I would have to drive a few hours to get to a Petsmart/Petco. People complain about those places, and I know they aren't great, but you take them for granted. For the most part you can get a F/T feeders or other required items at decent prices.
One local pet shop wants $3 a piece for "jumbo adult mice" which in reality are barely hoppers. The other shop is filthy, and another member here, who lives in my area, told me at one point they had a chameleon, a BP, and a box turtle all in the same terrarium. (Or it may have been an iguana, and some type of other tortoise, but you get the idea.)
I would like to support the mom and pop shops but they make it very difficult, at least in my town. Between the lack of selection, exorbitant prices on what they do carry, and the one shop being disheveled, dirty, and having horrible husbandry I would much rather order online. It's pretty sad when having stuff shipped from Tampa to Upper Michigan is still cheaper than buying local.
In an emergency situation I might have to buy local, but that would probably be it. I do feel bad about this, and I know that the little guys can't price like the big chains and still make money, but ultimately I have to look out for number one.
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