Petsmart Rant!

[greyko]

We don't have petco down here I don't think, but, I know i'd not buy any of the fish from the local pet shop. They mostly only have mollies, guppies and goldfish, and a few veiltail bettas, but the water is always really murky, and it just looks horrible.

Even though my local aquarium is much better, even there, the staff either have no clue, or will say anything to make a sale. I don't trust sales people in any kind of store. I'd like to assume they have at least a basic knowledge, but often it isn't the case, they really are just sales people, with no interest or knowledge in what they're selling. I find this in the biggest camera store in my city too. I ask for something, and they have no idea what i'm talking about, then have to ask someone else where to find it.

Definitely pays to do all your research beforehand (that's what I love about this forum, chances are someone has already asked, and if they haven't, plenty of people with good answers), and keep a close eye on the sales people, they may not mean to do anything wrong, but they very well may, simply out of ignorance.

 

[fish_fetish65]

Most of the Pet Smart employees are kids who work there part-time and dot have a clue about fish. My friend bought six neons and some glow lite tetras and the kid used a code on the bag for white clouds. He got all his fish for less than half price. Way to go Pet Smart.

we aim to please lol!

anyhow, most of the people that i have met at my petsmart are extremely intelligent. i only started working there about 4-5 months ago but have learned SO much already. this forum has helped me tremendously as well. sadly, our head manager is an absolute idiot. the rest of us (in the specialty department, at least) know a good deal. of course, there are some that are more educated than others in some fields... i'm more of a rodent person, myself, though i'm slowly working my way into the fish expert club LOL.

as for the tetras, they may have been the albino version, which was discontinued (we still get shipments of them, though, for some reason) so the kid might not have known what to put down and so just wrote down the white cloud number? either way, it's not really much of an excuse...

 

[kramers]

two words

Big Al's
^^

Only problem, they don't mail fish. Excellent supplies though.

 

[Georgie]

hi everyone i manager a pet shop down my way and one of the main things i follow and tell my staff is always give the right advice, if u dont know it, then admit it!
i guess im not the best sales person in a way because rather then trying to "just get a sale" i will refer customers to other pet shops, or stock suppliers if i do not have a product they are looking for. i will NOT lie about a product or livestock just to boost my sales!

i do know alot of shops that do as i have had it hapen to me many times and its not nice!
oh and fish fetish65 iam also a rodent lover(love my mice )

 

[rfisher]

Hi,


My local 'Pets at home' store used to be a 'Petsmart'. I dont nkow if they have just changed names or are a totally different company. However I went there a week or so ago, I wanted to buy some neon tetras, They had a sign up saying the all 99p fish could be bought as 5 for £4 offer. After carefully checking the tank out for dead fish etc. The assistant netted out 6 fish instead of 5 and then proceeded to write down on the ticket ' 4 neons £3.20' She said I could have the extra Neon for free as it would be unfair to try and collect him back up in the net and put him back in the tank, I couldnt agree more, I was however willing to pay for the extra fish, but she said it was her mistake and it would be fine. I then took my purchases to the till along with a bottle of 'Stress Coat'. The assistant there rang up all my items and proceeded to chrage me only £2.20 for the six fish. All in all it was quite a good visit. Just thought I would share this with you all.

Rich

 

[king72]

I went to Pets at home in Rochester, Kent to get some plants. I spotted that nearly every tank had atleast 1 dead fish which I pointed out to some young fella with hair like an explotion in a tobacco factory. He said "oh ok". I went to look at the plants which on first glance looked nice. I picked 3 as it was 3 for £5. as the fella reached in and grabbed the plants, they just fell abart in his hand like mushy paper..

yep you guessed it, i did'nt buy a thing and went to my LFS

 

[rfisher]

Hi King 72,

I had exactly the same at The Southend branch, Same section 3 for £5 and they were all rotten. I did the same as you and went to my LFS. Two days later the whole plant section was empty and being scrubbed clean ready for restocking I assume.

Rich