pet store employee's these days

[JaGv]

so i took a trip down to a pet shop to buy feeder mice and as usual i take a look to see what's new. man those store employee's now adays seem to not know how to care for snakes 1st there was the small normal with stuck shed from head to tail, then there was the medium spider that looked like it was dead to me because it's head was sideways eyes looked a little cloudy not like when they shed. i also saw no sign of it breathing. i told an employee and he didn't even seem to care. i also asked for a female rat and they tried selling me a male insisting it was female because its "cookie" was showing. makes me wonder why store owners would hire people that know nothing about animal care or even bother to do a little research. i know its not my business but as a snake owner it sucks seeing poorly taken care of animals and can't do a thing to help out.

[FoxReptiles]

Always horrible to see an animal that isn't getting cared for. It's especially bad when you see it in an environment where it should be getting the best of care. Animals at a pet store should be getting amazing care since they pay the bills. I can't imaging that a store owner would think an animal covered in stuck shed would have a chance of selling when compared to a happy healthy animal. *sigh*

[JaGv]

no to mention that none of the snakes are sexed and the prices are high. they have a piebald thats been there since january and doesn't seem too ever get bigger. out of all the times i been to that store i never see the owner around.

[PitOnTheProwl]

its all about keeping the overhead down

[Rollis]

About 10 years ago I worked in a medium sized local pet store. I was a kennel cleaner, so I cleaned the dog poo, fed them, changed cat litter boxes, and maintained the small mammals. I didn't do any sales at all, I was basically an animal maintenance man. The reptile department was right next to the area I worked in, and all the reptile guys quickly became friends of mine because I would always help them with reptile cleaning, questions, etc.

After about 4 months of working there, they had an opening in the reptile department. The reptile manager decided he absolutely wanted me to work there (for good reason), and went directly to the owner to talk to him. He came back 10 minutes later and told me that the owner outright refused to allow me to switch, saying "I don't care how much he knows or how good he is. It's easier to hire someone to sell reptiles than it is to clean dog crap". At the end of my shift that day, I told him he could hire someone to do both, and never went back.

I've applied to various chain pet stores over the years, and had a few interviews where the manager interviewing me outright said they were extremely impressed by my knowledge on things. Yet, they've also refused to hire me.

It makes me wonder what it is that pet store owners/managers want in an employee.

[Royal Chick]

Hey! I just recently got hired at a retail store and my job is to take care of the reptiles and other small animals. The one I work at takes really good care of their animals and they said if I see any problems to collect the animal and take it to the back to take care of it and let them know. These people really care about the animals they are selling because it's their reputation and it's an animal not a product, and this is a RETAIL store. So not everyone is like that. Not defending those people that are doing things wrong, just saying don't generalize ALL pet stores because some are trying and really doing a good job.

[JaGv]

About 10 years ago I worked in a medium sized local pet store. I was a kennel cleaner, so I cleaned the dog poo, fed them, changed cat litter boxes, and maintained the small mammals. I didn't do any sales at all, I was basically an animal maintenance man. The reptile department was right next to the area I worked in, and all the reptile guys quickly became friends of mine because I would always help them with reptile cleaning, questions, etc.

After about 4 months of working there, they had an opening in the reptile department. The reptile manager decided he absolutely wanted me to work there (for good reason), and went directly to the owner to talk to him. He came back 10 minutes later and told me that the owner outright refused to allow me to switch, saying "I don't care how much he knows or how good he is. It's easier to hire someone to sell reptiles than it is to clean dog crap". At the end of my shift that day, I told him he could hire someone to do both, and never went back.

I've applied to various chain pet stores over the years, and had a few interviews where the manager interviewing me outright said they were extremely impressed by my knowledge on things. Yet, they've also refused to hire me.

It makes me wonder what it is that pet store owners/managers want in an employee.

you got that right you would think they would hire you beacause you know what you're doing but refuce to hire you. seems like they dont care about the animals they sell and its all about moving their merchandise.

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Hey! I just recently got hired at a retail store and my job is to take care of the reptiles and other small animals. The one I work at takes really good care of their animals and they said if I see any problems to collect the animal and take it to the back to take care of it and let them know. These people really care about the animals they are selling because it's their reputation and it's an animal not a product, and this is a RETAIL store. So not everyone is like that. Not defending those people that are doing things wrong, just saying don't generalize ALL pet stores because some are trying and really doing a good job.

this store was smaller than petco/petsmart. but the employee's at the petco/petsmart near me suck at what they do. some employee's are scared to handle the snakes.

[RobNJ]

Not the employees' faults at all, they need a job just like anyone else. It's up to the owners/managers of the stores to properly train/equip their employees to properly care for the animals. I've been in the food service industry for 17 years now, and could only wish that places would only hire qualified waiters/bartenders/cooks...

[JaGv]

Not the employees' faults at all, they need a job just like anyone else. It's up to the owners/managers of the stores to properly train/equip their employees to properly care for the animals. I've been in the food service industry for 17 years now, and could only wish that places would only hire qualified waiters/bartenders/cooks...

true you got a point there. but even though if the employeer doesn't train them for the job instead of just getting by not knowing anything about reptiles they can make an effort and at least learn something themselves even if the pay is bad it's on them if they give a customer the wrong info.

[4Ballz]

I worked in the bird department, at Super Pets (at that time). I really didn't know much about birds then, but I learned quickly, and took the time to research the ones we cared for. We also watched over the small animals area as well. It was commission, so selling a $2000 bird was crazy. I always sold rats rather than hamsters. Hate those things. I always wanted to change over to the reptile department, but the staff there was top notch. Maybe it's just the generation of slacking employees? I enjoyed it, would love to do a part time gig at a pet store....wait, I have 60+ rats, 20+ mice, and 10 bps....lol

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2 kids, 2 dogs, and 2 cats ( just in case my rats mice get out )