Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Housing

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-21-2017, 06:52 AM   #1
Munchalot
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Munchalot's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Devon, UK
Posts: 2,197
Default Experience with this cage?

Hey everyone.

I was just wondering whether anyone had any experience with the Pennine Large Rat Cage?

While obviously FAR FAR too small for rats, it is 80cm x 50cm in dimensions which would make it suitable for hammies. It even comes with a large wheel, although it will more than likely be super flimsy and squeaky lol.
Of course the wire level would need to be covered or removed if possible.

The reason I am asking is because I have searched high and low through the websites and catalogues of every wholesaler our pet shop deals with, and this is the one and only cage I can find which is bigger than 70 x 40 cm.
The second largest cage I can find is the Duna Multy, which ideally is suitable only for dwarfs.

Generally I tell customers to go on Zooplus!
But we really could do with having a few cages here in store for those who either cannot wait for a delivery or simply cannot order online.

This is the annoying thing -- it's not just pet shops that make problems, it's the wholesalers! If the warehouses won't stock big cages, we can't get them.


Does anybody have any insight on this one? I know from experience that Pennine don't always make the best quality products, but I can't seem to find any reviews on it that give any indication on quality.
Thanks in advance!
__________________
Munchalot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2017, 08:14 AM   #2
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Experience with this cage?

Hi. I haven't seen it before. One reviewer says it's a rubbish cage lol. I think it sounds quite low at 34cm high. It wouldn't fit a 12" wheel in. It would probably fit a compact model of 11" wheel in. My Savic Mickey 2XL was 36cm internal height and I found that a bit low for fitting a Syrian sized wheel in.

Agree that the wait from Zooplus can be an issue. I would say it's too low for a Syrian and the bar spacing probably too big for a dwarf hamster (although it doesn't actually say what the bar spacing is.

There is a seller who is selling the Alaska cage on Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Small-Ani...CN4JFKGP1JR2QF

I didn't know about Zooplus when I was looking for an 80cm by 50cm cage so I looked on Amazon - for quick delivery. And got the Savic Mickey 2XL - but it's expensive. More expensive now then when I got it.

The Hamster Heaven is available on Amazon for just under £60

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Savic-Hamst...Hamster+Heaven

The Grosvenor cage is about the same price as the Pennine. I personally think it's a bit on the small side for a Syrian. (Actually it's gone up - used to be about £44 and cream and is now £55 and black so Hamster Heaven is a better buy).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Frie...at+and+hamster

The Savic Ruffy is a good 80 x 50 cage - same height as Hamster Heaven and comes with a nice Savic rat tube. Seems popular with those who have it although it's only top opening £54.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Savic-Ruffy...ds=Savic+Ruffy

I think the best bet for someone who doesn't want to wait for Zooplus delivery is the Hamster Heaven. It may not be as cheap as some of the others, but the access is great with it's big front opening door, so user experience is important too. No point spending less if you hate the cage!

There is a nice cage for dwarf hamsters that's about £47 - the Riviera Varazze mouse cage. Has 6 to 7mm bar spacing, quite good access. Again I think it's a bit small for a Syrian for a full-time cage. Shelves are supposed to be a bit flimsy and bendy.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Riviera-Var...a+varraze+cage

You can also buy the Alexander cage on Amazon but at full price. Same seller as for the Alaska.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Excellent-T...Alexander+cage

The Barney cage is also available on Amazon at £57

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fully-Equip...ds=Barney+cage

But I think the only one easily available for quick delivery is probably the Hamster Heaven.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2017, 08:17 AM   #3
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Experience with this cage?

Also have you tried Bruno's Rat and Parrot store? They are a wholesaler as well as a store I believe. It was their contact I was given for the new 100cm Savic Hamster Plaza - they supply it to other stores and also sell it direct to order. So presumably you could order other cages through them.

The only cages they show on the website are a few Imac ones, but if you ring them they can probably supply all sorts as wholesalers.

Bruno's Pets | Pet Accessories | Northampton Pets | Cat products | Dog Products | Small Animal Accessories | Reptiles | Aquatic Products | Bird Accessories

Or maybe you could do a deal with Zooplus and get discount for buying in bulk and sell the Alaska cage
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2017, 04:34 PM   #4
InkyPen
Hamster Pup
 
InkyPen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: London, UK
Posts: 241
Default Re: Experience with this cage?

Great to see a pet shop owner that knows what they're on about and is trying to do their best by their animals and customers While I'm sure the cage you've linked to is better than many out there on the market, I'd be concerned about whether or not joe public can actually be trusted to sort out the wire shelf in a safe manner. But maybe I'm just a cynical sod who overheard an allegedly well educated young adult asking her friend where the letter G was in the alphabet earlier today...

I'll admit here and now that I'm totally naive about all things retail. However, when I received my Alexander recently it came with Skyline branding, and it was dispatched from Germany - I wonder if searching along those lines would throw up any wholesalers?

The other thing I wonder is - I'm pretty sure the base of the Alexanders will stack on top of one another. I wonder if the metal bit would too? All the wooden bits, inc. shelves, are delivered flatpack in one small cardboard box. The Alaska / Barney cages are similar. Would it be practical to try and negotiate a bulk discount from Skyline / buy several when they're on sale and when they arrive, remove them from their outer packaging and stack them in your stockroom for the sake of space?

Of course, I don't know what your practical constraints are in terms of stockroom space / profit margins / practicalities.

The other option might be the Savic Hamster Heaven Metro - it's certainly much more widely available online than the Alaska / Barney / Alexander, so presumably there are wholesalers out there.
__________________
Inky the Hamster on Instagram (with guest appearances from Flora the Rescue Dwarf Hybrid)
InkyPen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2017, 03:04 AM   #5
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Experience with this cage?

Or the Hamster Sky Same size as the Hamster Heaven but less plastic extras - might cost a bit less wholesale
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2017, 08:39 AM   #6
Munchalot
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Munchalot's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Devon, UK
Posts: 2,197
Default Re: Experience with this cage?

Thanks for the replies guys!

Yeah I did think it was a little on the low side, which is a pain. I suppose a 12" flying saucer would be fine or a 10 - 11" upright if its a smaller hammy.

Unfortunately none of the cages listed we can get a hold of. Both of our main wholesalers sell Savic cages but nobody seems to keep the Hamster Heaven. It's so frustrating!!

It would be amazing if we could deal direct with Skyline but unfortunately it's impossible.

Trouble with a lot of these other sellers is that there would be a minimum spend on an order so we would have to buy a LOT of cages, which is difficult seeing as we are only a small pet shop and we don't have anywhere to store a large number of big cages.
Ideally we would want a cage which we can order in a couple at a time from our weekly suppliers.


It's a nightmare it really is!
I might have to make requests to our wholesalers to persuade them to start stocking some of the larger cages, because they really don't help with the problem.
Pet shops can only buy small cages if that's all the suppliers will keep. :/

It's hardly good business when people come to you to buy pet supplies and you have to tell them to go and buy elsewhere!
I can't get a hold of any large wheels other than the 12" Silent Spinner either, and unfortunately few people are willing to spend that much money on a wheel. Really there isn't much hamster owners are coming to our store for at the moment!
__________________
Munchalot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2017, 09:03 AM   #7
AmityvilleHams
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
Default Re: Experience with this cage?

Flying saucers are not good wheels Upright wheels are the most appropriate and actually allow for a natural running pattern,whereas flying saucers do not and will cause side arching.Just something to keep in mind

If you could get a bulk discount on Silent Runners it would be wonderful,and you'd likely be the only person to ever carry them in store so you'd have a unique choice too!They're superior to any other wheel on the market,being the safest wheel and being extremely durable along with all the other benefits.Try and encourage the splurge on a good wheel but maybe give ideas for saving on other supplies,like DIY toys and such which are cheaper while if you go cheap on a wheel it really doesn't do much good if any Maybe also mention that there's no guarantee a young hamster will stay small so they'd end up spending twice as much trying to get a bigger wheel once the hamster outgrows the smaller wheel,as that can be extremely helpful,or make sure the customer is aware that certain more expensive wheels(the Silent Spinner definitely not being one that is worth the money)can be extremely good quality,last longer,and are more quiet if not silent in some cases(very rare,the Silent Runner being the only one that stays silent).
AmityvilleHams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2017, 02:52 PM   #8
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Experience with this cage?

It does sound like a frustrating system Munchalot. I guess the only way round it would be to have a big storage room and buy them in bulk but I can see that might not be economical either as it could take a long time to sell them all. I think one of the problems is the good cages are mostly made in Belgium and Germany.

How about the Little Friends Grosvenor rat and Hamster? Could you get that from a wholesaler? Or Zoozones? I've seen pet shops with Zoozones in. Our pet shop told me "it's for a guinea pig not a hamster"
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2017, 07:09 AM   #9
Munchalot
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Munchalot's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Devon, UK
Posts: 2,197
Default Re: Experience with this cage?

Quote:
Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
Flying saucers are not good wheels Upright wheels are the most appropriate and actually allow for a natural running pattern,whereas flying saucers do not and will cause side arching.Just something to keep in mind

If you could get a bulk discount on Silent Runners it would be wonderful,and you'd likely be the only person to ever carry them in store so you'd have a unique choice too!They're superior to any other wheel on the market,being the safest wheel and being extremely durable along with all the other benefits.Try and encourage the splurge on a good wheel but maybe give ideas for saving on other supplies,like DIY toys and such which are cheaper while if you go cheap on a wheel it really doesn't do much good if any Maybe also mention that there's no guarantee a young hamster will stay small so they'd end up spending twice as much trying to get a bigger wheel once the hamster outgrows the smaller wheel,as that can be extremely helpful,or make sure the customer is aware that certain more expensive wheels(the Silent Spinner definitely not being one that is worth the money)can be extremely good quality,last longer,and are more quiet if not silent in some cases(very rare,the Silent Runner being the only one that stays silent).
Yeah I'm not really a fan of the Flying Saucers. I've known the odd small ham who will ONLY run on a saucer, but generally I'm not all that struck on them. A curved back is bad news no matter which way it's bending.

We do get a few customers who are willing to buy Spinners, though it's not common. They're one of the best wheel I've used, and I've tried them all! I detest the bloody Wodent Wheel, mine is currently flung on the garden in the rain lol!
We don't deal with Karlie unfortunately (wholesaler don't stock their products, and we can't deal with them direct) so those wheels are out of the picture.

I'm not sure where Silent Runners come from.. I'll look into it! That might be worth a go!

Worry not, I always push people to get the biggest wheel possible. Our hammies are proper chunkers as they come from pedigree lines, so if people want one they have to get everything super size!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
It does sound like a frustrating system Munchalot. I guess the only way round it would be to have a big storage room and buy them in bulk but I can see that might not be economical either as it could take a long time to sell them all. I think one of the problems is the good cages are mostly made in Belgium and Germany.

How about the Little Friends Grosvenor rat and Hamster? Could you get that from a wholesaler? Or Zoozones? I've seen pet shops with Zoozones in. Our pet shop told me "it's for a guinea pig not a hamster"
Yeah if only they didn't come from Europe!
If wehad the space it would be great, but most of our storage space is taken up with big sacks of dog food and bird seed. We can squish in a few cages, but a bulk order would be difficult to place. :/

Oh!! I totally forgot to mention that we keep both the Zoozone 1 and 2!
We never, ever sell them for anything other than hamsters and mice, and we do get the odd one sold. The annoying thing is that few people can be bothered to do the meshing. :/
But we do keep them here for those who want to put the effort in.
__________________
Munchalot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2017, 09:00 AM   #10
AmphyAmphy
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 7
Default Re: Experience with this cage?

Since you can find the Duna Multy, would you be able to order one of other Ferplast cages from your wholesaler? I think the Criceti 15/100, Karat 80/100, Maxi Duna Multy and the Mary are all nice for Syrians.

One other thing I could think of is to rack up some discount codes and order some Alaskas with free shipping. Even if you sell them for a 20-40% markup, they'd still be priced similarly to cages of the same size from well-known companies, so it might work.
AmphyAmphy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
cage, make, find, experience, suitable, pet, cages, quality, pennine, large, products, store, reviews, customers, generally, dwarfs, advance, zooplus, give, indication, mad, wait, ideally, problems, shops

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:07 AM.