Help Petco

[skydiver585]

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[Thales]

Its not slander. Its people expressing their opinion of the chain. Even if you work at the 'good' petco, you are still supporting the entire company, which means you are helping to allow the many 'bad' stores to continue business as usual.

[KT & SJ]

robwsup has it right

[tptp279]

I am not supporting the bad stores, i'm saying it's a store to store deal with companies. I know my store was one of the better stores because customers came in to ask us for help and they told us they've been to several other stores and the employee's didn't know as much information. Think about it this way, look at your LFS, are there any employees you think just care about the money? And others that are really good with what they do and care about the hobby? Now, do you still shop there? if you do, then you are supporting that guy that's a bad employee. Oh, and although Petco is an organization, it's a store to store thing too because there are checklist for employee's to do when they open and close the store. It's the employee's and the managers that lack in knowledge and that are lazy that makes it bad to shop, but there are good one's out there. It's just like LFS, sometimes you find good ones, and sometimes you find bad ones. You can't make a judgement on all of the stores because of one or two stores in your area. Your basically stereotyping it.

[Thales]

Originally posted by tptp279
I am not supporting the bad stores, i'm saying it's a store to store deal with companies.

Not really with the big chains. Support one and you support them all. One is doing good with sw fish, so they want them at all the stores regardless of staff.

I know my store was one of the better stores because customers came in to ask us for help and they told us they've been to several other stores and the employee's didn't know as much information.

Thats great.

Think about it this way, look at your LFS, are there any employees you think just care about the money? And others that are really good with what they do and care about the hobby? Now, do you still shop there? if you do, then you are supporting that guy that's a bad employee.

Yep, but we are talking about supporting a chain that practices bad husbandry from the top down, not a single bad employee at the LFS.
At the LFS, if the employee is bad, I can talk to the owner, who I have bothered to stirke up a continuing relationship with, and they will prolly take some action (At Petco, no action, and trust me, I have tried). And if they don't, or the employee, or the store, is just way out of line, I don't go there anymore. There are several LFS in my area that fall into the last catagory.

Oh, and although Petco is an organization, it's a store to store thing too because there are checklist for employee's to do when they open and close the store.

There is power in being a chain, thats why they do it. If one store is doing well selling item x, the head office wants all of them to try it - almost always missing the fact that its not the item that is doing well, rather the workers.

It's the employee's and the managers that lack in knowledge and that are lazy that makes it bad to shop, but there are good one's out there.

Like I said before, support one and you support them all. That is one of the reasons they are a chain.

It's just like LFS, sometimes you find good ones, and sometimes you find bad ones. You can't make a judgement on all of the stores because of one or two stores in your area. Your basically stereotyping it. [/B]

Thats exactly what you are supposed to do! In a chain store, the whole idea is to stereotype it; you go into one and you know what to expect. If one drifts too far from the corporate idea, the either close it or fire everyone.

Comparing indivdually owned LFS and Big Chains is comparing apples to oranges. They are simply two completely different beasts.

To a large extent, all petcos benifit from all other petcos.

[meister_ben]

My god, the arrogance in this forum! I work at Petco in Wisconsin and none of you have your stories straight! Gather facts before making a statement, use common sense!

Granted, not every Petco is perfect, some don't even try. I say shut THOSE stores down. The only reason the store is open is that it is making money. If that particular store does a crappy job in sales, it goes through a review, then possibly shut down. The store I work at has an impeccable record for healthy animals and customer awareness. I agree to a small extent what some of you are saying about bad husbandry. Everything that goes on at my store is ethical and legal. I oversee the entire aquatics department and I know EVERYTHING that goes on in there. I fought with management for months to get QT tanks and now our store has them. My job is NOT to sell sell sell like most of you think. My job is to educate the consumer who wishes to set up a little piece of the ocean in his or her home and let them know EVERY aspect of water quality, animal husbandry, maintenance, and so on. If any of you question Petco's ethics, take it up with corporate. I answer to my boss, the GM. He has a masters in marine biology. Half the people that work there have successful reef tanks. Sometimes the fish come in with ich or tail rot. We regularly medicate the entire system to ensure that the disease goes no further. Now we have QT tanks. If you have an issue with your local petco, ask to speak with the general manager or ask to contact the RCAC (regional companion animal coordinator) who will help you in any way they can. I've seen petcocruelty.com and was sickened. I couldn't believe that some of the petco's would actually do things like this. But I can assure you that my petco is one of the best in the country. PM me if you have any questions regarding our "evil practices." Think before you speak people, we're not as bad as you all think.

[UNCCwill]

you are absolutely right, but still petco is just what the name implies, a corporation, the shareholders only want to maximize their profit and hopefully (as it sounds at your store) the company realizes that taking care of the animals (and more commonly known, customers) is a good place to start, but on the other hand i have never been in a petco before, thats just basic economics

[meister_ben]

that holds true. the only reason they are in business is to make money. Above my GM, i don't care what goes on in the company as long as i can still take excellent care of my fish. i bring food from home, treatments, and other stuff to help them out. If something need something off of the shelf, I'll buy it and use it right away. I hope the company goes far and love working here. every area has a specialist. the only way they can get that job is an interview with the regional companion animal coordinator who is like a person from PETA. they are there to make sure that every living thing we sell is spoiled. they should get every amenity we have to offer, not just a rock and a plant. Everyone that works here loves their job and loves animals. and most of you who think that we're all in this for the benjamins, think again. one small mistake in caring for fish or other animals and we can get fired. We take great care of our animals and our customers. I love working at Petco and I think it's the greatest job i've ever had.

[Thales]

You are working in the extreme example of a petco. I have been to at least 6 petcos in northern california, and none of them have been anything but disgusting in the saltwater section. Your descriptions of customer service and employee focus and knowledge is 180 degrees from what I have seen.
I have spoken to the GM's of several of the petcos, and have been ignored and told 'its not up to me, its up to the DM's', while the DM's ignore my letters.
A petco can have great sales, but dismal husbandry and not be shut down. In fact, this is really the problem.
Do a search on petco here, or on any of the online reef fourms and you will quickly realize that your store is in the extreme minority, and that many have taken it up with corporate to have been dismissed and ignored.

[meister_ben]

on a different note, you have an angler?? sweet!

[Thales]

[PeterRogers]

I worked at my PetCo for two years and on a large scale I changed diddily squat. On a smaller scale the sick fish got treated, water changes were done daily, the small reefs we had seperate from the main system was doted on, and I feel I genuinely helped many of my customers become more and more interested in this great hobby. But for everything good you do there are hundreds of "If it dies it dies" and "I KNOW it will only get as big as it's tank". And you try your hardest to convince these morons otherwise, and what happens? A manager comes over and sells a mandarin goby to that stupid son of a ***** you just spent 20 minutes explaining that "no, it would not be wise to put that fish in a tank with no live rock, it will slowly starve. The fish will suffer, and you will be out twelve dollars." Or almost as bad, you have to deal with "experts" who can't wait to expose you as some punk kid who hasn't got a clue. I threw myself into that job for two years. I got ****ed on by customers, pushed around by my managers, and ignored by upper management. Skydiver585, I'd reconsider your decision to work at PetCo.

[Shoestring Reefer]

Originally posted by meister_ben
I fought with management for months to get QT tanks and now our store has them.

Originally posted by meister_ben
i bring food from home, treatments, and other stuff to help them out. If something need something off of the shelf, I'll buy it and use it right away.

That shows a great deal of commitment on your part, and I think it's very respectable. At the same time, the fact that you fought for months to get QT tanks, and you buy supplies for Petco with your own money, is more evidence of exactly what people are talking about.

I think it would be great if you (or your boss) got promoted up the chain, because someone with your dedication would be a great person to "call the shots" IMO. But, the good thing about your Petco sounds like the employees, not Petco.

One thing we can agree on is that Petco does what it does for financial resons, and passes on those savings to the customer. As a customer, I'd rather pay LFS prices as a way of supporting LFS practices. If someone wants to save a few bucks at Petco, more power to them. Petco will be associated with poor salt water livestock practices until corporate Petco chances; If Petco doesn't like it, then Petco shouldn't have it's name on those stores.

[Aquabucket]

I am glad Ben chimed in on this thread. He is the reason why I mentioned earlier in the thread that the Petco here in Green Bay has a well kept fish department.

I can attest to his diligence in keeping the tanks clean and the fish healthy. Right now there is an absolutely beautiful and healthy tang doing quite well in one of the SW tanks. I have been keeping an eye on it for a week now.

Ben and his staff do a great job of clearing out dead fish. Ben also mentioned to me that he does indeed treat the tanks on occasion. Most of the fish in each tank appear healthy with a few having torn fins, etc. IMO the tanks and fish look as good if not better than many of the independent LFS I have seen.

[MFrance]

I say that Petco is the best Petstore in Southern Utah. Their fish and animals always look great and I always buy my supplies there because I can trust that they will last.

Just because there's a few rotten apples doesnt mean the whole box is bad.

[Thales]

Its not a few rotten apples, its quite the other way around.
Just because there are a few good apples in a box of rotten ones doesn't mean we should keep the box.

[wwxc]

If proper care isn't being promoted from above and is instead only occasionally practiced because each store manages to hire someone with a "conscience," there is something seriously wrong with the company.

I think most of us could care less that your Petco is one of the good ones. Bully for you. That still leaves another 1000 that have dying, diseased, malnourished, and poorly housed animals. As educated and as informed as people are on this board, I find it pretty unconscionable for anyone here to support Petco just because your local store is one of the few good ones. Its a chain, not a franchise.

[Aquabucket]

Originally posted by wwxc
I think most of us could care less that your Petco is one of the good ones. Bully for you. That still leaves another 1000 that have dying, diseased, malnourished, and poorly housed animals. As educated and as informed as people are on this board, I find it pretty unconscionable for anyone here to support Petco just because your local store is one of the few good ones. Its a chain, not a franchise.

This threads intentions were about the poster's concerns with taking a job or not. If he can make a difference locally for his PETCO than its another brick in the wall.

Anyone in this hobby who is critical enough to single out PETCO as an evil empire corporation need to look at the fact that the SW hobby is right up there. The rampant use of cyanide for collecting purposes. The massive dieoffs just begin there. The rest die during cramped shipping procedures, poor holding facilities, etc.. By purchasing wild caught fish we support these practices. I am sure we are all guilty of this, some more than others. Now lets count all the unethical private LFS, I have seen quite a few.

I think some of us here might be guilty of riding a high horse on this one.

[Thales]

Originally posted by Aquabucket
This threads intentions were about the poster's concerns with taking a job or not. If he can make a difference locally for his PETCO than its another brick in the wall.

Yep, another brick in the wall supporting petco and its horrible, corporate sanctioned husbandry practices.

Anyone in this hobby who is critical enough to single out PETCO as an evil empire corporation need to look at the fact that the SW hobby is right up there.

We are singling out petco because that is the subject of this thread.
While there are others aspects of this hobby that cause death, 1) they are not the topic of this thread, and 2) No one here is arguing for them.
Petco is an 'evil empire', and we are discussing it, and not other 'evil empires' because this thread is about petco.

The rampant use of cyanide for collecting purposes. The massive dieoffs just begin there. The rest die during cramped shipping procedures, poor holding facilities, etc.. By purchasing wild caught fish we support these practices. I am sure we are all guilty of this, some more than others. Now lets count all the unethical private LFS, I have seen quite a few.

Are you really saying because animals die in this hobby, we shouldn't be upset at the husbandry practices of petco? Others do it too, so its ok for petco? Doesn't that seem just a bit weird?

Again, if this thread was about bad practices in general, your point would be will taken. However, it isn't. Many have been pointing out the reasons not to work at petco - as you say, the original point of this thread.

I think some of us here might be guilty of riding a high horse on this one.

Why? Because some of us think that supporting a national chain that practices bad husbandry from the top down is a bad thing?

No on in this thread has tried to excuse any of the bad husbandry practiced elsewhere in the hobby. In fact, it hasn't even come up because we are talking about a specific chain of stores.
Ask a question about LFS that people don't support because of their bad husbandry, and you will get many examples from me alone - in fact, I already mentioned them in this thread.

[TheMandarinFish]

"I use the enemy
and I use anarchy" - Sex Pistols

I've considered getting a job there to undermine the company. Corporate monkeywrenching. Cancelling shipments, referring customers to a good LFS, tinkering with books, you name it.

PetCo is the worst. For those of you in remote locations with few options, I would stil recommend mail order.

Some day, come to a store called Tropical Paradise in San Leandro, CA (near Oakland / San Francisco) and you will see what a healthy reef store looks like.

[Aquabucket]

Lefty, you missed my point entirely.

The original poster wants to take the job so he can make a difference. I am not here to support PETCO. If you and some others here are so outraged why not do something about it like the poster of this thread is by taking the job? Write letters, take pictures, whatever you can think of. Venting on a message board will accomplish little.

The only way PETCO is going to change is from within, like what has happened here at the Green Bay store and some others mentioned. I was simply encouraging the original poster to take the job to try to make a difference. Now he has references and names from another PETCO store which is conducting business in a much more ethical matter than most PETCOs. Hopefully this information will benifit his situation.

His taking the job can be seen as supporting PETCO or as a manifest for change.

What supports PETCO is a capitalistic society and the consumers ability to save money. As long as this exists PETCO is not going to be closing its doors anytime soon. That does not mean that we as consumers are helpless to do anything about the unethical treatment of animals that occurs throughout PETCO's chain of stores. I think the best thing we can do is report, make complaints, take pictures,etc. regarding unethical practices you have witnessed yourself to the proper agencies.

I have recieved swift action from the ASPCA in the regard of cruelty to animals on several occasions.

Telling people on this board not to support PETCOs will not accomplish much IMO. Most already know what to expect. Many will still buy dry goods because they need to save money or have no other local source. PETCO has a very large consumer base to draw from and will continue to have this market base for some time to come.

I am just trying to encourage ideas that have a better chance of forcing change in regard to the horrible conditions many animals are subject to whether it be PETCO or any other pet or fish store.

Oh and BTW the subject of this thread is about PETCO but more specifically about what we can do to get this corporation to change it's practices. Which was the intent I believe of the original poster

Simply stating on a message board, "don't support PETCO" will do very little IMO.

Why not go down to your local PETCO and try to take some pics with a hidden camera, then document what you have seen and respond accordingly?

[Thales]

Originally posted by Aquabucket
Lefty, you missed my point entirely.

I will try again, maybe I will get it this time. You let me know if I get it or not.

The original poster wants to take the job so he can make a difference.

And I think taking the job will only enable petco to continue its practices.

I am not here to support PETCO.

Great.

If you and some others here are so outraged why not do something about it like the poster of this thread is by taking the job?

As has been explained several times, taking the job is not doing something about it, its helping the company continue.

Write letters, take pictures, whatever you can think of.

And as has been explained several times, I have.

Venting on a message board will accomplish little.

He asked for opinions and some were given - and I at least havent been venting. I don't understand why you feel the need to try to control what is discussed on discussion boards.

The only way PETCO is going to change is from within, like what has happened here at the Green Bay store and some others mentioned.

I disagree. Its like saying the only way to change the KKK is to join it. It will change faster if people stop shopping there and tell them why.

I was simply encouraging the original poster to take the job to try to make a difference.

And I was simply encouraging the original poster to not take the job, because taking the job supports petco and it practices.

Now he has references and names from another PETCO store which is conducting business in a much more ethical matter than most PETCOs. Hopefully this information will benifit his situation.

2 or 3 good petcos out of hundreds or thousands. Do the math.
If he has done a simple search on reef boards he has dozens of examples to show that exactly what he is thinking about doing has has no effect whatsoever.

His taking the job can be seen as supporting PETCO or as a manifest for change.

And I think it is supporting petco, and will continue to point that out as I see fit.

What supports PETCO is a capitalistic society and the consumers ability to save money. As long as this exists PETCO is not going to be closing its doors anytime soon. That does not mean that we as consumers are helpless to do anything about the unethical treatment of animals that occurs throughout PETCO's chain of stores. I think the best thing we can do is report, make complaints, take pictures,etc. regarding unethical practices you have witnessed yourself to the proper agencies.

AND not support the company.

I have recieved swift action from the ASPCA in the regard of cruelty to animals on several occasions.

Great.

Telling people on this board not to support PETCOs will not accomplish much IMO.

We disagree.

Most already know what to expect. Many will still buy dry goods because they need to save money or have no other local source. PETCO has a very large consumer base to draw from and will continue to have this market base for some time to come.

And if people on this board really really cared about the way petco treats sw animals, they wouldn't shop there, regardless of the 3 dollars they save.

I am just trying to encourage ideas that have a better chance of forcing change in regard to the horrible conditions many animals are subject to whether it be PETCO or any other pet or fish store.

Go for it - just don't get upset when others disagree with you.

Oh and BTW the subject of this thread is about PETCO but more specifically about what we can do to get this corporation to change it's practices. Which was the intent I believe of the original poster

And...what? I don't get it - who is disagreeing with that?

Simply stating on a message board, "don't support PETCO" will do very little IMO.

Who did that? And, I disagree. If people don't shop there...

Why not go down to your local PETCO and try to take some pics with a hidden camera, then document what you have seen and respond accordingly?

A little arrogant, don't you think. I mean, considering that you have no idea what steps I have taken in regards to petco, nor it seems have you taken the time to read all the posts in this thread.

[Aquabucket]

quote:
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Why not go down to your local PETCO and try to take some pics with a hidden camera, then document what you have seen and respond accordingly?

This statement was not completly intended towards just yourself, but also to others who may want to try to make a difference.

quote:
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Go for it - just don't get upset when others disagree with you.

I am not upset at all. I just disagree with your opinion of skydiver's decision to take the job and how to accomplish changes to individual PETCO stores.

[TheMandarinFish]

"Hangin's too good for him.
Buuuuuuuuuurnin's too good for him.
He should be torn into little tiny pieces...
and buried alive." - Hanover Fist, in the film Heavy Metal



I say get the job, free the animals, then when you close the store at night burn it to the ground and salt the Earth where it once stood.

PetCo *is* evil. And must be destroyed.

Get a job for poachers and convince them of the error of their ways.

They might listen.

Klansmen and PetCo execs won't.

The former have made a pseudo-science / cult / ignorance club of intolerance.

They latter are aspiring to be the Wal-Mart of domestic animals.

Wild caught ones too.

[nanocat]

Originally posted by Lefty
And if people on this board really really cared about the way petco treats sw animals, they wouldn't shop there, regardless of the 3 dollars they save.

If they were saving 3 dollars, I think you'd be right. Unfortunately in many cases like in salt, it's more like 15 or 20 dollars. I see many seasoned reefers posting about Petco or Petsmart salt deals.

The Petco around me looks cleaner than many LFS, carries ORA clowns, and doesn't tell people to put a yellow tang in a 7g. minibow. They test water for free and use ALL the strips, unlike the LFS which uses the strip for nitrate, takes one look and says yes or no. I've been in the dept. buying drygoods and overheard the young clerk tell people many times that they could not have a fish yet, as they were not done cycling.

Good grief, I can't believe I'm defending Petco
I just thought I'd say that they aren't all hell holes. Sounds like the ones in larger cities with more competition do a slightly better job