What I noticed at Petsmart....

[jthocker]

I did, They said it wouldnt come for about a week or two. Ill have them order it when im there.

[zippysmom]

Originally Posted by mkkayla

It is best not to support them at all even for supplies.

Why not? I don't have anywhere else to go to buy my guinea pig food. I don't think the sales of bedding and supplies have anything to do with the sales of animals. If people don't buy animals, they won't sell them. If people don't buy supplies, they will have no business. I don't see anything wrong with buying my pet food, even though the store sells animals. I'm not contributing to the huge amount of sheltered animals, but here is what I am contributing to: not having my pig sheltered because I don't have a place to buy him food from.

[salana]

I find it a lot quicker and easier to go to petfooddirect.com, use a 20% off coupon, click on CareFresh, enter the credit card number, and get the CareFresh through UPS. I don't have to spend any gas, the 20% coupon more than covers shipping, and CareFresh is much cheaper online than in stores ($13 vs. $20).

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by zippysmom

I don't think the sales of bedding and supplies have anything to do with the sales of animals.

Petstores make their money from the supplies, not the animals. They sell the animals knowing that you are likely to buy the cage and supplies from them and keep coming back for more supplies.

Why do you think that so many stores give you a free (or reduced price)animal when you buy the complete animal starter set-up?

Think about it. To one customer they may sell only 1-2 GPs but can count on the return business for supplies for the next 6-8 years. If they were relying on the sales on animals to keep their business going they would go bankrupt.

Petstores use animals to boost sales and get people to walk in the door (to look at the cute little animals), and hope that an impulse buy of a $15 animal will also lead to another $200+ dollars in cage and supplies along with the future business they will get.

The only way to get them to stop selling animals is to buy nothing from them or get the laws changed.

[Percy's Mom]

Originally Posted by zippysmom

I'm not contributing to the huge amount of sheltered animals

You most definitely are. Stores that sell animals see everything they sell, including the animals, as merchandise. All of the money from all of their sales goes into one pot and is spread amongst their vendors. Those vendors include producers of pet foods, cages, toys, hay, treats, and the breeders and pet mills.

[zippysmom]

I thought this thread was about the sales of animals and not the sales of supplies. If people stop buying animals, they will probably realise that it is expensive for them to take care of pets.

If there are so many people on this forum that are angry at pet stores maybe they would be selling more supplies once they stop selling animals.

[Percy's Mom]

I don't think you get the point that is trying to be made. There is no way to seperate the two types of sales. If a store sells animals, even if you ONLY buy supplies in that store, some of your money goes to funding breeders and pet mills. If you NEVER buy an animal at all in a store that sells animals, but you still go into that store and buy your food, hay, bedding, or whatever, you're still letting them know with your dollars, that you think what they are doing is OK.

[zippysmom]

I understand the point that is trying to be made. What am I supposed to do about it? I have no other place to buy food or supplies for Zippy.

[standuprookie]

If you don't support the breeding/selling of animals why would give your money to a store that does.
By giving them your money you are supporting them and they are selling animals. And you shouldn't be buying their food anyway.

[Percy's Mom]

Originally Posted by zippysmom

I understand the point that is trying to be made. What am I supposed to do about it? I have no other place to buy food or supplies for Zippy.

Is there a Target or WalMart near you? Both of those have hay and bedding. Feed stores and farm supply stores often have food or can order it. Have you checked the store locator on Oxbow's website to see if there are any retailers near you that you could buy their products from? Have you asked your vet if he or she would be willing to order from Oxbow from you? Do you have a credit card? You could order online from numerous sources, or if you're not comfortable ordering online, do you know someone who is that you could pay back for ordering supplies for you? And like standuprookie was alluding, on top of supporting breeders by shopping there, most of the food and supplies in petstores are subpar anyway.

There are lots of other options.

[DnLnEsMom]

Originally Posted by Percy's Mom

Is there a Target or WalMart near you? Both of those have hay and bedding. Feed stores and farm supply stores often have food or can order it. Have you checked the store locator on Oxbow's website to see if there are any retailers near you that you could buy their products from? Have you asked your vet if he or she would be willing to order from Oxbow from you? Do you have a credit card? You could order online from numerous sources, or if you're not comfortable ordering online, do you know someone who is that you could pay back for ordering supplies for you? And like standuprookie was alluding, on top of supporting breeders by shopping there, most of the food and supplies in petstores are subpar anyway.

There are lots of other options.

Technically Walmart sells pets. They sell fish, some Targets sell fish as well.

[Jennicat]

Originally Posted by DnLnEsMom

Technically Walmart sells pets. They sell fish, some Targets sell fish as well.

None of the Targets here do.