Mealworms for beardies at Petco..."corporate policy"

[Momswims1]

My husband just went to our local Petco to get calcium drops and came back really angry. All the beardie hatchlings had to eat were mealworms. This is the same manager one who was giving tiny baby beardies one inch crickets and when I asked him why, he said, "Our crickets don't bite!" :roll:
My husand mentioned to this manager and two other employees that you should not give mealworms to hatchlings because of the danger of impaction. They defended mealworms for the babies until my frustrated husband went over and got a book off of THEIR own shelf and showed them where it says that mealworms may cause impaction and even death, and the response was, "It says MAY cause impaction." He said that feeding them mealworms is now Petco corporate policy so ....
What can we do? It is bad enough to know they are not being properly cared for but now...mealworms.

 

[Drayco75]

Best thing to do is turn them into the Better Business Bureau and let them know whats going on. I used to be the Reptile Specialist at a Petco in California no matter how much i talked to corporate on the phone in person when they came into the store and by letters they still wouldnt change there policies for there animals so i quit and turned them in. I went in there store a few months later and a lot of things were changed in the reptile department. :headbang:

 

[NEROtheMONSTER]

That is so horrible .I would not buy one from there knowing that the babies might have impaction.I would go up to them and say that i was going to buy one from here but they probably have impaction(pretend) :wink:.Not even counting the possible parasites or diseases.

 

[kjinxx2]

....He said that feeding them mealworms is now Petco corporate policy so ....
What can we do? It is bad enough to know they are not being properly cared for but now...mealworms...

What do we do when parents don't watch or discipline their kids, don't teach them manners, or let them eat/drink whatever they want (soda, etc)? Try to tactfully talk to them, but in the end it's really their decision. The majority of people who shop from Petco shop for dog/cat stuff, notice how much of the store is devoted to that. Even if the 'educated' reptile loves went on 'strike' it wouldn't do a lick of good - so really, we can't do anything except try to educate.

 

[Momswims1]

Oh yeah, I have noticed that the furry animals have preference and I know they make a lot more money on them, but I happen to be a lizard lover. I just hate seeing the little babies suffer like that. Huge crickets crawling on them, filthy water, and now mealworms. It is just frustrating. My husband and I have been polite with them but we just get snide, rude remarks in return from this manager. He honestly believes that Petco crickets don't bite? Really?
I do want to say something to corporate, whether it does any good or not. Reptiles can't speak for themselves, so it is up to us to at least try. That's just how I feel. I found a number online, so I will at least try.
We have gotten feeders from them in the past, go them home and most of them were dead. When I returned them, he accused me of lying to get my money back. Seriously. It isn't the employees that are the problem. They mostly seem to be trying their best. It is the management.

 

[ReptileAddiction]

That is not a surprise. I think Petco and petsmart should stop selling reptiles and leave it up to the dog and cat owners to give them money. Then a lot moe people would be able to open up reptile specialty stores.

 

[BeardieMommy3991]

I would kill for a reptile specialty store around here!

 

[ReptileAddiction]

Start one! I am lucky and have one about 15 minutes away. :headbang: If I ride the motorcycle I can be there in 10. :bikerwave:

 

[yankswin13]

petco is garbage here, 3-4 inch dragons on sand, mealworms, and poop everywhere. we have a nice pet store that is devoted to reptiles and fish. he has every reptile you can think of and each one is well taken care of. i almost walked out with a frilled dragon the last time i went.

 

[BeardieMommy3991]

Start one! I am lucky and have one about 15 minutes away. :headbang: If I ride the motorcycle I can be there in 10. :bikerwave:

I'm an 18 year old graphic design major!! XD I shall just move to a place near one.

 

[NEROtheMONSTER]

Thankgod we have an lllreptile 15 minutes away.I love there selection choices and how well they take care of there animals.They are much cheaper.And I agree that the frilled dragons were really cute,and the beardies too!

 

[traceyb73]

Best thing to do is turn them into the Better Business Bureau and let them know whats going on. I used to be the Reptile Specialist at a Petco in California no matter how much i talked to corporate on the phone in person when they came into the store and by letters they still wouldnt change there policies for there animals so i quit and turned them in. I went in there store a few months later and a lot of things were changed in the reptile department. :headbang:

That is so sad that higher ups don't even care. I'm not stepping for in there anymore. That being said, I am SO happy you got them in the end!!!

 

[Aceyourface]

Best thing to do is turn them into the Better Business Bureau and let them know whats going on. I used to be the Reptile Specialist at a Petco in California no matter how much i talked to corporate on the phone in person when they came into the store and by letters they still wouldnt change there policies for there animals so i quit and turned them in. I went in there store a few months later and a lot of things were changed in the reptile department. :headbang:

If more customers complain something might change but as an ex employee myself I second this comment. Corporate doesn't care.
They do care about losing money and customers. Don't get mad at the employees they don't have as much say as you think. And most of them probably feel the same as you.

 

[Drayco75]

I was happy that i had a manager that fought for all the animals along side me at Petco cant say the same for the manager at the Petsmart that i worked for in Arizona. :headbang:

 

[ShannyBeard]

We need a beardeddragon.org blackboard, like Bart Simpson has.

I will not shop at PetCo
I will not shop at PetCo
I will not shop at PetCo
I will not shop at PetCo
I will not shop at PetCo

Everything you buy there supports their reptile sales department and tells corporate offices that they are doing a great job. They are not doing a great job. As nice as the employees are at our local PetCo, they are terrible killers of reptiles. They are so good at killing them they deserve an award. UGH