Pet stores really need to train their personnel better.

[Dreamwritten]

So I'm currently awaiting a shipment of 500 crickets and 150 phoenix worms, but until then, I have to resort to my local Petland for food. Breeding isn't an option for me right now, as I don't really have the time/patience/space to do it, so I have to resort to online orders in bulk until I can set up a breeding tank or bin.

I went to the Petland by me to get crickets, and not only were there about 20 dead in the 50 I bought, the guy working there really annoyed me with his ignorance.

Now, I know they aren't vets. This is a temporary job, not their careers, I get that. But here's what annoyed me:

He tried to insist that, to save money (the crixs there are 10/$1), I should get bigger crickets. I usually go for smalls, which are anywhere from pinhead sized to quarter inchers. They kind of mix them up. I said sure, let me see your mediums, and he showed me the only larger size they had: large crickets. So I told him no, my beardie is about the size of that one there, and pointed to their only baby, which was maybe 7 inches long and very skinny (definitely underfed).

He tried to convince me that large crickets were perfectly fine for her. I wanted to smack him. These things were the size of her head!

I insisted on the small ones, then asked for waxworms. I know they are mostly fat content, but I'm still working on fattening my little guy up, so I figured they'd be a good treat. What does he say to me? "Sure, those are REALLY good for them!"

Sigh. Really? They aren't *really* good for them. They are mostly fat and not that nutritious. I only picked them up as a filler and a treat, and as a fattening agent while my beardie grows. Once I get my crickets and phoenix worms, I won't be feeding him them anymore. If it weren't for the fact that half the time I get 50% dead crickets from them, I wouldn't have gotten the worms to begin with.

I know I'm not an expert but... it upsets me when they give such false information. No wonder so many people have no clue how to take care of these things and often wind up leading them to impaction and other illnesses.

Oh, and the baby they had was housed in a tank with sand, and was extremely skinny with a sunken in back, and was under a red light.

Really. Does no one know how to use GOOGLE anymore? It might save your business, people! Not to mention your animals!

 

[WolfMama]

I feel your pain Dreamwritten! And what's worse is that people are regurgiating that misinformation all over the net - and with their own little spin. I know someone who exclusively fed their beardie wax worms, a crickets were the treat! This person loves their beardie, they were only going by what the pet shop told them (interestingly, it was also Petland. They are notorious for mishousing and abusing animals. I won't tell you the horror stories one Petland manager told me - and some rescue folks as well).

Now, I know they aren't vets. This is a temporary job, not their careers, I get that.

True. You'd think that people who love animals - or even like them - would take these jobs. But, that is not the case - and some are the direct oppsite.

He tried to convince me that large crickets were perfectly fine for her. I wanted to smack him. These things were the size of her head!

Yup. Had that happen to us once, too. :roll:

I know I'm not an expert but...

LOL. Compared to them you are. I know that feeling. I go in knowing I need information and I'm new to this, then I walk out feeling like... how is it I know so more? Because we care, and want the best for them. To Petland this is just a business.

Oh, and the baby they had was housed in a tank with sand, and was extremely skinny with a sunken in back, and was under a red light.

Aw Poor beardie

Really. Does no one know how to use GOOGLE anymore? It might save your business, people! Not to mention your animals!

I hear ya. On the flip side, when googling you have to sift through through a lot of misinformation out there on feeding them. There are vets that recommend the most outrageous things for exocitics. I try to get more scientific data when I can, with more detail on nutritional breakdowns and such. But, that's like finding a needle in a haystack sometimes. I find that rescuers are often the best for this information. But, the petstores aren't interested in that. It's a business. They want to keep them alive long enough to sell them, and get them past their "warrantee." So sad

If nothing else, you'd think they'd grasp the value of repeat business. <sigh>

Call the main office and lodge a complaint. If enough people do it, they'll listen. They do not like to hear "I will not be shopping in your store again."

 

[bunnyrut]

I've stopped shopping at Petland Discounts a long time ago.

I always got dead crickets, and they told me waxworms were the same as phoenix worms nutrition wise.

the 2 betta fish i got from them died (my other one had lived for 3 years, so i knew how to take care of them)

plus when i asked for worms to feed my small snake (i asked what the best kind were since i didn't know), they gave me red wrigglers, which happen to be toxic to most snakes and a lot of lizards. yes, my snake died.

 

[WolfMama]

We had the same thing happen with Betas, too, from Petland! We'd have them successfully in the past, but got 2 in a row form them that died within days of each other. One the very next day (there was nothing wrong with the tank. Temps, ph, no chlorine... all was fine. We had calm fish in there that were compatible with betas (that we'd always had with them). We only go there if we absolutely must (which really, I can't think of the last time we did purchase from them. We almost did during the cricket shortage post-Sandy, but they were out, also).

Aw I'm sorry about your snake.

I've stopped shopping at Petland Discounts a long time ago.

I always got dead crickets, and they told me waxworms were the same as phoenix worms nutrition wise.

the 2 betta fish i got from them died (my other one had lived for 3 years, so i knew how to take care of them)

plus when i asked for worms to feed my small snake (i asked what the best kind were since i didn't know), they gave me red wrigglers, which happen to be toxic to most snakes and a lot of lizards. yes, my snake died.

 

[Dreamwritten]

I've stopped shopping at Petland Discounts a long time ago.

I always got dead crickets, and they told me waxworms were the same as phoenix worms nutrition wise.

the 2 betta fish i got from them died (my other one had lived for 3 years, so i knew how to take care of them)

plus when i asked for worms to feed my small snake (i asked what the best kind were since i didn't know), they gave me red wrigglers, which happen to be toxic to most snakes and a lot of lizards. yes, my snake died.

That's terrible, I'm so sorry!!

I'm definitely considering calling corporate and complaining.

 

[RuselBro]

Honestly Every time I go to a Pet Store, I end up Correcting them on the Info they gave me or another Customer. And they always get Pissed at me. Once a Petsmarts, this Lady was asking about Food and ect. for her Baby Beardie that she said was about 5 Inches Long, the Employee was telling her this and that "just wrong Info that would Kill her Baby" so I jumped in since I was standing beside them "and he had already given me False info and I had Corrected him" and Told her the Correct Info, she could Clearly see I knew what I was talking about and the Employee just walked away.

My Dream is to One Day Own my Pet Shop and be able to Give people Happy and Healthy Animal's with the Correct Info, even if it Mean's Loosing Money by telling them to Buy the Cheaper Product Because it Work's better than the More Expensive Product! I would be Happy just even Working at Someone Else's shop as Long as i can do what i love and make Sure People Get the Correct Info for the Animal's.

 

[Dreamwritten]

My Dream is to One Day Own my Pet Shop and be able to Give people Happy and Healthy Animal's with the Correct Info, even if it Mean's Loosing Money by telling them to Buy the Cheaper Product Because it Work's better than the More Expensive Product! I would be Happy just even Working at Someone Else's shop as Long as i can do what i love and make Sure People Get the Correct Info for the Animal's.

If only more pet store workers were like you. I hope you achieve your dream, too! For the sake of the lucky animals who will eventually wind up in your shop! <3

 

[DorkiTimmy]

You know what i hate more then those workers who don't learn and study and care for reptiles is those who all they can do is post how mad they are and how much they want to punch slap yell at the worker. Why don't you go work in a petstore? Your to busy you have a better job? well then even if you care about dragons cant blame them. without them you wouldnt be supplied with anything.

 

[Dreamwritten]

You know what i hate more then those workers who don't learn and study and care for reptiles is those who all they can do is post how mad they are and how much they want to punch slap yell at the worker. Why don't you go work in a petstore? Your to busy you have a better job? well then even if you care about dragons cant blame them. without them you wouldnt be supplied with anything.

Um, I'm not sure what you mean by "without them we wouldn't be supplied with anything." In fact, many people on this site avoid pet stores--they rely solely on the internet, where real experts sell good quality merchandise.

The "supplies" they provide us with are often wrong for our dragons. As noted above, they even sometimes provide us with food that kills our pets.

I can't blame them for doing that? For being awful at their jobs? Just being there isn't enough. You need to know what you're doing, or animals are going to get hurt.

As for a job, I have a great one, thank you for your concern.

 

[DorkiTimmy]

Well if their supplies aren't your version of good quality why even buy some they are already bad like you said why provide bad food for your dragon because you are not able to buy any from the online good breeding ones? therefore a petstore is needed at time not just for food but supplies. i wasnt concern weather or not your job is good or not but the fact if you have so much to complain why dont you take action instead of posting a post on here. Some people who works at petstores are sometimes experience cant blame them all your just unfortunate to have a store with bad workers.

Everyone is allowed their opinion on this or any thread. If you want to get argumentative I will lock it. There's no need to argue about what someone else thinks. This is an open forum, here for anyone to voice their opinion. Arguments will not be tolerated, so please remember that.

 

[sweetiepie9]

It's not fair for a petshop to have misinformation that could kill a beardie or any other reptile. My husband worked in a petshop for a few months, he changed everything the way the reptiles should be taken care of & they thrived during his care. They also sold alot better than before he was there. He got alot of opposition from the manager, but he let him know that good quality care means healthy animals means good business & repeat business. He was still layed off a few months later & when he went back to visit, everything was the way it had been before he'd been there. The biggest complaint to him was that he was feeding the baby beardies too many crickets. So no, I don't think they should give misinformation. It doesn't take much to make up a care sheet for the animals, and why have poor husbandry if they want to keep peoples business. People who get angry at seeing the way animals are neglected in a pet shop need to complain to the corporate office. It's amazing how that sometimes works to get their animals better taken care of. They are in the business to make money.

It's also true that alot of reptile owners do order alot of their bugs & other things online. It's also true that alot of petshops are more for dogs, cats & birds than reptiles.

 

[Dreamwritten]

Thank you sweetie. If you'd like to lock the thread, I wouldn't have any problem with it. There isn't really any reason for it to go further.

 

[DorkiTimmy]

so i cant give my opinion and ask questions?

 

[sweetiepie9]

there is nothing wrong with asking questions, but it is wrong to start an argument. Check this site policy: viewtopic.php?f=48&t=65765#p500638 I'm locking this thread at OPs request.