Good experiences of Pets at Home

Theodore · 05-26-2008, 09:36 AM

There are always threads started where someone has a gripe about the above-mentioned store, I thought (in the interest of balance) that it was about time we had a thread in which people could maybe be a bit more positive for a change?

So......... come on guys and gals, give us your good stories about Pets at Home!

Bunsey · 05-26-2008, 09:40 AM

i have lots of bad experiences that i could report, too, but here's some good experiences:

When i bought Poppy and Lily a lady refused to sell them to a child (i was nearly in tears like a big kid thinking they were going to this little boy and i wanted them!). i thought that was good. she obviously knew about the hams. however, she did sell me scented sawdust and fluffy bedding.

oh, actually that's it.

NaomiR · 05-26-2008, 10:09 AM

I have millions, I work there

I probably don't count but my happiest Pets At Home "story" is my dear Mildred who is my first ever syrian. She was bought in by a lady who said she was vicious so when I first had to clean her out I wore gloves but she just climbed out onto me, she just wanted a cuddle :P

I had 3 days cleaning out Mildred and knew she had to come home with me when someone showed interest in her and I said she was vicious lol and then took her home - where she is exceptionally happy and so am I, and she's NEVER been vicious bless her

One of THE BEST things about working there are the happy endings, last week we re-homed a gorgeous bunny who'd come in after being neglected, he was very VERY affectionate and we all cried when he left. But the lady who took him loved him so much it was lovely *sniff* I must stop now I've come over all emotional!!!

**Spuds Mum** · 05-26-2008, 10:31 AM

Oh I have lots.

I have the tale of Bubbagump who, has a neurological problem that meant he couldnt really be sold/adopted as a pet to someone with no experience - they held him back knowing we were breeders and hamster crazy and asked us to take him

I have the fact that I am greeted with a chorus of hellos each time I go in, and am always asked 'how many hamsters do you have now then?' and find the staff invariably polite and friendly

I once lost my purse in/around the store and the assistants combed the store for me, looking under racking, and outside too, and when it didnt apear, taking my number in case it turned up

I have been referred to for advice when in the shop many times - with assistants asking what I would do about this and that

Our cages our ALWAYS clean, with fresh water and a hidey hole for the hams, I've never noticed any mixed sex groups amongst the syrians and if I mention fighting etc. it is taken seriously

Yes some of the stock I dont like (Ovos, certain brands etc.) but to be honest, personal preference dictates a lot of it, for example, many people hate rotostak, but my hams loved them (although they did have big set-ups), and I dont think it is up to us to dictate to every consumer what should/shouldnt be available?

I sound here like I own shares in the company I know - but as I said in the other thread (and many before that) the things described, just dont appear to be in any way related to my shopping experiences!

Basia · 05-26-2008, 10:51 AM

Well my first 3 hamsters came from P@H and they are all about 20 months old now and doing well. They are my very happy P@H experiences as is my rabbit Coco.
The staff are all really nice to me, I know most of them I am in there so often buying things for my menagerie.
I still have 2 glowlights I bought from P@H when I decided to keep tropical fish again, they are now over 4 years old.

souffle · 05-26-2008, 10:51 AM

I have never had a bad experience personally. We have bought a few hammies there in the past and they have always been lovely. They just took a little longer to tame but yersterday I was in our local store and the girl was selling a hamster to a lady. She advised which hamster had been the tamer when she had been handling them and looked at the cage the lady had selected then advised her it was not suitable for a dwarf as the bar spacing was wide. She lifted out all the hamsters for the lady to see.
My best experience was really Pophammy's! A few years ago they ran a 'summer school' when children could book to go in once a week to sessions where they could learn about care of different pets. They were allowed to hold animals, look behind the scenes and check out cages/feeding and training. They got stickers and at the end a certificate. This showed real initiative and I thought was brilliant for educating children. It was free too and they got freebies at the end. I just wish there had been a bigger uptake.
I have noticed that recently the range of cages for small pets really has improved and from looking at them, apart from the ovo which I personally don't like and the 'starter cage' all were, in my opinion adequate to good for a single syrian.
Our store has a vet surgery which is open 7 days and actually saved the life of one of the dogs at our club who got a ball stuck in his throat (it is only 2 mins along the road) They also have a wildlife zone to cater for birds, hedgehogs, butterflies and ladybirds etc.
All the cages are clean and have log bridges, toys and padlocks. There only ever seems to be a maximum of two hammies in the cages.
The only think I don't like is the notice that says chinese and other dwarfs should be kept in social groups.

Bunsey · 05-26-2008, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spud's Mum

I have the fact that I am greeted with a chorus of hellos each time I go in, and am always asked 'how many hamsters do you have now then?' and find the staff invariably polite and friendly

oh wow, mine are the opposite. they give me funny looks when i go in and it puts me off going in there. i think they think i am "crazy hamster lady"

**Spuds Mum** · 05-26-2008, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunsey

oh wow, mine are the opposite. they give me funny looks when i go in and it puts me off going in there. i think they think i am "crazy hamster lady"

Mine know I am the crazy hamster lady, but I guess they must like it

Jessalina · 05-26-2008, 11:22 AM

I haven't got anything brilliant to say about them, but nothing really bad either. One thing I can say though is that the rats (three in total) I've had from there have been very tame and sweet natured which is extremely unsual for pet shop rats. The last two were from the adoption centre and I did wonder if they had been surrendered by someone who'd originally got them from a breeder as they were so laid back, but it seems unlikely.
My heart rat Ethel was from PAH, she incredibly sweet from day one but her health was as bad as you'd expect from a rodent farm bred animal and she died at just seventeen months from a pituitary tumour combined with respiratory problems

Nessa, my hamster, was also from there, but sweet as she is she wasn't tame like the rats when I got her. It's strange really.

arikata · 05-26-2008, 11:32 AM

I got sold a female instead of a male. But on the plus side at least I will be able to watch the cutest creatures on earth grow up from new born pups to fully grown hammies!

Also, my tamest robo came from there and despite being up the duff she's still the friendliest robo! Most of the time she will crawl onto your hand if you put it in