PetCo

[amymarley]

Kinda funny... if any one deals with arachnids...
I bought 1 rose hair tarantula and an Emp. Scorpion 2 days ago. I was debating, wether i was going to transport them less than a mile to my house in a "Petco" box carrier, or if I was going to put them into a "habitat." My thought and reason, was going to build a habit there and put them in it, less stress, a good home, good vibes etc. BUT NOOOOO>>>>>>

Guess, what the "pro" or "Reptile Expert" on his badge said.... (Again I had to get the whole habitat anyway and was going to set it up and place the tarantula and scorpion in each one...BUT NO, the Einstein their actually told me that they "would be better in a box, so they would not see the "cars" go by and stress them out (I thought, what????). These guys have 6 eyes, and can't see worth a cra*! Plus they would have been on the floor of my suv, in a great habitat, set up, NOT seeing any cars drive by. I AM NOT KIDDING! THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME THE OTHER DAY. I did not "express" my self, or said what i do, only to hear his "thing".

Sorry, but tarantuals and scorpions don't get stressed out over a mile drive in a suv, on the floor, (they get it getting transferred to PETCO, via air from everywhere, bad scene, and bad transport).....

That was one of the dumbest things I have heard in a long time... Even non-herps, that is so dumb.... SO WHAT IF THEY ACTUALLY SAW CARS, THEY CAN'T SEE WORTH A ****..... Love the reptile expert at petco (not).... GO PETCO! I hate stupid people.... and yes, after, I get my millipede from him, I will tell him how dumb he is... (sometimes it's great looking like a dumb blonde, only to get your testies shrunk when a dumb blonde calls you out) God, this guy should be fired.

I had to get what i had to get because there is no one else here to get it from, but man, are they dumb, as sharp as a marble.(but, at least, I will take great care of them).

I think i am going to write them (again), because the employees are kinda/lots stupid!!!!!!!!! I swear this is a true story....

AND THE BOTTOM LINE, THESE 2 CRITTERS DON'T HAVE THE BRAIN CAPICITY, NOR THE VISION TO SEE PASSING CARS...THAT IS MY POINT. INSTEAD OF HAVING MY IDEA OF CREATING A HABITAT THAT THEY ARE USED TO, LETS JUST STRESS THEM OUT MORE AND STICK THEM IN A BOX....DUH...............................................................................

I HATE PETCO AND PETSMART SOOO MUCH, BUT I NEEDED PETCO FOR A FEW ANIMALS I COULD NOT GET HERE, BUT, ALAS, THEY HAVE FOUND A GOOD HOME, AT LAST. MAYBE NOT THEIR FIRST CHOICE, BUT SAFE AND WELL FEED.

 

[Debi]

hey...I brought a tarantula (sp?) home in a bucket...in the trunk of my car from TX to PA. he didn't mind a bit, and I am sure it's not because I sheltered him from surrounding traffic stress!!!!!! LOL that is silly.

 

[avenlee]

You really got upset over this! LOL Not to make light of it, I don't blame you and I'm the same way. Sometimes something will rub me the wrong way and it will stick with me all day. And it's usually something simple. I go to Petco for supplies and I agree, the store is loaded with employees that don't have a clue what they're talking about.

 

[SummerRiot]

LOL.. thats too funny.. I think she should have been labeled floor manager for those comments.. geez.. she must be the smartest one in there.

Seriously though, I feel for those people. They dont get the training that is needed to become an "expert". I know, i used to work at Petcetera, they give you these pamphlets that you have to read(optional). I read mine, and all the pamphlets said was what they eat, how long the animal lived for and where they can/should live. No other information..

 

[amymarley]

I am more upset that they are most likely giving people who really have no clue, but want the best for their pets, the wrong advice... not just disagreeable advice, but just plain wrong or potentially harmful.

I blame the chain, like stated above, for not hiring people who know their stuff or not giving them proper training.

I won't even go into the dog training program, it's been talked about here before, but ohhhh my.

 

[smkie]

i was in a pet store when a person bought a lori and asked the clerk what it should eat..the clerk said parrot mix.i followed said customer out to the parking lot and explained about how they needed a very special diet based on fruit and they should not ever try parrot mix for their bird would quickly sicken.of couse they looked at me like i was some kind of nut...and once again suggested that thy "hit the books" as soon as they got home and in the future before. they purchase and exotic..i think you should contact them and make a suggestion that they have a reading/training
course for their employees (one where they get paid) before they stick a badge on them.The employees have no choice except that thye could take an interest in their work and study on their own time and know that what they are working with is a living creature and not just a profit margin and a paycheck

 

[doberkim]

so they why do you go there to get animals? seems to me for all the complaining, youre just feeding the system...

 

[smkie]

around here there is no where else unless you wanted to order sight unseen and i for one would never ever do that..where are u from doberkim that you could go somewhere else? Lots of people think that working in a petstore would be fun..and as usual when it come to animals or anything that seems like "fun work" they pay so very little. For those that do work there i would think they would WANT to learn about what they are working with. I had 4 years in a tropical plant store. Of course i am a curious person anyway and looked things up..made calls for customers trying to track rarities down..talked with garden clubs. When i left my boss said that sales fell 30 percent and never came back up..gee i wonder why. I know for a fact that alot of plant places will tell you just enuff to keep the plant alive for a little while, but not long term because they want to sell you more plants. I would uhhum tell a customer when something was " a temporary enjoyment" vs a sturdy long lived and forgiving option. That was what kept people coming back..gee the truth..a new concept? a temp enjoyment is fine for a centerpiece but for a customer that wants to do right and take care of their plant it becomes something sad and disappointing..they feel they have done something wrong when it was doomed the minute it left the greenhouse. I still say there is plant abuse especially at the discount stores..to me they are "living things too" i refer to clerks that give bad advice as disposable pet merchants

 

[sparks19]

I don't think you should be angry at the employee. They need to make money and that is a job. You should blame the employer for giving the employees the wrong kind of training. To say the employee is stupid is just silly. They believe their employer has given them the info they need to be a successful employee. They don't realize their employer is just giving them the basic info and ignoring the rest. I know because I was there once.

 

[smkie]

i had an idea (you know me..see a problem and that starts my brain to working) what if
there was an incentive bonus for petsmart and petco to their employees for those that take the time to study and learn about their department..maybe be able to pass a little test.or even write an essay on their "specialty" then they can wear a badge that says I am informed (not expert) about my dept i think i will work it out and drop it in the suggestion box at my nearest store.
Most people like to succeed..young clerks are usually students..worried about their "lives" always going to do it "later"..this would help them help the public so much better.

 

[bubbatd]

Believe me, having been in retail , salespeople today are paid " ushers " ... forget about their training.... how good are their vets ??!!

 

[juliefurry]

yuck, at the petstore I used to work at they had strict rules about giving information that you weren't for certain about. If someone asked you a question about any of the animals they sell (feeding, care, etc.) and you didn't know then you best find someone who did or you would get fired. I was usually in control of the reptiles and I knew NOTHING about them so needless to say I was constantly asking questions (and I still know nothing about reptiles).

 

[smkie]

so no one liked my idea..darn....at Hallmark my brother was awarded a fairly nice sum for coming up with an idea that improved the production and safety of his department. That just seems "good business" to me. Complaining only goes so far..let the customers tell them how they want to be treated..and give them ideas on how to achieve a better customer service relationship.

 

[amymarley]

I am more upset that they are most likely giving people who really have no clue, but want the best for their pets, the wrong advice... not just disagreeable advice, but just plain wrong or potentially harmful.

I blame the chain, like stated above, for not hiring people who know their stuff or not giving them proper training.

I won't even go into the dog training program, it's been talked about here before, but ohhhh my.

I might be feeding "the system," but I am doing it because I need certain types of arachnids, that I can't get around here. I am also doing it to, yes, make money, but more important, giving them a good and forever home AND to educate people about the enviornment, why these creatures are needed, AND why they are not always the greatest pets to have. So, it's a give and take, I need to buy a few to educate dozens....I hope it equals out in the end. I will end up spending more money of my own to keep these creatures than I will make, so therefore, yes, I am trying to at least make a difference.

Again, I am not just blaming the emloyees as stated above, I blame the chain, which it's ONLY intent is to make money, which is a bit different from mine. Go into a shelter, you won't find many scorpions there, but hundreds of dogs... which I also help too. The employees (some) are also to blame. The chain gives them a "specialist" or "expert" tag, and they run with it. I know a lot about animals, but I never give out advice just to give it. If I don't know, then I will tell so. I consider myself a professional, not an expert, because I learn from animals everyday, they teach me on a lot of occassions.

And I now here, that these chains are starting a "doggie day care" business. I would never leave my pet there. Look at how many were killed by the grooming dept. and their dryers....

 

[amymarley]

Also, must add...when I went their to get the animals, I didn't expect to have some dumb a** give me stupid advice... the animals are better off with me then their, or someone who does not know anything about them.

I was just posting a thread about my experience there, I didn't know at the time of purchase, that I would get such an uneducated advice. How was I to know before hand, I deal with animals, I am not a psychic. Sorry, just didn't understand your message...
Amy

 

[Mordy]

animalbiz, i'm not even sure why you'd buy any kind of live animal from petco. they are scum.

 

[smkie]

there isn't anyplace else i know of to buy spiders...is there? we have one other petstore here but we are a large city too. are there spider breeders?

 

[amymarley]

Mordy, of course, my first place of choice would not be those 2 chains... (I checked out rescues first..

And I agree they are scum....(but read below)...at least, they now have a good, forever home.

But I am trying to offer an educational experience, and why some people would love to have these creatures, but again, why it is not wise to not to have them just for "show." (Snakes get the worst of it all..., amoung other reptiles too).

Also, again, I educate why they are important to the enviornment, and why we, as humans should give them a bit more credit, than they get, because we would be over run with vermin, disease etc... without them.

The one and only store, that was dedicated to these creatures, went out of business (because SHE could not compete with these chains 2 years ago).

So, yes, I had to go there, but I believe that I will not only give these guys good homes, heck most are named after people here, Zoom, Richie, Blue, K-9 named my tarantula "Cactus," ....but anyways here in Reno, there is no where else...I am getting my snake by rescue.

It's great for kids, a fun biology class, with hands on (some) critters. Again, I just wanted to post my experience when I went there, that's all.

Bottom line, I am trying to contibute to the cause, if I have to be friendly to the enemy for a second, I will, if it will help critters in the end. I can handle the stupid talk from stupid people who sell them.

The old saying, if I can make only one person understand and relate, than I did something.....

Amy

 

[smkie]

amen to snakes get the worst of it..they get passed from one buyer to the next..each thinking the next will feed them because they can go so long without food doesn't mean they should go that long without nutrition and water. I saw them come in bags from the orient and others places as well..white flour or rice cloth bags tied in a knot..stuffed in a box solid. thirsty..they were alway so thirsty. That was just the third or so step on the journey..and no my boss seldom fed them. as well..if something like a hamster or rat was injured then someone would be instructed to throw it in.hermit crabs covered in sandfleas... mostly the lizards broke my heart. I hate the whole business.

 

[Mordy]

You might give those guys a good home, but it's the same thing as with puppy mill puppies and any other animals sold in stores - as long as there's a profit to be made, the suffering will continue. For every single animal they sell at a pet shop, more are mass produced under horrible conditions, so no, you're not really doing anything to help them as long as you fork over the money.

Why not buy from someone who's genuinely interested in the animals and cares about them, instead of from any shop? Of course it's not instant gratification like walking into a store, picking what you want and walking up to a cash register, but there are so many special interest communities out there who would be able to point you towards someone who is breeding the animals for the love and dedication of it, and not for sheer profit.

Last but not least, what does the whole thing really teach the kids you want to be educating? If they ask you "Hey Lady, cool critters, where'd you get them?" do you really think they are going to hear anything past "I got them from Petco" when the whole sentence would perhaps have been "I got them from Petco, but that's not really a good idea, you should get them from a responsible source".

I just don't get the double standard.