Would you/do you interfere? Or have you?

[Holly]

I've just nipped to P@H for yet more log bridges and a couple of treats for Harry (they had a nice looking LH Black Syrian female - I beat a hasty but sad retreat ).

Anyway there were a young couple there looking at the robos - I eavsdropped a bit and they were discussing how many to get (the girl wanted two, the bloke wanted all four ). I think they were inexperienced hamster owners, they didn't seem very knowledgeable.

My question is would you have talked to them? I didn't find them particularly friendly, you know the vibes you get (I think I was in their way when I was looking at the Syrians) and I think that's what stopped me. But I did leave feeling rather depressed thinking about the lack of good advice they were likley to receive from the P@H staff and hoping desperately they didn't get four in some crappy little cage. Would you have offered them advice?

The till bloke was particularly clueless - there was a large basket of new books on the desk and I asked if they were going out on the shelves (he didn't know). I asked if I could look through them (he didn't pass them over or help me). I might have bought something but he just seemed oblivious

[Mollz]

I have been in the same situation many a time. I always think to my self that the worst thing that could happen is that they are rude to me and I make an enemy of someone I am never likely to meet again, the best being that I will improve the life/happiness of a hamster/hamsters.

I'm just polite and ask some questions, and advise them - if they don't want my advice then I know that there is nothing else I can do, so I walk away, if the appreciate my advise (and I've found that at least 7/10 people do) then I have improved the life of a hamster.

I do understand your apprehension about saying anything though, and there have been a few times when people look particularly fromidable and I can't bring myself to speak to them - but I always HAVE to if they are looking at some terrible cage like the Ovo.

I hope Harry enjoys his treats, and well done for resisting the hamster!

[Bunsey]

i've wanted to tell people loads of times to stop looking at the rotastaks, but never had the guts! they'd probably think i was an interferring nut case and still buy the rubbish cages anyway!

[Catja]

I did talk to a couple who were going to buy an OVO suite for two dwarf hamsters, it took all my courage but they were okay about it.

However a couple of weeks ago I overheard the assistant at Hereford Pets@Home giving dreadful advice to someone buying gerbils and then the assistant said, well at least you didn't want a Syrian, they're evil and I won't touch them they're vile!

[I_am_plankton]

I have intervened twice - once when in my local pet shop where they were telling people that all dwarfs were vicious and nasty so I hastily corrected them and said that with the right taming and buying from the right place you can get a nice hamster (subsequently a lady bought one from there but asked me to tame it which I did).

Another time was in Pets at Home with someone looking at the Ovo for a syrian so of course I said that it was far too small and the poor hamster would probably die of boredom lol. They walked out with a Savic Cambridge on the instance

[Matty Day]

i know what you mean i h8 going into pets at home and try to avoid it unless I am that desperate for certain supplies I normally buy from the good pet shop in my area thank god they don’t supply bad advice you get a whole care booklet with each hamster you get and they will make sure and ask what cage the owner has in mind the manger told me the Cambridge is the best seller for Syrians and dunas are the best dwarf sellers

when it comes to rotosatak I think better advice needs to be give as I am considering 1 piece of rotostack to add on 2 Louis duna as i would like it if he could walk over from the hamster table in a tube to my desk

[Holly]

Oh God, I'd forgotten about the Ovo - I bet they were going to get that for four robos

Still on the P@H subject, ours are still selling those horrendous 16.99 "starter cages" - I thought (someone said on another forum) they were getting rid of them?

[sammys/mum]

I've seen some horrendous cages too. Like one made by Ferplast. It has enough room for a wheel and dish and maybe a house if you were pushing it...Its awful! I've always wanted to intervine but I think I definately would look like a weirdo! (Mainly because I'm only 14 1/2 )

*Sorry typo*

[Mollz]

Originally Posted by sammys/mum

I've seen some horrendous cages too. Like one made by Ferplast. It has enough room for a wheel and dish and maybe a house if you were pushing it...Its awful! I've always wanted to intervine but I think I definately would look like a weirdo! (Mainly because I'm only 15 1/2 )

I'll be 15 in April, but I still dive in and tell people!
Although, I do get other (older) people who are shopping with me to make the first move sometimes.

I hate the fact that people seem to think that it's ok to put dwarfs in things like OVOs, because "they are only small"! Anyone who has seen a robo running about will know that it's a load of rubbish.

[Basia]

Gosh Molz, you are a very mature nearly 15 year old.
I'm afraid I can't help talking to people when I am in P@H. Most people don't mind and are glad to talk to someone providing you don't come over all bossy. I think that P@H are still selling the £16.99 starter cages because people buy them, realise they are too small and then go back for another cage (i.e. me when I got Basil. He lived in his little cage for all of 10 days I think).