Hey, you might just get from my comment that basically the P @ H issue crops up with such regularity it's boring. This doesn't go to say that they are particularly any worse than other chain stores but just that they are easy targets for a mixed response on forums.
Sorry but I think it generally does make it worse than any other major store. I never read anything bad or see many if any topics about Maidenhead aquatics or any other.
Review: P@H Bromborough - Wirral
The P@H near me Bromborough on the Wirral seems to have opened for business too fast. Only a few of the staff seem to have any level of intelligence when it comes to either fish or animals. Nearly all the rabbits they stock are definitely under 6 weeks and I know because I use to deal with rabbits a lot in my old job and turn away a lot of people for bringing them too young. They don't treat them properly if any get ill, they don't feed them properly as they don't give them time to adapt to a new diet which usually results in the rabbit/guinea pig being very ill or squirting #14### gravy for days on end. The staff aren't nearly trained enough to sell any of the rodents and especially the Degus. They over stock their degu cages something rotten.
The fish in my area seem to always have white spot there is usually multiple dead fish in each tank in which have clearly been there for some time as there are many skeletons. When they have a sign with "This tank is currently under treatment" you look around and notice every other tank should be too but nope it's not... Then onto the fact they over stock their tanks something rotten they place Male Bettas in a tank full of Guppies or Neons like 100+ of them. They place Penguin Tetra with smaller tetra = lots of deaths they generally don't have any regard for the fishes welfare and their advise is very very poor.
..and more
Edit: It also appears that on nearly every visit I go (maybe 4 or so weeks, they seem to have recently had a problem with the filters cutting out during the night and saying that is why the fish are lethargic and some dying, I begin to wonder whether this is an excuse for serious outbreaks of illnesses or whether they really do have a poor filter system.)
HOWEVER
ON a positive side... the product selection is broad and very helpful due to their opening times it can b extremely handy to drop by even if it is 5 or so miles away to pick up say a bottle of vitamins or a new dog toy for my collie. The prices aren't the best and not very competitive nearly always dearer than anywhere else but I think the opening time and the general pleasant atmosphere makes up for it. It's nicely laid out and it has a modern feel to it which is what I really like about P@H however the negative sides listed above out weigh the benefits.
I have only been to one other P@H than the one local to me and that was due to me forgetting a dog water bottle on a trip so I picked on up on the way to wales for her. Cool dog... she understood. So I can't really rate it.
So... whether it's been here a few times before or not I am still happy to put my point towards the topic. The experiences and opinions are purely based upon the visits to my local p@H and as stated their product ranges are good enough for me to have a reason to go back but their major flaw is the conditions of their live stock. However due to the amount of negative feedbacks of P@H compared to other stores like maidenheads I would say it does suggest P@H are a much lower quality franchise than other stores.
Remember if its a franchise they still have to follow the rules set by the franchisee and either their rules are far too lenient or some stores just don't bother following them.
