A) Report the stores that do it wrong. Take it on up the chain. If nothing gets done, then see what local laws have to offer in terms of reporting animal neglect in a pet store. (In some areas, you'll find people who will help--in others you will find there's a gap in the laws). Give the pet store a negative review online. Most stores have google business pages or yellow pages online with review sections.
B) Praise the stores that do it right. Even if you don't buy from them. Give them positive reviews online. Some of us actually read those things. People looking for a reptile will see a good review, or a bad one.
The big chain doesn't tell their stores to do it all wrong. Their care instructions are generally reasonable. The problems arise when the individual stores do not follow or understand those instructions.
Do boycotts work? RARELY. When they do, it's because someone worked REALLY hard to organize a huge number of people to participate. One person failing to buy from a store? Not going to even be noticed.
Even passive resistance doesn't work by you sitting at home on your duff in front of the TV.
Making a difference requires ACTION.
Assuming PetCo notices that you never bought a snake from them: dumb.
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