Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Got your attention? I work in a pet store and try really hard to know as much as possible about the animals we sell. I know much more about beardies since I've been here, so when a woman came in asking about getting one of our babies, I was happy to help her.

She asked if she could put a second baby with the one she already has in her 30 gallon tank. I first explained that the tank would not be big enough for one dragon soon, never mind two. Then I explained about them liking to be alone but some have gotten along if the tank was big enough. I also explained that if they ended up with a male and female, the female would probably die from too many breedings. I also explained that they would have to have a breeding permit and couldn't just sell to pet stores. Last, I told them about toes and tails sometimes getting lost when babies are together. She also asked about Uri Mastixs (sorry about the spelling)being with beardies.

She told me that her beardie wasn't interested in greens but I told her that would come and showed her Rep-Cal pellets, explaining that she could possible discontinue crickets if she got it on them. I spent alot time explaining ways of getting her beardie interested in eating them.

She then asked me if they get quieter as they get older which I told her they do. I asked how old it was and she showed me about eight inches between her hands and said he was also eating less. About four crickets a day from the six he used to....Large crickets? No, small....Is anyone else in shock yet?

I told her that my dragon was eating 30 crickets a day at that size. I asked if she had enough heat - basking at 105? poops regular and solid?...she kept cutting me off saying yes, yes, she takes really good care of him that he just isn't interested in eating, taking his time. She even sprays calcium on the crickets (which she pointed out that we don't seem to carry at our pet store) I said maybe that was what was turning off his appetite, which she said he did seem to change after she started using it.

I said I was going to give our babies a second feeding and wanted to show them how beardies should be eating but when I excused myself to get the crickets, they walked out of the store, leaving the Rep-Cal behind. (not even a thank you for your time)

I spent ALOT of time trying to help these people. I can only assume they did not believe what I told them. (I think she was listening but he wouldn't) But, the really annoying thing was that she referred to THEIR pet store where they buy their crickets and stuff so the chances are they are not going to return to our store. No future sales and I cannot follow up with their baby's care.

So, what does a salesperson do when she trys to educate a customer and they don't want to hear it? By the way, this is just one case that really annoyed me, there are many but thankfully most people listen to us.

Not much you can do. You did the best you could. It's the same here once in a while. People have asked for info, and don't take it. You can only try.
And thanks for being one of the pet store employees that actually KNOW what they are talking about. You can bet you've saved a few.
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www.classylizard.com

Hey, its great you have taken the time to learn about the animals you sell. I have been in pet stores where the sales people knew NOTHING. Even had their animals on the wrong types of substrates and such. So, just remember you did your part. And who knows, maybe they wil go home and think about researching their animals before they get another...

All you do is keep trying, if they stood there while you were explaining to them how to take care of their pet, some of it did sink in. The great thing is, if they go back to THEIR pet store and tell them what you said...maybe someone at THEIR pet store will catch it or be intrigued to check it out and find out the truth!

And a huge thank you for taking your job seriously! I go into my local pet store often just to check up and look at the animals. Two of them have sulcutta torts, I can't tell you the number of times I have been there and a couple comes in and ouhhs over the cute little turtle until i tell them that it that cute little turtle will reach up to 130 pds, approx 2 by 3 feet in size and out live them. They then ask the sales assoicate, who then gives me a dirty look and tells them that it is true! At least the ones that don't looked shocked themselves.
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Jamie
0.0.1 corn (Rio)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Zeus)

i owna motorcycle shop and it makes me with murder was legal with some of these people. they ask you questions, then dont listen to your answers. then, when they screw it up, you get the blame cause you were "no help at all"

i say put all the people like this in a big boat.

then sink it.

"Hi, can I take this home and kill it?"
"According to the manager I'm not allowed to stop you"
"Great, what size tank should I torture it in?"

EVERYONE blames the 'petstore guy', but I think many of these people don't realize that you can't explain lizard care in a 5 minute exposition while following a customer around a store trying to keep their attention. Most people won't even buy a book. Then the lizard dies and guess who gets blamed. Thankless, that's what it is.

It happens with all the other animals too. It's just that mammals and birds are sometimes easier to keep alive so they can suffer for longer in worse conditions, and people THINK fish are only supposed to live for 6 weeks.
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Eryx - All the fun of a boa in a convenient pocket size!

My problem with pet store employees are the ones that sell a small dragon, don't mention UVB or suppliments and tell the buyer to give it 3 large crickets or a bunch of mealworms every other day.
At least if the employee is knowledgable, the beardie has a chance.
Otherwise, it's a death sentence.
Buyers truly expect the employees to give them good care information and know what they are talking about. I know I used to. I assumed their had to be some amount of expertise in order to work there.

In most other specific purchases, cars, windows, health food etc. the sales people know what they are talking about or can at least find out and let you leave with correct answers.

If these particular pet store employees would at least learn the very basics, a dragon could survive.

Granted, it would be great if everyone did their own research, but that would be the perfect world, and we aren't in it.
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www.classylizard.com

I think a simple solution to the 5 minute rant is to print up a caresheet. If they won't buy a book, before the leave the store hand them the caresheet. Hell, most caresheets are probably than most books anyway !
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Rob Talkington

Unfortunately, though, the caresheets at PetsMart do not have feeding instructions. They just list what to feed the animal not how much. After reading through this forum, I talked to my managers and told them exactly how much these dragons are supposed to eat. They were surprised.
I am doing my best to educate anyone who is interested in our reptiles, and other animals. Sometimes it really bothers me when someone just wants to buy an animal cause they just want to have a pet and aren't interested in the well being and the care needed for these animals.

Exactly. I have worked at pet stores for the past four years, and I am glad we are at least allowed to refuse a sale if we know it wont go to a proper home. I dont know how many times I had to, too. Basically, if that customer WON'T sit and listen to everything I have to say for more than 5 minutes about an animal they know nothing about but want, they don't go home with one. Plain and simple. if they dont agree to get all the supplies, or tell me "Oh, well, I can get the UVB light in like a few months" or "Well, I was just going to keep this iguana in a ten gallon for now, and then later on I can buy a bigger cage and a heat light" etc etc... NO. NO. NO!

I know it wont stop them from going to the next pet store and buying one there, but hey, the pets in my store will thank me at least
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~Melissa~
1.3 Leopard geckos (Guido, Oasis, Gypsy, Marli)
1.0 Bearded dragon (Pharoah)
1.0 Hog Island Boa (Michelangelo)
0.0.1 Crested Gecko (Picasso)
1.0 Ferret (da Vinci)
0.1 Chinchilla (Eevie)
And Jack the cat!

Melissas Menagerie

I sold a Guinea Pig to a man with two small children. I spent time explaining do's and don'ts but I knew, just knew in my heart that that little Guinea Pig wouldn't live long. (The first thing the girl did when I brought it out was poke it's eye. The second after I corrected her was put her finger in it's mouth looking at it's teeth) I kept trying to tell the man to wait and kept leaving him, hoping he would give up but... in our store, if they want to buy it, you have to sell it to them.

He called a month later saying it died and he wanted his money back or a replacement.

Frustrating!!!

I think you did the best you can and it is very pleasign to know some petstore employees do take the time to learn the proper care of the animals they sell. Unfortunately alot of people don't want to hear they are doing something wrong, and just assume the knowledgeable person doesn't know a thing.

This other petstore the customer was talking about obviously gave them false care information and the customer wasn't willing to hear the right information. Hopefully the customer will do some more research on her own and find out who is correct.

One thing you could do, is make a basic care sheet of dragon (and any other reptile you sell in the store) to give to customers buying new reptiles or wanting to know more. Sure this means some work on your part but alot of people like to have something in their hands to refer to later on. There is a very good chance that 90% of what you told the customer will be forgotten by the time she got back to her car, especially since she wasn't really paying attention.

You know what they say, great minds think alike !
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Rob Talkington

We do have care sheets that we give to people who purchase pets from us and to someone who asks. Unfortunately, someone usually takes the last one and not let anyone else know so when you go for one, it may not be there.

On a good note, I give them this site and beautifuldragons.com (thank you for that great site) for additional information. Especially if they have a lizard I don't know much about.

The other problem I have is that my manager and I do not agree on care sometimes. He feels a water reservior and sand is right. So I put a big feed bowl in the tank and mist first thing in the morning.

Thanks for all your great comments though.

>>Got your attention? I work in a pet store and try really hard to know as much as possible about the animals we sell. I know much more about beardies since I've been here, so when a woman came in asking about getting one of our babies, I was happy to help her.
>>
>> She asked if she could put a second baby with the one she already has in her 30 gallon tank. I first explained that the tank would not be big enough for one dragon soon, never mind two. Then I explained about them liking to be alone but some have gotten along if the tank was big enough. I also explained that if they ended up with a male and female, the female would probably die from too many breedings. I also explained that they would have to have a breeding permit and couldn't just sell to pet stores. Last, I told them about toes and tails sometimes getting lost when babies are together. She also asked about Uri Mastixs (sorry about the spelling)being with beardies.
>>
>>She told me that her beardie wasn't interested in greens but I told her that would come and showed her Rep-Cal pellets, explaining that she could possible discontinue crickets if she got it on them. I spent alot time explaining ways of getting her beardie interested in eating them.
>>
>>She then asked me if they get quieter as they get older which I told her they do. I asked how old it was and she showed me about eight inches between her hands and said he was also eating less. About four crickets a day from the six he used to....Large crickets? No, small....Is anyone else in shock yet?
>>
>>I told her that my dragon was eating 30 crickets a day at that size. I asked if she had enough heat - basking at 105? poops regular and solid?...she kept cutting me off saying yes, yes, she takes really good care of him that he just isn't interested in eating, taking his time. She even sprays calcium on the crickets (which she pointed out that we don't seem to carry at our pet store) I said maybe that was what was turning off his appetite, which she said he did seem to change after she started using it.
>>
>>I said I was going to give our babies a second feeding and wanted to show them how beardies should be eating but when I excused myself to get the crickets, they walked out of the store, leaving the Rep-Cal behind. (not even a thank you for your time)
>>
>>I spent ALOT of time trying to help these people. I can only assume they did not believe what I told them. (I think she was listening but he wouldn't) But, the really annoying thing was that she referred to THEIR pet store where they buy their crickets and stuff so the chances are they are not going to return to our store. No future sales and I cannot follow up with their baby's care.
>>
>>So, what does a salesperson do when she trys to educate a customer and they don't want to hear it? By the way, this is just one case that really annoyed me, there are many but thankfully most people listen to us.
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Rob Talkington