Holy Petco Batman!

[Matt L.]

I agree that seminars are a good place to start. I would certianly be willing to participate.

There are several issues here, which I think complicate the matter.

One issue is that PetCo, as a large corproation, cannot be counted on to hire and maintain knowledgeable staff.

When I was living in NYC, I got my start in the saltwater hobby from... PetCo. I bought my first 20L there and my power filter. It was great. The guy who worked in the slatwater department was also super-knowledgeable, and the tanks were clean with healthy animals.

However, every PetCo I have been to in this area has been a house of horrors, with dead and dying animals littering the tanks and clueless teens on hand for answers. The job market is the job market, though, and if PetCo can't find anyone decent to work in their saltwater department, they can't.

While I have conscience issues about providing volunteer services to a large corproation, and I still believe that if you can't run a decent saltwater department, then don't, I think the animals are more important, and the volunteer services would help close the knowledge gap.

So I agree somewhat with having volunteer education seminars at PetCo.

As for our sponsors, any BRS member volunteering at PetCo would direct that cusotmer to the BRS message board, where if they are seriosu about the hobby, they would soon learn about superior LFSs from BRS members.

The question does remain about PetCo's handling and display of animals.

And again, if PetCo, as an institution, cannot run a saltwater department and provide the animals with what they need, then they shouldn't.

But perhaps we should just limit that complaint to the hosuing of photosynthetic marine invertebrates if PetCo does not sell adequate lighting?

But I digress.

I guess the best place to start will be the informational seminars.

Matt

 

[One Eye]

OK, I just spoke with one of the managers at petco in Manchester.

We cannot leave literature at there stores unless it is approved by their veterinarians.
We CAN, because we are a non-profit with education in our mission statement set up a display table for a meet and greet at the store. This is not a promise that it will happen. I will bring it up to the BOD. If it were to happen, we would have a select few members at a table handing out flyers, collecting donations, signing new members, and educating people about the salt water hobby....WITHOUT trashing petco. Petco would make announcements through their media methods that BRS will be having a meet and greet on such and such day at such and such location from this time to that time.......I will hear back from their marketing director soon. So let's see what happens.

 

[Valexia]

see, told you, they are very open to people setting up in the store, oh, and as for our website directing them elsewhere, it couldn't be any worse than what i did to hundreds of customers ("hey theres a really great club and site to learn stuff on..) that i told on a daily basis.

Like i said, its the people that need educating...the big P is honesty out to make a buck, as you know so there isn't going to be much improvement on their part until good people work at the stores. I did my part, four years worth, now i am making muneh cleaning tanks and having fun at it. (some of my fishes that depend on me are over 5yrs old )

 

[Triggerfish]

it's a noble cause..however, my thoughts are it needs to start up higher than a store associate that will be there for <year.
also 9/10 customers that enter the dept are there for neon tetras and guppys.

you could start with the moron that continues to order ill fated bicolor angels.
wouldn't you know i was in there the other day and there is yet another sad loooking specimen. that will make 0-4 since i have been there.
the fish's life ended immediately as it left the ocean.

bottom line..poor management: it should start there.
- not ensuring system is at minimum standard (NO3 >80)
- fish mislabeled (porc puffer = burr fish)
- placement of incompatible fish species together
- overstocked tanks
- filter media not being changed
- fish not getting adequate diet
- ensuring covering staff have at least a basic knowledge of even which reference books to research through

unless you have very strong staff personnel(petco?),,anything poorly managed will suffer as a result no matter how many information booths are setup or reference pamphlets.

It's almost just like a new aquarist setting up their 1st tank.
large part of early success will depend on what fish species they select.
that's the first place to start.

 

[One Eye]

triggerfish. I agree.
I am not talking to a clerk or associate, I'm speaking with the regional marketing manager. The store manager herself said there is no hope to change the way pet co opperates. It's a huge corporation....go ahead and get Mc Donalds to start changing their policies. That is what we would be able to do...take it or leave it....or pick up a sign and start marching in front of the store.

 

[Triggerfish]

few members at a table handing out flyers, collecting donations, signing new members, and educating people about the salt water hobby

will the regional marketing manager be there for the education as well? store managers? mgrs/staff responsible for ordering?

speaking with the 3-4 salt aquarists that enter the store on a saturday isn't really going to do a heck of alot.

now if you're looking to increase the membership and attempt to transfer all the FW customers that's a different story line.

 

[ducker]

Wow... I'm all for this as well guys but take a little step back and put yourself in the corporate role...

Say the typical person that works the fish department isn't there... You have a cat "specialist" assisting aquarium customers... etc etc etc. I've frequently seen the Aquarist section completely vacant at Petco.

I really doubt there's any way for someone(or a group) to make a global change in the general day to day business operations in these stores. It is frustrating and sad, but it seems to be really a store-to-store basis. If there's a store with a good "Aquarist manager" (if that's what it's called), they will most likely have very healthy fish/tanks; and do the best that they can with the stock that're provided to them (outside of their orders)

Selling of unhealthy, mislabeled, non-appropriate fish will happen... It happens from time to time in some of the nice LFS that dot the New England area.

The idea of setting up a table, the first Sunday of each month for a couple of months would go VERY far I believe with educating the customer base. You can't really on their cooperate structure on educating their customers, that will never happen to the extent that we're all content with here.
The fish are simply their inventory. The tanks are holding tanks.

Lets educate that family that just bought a (small) 10g tank. Lets talk to people that are thinking about starting a salt water tank. Help those that are interested in the hobby.

If it's such a huge problem across the board at all Petco's... stop looking at it from a SW/FW standpoint... and instead look to educate ANYONE that's interested in the Aquaria hobby...

 

[Triggerfish]

sooner the better..since i'm working tonight, i got the Taunton location covered for this evening..let the crusade begin...........

 

[One Eye]

speaking with the 3-4 salt aquarists that enter the store on a saturday isn't really going to do a heck of alot.

QUOTE]

Pet Co is supposed to advertise that BRS will be there. I put that in the other post. The last wasn't meant to be harsh toward anyone BTW...it's pretty much the way pet co put it to me.
I didn't hear from anyone from pet co today....go figure.
Personaly I don't think that we could ever even come close to getting pet co to change any of their policies. The store manager I spoke to last night said she has worked there for 6 years. She started when she was 16....do the math, 22, she's the MANAGER of the store...not just one section ...the whole store. Most of the employees are high school kids. with that said and the comparison I made to Mc Donalds before, the same work force...at Mc Donalds they can't manage to get a pickle to land inside the burger, we expect the same work force to properly care for livestock? Pet Co shoppers are looking for cheap. To maintain cheap prices you have to keep low overhead, pay week salaries...higher high school kids. Yes there are many things they should do, but wake up to reality...they are not going to do them.
About the only chance we have at making any kind of an impact at all is to educate the shoppers about proper salt water care. They (pet co) have offered us free advertising, a table in the store to hand out our own fliers and speak with people ourselves. I don't think we can even remotely hope for more than that. If enough people are seriously interested, by serious I mean will step up, take a weekend out of their schedule...not just talk a bunch of BS here on the board, but actually show up and sit at a table inside a pet co for 4 to 8 hours and talk with shoppers, design and print up fliers, then I will persue this. I will bring it up for approval from the BOD. I will chase down the proper pet co people...they are not going to come to me, they are not going to return calls, I'm going to have to be a big time PIA to get them to do what has been said. Now, sit back, think about the commitment for a second...I could probably use a little help from someone to make all the calls also... IF you are really serious, let me know......but remember, if I go through the BS necessary to pull this off and you flake on me!!! I'm going to your house and removing YOUR favorite coral from your tank...then I'm removing MY favorite coral from your tank and then tearing your BRS logo off your shirt!!

 

[Chris L]

darren since i am still fairly new and limited to what i could contribute in advice i will offer my services in printing up flyers if you need. just let me know what you want on them and i can draw a rough draft for you to check. let me know.

 

[One Eye]

Chris, that's great! But we are still a ways off from that at this point.

Anyone volunteering? We would need help working with the pet co people, help with writing the fliers, the coordination of the events, setting up the tables before hand and of course people to man the table and clean up after.

 

[Triggerfish]

darren..good post..the pickle anology was classic...
i agree that what you explained is all that, realistically, could be expected.
i'll do what i can in the Taunton location

Just to give anyone interested an idea of the typical petco salt shopper.
notes from the 1 and only salt sale from last evening.
1. wanted to put the kole tang in his nongrazable 30g
2. already has a yellow tang
3. has 3 condys with NO flours-turning brown
4. listened to advice that petsuppliesplus gave him-anemones do not need food
5. does not see if fish are eating prior to purchase
6. does not research livestock needs prior to purchase

basically i ended up:
explaining the kole's needs
recommend he get rid of the yellow
improve lighting(min pc, VHO)
showed how to feed the condy-sold him krill
recommended the bangaii-(we chose the one that ate)
showed which books to check out for quick reference
mentioned couple web boards

what any other petco employee in the store would have done: bagged the kole

that's all the time i gave him as the kids came in with food..

 

[redpaulhus]

I had a similar salt customer on Sunday - he/they (family group) wanted a ocellaris clown. Asked me if clowns are aggressive.
I asked the basic questions (how big is your tank, etc).
5 gallons

Explained that clown would not be a good choice for a nano tank. They said they'd like a few moments to look around.
Started helping the other half dozen customers in dept (all freshwater). Wife from first group keeps interupting me to tell me they're ready - explain (repeatedly) that they'll have to wait until the other folks are done.

Finally - they want the clownfish - and I finally get out of them that they already have a clownfish in the tank AND the tank has been setup one week. We were talking across a language barrier, so I wasn't able to find out if it was cycled first, if there is (hopefully) liverock, etc.
I very clearly told them that it would be more humane to take the clownfish out to the parking lot, throw it in the snow, step on it, and then drive over it with a car, than it would be to put it in that tank. They took the clownfish.


One-eye :
Once things are ready to roll, I can co-ordinate with the store mgr of the Avon store if you like. Since my petco gig is my second job, I don't know if I'll be free to work at the table (I suspect I'll be working someplace) but I'll do anything I can to help out.


Also - the BAS has done a similar table before at some Petco's, it was very well received.

 

[One Eye]

OK I'll talk with the bod. Now...this may not happen in Taunton, or Avon...from the sound of it, we will be put wherever the regional marketing people want us. But we aren't even that far along yet so let's not put the horse before the cart.

 

[Triggerfish]

you're looking for volunteers right?

red..depending on how much of a language barrier..hopefully they took the
following along with Nemo2 as you know the tank was not cycled-
NH3 kit
bottle of cycle
amquel,prime or ammo lock

you were the fishes last life line _________________________________

 

[Triggerfish]

Well Red,,last night almost did it in for me...
i managed to come across the dumbest of the dumb within the narrow array of petco shoppers.

cycle the 10g with 5 neons and an irred
after a lengthy unwanted tuturial for him his 2 sons and the customers that were accumulating, this is what he managed to conclude.

1. fish will only grow to the size of the tank
2. the cycling a tank that i was discussing only pertains to saltwater
3. the 10g kit he got at Walmart included everything he needed
4. realized that he shouldn't get the c.algae eater do to no algae to eat
5. he will be responsible for their fate

damn i felt like smackin his flippant son...

the 1 day a week cannot come any sooner....

 

[redpaulhus]

I just love the way they run 5 for $5 tetras and barbs right after Xmas - when everybody should be sensibly cycling their tanks and stocking lightly - rather than say Feb or March when the tanks will be ready for 5-15 schooling fish... but of course thats because people will buy them. Pt Barnum and all that...

And of course the fish that dies if you sneeze (neon tetras) is the one thats always part of the 5/$5 deal and is the one everybody wants for their brand new tank...
I'm lucky - we don't carry IR Sharks (or Pacu) -- if somebody really wants an IR shark I show them the debauwie cats - looks like an IR but doesn't get 5 feet long
http://www.anglingthailand.com/fish_species/detail.asp?id=2

 

[Triggerfish]

few things we should add to the 'training list'

1. tank outflows s/b pointing at surface for agitation
2. clams should not be placed in tanks with crudded up tops and old or new NO bulbs.
3. triggers/eels/cardinals/groupers/hawks s/b fed more than flake food
4. fish that are being ripped apart by other fish s/b removed and placed in compatible location. freakin yellow biatches ripping apart small maroons.
5. if treating marine tanks with hypo..customers s/b made aware of that for proper acclimation procedures...

 

[reefsmurf]

PETA is not who you would want to contact . Google them and see what kind of stuff they do.

The Cambridge Petco had an older guy who was in charge of the fish (tall black dude) who was in the Freshwater club and was somewhat knowledgeable and they sometimes quarantined and refused to sell stuff. So it's not always run by clueless teenagers.

What Jeremy said about suppliers giving petco the crappiest livestock makes me feel a little better, at least the healthy ones are going to better places.

I think the bottom line is that if Petco had to invest money into better equipment (filtration/lighting, etc), manpower, and limit the kind of livestock they could sell, that would hit their profits and before you know it their prices would be about the same as a good LFS, and in order for stores like theirs to exist they are probably trying to sell quantity, not quality.

 

[Triggerfish]

crappiest livestock is debatable at the Avon location..i've seen and purchased some great looking fish there..asfur angel, bluethroat and picasso trigs to name a few.
the drygoods prices are already the same as any LFS which on avg is 80-100% higher than mail order.