Question about pet stores

[Bogertophis]

I have a Petsmart, Petco, Pet Supplies Plus and Pet Supermarket within 10-20 min from my home. There are 2 reptile stores in my county that are about 10 min from my home.

I don't like ANY of these stores including reptile stores for selling wrong items and giving bad advice to new, concerned owners.

I don't like that the biggest hamster cage being offered for Golden is still too small, some so small that they can injure themselves. I don't like the biggest bunny cage recommended and sold is a crappy 3 x 16". Even dwarf bunnies need more space than that for their health and mental wellbeing. I don't like heat rocks are still being sold. I don't like none of the above chain stores and the 2 reptiles stores do not sell thermostats to reptile owners. I don't like that citronella collars and shock collars are being sold to anyone indiscriminately without being taught with the proper instructions, if they must be used. I don't like that calcium sands are used in their lizard tanks and sold to lizard owners, when it has been proven time and time again that this crap can impact and kill their lizards.

What I hate is having to correct the staff and teach their customer on how to care for the animal that they bought from them and what correct items to buy. So many times I had to step in and explain to the customer that their bearded dragon that is refusing to eat needs a stronger UVB bulb or get rid of the loose substrate at a reptile store; explain how they need to buy a thermostat for their ball python's heat mat ASAP and unplug it until then; and that a cat peeling outside its litterbox all of a sudden require a a vet check up, not avoid the issue by spraying air cans at its face to stop the behavior.

But what I hate the most are the customers/keepers who willfully ignore any advice, refuse veterinary care for their pets and refuse to change or try something different for the pet's safety, health and wellbeing. The ones who believe their animals are worth as much as they can out of it with the least amount of work.

But how do you REALLY feel??? Seems like time goes on & these things never change...