Grrrr!!! - rant regarding Petstore

[Char-x]

Okay usually I give my local Pets at Home SOME credit, afterall they have begun this past year to keep their rabbits and guinea pigs seperate. They have also got signs around the big excercise balls and leashes etc that they are not for Guinea Pigs because they may cause damage etc etc

ANYWAY as "okay" as it usually is, I felt really down after leaving from their. I saw some people, one was a mother and small son, and the other was a young couple clearly getting ready to purchase a guinea pig. They both brought the Deluxe (smaller version) cage, which in a way is good since they aren't keeping them outdoors at least , and also buying various treats that werent great etc. Then I saw the mother and son buying a Guinea Pig - a single Guinea Pig .

I wanted to talk to both of them about Guinea Pigs etc I probably would have but I had an argument with my mum in the store so that kind of distracted me slightly, but when me and my mum were talking again she too agreed with me in the car that it wasnt good to see that.

I did jokingly say I should make small cards and just whenever I pop in there (they are the only one of two places in my town that sell Supa Excel HP food, both of the places which sell it sell animals, so I do have to shop there) with links to websites like this one and Lynx etc. What do you think? It might help, I dont go there that oftern but it might help whenever I do go there and I could always slip cards into the cages somehow I guess.

[catzeye21138]

Probably not put them in the cages, maybe keep them in your pocket and make friendly conversation with people interested in the pigs and then say something like 'You seem really interested in guinea pigs, here take this card; it has links to really useful sites that were made by people who know far more about guinea pigs then you could imagine! They are really great sites to read, nicely organized' or something different. I'm not the best at making up dialogs.

Or

If you want to be creepy and shy just walk up without saying anything drop your card in plain site and walk away. Curiousity helps all owners.

[ortal]

You can leave the cards in the books they sell

[Char-x]

Lol @ creepy/shy way. I am pretty shy which is another reason I felt weird going up to people but I know I would have if I hadn't of had that damm argument with my mum because it bugs me so much to think of GPs - well any animal for that matter - being wrongly treated, even if it is un-intential. I know my pigs had those cages before but knowing how much happier they are in their C&Cs makes it even worse to see others repeating my mistake.

I think I will definatly keep some of these "cards" handy next time I go in there. I did make some loud remarks around the Guinea Pigs area.

Oh another thing that annoyed me, and I think I will write a letter to them, if they stuck some pigs in with a rabbit AGAIN. Even though they stopped for a while when I complained vocally before.

But anyway I went past about five times saying "I CANT BELIEVE THEY PUT THOSE GPS IN WITH THE RABBITS AGAIN, IRONIC HOW A PET STORE CANT LOOK AFTER ANIMALS RIGHT & YET THEY TRY AND EDUCATE US". I got some attention :] haha and I said infront of people looking at the colourful and nasty treats "It's so bad what they sell in here, especially since half of it is more likely to kill GP's rather than make them happy".

I always do that, but I've realised more is needed now.

[Char-x]

Ortal - good idea.

I think I'm going to print off lots of these cards and put some on the advertisement area - how long they will stay there who knows. Hide them in books/cages/treat areas etc. Also they have a vet area attached - nothing connected to the store they just happen to be in it, and they will be happy for me to leave cards on their desk.

I can see myself getting banned from there haha

[daftscotslass]

The chances are you won't be allowed to put the cards in the store in the first place. My local rescue had to rephrase their advertisement because wording suggested they might have animals for adoption (which, of course, people might be interested in over P@H's sale stock).

I really think you should do yourself a favour and stay out of there altogether. There is no "credit" to give them at all. Is there a particular reason you can't get excel from your vet or online? I literally have to walk for 2 minutes to my vet who will get it in for me if they don't have it in stock.

[Char-x]

I probably wont be asking permission from them...of course they can remove them once I have gone but hopefully people will see them before, even if its just a couple of people - it would be worth it. I would talk to anyone I saw aswell that seemed to be interested in getting a Guinea Pig.

My vets are quite a drive away, about 30 min drive and also they only sell the smaller bags of the food, which money wise I can't afford as they run our too quick. We have asked before if they will order in the bigger packs and they said they would have to charge us the costs of getting it here as it would be a one off which would work out much more than that at pets at home especially with extra petrol to get there. I might try another vets which is nearer but I have never seen it in there before, only the rabbit one. I wont get it online, since it costs £8.20 then another £4 something for packaging.

Also to be honest I think I would be better off going in there and giving out information than just ignoring the store when really it is the only place that sells things for Guinea Pigs in my area, apart from another store that I dont like atall.

[daftscotslass]

Nobody said you have to ignore the store. You don't have to go in to the store to work for them to stop selling animals. As much as I tried to work with my local one (including showing staff how to sex the animals, telling them about the dangers in the way they house their "stock" and the abysmal situation that is their "adoption" section) I've got nowhere. They stick to their "policies". Head office are the ones you need to push it with.

Why on earth would the vets charge you for that? At mine the food (small/medium bags) comes in a big half empty delivery van and it's no effort for them to stick a bigger bag in if I want it. Please investigate the avenue of getting your food elsewhere - think of what the profits you're giving them is going towards while they're still selling animals.

[Char-x]

Originally Posted by daftscotslass

Why on earth would the vets charge you for that? At mine the food (small/medium bags) comes in a big half empty delivery van and it's no effort for them to stick a bigger bag in if I want it. Please investigate the avenue of getting your food elsewhere - think of what the profits you're giving them is going towards while they're still selling animals.

The vets would charge me this because they have yet to need any more delivered from the place they get it from. They said they could add it onto the next order they do, but they only order from there every few months (since they dont sell many at all, about one a month if that) and they only order about 4 bags of the smallest rabbit & GP or if the ones they have go out of date they replace them, so it would be easy for them to add my order in BUT I would have to wait along time unless I paid delivery costs, my pigs can't wait. I have looked elsewhere for food since the Pet store isnt ideal at all, but I havent been able to find any other options as of yet since we have three vets that we could get to quite easily, one is in pets at home, one is the one I have just mentioned and another I have never seen any GP food in, but as I said I will go round there and see if they sell it again, although I doubt it.

The store might stick to their policies but I know the staff etc can't/won't be educated about anything because of the superiours, so I wouldnt even go there - although I will be writing some letters, but I can atleast try with customers as they are easier to talk to/get through to and hopefully more willing to lisen. Also the staff/shop wont have to know what I am saying to the customers (promoting the fact they get a pig/cage elsewhere) if I dont put the cards in public places like the advertisement board.

[wickedrodent]

What about printing out Guinea Lynx caresheets to give to people when you go in? I recently took one to a place that I know keeps a single guinea pig in deplorable conditions. It may not help- but you could at least try.

[muffin]

Ugh, I've been leaving P@H before and seen people buying a hamster/rabbit/guinea pig and buying the cage/hutch and other kit at the same time, even though their advice sheets state you should have the cage etc ready before you purchase your pet. People are idiots, and P@H make no effort to correct their attitudes in case they lose a sale. I've phoned the manager at my local P@H and offered to go into their store to educate the staff, or they can call me if they gets pigs they need help with through their adoption scheme, but he wasn't interested, not even in taking my number. Having said that, the reason might be that there is apparently someone who works there who knows lots about piggies and has kept loads.

I've spoken to a member of staff there for a while, and she told me that they take in adoptiond from people who can't keep their pigs for good reasons. It's at the manager's discretion. One guy once brought them a guinea pig in a carrier bag, and his reason was 'I didn't know what to put it in'. The mindnumbing idiocy of the lowest end of the gene pool, who unfortunately are just as entitled to buy a pet as anyone else, terrifies me.

My local P@H keeps rabbits with guineas, always. Head office says it's so that neither species gets lonely. Just bug head office about different welfare issues and policies, so they have to address them and give you an answer. There isn't much that the individual stores can do.

[bunnys n pigs]

You know ... I`ve never thought "just staying out" of a store or "not giving your money or credit" has ever worked. For every costomer lost they can gain 5 more from the animals they sell. I think it`s time we all take an even bigger stand. Who agrees?

[guineapigluver1]

Like what? What would we do?

[Char-x]

Yeah caresheets are a good idea. Might try that thanks.

Muffin, exactly what happened today...they were buying the cage and Guinea Pig at the same time, couldnt see any bedding...lets pressume (well hope!) they had some ready at home. *sigh* I felt pretty useless today but I'm pretty determined next time I go there, which isnt that oftern granted, I will be keeping my eye out for oppotunities to say things. I have before, like I complained and whinged at a dude who worked there about how rabbits & pigs dont mix. I wrote a letter to that particular store too and the next few months they kept them seperate and then today, gone back five, ten or hundred steps. I realise though the staff there don't make the rules so contacting superiors will be more effective - you would have thought anyway.

Definatly will be printing some things out to hand out discretely when I'm next there, I'm a pretty big activist and usually do things like protesting against different causes but Petstores just seem to be so...I don't know...unwilling about pretty much everything? So I guess "aiming" everything at the customers is the way forward really, I should imagine MANY new pet owners would be ethusiastic (sp) to do well by their pet - afterall the novelty hasnt worn off yet and hopefully if we educate them on their new pet it won't wear off.

I definatly agree, ignoring the stores will most definatly not help anything. I'm not saying buy everything from there, because if you have a choice - go elsewhere! But I know realisticly some people cant afford - such as myself, to pay extra to get supplies online etc and may not have other options. Take a bigger stand, easier said than done but not impossible. I think really we need to turn our focus away from the store itself and to those who put complete trust into them. I will try and think of some ideas.

[muffin]

Maybe by convincing them that you really know your stuff when it comes to guinea pigs they might ask you stuff and trust you. I know someone who runs a rescue and when she's in P@H the staff will often direct questions to her because they don't know. On the other hand, unless they are prepared to listen they might not be willing to accept that you know what you're doing. Personally I would adopt a firm but non-aggressive approach. It's harder to go back in and be listened to if you've yelled at them. Been there!

[Susan9608]

I think really we need to turn our focus away from the store itself and to those who put complete trust into them.

The very best things you can do towards this angle are a) refuse to purchase anything from a pet store that sells animals (thus giving the pet store business and enabling them to continue doing what their doing) and b) encourage others to do business elsewhere as well (elsewhere as in stores that don't sell animals.)

I'm not sure what you think you can accomplish by turning your focus away from the store - I don't even know what that means. The store is one of the main souces of the problem. Obviously you have