Pet Smart: Good? Bad? Indifferent?

[katschamne]

I work for Petco and I have to say a lot of stores are hit or miss. It is the same as Petsmart, you have some good ones and others aren't worth the time to go there. At my store the managers will discount things and price match unless it's online. We can't even match our own website. They will special order fish and tanks if they can. I know our store doesn't carry a 125 gallon tank but the store a couple towns over does. If a customer wanted it we would have it transferred.

I agree that it is hard to get knowledgeable employees at the low wages that they offer. I've worked there for 2 years and I am the Aquatic and Reptile CAS. I have tanks for 14 years and reptiles on and off for over 13 years. I do educational shows with my hubby on tarantulas (we have at present 95). I only work there because I can afford to. Hubby makes a good living and it allows me to work for Petco. When I quit my "real job" 7 years ago I was making double what I make now. I would be making at least $10 more an hour then I do now.

Some managers help on the floors while others do not. Our last manager never was out of the office and was always on the phone. Our new manager is out there cleaning cages right along side of me.

For the most part I do like my job and I like to help people. I will not sell an Oscar for a 10 gallon tank. Put I know some that wouldn't care and would sell it. Not to say that I know everything because I don't but I will tell some that I don't know it and I will find it out for them. I also listen to customers and I have learned a great deal from them. Hum maybe if I hadn't listen to my customer I would not have 95 tarantulas.

When it comes to asking for a discount it can hurt to ask, worst they can say is "NO" right? You always try another Petsmart. I buy things from all kinds of stores, chain stores, LFS, and online. I would buy a tank online unless it was "Free Shipping".

 

[katschamne]

A dollar a gallon sell is different every year and this year it was only on tanks larger then 10 gallons and not bigger then 55 gallons.

 

[flstffxe]

And I would have to agree with you on that. As it is I am on my way out to my local petsmart for food.

 

[Finalfire9]

All bow to the dedicated LFS where real professionals that are dedicated to the hobbie reside

When i go to petsmart for doggy treats bones pig ears ect i do will always walkthro the fish section for a good giggle only.

 

[Yellowlab]

Katschamne,

As you implied so well, each store, each employee. and even each manager brings to the customer a different approach. In the past few years it has become even more important to take an interest in your customers. You should treat them as if they are a member of your family or one of your closest friends. You do not have to LOVE your customers, but you do have to like them. No salesman is expected to be really an expert, instead we just want the salesperson to show an interest in our hobby, and express a desire to truly help us find our own path to happiness. The fact he could not offer me any discount was not really the deciding factor in my making the purchase from this Petsmart. Instead, it was the total disinterest in anything having to do with the customer. For example, if I went to the Ford Dealership and asked the Salesman if this Mustang was available in red, and he knew red was not an option for that model year, he could ask me why that would be important to me. It could be, I might even be happier with the White Shelby (Highly Collectible) with the red interior and all he would have to do is dress it up with fat red stripes on the hood. I might be willing to spend $8,000.00 more for the Shelby if he would just listen to me for a while and get me involved in telling him about my passion for Mustangs.

The bottom line is the Bottom line... "How can I help you?" is that too much to ask of a Manager? To help his customers? The attitude on this forum for the most part is "What? Do you really expect the manager to care about the customer? Sometimes you have to customize the sale to fit the Customer, even if you do not lower the price. Just meet their needs. You are a fine example of that. You have what it takes to be the manager. Perhaps you should be involved in employee training. (Oh yeah, it is not the LFS. Employees should not be sales people, they should be cashiers! It is a chain after all, not your LFS) Sorry, but even chains need to show an interest in its customers.

I know I am upsetting those on the other side of the fence. But those of you who can not see the truth in this, all I can say is we disagree. I am okay with that... Petsmart is still a great place for finding some of what you need, just like Wal-Mart has great pricing on what they place on the shelf. I understand that. I get it! But, unlike Wal-Mart, Petsmart has employees walking the floors to answer questions. They have managers that actually are accessible to the Customer. They should be allowed to ask a few questions and make an attempt at making a sale.

In your store, Katschamne, apparently they do.

I know this dead horse has been beaten beyond recognition.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Is it just me or do there prices pretty much suck? I can buy stuff in mom & pop pet stores for cheaper most of the time. Back when they first opened the prices weren't bad but now.....blah...

 

[Yellowlab]

Agreed, They are kinda high.

 

[pdbrady]

This is retarded. You're right, there should be extensive coursework to be employed at a pet chain store....right....and again, you're right, they should haggle with you as if they were a garage sale.....right. But then, you praise them for giving you full credit on old merchandise, then follow it up with more beating. Some of you people need a clue. I've been around the pet chain industry for years, and there are good as well as bad. Get over it. Your complaints aren't even relevant. I've happily sent garage sale customers like yourself out the door because they just couldn't get it. We need a sticky complaint thread somewhere for all of the unhappy people to bounce their "opinions" off of each other.

I agree 100 percent! I will, and do shop Pet Smart. I also shop Wal-mart. Rita's pet store (LFS) and Petland get the rest of my business. I really was not slamming PetSmart, it is just my feeling that the manager passed up a perfect opportunity to enhance his bottom line.

Everyone has their niche.

Yellow lab

Example, the Petland here has somewhat...somewhat knowledgable staff in the department, but they seem to fail to take care of their fish. On the other hand, the Petsmart here has slightly knowledgable staff, but higher quality of stock. Another local chain here, is just kind of splat in the middle, while the lone lfs here, well, I really like the guy and his knowledge, but his tanks are for the most part disgusting and the only reason I really go there is to catch more odd and ends. And his prices are NO better than any of the others, actually worse.

 

[Yellowlab]

Like I said, if you are a Manager and only make $25,000.00 a year then I agree with you, but if you make 70,000.00 a year PLUS a quarterly bonus, I expect MORE of you. I take it that managers of PetSmart only make $25,000.00 and your argument is 100 percent valid. But asking for a discount on a $1,000.00 sale is not somethng that a manager shoud THROW the customer out like at a Garage Sale like you seem to advocate. How well does your store do? You have to LIKE your customers, unless you are Tiffany's Jewelry on RODEO DRIVE. I love your management Skills. Throw out a customer willing to spend $1,000.00 because you do not like showing an interest in his hobby. Besides I did title this thread PetSmart: Good, Bad, Indifferent. I showed the GOOD, the Bad and the Indifferent.

We can agree that, on this issue, we just do not agree. Unless of course the MANAGER is just a glorified Cashier with a KEY to the front door and makes $10.00 an hour. Then my perspective changes rapidly. Minimum Pay, minimum work!

 

[Yellowlab]

BTW, just to put it in perspective, the manager at the DODGE store (Our local gas station) makes 50,000.00 a year and gets his quarterly bonus every time. He really is good at selling chicken and making his customers feel like friends. He gets involved and in return he makes his BONUS!