the people buying pets they know nothing about and taking advice from a fifteen year old kid who hasn't even taken grade 11 biology yet.

    I also think it's a little bit unfair to discredit an entire multinational corperation based on the fact that they hire kids who don't always know their stuff. To their credit, my place of employment does go out of their way to take care of the animals first and foremost (we send sick hamsters to a vet, probably spending ten times what it costs us to buy the silly little things in the first place to get it looked at and treated). Many of the small pet stores I have been in are MUCH worse than any big chain store; they have no accountability as far as things like store conditions or "pet loss".

    Also, to comment on the "captive-bred vs. captive-hatched" discussion... At least in Canada, our store gets animals from a reputable local company which breeds and imports reptiles, so the captive bred animals are actually captive bred, not captive hatched. I've been to the place that sells us our animals.

    Also, (wow, what a great thread this is, so many different points and perspectives!), @Heathertoft, I'm with you on everything you said... Honesty is key, and even our store management encourages it, which I think is awesome. If you're honest with people they will come back to you over and over, rather than feeling like you're trying to cheat them and steal their money and avoid your store. It pays off! Our store is consistantly in the top 5 in Canada at everything, so obviously we're doing something right.

    Anyway, great post, love to see the opinions.
  • 02-04-2010, 04:49 PM
    Kyle@theHeathertoft
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Quote:

    The problem is that people don't think about the fact they are talking to part time high school students who recieve a VERY basic outline of the animals we sell. They assume they know what they're talking about... Why? Because they're wearing the shirt? The real idiots are not the people working at the pet store, they're the people buying pets they know nothing about and taking advice from a fifteen year old kid who hasn't even taken grade 11 biology yet.
    ...too true. People DO need to do their own homework on a species before aquiring.

    Quote:

    (we send sick hamsters to a vet, probably spending ten times what it costs us to buy the silly little things in the first place to get it looked at and treated)
    We do too. We had one poor little finch, a cheap society finch, that caught a toe on something in it's cage and we took it to the vet...the vet declared the whole leg was somehow damaged and had to be surgically amputated...so we paid the several HUNDRED DOLLARS for an avian-experienced vet to take off the leg...at which point the little critter was "unsellable" due to the leg being off, so we offered it to employees for adoption. The little one-legged finch went to a loving home for free. Total loss of revenue there...but it is our policy to care for and treat all sickness and injuries.

    Quote:

    Also, to comment on the "captive-bred vs. captive-hatched" discussion... At least in Canada, our store gets animals from a reputable local company which breeds and imports reptiles, so the captive bred animals are actually captive bred, not captive hatched. I've been to the place that sells us our animals.
    Likewise, I double-checked today. The store I work at sells only captive-BRED animals. Again, I don't know where or by whom but I highly doubt the company is lying to me about it.

    Quote:

    Also, (wow, what a great thread this is, so many different points and perspectives!), @Heathertoft, I'm with you on everything you said... Honesty is key, and even our store management encourages it, which I think is awesome. If you're honest with people they will come back to you over and over, rather than feeling like you're trying to cheat them and steal their money and avoid your store. It pays off! Our store is consistantly in the top 5 in Canada at everything, so obviously we're doing something right.
    Roughly where are you in Canada? Big place, I know, but I'm always curious...my ex lives in Canada, as does our son (my ex has custody, I visit as often as I can) and indeed our son has dual citizenship. :) I live/work in Michigan and our store tends to suck at sales and things...the economy has really taken it out of this state and we aren't in a very big city (moderate size, I guess)...plus our district manager is kindof a jerk and tends to really screw us up. I dearly wish I had the power to fire people...most of our folk are good, decent, honest people but some are either dishonest, or incompetent. I don't know for sure which is worse!

    EDIT: Oh whoops, forgot to look at your info there. Cool, I drive right through London every time I head into Canada, my son & ex live in Brantford. :D Cue the song "it's a small world after all....."

    I think maybe each store, be it a mom-and-pop place or a big chain, needs to be looked at individually. I've seen stores in the same chain as the one I work in and they suck. Others are amazing. Likewise some small places rock, others not so much. Each store is a store unto itself, and each store employs different people.

    Or will until they develop photocopier-style cloning, that is. ;)
  • 02-04-2010, 11:23 PM
    WingedWolfPsion
    Re: pet store loyalty
    I do have a suggestion for everyone.

    If you come across someone working in a pet store who is giving bad information, DON'T ACCEPT IT.
    Tell them that they're misinformed. Correct them. If they're unwilling to listen, then ask to speak with a manager, and make sure that you DO. Explain to the manager that the employee is misinformed, and is giving incorrect care information. Offer to provide the information, or resources for it. If the manager is also recalcitrant, then talk to the owner.

    Sometimes the owner IS the problem at a bad pet store--but sometimes the owner is simply not a very knowledgeable person...or they're knowledgeable about some other type of animal, and were relying on their staff to care for the herps. Maybe they have no idea their staff is so ill-informed. In the latter cases, they may be open to hearing you out, and getting care information from you. Remember to be POLITE. Being judgemental, aggressive, or scolding will only cause another person to put up a defensive wall, and they'll stop listening.

    Too many people leave the store in silence, and rely on their wallet to speak for them. You are only one customer, your leaving isn't going to make that big of a difference. If you want things to change, you need to be more social than that. Step up, and TALK to people. If the conditions in a pet store are truly deplorable, and the staff and owner won't listen, check to see if there is a regulatory body in your state that can come and investigate the store. This only occasionally bears fruit, but it's much better than doing nothing, and then complaining about it on a forum.

    If we want pet stores held to a higher standard, we need to demand it of them. We can't let these things pass, and simply complain behind the scenes about how badly pet stores treat herps.

    If the problem store is part of a large chain, and you work your way up to the owner, and no changes are made, then take it to corporate. Describe the problems in detail. Describe the steps you took to get them changed locally. Tell them that you'll be checking back, and hope that the store improves.

    You know what wouldn't be a bad idea at all? A pet store rating site. They exist for hotels, for restaurants, and for a variety of other businesses.
    In the meantime, check places like Yellowpages.com and Yahoo: Local. They allow you to post reviews and rate businesses in your area. Share your opinions with others. If a store changes due to your suggestions, mention this fact and change your rating. People do look at these things when they look a business up online.
  • 02-05-2010, 03:07 AM
    MustBeSatan
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Heathertoft View Post
    Big place, I know, but I'm always curious...my ex lives in Canada, as does our son (my ex has custody, I visit as often as I can) and indeed our son has dual citizenship. :)

    "So you're from Canada? Do you know Sally?" You may not appreciate that joke, but I know my fellow Canadians will ^.^

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Heathertoft View Post
    I think maybe each store, be it a mom-and-pop place or a big chain, needs to be looked at individually. I've seen stores in the same chain as the one I work in and they suck. Others are amazing. Likewise some small places rock, others not so much. Each store is a store unto itself, and each store employs different people.

    A great point. Even the giant, evil corperations sometimes get lucky enough to have a store where the majority of people actually care.

    And I don't really know how to quote more than one person in one post, so I'll just say that I think WingedWolfPsion has a great point... If pet stores, big or small, allow animals to suffer, they should be reported. It falls to those of us who can recognize and appreciate inadequate conditions to do so.
  • 02-05-2010, 10:31 AM
    Kyle@theHeathertoft
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Agreed. But I must stress it be politely! My roommate has offended people in the store before, trying to educate them about their hamsters and birds. Sadly she opts for the rude and obnoxious methods, which do not go over well.

    The world needs more polite, civil people in it. ;)
  • 02-05-2010, 11:55 AM
    RockyTop
    Re: pet store loyalty
    I had my first pay-it-forward experience last night!

    I was in the local PetSmart here, picking up a some dog food for my gf's dog, and a guy was looking at the reptile equipment. I asked him what he was keeping, and he said he was wanting to get a BP. Seemed like a nice enough guy, so I told him I was doing the same. Gave him the same info I gathered here, and directed him towards this website. Hopefully we will come and read first.

    A store associate came up and asked if we needed help, and the guy mentioned the BP. The store associate, who was probably ~17-19 years old, was actually pretty knowledgeable. He keeps multiple BPs at his house, and even referenced this website as well. He gave the guy good solid advice, and told him that alot of information the store hands out is wrong.

    So just because they work at a pet store, does not mean they are idiotic morons with no clue who ignorantly torture animals to death due to poor husbandry. Try to give the benefit of the doubt- and help out when you can. I was actually impressed this guy was trying to get his tank and everything setup before he purchased a snake. The store associate was telling us that it is usually the other way around- someone sees the BP, buys it on a whim, buys lamps, bulbs, giant tanks, half logs, etc... and then comes back a month later wondering why their snake isn't eating, etc.

    Anyhow, this site has been great for me and I currently have a nice tank setup with appropriate temps/hides/etc going on. All with the help of this site. My snake should be here Tues :)
  • 02-05-2010, 01:09 PM
    srich001
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Ok you people are starting to make me worried for my pet store bought BP. On the plus side the lady i dealt with seemed to know what she was talking about the 2-3 times i taked to her about the BPs before i bought mine. She even went so far as to steer me away from one of their snakes that appeared to have a broken rib. That said anytime i get a new pet that I'm unfamiliar with the first thing i do is go online and do loads of research.
  • 02-05-2010, 02:18 PM
    angllady2
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Of course I recognize that there are good stores and bad stores. Chain or mom-n-pop both.

    That said, I believe there are many more bad than good, but I agree that most should be given the benefit of the doubt when you visit. If the store seems clean and the animals well cared for, then go ahead and ask a few questions you already know the answer to. If the employee gets it right, ask a few more. If the employee skews off into the wild blue yonder as it were, ask for someone else, or shop somewhere else.

    The most amazing little shop opened near me recently, and the couple who runs it are the sweetest people. They had barely been open a month when someone dumped off two badly neglected beardies, which they happily adopted and began to care for. Just a short two weeks ago, they had the opportunity to get a few gerbils from a local breeder { that's how they get all their animals if they can } and because they knew nothing about them, she spent all evening on the internet, then went out and bought four books on them. One so she could learn, the others for customers.

    I happily gave them my business, now I'm not forced to buy supplies at the big chain stores when I can't shop the shows. And I plan on doing everything I can to make sure they are here for a long time.

    gale
  • 02-05-2010, 10:25 PM
    SpencerShanks
    Re: pet store loyalty
    This thread has inspired me. Next time I go to a chain pet store, I will ask one of the employees to help my choose supplies for a ball python. If I'm lucky, they'll know what they are talking about, and I will inform the employee that he has passed the test. If they are a complete moron, I will see how they react when I correct them. I'm sure that they'll be glad to be out smarted by a young teenager :)
  • 02-05-2010, 11:44 PM
    Moofins07
    Re: pet store loyalty
    I was hired for VERY short time (less than a day and a half) at a mom and pop pet store, and let go on account of one of the partners not "getting a good feeling about my aura"...

    Since when was taking care of and selling animals about having a good "aura"?

    These two owners were ENTIRELY about the customers (I managed to have enough time to correct her on a few facts, "Oh, REALLY? I did not know that!" No, apparently you didn't). Yes, customer satisfaction is a very important aspect in business, but when animals are involved, isn't knowledge and proper care more appreciated? I was super excited about this job, because I'm all about enriching animals' lives and properly educating buyers. (My actual dream job is to rescue abused animals - the field work moreso than the in-shelter work. I want to have the satisfaction of taking the poor, mistreated animal from its owners and telling them what they did wrong, tell them they don't deserve the right to own an animal)

    Apparently, in a PET store, my PEOPLE skills weren't up to snuff. Sigh. :rolleyes:
  • 02-06-2010, 12:04 AM
    Jay_Bunny
    Re: pet store loyalty
    I think what a lot of these stores need are good quality employees. Take for instance, almost every time I go into the Petsmart up the street, I end up helping someone in the reptile/small mammal section with questions. One day I was in there and this lady was asking the employee about equipment she needed for her child's leopard gecko. The store employee said something to the lady (I really can't remember what but I remember is was incorrect) so I spoke up and directed the lady to exactly what she needed. The employee looked a little embarrassed and admitted she really had no clue about leopard geckos. The lady thanked me and purchased what I had recommended to her. There was also the time I was waiting on help in the fish department and a lady was waiting a little impatiently for help as well. We struck up conversation about the betta she was looking to purchase and I noticed the tank, food, and such she had picked out and I told her the fish she had selected was not healthy and not only helped her pick out a healthier, more beautiful fish, but also helped her select a better tank and food brand for the fish. After helping her she took a look at my everyday clothes and asked "Do you even work here?" I responded that no I did not but I knew a lot about betta fish (I have done a lot of research).

    I'm currently trying to get a job with either Petsmart or Petco. It would be nice to be able to give people the correct information and help them keep their animals happy and healthy.
  • 02-06-2010, 12:17 AM
    Danounet
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Everytime I walk in to a local petsupermarket to buy feeders (the exotic store where I bought my first BP and used to buy feeders went bankrupt and closed) In one of the reptile tanks, I always see these 2 hatchling BP and RTB together with stuck sheds, they dont look in the best of health and they havent grown much in 3 months... Also everytime there is always a different employee there, It breaks my heart for the "unpopular" animals...
  • 02-06-2010, 12:20 AM
    Jay_Bunny
    Re: pet store loyalty
    Usually if a store is not caring for their animals correctly (as you have described) I do not give that store my business. I would bring up the lack of care to the store manager and see if you can get those snakes some help.
  • 02-06-2010, 12:29 AM
    Danounet
    Re: pet store loyalty
    I tried, they didnt say much and just gave me a face... lol. Ever since I had to feed off my ASFs because I moved and my local exotic store closed down (I still had to go there to buy mice or rats since my Pastel never cared for ASFs) It has been a pain finding a local store with feeders and know what they are doing.

    I thinking of getting a small freezer and try F/T. But I dont have alot of money at the moment.
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