I'm saddened by what I have read on here.....

[GunRack]

First, let me just say that I have lurked on this board long before actually registering and starting to post. I have used alot of the information here more then any of you could possibly know! Lets see if I can post without getting flammed for what I am about to say....

I work in the Pet Industry; specifically reptiles, fish and small pets. I have for many years. I am hoping that by bringing this up, that maybe we can help each other. I know that when each of us enters a pet store, we brace ourselves for what we might find. Ive been escorted out of many stores by managers, security, kicked out of malls, etc for letting my concerns be known. (even while undercover shopping my own company) So I know that the industry is in trouble and needs help.

So how can we help each other? I often wonder to myself, how can knowledgable staff be retained, how do we keep them learning, employed and engaged with what they are doing that they can be of assistance to those starting out in their new hobbies. I personally have been involved in so many of these brainstorming type of workshops that frankly stores cant pay what they should, turn over is so high, and lets face it- the really good workers get promoted.

So, to sum it up; how can the perception of large pet stores be changed? When you bring up issues to the managers on duty, what steps do they take to fix the problem? I want to keep this as friendly as possible, so thank you for your time and I appreciate it!

 

[nair88]

honestly, i think that the only way to truly fix the problem is to stop letting chain pet stores sell exotics. certain types of pet sales should be left to qualified breeders - and possibly stores that really know what they're doing - maybe through a contract with a qualified breeder. i'm not sure how exactly that could be enforced, but something like that needs to happen.

 

[GunRack]

honestly, i think that the only way to truly fix the problem is to stop letting chain pet stores sell exotics. certain types of pet sales should be left to qualified breeders - and possibly stores that really know what they're doing - maybe through a contract with a qualified breeder. i'm not sure how exactly that could be enforced, but something like that needs to happen.

All of the reptiles in my particular company come from alot of the same vendors that folks on here are ordering online from. Its unfortunate, but i do not forsee a time when exotics will cease to be sold.

 

[ElectricPaladin]

You want to keep knowledgeable staff? Pay them more.

Pay is the primary indicator of respect, appreciation, and value. People leave when they don't get paid what they don't think they're worth. Unless people who work retail in pet stores are paid a lot better than what bookslaves and temps - the jobs I had before finding my career - are paid, they are certainly underpaid and probably only hanging on to the job for as long as it takes to find a better one.

Honestly, if you really want to keep your employees happy, let them unionize! I know this is controversial, and I have all sorts of respect for other points of view, but this point of view is mine. With management that supports them organizing, your employees will feel like they have a voice, an organization really looking out for them. They'll feel like they've got a real career with you, not just a job to pay the bills until they finish school/get an internship/whatever.

Of course, if they had a union, you'd have to pay them more.

And give them health insurance.

And commit to livable schedules.

And I worked in retail... we both know how likely any of this is to happen .

 

[Jess]

I would say give the animals proper care, and give out the correct info on their care.

The biggest problem I have with petstores is that they are more concerned with money than the lives of their animals. Like, for beardies, actually feeding them the proper amount of food would be nice, giving them a solid substrate, quality UVB light, digital thermometers, ect would be nice. It would probably raise the price of the beardies, but if I bought one I know that I would rather pay more for a healthy, well cared for baby than get a sickly one for cheaper.

 

[GunRack]

Better pay would be awesome- and an easy fix, but unfortunatly not really an option. When i started with this company 14 years ago I made 4.25 an hour and was happy to do it, just to get my critter fix! (and the discount lol)

Also, you would be surprised the amount of rules and policies we have regarding the live pets. It has to be specific; we know we have alot of people coming in the stores that know what they are doing. Checklist after checklist. Picture books with how habitats should be set up and shipments of those types of supplies going to the stores every week. But, all it takes, is one person to do their own thing, or not follow policy. No matter where you work, you know there is always someone who doesnt quite stick to the agenda. We have lots of those people. Managers should be weeding them out, sticking them in another department, etc., but sometimes they *are* the managers.

These are awesome so far, what else?

 

[jeritta]

Training. They need training. Not just here are the animal. here is the food give to them. that is not training. They
truly need someone in each dept (reptiles, fish, birds, etc) that know what they are doing CORECTLY to take time
and train for several days. not just one or two hours. I have been and seen the "new guy" first day and watch him/her
give advise one stuff to buy for animals he has no clue about just because he has been there and hour and someone told
him/her to sell stuff. That is not gonna ever work. just my opinion though.

 

[GunRack]

Training. They need training. Not just here are the animal. here is the food give to them. that is not training. They
truly need someone in each dept (reptiles, fish, birds, etc) that know what they are doing CORECTLY to take time
and train for several days. not just one or two hours. I have been and seen the "new guy" first day and watch him/her
give advise one stuff to buy for animals he has no clue about just because he has been there and hour and someone told
him/her to sell stuff. That is not gonna ever work. just my opinion though.

I totally agree. The problem is the turn over- we test so many different training books/videos/classes- and those employees are good to go until school starts or they find something else.

I dont think you can fix one issue and not the others; they all tie in to each other. (money/training/associate retention,etc.)

 

[hcozart]

Pay is not going to entice employees to care about animals, if they did not care about them before they walked through the door. I work in a facility that is Union floor to ceiling expect for the management. They make 2X more an hour wage then another facility in 180 miles of them. There are still people there who would step over you if you were having a heart attack on the floor in front of them on their way to a mandatory 15 min break (we actually have had that happen twice). Reason: they are there for the pay, not because they care about the people. That is what the union did for them.

I really think that pet stores should have to have a correct care list and supply guide posted by each of their animals, no matter what it is. I think those care list should have to be approved and signed off on by a vet. Per example if you were looking at a bearded dragon it would tell you that they are desert animals, the equipment they require, temps, feeding, ect, and give you a yearly price estimate for their up keep properly. Problem, pet stores would never agree, cause then it would not be spur of the moment purchase that they are use to with no thought. People would really see the investment it takes for some of these animals. That’s just my two cents, if it is even worth that.

 

[mccallumpiper]

Hello,
I just wrote a whole page and someone got it deleted so I will write a shorter version. One thing I thought of is area or section checks. Let the employee know what is expected of them and once a month or whatever at a random time check to see if their areais looking good whatever it may be. It really takes a certain kind of person to love the animals and do the best they can than to rather be doing it because its a job. Also the biggest thing is respect. When a manager shows respect that worker will surely do more for them. Giving them that appreciation like hey that looks great goes a very long way I know from first hand experience. Also how about personality tests? If they have something geared towards animals or what not you can learn a lot from them. I think turnover is hard to correct it would probably help if you chose someone already out of school or what not. The biggest problem is everyone is looking for that job that pays a lot and to find someone with heart is tough. Thats where qualifications like vet tech might help.

I appreciate that someone is wanting to make a change and that deserves a lot of respect!

 

[spyder79]

honestly, i think that the only way to truly fix the problem is to stop letting chain pet stores sell exotics. certain types of pet sales should be left to qualified breeders - and possibly stores that really know what they're doing - maybe through a contract with a qualified breeder. i'm not sure how exactly that could be enforced, but something like that needs to happen.

This is my opinion as well. Places like pet smart, petco, and any other large chain pet store have no business selling anything that is alive other than maybe fish and even that is questionable. Big chain stores will not change their care because they purchase reptiles such as beardies for around 7 bux a pop. If they get 10 thats a 70 dollar investment so all but 1 can die and they will still break even.

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

I know for a fact brian that its sometimes cheaper than 7.

 

[spyder79]

I know for a fact brian that its sometimes cheaper than 7.

Thanks tom
I was just going by the lowest offer I had heard of on wholesale lots lol.

 

[mccallumpiper]

I walked into petsmart the other day to get some calcium and I saw bearded dragons in there about 2 and a half inches long. I couldnt believe it shouldnt they be under some special care still? I also saw crickets that were almost half the size of the dragons just absolutely ridiculous. The advice they give is terrible too. One place I went to had the dragons by a window! As if they were expecting them to get UV from that. Maybe the Ma and Pa stores can carry a good reputation but if you are talking about these chain stores then I dont ever see it happening.

 

[dragonxxxx]

i was in the middle of a masterpiece and the board crashed. here i go again. first of all we are not talking about pet stores they are pet supply stores that happen to sell pets. i have posted in whats up with pet smart and pet co that these stores would need the space of a two car garage to sell only pets, and these stores are bigger than a two car garage. these stores income comes from the sales of dog and cat food and pet supplies, and because your not dealing with a live creature it doesn't take much knowledge to sell food, leeshes or pet toys. if they depended on the sale of pets for their revenue the staff would be more knowledgeable and paid more. these stores used to sell pure bread dogs at 250.00 to 2000.00 dollars a pop. they had to ( because of public outcry) stop selling these dogs and find another way to make up that income. if they stopped selling live animals it wouldn't make a dent in their bottom line. a 50 lb bag of good dog food costs about as much as a bearded dragon, how many people are in line buying dog food compared to a reptile. add up all the prices of the animals they have in stock on any given day fish, birds reptiles, rats, rabbits etc, than add up the amount of supplies they have theres no comparison. so unless their going to refocus and go full board selling pets, don't expect any changes soon.