Stop PETsMart in their tracks!

[dannykerbles]

As a huge retail chain PETSMART can be cheaper w/ the products they sell....but for fish... support a (reputable) aquarium store.The owner is usually the one helping you and they always get the better fish from their distributor...PETSMART gets all the leftover fish the aquarium guys didnt want...not to say ppl wont have luck w/ those fish...i like to test the fish depts knowledge w/ things that i have learned reading posts here....

 

[Alia]

I have to admit, my PetSmart isn't bad. I like it better than the Petco that is closest to me. I wish they'd set up a real crab tank for their crabs and frogs, but the fish staff there have always been as knowledgable and as pleasant as at any of the pet stores in the area (which is not saying a lot, but it's better than being worse).

I buy my tanks used and most of my supplies online, but I have been known to buy fish at PetSmart. None have died suddenly or unexpectedly, or even gotten sick that I can recall. Most of my fish have come from there, now that I think of it. They just seem to carry a better selection than the others I have to choose from.

If it weren't for them, I'd have to patronize either a full service pet shop (dogs, cats, birds, the works), or a decent store (no dogs, and only rescued kittens) that nonetheless carries dyed tetras and seldom has fish I want. I've heard on this forum recently that there are two good places within an hour of my house, but I usually prefer to stay local so they aren't in the bags too long.

Anyway, I sympathize with your good intentions, Fish Guru, but it seems to me (judging from the responses here) that PetSmart is doing a pretty good job, considering it's a humongous chain store, and those of you who have had bad experiences might consider petitioning your individual stores for care that is more in line with the chain as a whole. Perhaps you can send the store number or location to this Dr. Nick Saint-Erne fellow at PetSmart Headquarters and they might reprimand the store?

I would wholehearted support a petition to get the aquarium trade out of W*mart stores, however. I think I signed one once already. You hear of the occasional WM that takes good care of its fish, but it is definitely the exception, not the rule, and seems to have more to do with a particular employee than with the store itself or the company. WMs around here are all shabby and poorly run in my opinion, and I wouldn't cry if they all closed their doors.

That's my 2 cents.

 

[Fresh_Start]

If it weren't for them, I'd have to patronize either a full service pet shop (dogs, cats, birds, the works), or a decent store (no dogs, and only rescued kittens) that nonetheless carries dyed tetras and seldom has fish I want. I've heard on this forum recently that there are two good places within an hour of my house, but I usually prefer to stay local so they aren't in the bags too long.

The better fish stores will actually pump oxygen into the plastic bags so the fish can survive longer. At the chain stores they just put them directly into the bags with regular air.

 

[Patrick333]

my petsmart has never any dead fiah in it. never had any fish die from therecheap stuff also

 

[guppymonkey]

I like PETsMART the best of any of the chain pet stores I have ever been to. They are better than any LPS I have been to. They don't even sell dogs and cats, they only have them from animal shelters for adoption. Having a guinea pig die is sad but blaming petsmart while thousands of pet stores are terrible seems a bit much. I would never sign a petition for Petsmart, maybe for WalMart though.

 

[Nidge]

Tell us why you started this petition, did you have a bad experience with them? did you see animal cruelty on their premises? im just curious

 

[Abernathy]

Here's another vote for Petsmart. Frankly, they are the best around my area in terms of healthy fish and knowledgeable staff. I know some of us like to play the "dumb customer" just to see whether or not the staff know their stuff, and I haven't been disappointed with the local Petsmarts. The one I go to on a regular basis has even special ordered fish for me. How's that for customer service?

 

[William]

My nearest Petsmart was alright. Fish were always healthy. I guess it just depends which staff you have. I go to my LFS on principle though, that and the fact that its closer

 

[Fish Buddy]

I don't know what the policy with hiring people in your area (i'm in Canada) but my Petsmart makes it's employees fill out work books on pets -Fresh Start, I don't know when you worked there but I had to fill out 7 work books (a lot of work and time but it was worth it) Now I know a lot about pets that I didn't before (what type of products to advise etc.) They might have changed the hiring policy since you stoped working there...

 

[guppymonkey]

The better fish stores will actually pump oxygen into the plastic bags so the fish can survive longer. At the chain stores they just put them directly into the bags with regular air.

Petsmart is the only pet store in my area that puts the oxygen in the bags! In the others I end up with a limp bag!

Just on a side note, I heard that the guy that invented the method of putting oxygen into the bags just died in the last few months.

 

[drobbins27]

I think weve covered all the ground possible on this subject, and its starting to sound like a broken record. May I suggest we lock this one?

 

[jackieeuk]

I am VERY new member here and i have seen the replies to this topic,am i correct in saying that we are talking about petsmart in the US??
I am from the UK and petsmart over here have a terrible reputation for animal care.
I cannot comment about fish but my other hobby is showing rabbits and petsmart have a national policy for small animals that dont sell within a certain time.
also for selling animals at an age where they are not old enough to be weaned let alone sold.They have been under investigation from our RSPCA about these numerous complaints.
I am very interested in this post that (if im correct) that we are talking about stores in the US that they are different from the UK chains.

 

[cat.fish]

yea i don't get it. you want me to stop buying fish and other live stuff from them because... the petsmart in Vernon Hills is very VERY clean. one of their tanks had ich. within the next 3 days ich was gone. i dont want to sign that because bought most of my danios from them and they are awsome.

SRY
cat.fish

 

[Where the river goes]

but for fish... support a (reputable) aquarium store.The owner is usually the one helping you and they always get the better fish from their distributor...

They may get the better fish, but the lfs' around here have really dirty tanks. The only decent lfs I've found close to me is geared more towards saltwater fish and doesn't have a very good selection of freshwater fish.

 

[LeapFrog_85]

I like my PetsMart.