Petco, Walmart, or Gross Pet Shop

[bshore]

I'm upset. Until recently I didn't have many qualms about buying my stuff from Petco, but reading through most of the posts here has pretty much convinced me otherwise. There is one small shop in town, but the place is so packed with animals that it really stinks, and the guinea pigs are kept in small cages with wire bottoms. My only other option for pet supplies is Wal mart, which I have social and economic issues against shopping at. And those are my three options. Does anyone else have this problem? What do you do for your supplies?

Thanks for any advice!

[Hansel]

Why not order your food and supplies online? Thats what many of us do. Kleenmama's Hayloft :: Home has incredible hay and pellets, your pigs will love you forever if you buy from her. Oxbow Pet Products | Welcome has hay and pellets also that are high quality as well. Even with shipping I still save on hay and pellets when I buy in bulk.

[bshore]

Thanks for the links! I'm a little wary of buying online, but if most people here do it, then I guess it probably works well.

How about accessories and toys? Do you get those online too?

[exsNohs]

I'm a little wary of buying online

Don't worry.. I have been too. But i watched this show on tv about a week ago that showed that most cases of identity theft dont happen on the internet. Most come from the things you throw in your trash cans. It still is possible though, but that show made it look unlikely.

[Hansel]

Go here! Pet Products at The Ferret Store - @ The Ferret Store

Dont be too wary of buying online. I swear I have more issues in actual stores. I have had no problems buying online. I just make sure that if I am running low I place an order early enough so I receive it before I run out.

[VoodooJoint]

I run an online business and I buy online all the time including my food and hay from Oxbow. I have never had a problem with any kind of identity theft or known anyone that has from buying online.

As exsNohs said, most theft comes form your garbage can and stolen information.

Like Hansel said, I too have had more problems with actual stores overcharging my card somehow AFTER I left the store with the correct amount on my receipt (but my statement said something different).

The only time I suffered internet theft was from a moron on Ebay that never sent my stuff. It was my own fault bcause I got myself in a hurry and didn't check their feedback.

[Percy's Mom]

I buy a LOT of things online. As a matter of fact, I have another screen up right now where I'm shopping for stuff for my kitchen at home.

Don't forget that toys, accessories, and other supplies don't always have to come from a pet store or a pet website even. I bought my cage mirrors at an auto parts store, PVC tubes at Lowe's and Home Depot, a plastic stool at a dollar stool to use as a hidey, and I often use oatmeal cannisters and other boxes as toys or other hiding places. My hay rack is a converted wired shower basket that I pulled the suction cups off of and cable tied it to the cage. If there is a farm supply or horse supply store near you, they often sell hay or can offer other options for you.

I commend you on looking for other options to find your supplies. It only take a bit of creativity.

[standuprookie]

For pellets if those are they only places you can shop then you need to shop on line or use oxbows locater to find a store close to you. I also don't shop at wal-mart or pet store with animals, I get my pellets in Dallas (about an hour away) from an organic pet food store. For aspen I shop a pet store that doesn't sale pets.(about 30-45 minutes away) For hay I go to a feed store and buy a bale.(about 15 minutes away) And for toys I get them from dollar stores or Target (stuff like plastic stools, etc) and some I make some myself.(like bent grid tunnels) I also order some on line, I am placing an order today from Future Pet, they don't have alot of guinea pig stuff but they have alot of hamster and ferret stuff and their shipping is pretty good.

[ljm0104]

I buy things for my piggie wherever I see something I can use.

[salana]

I order from www.petfooddirect.com which has nice prices, good stuff, and frequent coupons.

[Ruftybear]

I buy online all the time and have never encountered problems. Make sure the site is secure, and you should be pretty safe.

Some places are offering Paypal now as well, and you are covered up to $1500 with them. They are owned by ebay, and I have been using them for ages with no hassles either.

[Slave to the Wheek]

Target also has some great bedding and hay. You might be surprised at how many odd places might be willing to special order for you too. You might google for feed stores in your town. Even big cities like San Francisco still has Feed Stores that sell pet supplies. Most feed stores are friendly places and would order for you.

Everyone here can pretty much vouch for Kleenmama's Hayloft as most of us eventually end up ordering from her. I LOOOVE her bluegrass hay and so do my pigs. At first I though the shipping was too high, but when I took the fact that it's only 13 bucks for 25lbs of hay and added the $12 in shipping it ended up being about a buck a pound. That's a fractionthe cost of buying it at the store for 9bucks for a 40ounce bag!

Walmart has the WORST pet supplies anyway.

[Solebomber]

How does one buy online if they don't have a Credit Card or Bank Account ?

[Slave to the Wheek]

Many vendors will allow you to send money orders for payments, in fact some require it.