A note from a pet store owner

[EmberBall]

I think some local pet stores turn people off of reptiles almost as much as they turn people on to them. When someone walks by a cage with a dead lizard being eaten by ants,their reaction is going to be "gross," and they will probably walk away. I see countless lizards that are wc, and just skin and bones. I also hate the words maintenance fed. Alot of stores I have been to feed the snakes the bare minimum they need to survive. Many stores have mites, which will allow disease to run rampant through the store. Most stores have cages that are too small for the animals. I have seen large iguanas shoved into 20 long aquariums. I tend to stay away from stores that sell dog food and reptiles, as the reptiles usually get the short end of the stick.

I am pretty lucky though, I have several good REPTILE stores within driving distance from me....LLL, The Reptile Shop in Temecula, and Becky's store up off the I-10. Give these guys your business.

Dave

[Rockstar Reptiles]

Great post. Wish you were in AZ, thank you!! You should post where you are and the name of your store, with that post .....I would think you would get some business. There are allot of stores out there that do not take their animals to the vet....sad....I get the cost of doing business thing....but still sad.

Here is a suggestion....not sure of the legalities of it....but I always thought if I ever opened a store I would print out care sheets and give them to the new owners. There are so many awesome care sheets out there for different animals that might assist in the animal having a better life. I would also do my research and give them the websites where they can learn more about the animals that they are buying. This is also a nice Customer service tip.....?? Just a suggestion.

Coming from the business industry where I use to consult companies.....I am pretty paticular of the stores I shop. I am also a very faithful customer to certain places....not due to price....due to customer service. I will pay more....for customer service and businesses that do the right thing.

I absolutely intend on the caresheets. Unfortunately the only legal way is to write my own, and I simply don't have the time (it has been on my list for about 12 months in a row!). I'm sure I'll get around to it some day though. Unless anyone here knows of any good caresheets that are public domain, that would be awesome!

Good post. I was been lucky enough to get a job at a reptile store that has been in business for about 20 years, and I understand completely where you are coming from. We carry high and low end animals, but probably 90% of our business is still new pet owners, feeders, and dry goods.

I believe the best way to educate our customers by example; for instance, every display on the floor is the actual appropriate set-up for that animal. That care to detail goes a very long way. You are right in that it's near impossible to become an expert on everything you sell though. I had to learn husbandry for everything from bearded dragons to monitors to all kinds of snakes as fast as possible to do my job responsibly. The employees of the store need to be aware of the weight of their actions and advice with customers. Rather than making something up that "sounds right", they need to find someone who knows, or look up the correct answer before giving that information to customers. Needless to say, my first weeks working at the Reptile Center had a lot of ...."Sorry, I don't know. Ask that guy over there"

Not all LPS are bad! But make sure you support the ones that are good! Those LPS customers are the ones that go on to become YOUR customers.

I remember very specifically repremanding an employee who gave the right advice to a customer, because I could tell that it was a guess that they just happened to get right. It is more dangerous to think you know than to admit you don't! Kudos to you and your boss for understanding that!

[Rockstar Reptiles]

Great post. Wish you were in AZ, thank you!! You should post where you are and the name of your store, with that post .....I would think you would get some business. There are allot of stores out there that do not take their animals to the vet....sad....I get the cost of doing business thing....but still sad.

Here is a suggestion....not sure of the legalities of it....but I always thought if I ever opened a store I would print out care sheets and give them to the new owners. There are so many awesome care sheets out there for different animals that might assist in the animal having a better life. I would also do my research and give them the websites where they can learn more about the animals that they are buying. This is also a nice Customer service tip.....?? Just a suggestion.

Coming from the business industry where I use to consult companies.....I am pretty paticular of the stores I shop. I am also a very faithful customer to certain places....not due to price....due to customer service. I will pay more....for customer service and businesses that do the right thing.

Also, I am hesitant to post any specific store info without permission because I don't want this to come across as an advertisement, which it is not.

[jnite]

Great post!!!!! Everything is exactly as I would've put it, as I'm a store owner too. I am also working on my own caresheets, so many out there have such wrong info it's amazing. Being in it for the animals is a tough venture, but it can also be very rewarding when that young kid gets thier first (insert reptile here) and are sooo excited and keep coming back for food and are still excited a year later.


Again thanks for the great post from one store owner to another!!!!!!!

[BPelizabeth]

well you might have to just PM me that!!

[Rockstar Reptiles]

Great post!!!!! Everything is exactly as I would've put it, as I'm a store owner too. I am also working on my own caresheets, so many out there have such wrong info it's amazing. Being in it for the animals is a tough venture, but it can also be very rewarding when that young kid gets thier first (insert reptile here) and are sooo excited and keep coming back for food and are still excited a year later.


Again thanks for the great post from one store owner to another!!!!!!!

Thanks! Glad to know there really are others like me and I'm not just blowing hot air!

If I get some caresheets done I'll send them to ya, and vice versa. Matter of fact, we should keep in touch. Stores around here are very reluctant to work with each other, but I think LPS should band together. We are better in numbers I think!

[Rockstar Reptiles]

Great post!!!!! Everything is exactly as I would've put it, as I'm a store owner too. I am also working on my own caresheets, so many out there have such wrong info it's amazing. Being in it for the animals is a tough venture, but it can also be very rewarding when that young kid gets thier first (insert reptile here) and are sooo excited and keep coming back for food and are still excited a year later.


Again thanks for the great post from one store owner to another!!!!!!!

Know what you mean about the kids too. I live in a small town and my fav. thing is I'm like a celebrity here! Always here kids in the grocery store whispering, pointing, and staring. Like I should see cameras flashing!

[BuckeyeBalls]

I absolutely intend on the caresheets. Unfortunately the only legal way is to write my own, and I simply don't have the time (it has been on my list for about 12 months in a row!). I'm sure I'll get around to it some day though. Unless anyone here knows of any good caresheets that are public domain, that would be awesome!

They wouldnt let u use caresheets off here if given permission? Even if you advertised bp.net on the caresheet? Im sure all ur new pet owners buying bp's would refer to this site if its listed and ur suing their caresheet?

Im sure brining new traffic to site is not a bad thing. Idk tho i see it as a win win for both sides. You can use the caresheet but also advertise bp.net for them

[don15681]

Great post. When I sell a snake. I make sure that they know the basic information and have the proper setup for that animal. They also get my phone # and email. I also have a list of forums, BP.net being one of them. Not only can they come and do some reading on their new hobby, but also ask questions and read problems that some members are having, and seeing the feedback that you won't find in caresheets. I tell them, " first read, then ask". So even if you write up your own caresheet, the best thing you can put on it is to go on a forum and learn more than just the basic care.

[martinarquero]

I have to travel to a good lps, one in sierra vista were I got my first corn and ball, and Im still going there when ever I need f.r. or just to look at what's new, my son and I would go to Tucson, to find a good store so we could learn more about the hobby, and Zack Im also your costumer at the reptile center in Mesa when ever Im in town I make sure to come and see the displays and walk away with some feeders at least. so Im all for the LPS, keep up the good work.