A certain petstore...

Please forgive me but I just need to have a rant!

I went to a branch of a certain large petstore chain this afternoon to stock up on millet for my ever increasing menagerie. This did, of course, involve a little detour past the hamsters for sale section. There was the sweetest little "Russian" hamster being horribly bullied by his/her cagemate. It was getting pretty nasty and I thought I might be able to see blood. So, ELC to the rescue! I went over to the checkout and demanded to buy the bullied hamster. To cut a long story short, they wouldn't let me buy her/him as when I asked to check the sex, they noticed the blood so said the ham had to go into isolation. I'm planning to go back on Sat and try and buy the same little ham if he/she is out of isolation by then.

I was really cross that it took me demanding to actually look at a hamster for the staff to actually notice what was going on. I was the only customer in the entire shop so its not like they didn't have the time to keep an eye on the animals.

Anyway, I ended up having a brief chat with the (particularly miserable & unsmiling) shop assistant - she then told me that "Chinese hamsters are the best as they're really sociable and get on great in pairs". Is it just me or are these people on drugs?!! In the end I just walked away and bit my lip as we would've had a huge row otherwise. I'll just go back in a few days and hope I can save my little "Russian".

[Gust0o]

Flag this with LMDH, as she works for the firm - they're normally pretty good at responding, with the usual promises of investigation and appropriate action.

If they're anything like most firms, I'll trust them to be sincere - personally, I'd be disgusted by the above, and would be straight to the heart of the matter.

[nooboo]

you need to report this to the head office, they will take you seriusly and listen, but you need to report it, else how do they find out?

just like with any store the manager there wont be telling head office its mistakes customers who feel strongly as many of us do need to report it so the matter can be sorted and dealt with, i do hope you contact them

[littlemissdwarfhamster]

Contact:

http://www.petsathome.com/CustomerServices/Aboutus

I assume this this the 'large chain store'. Always always complain if you are unhappy, if you dont then that wrong behaviour may become 'the norm'.

If you dont want to contact them direct PM me the store name with details. But you will get a better response if you do it yourself.

[sarahh]

Hi ya sorry to hear about the poor little russian hamster. It was naughty that it took you to notify them they should have been checking for fights. They would have had to but it into isolation yes because it will probably need to see a vet because of the bite and infection.
Clearly that particular store doesn't seem to care much about the animals. I would report it to them on their new site they have a section for contacting them and usually get back to you within 24-48 hours.
I really hope you manage to buy the little hammy good luck.
They obviously don't know the difference between the two breeds also why do they say chinese get on great in pairs alot seem to have to live alone or end up in the adoption because they have lived as a pair and then end up fighting.

Our store is really good and understanding, I went in there today because I wanted a hanging thing to hang in Kumi's new cambridge I got for him yesturday in another store also bought an edible lofa ball for him aswell. Ours are caring I told them that the gerbils silent spinner had fallen over and a member of staff said aww bless I will go and put it straight back up and they did aswell. Alot of the staff at ours have also taken adoption animals home a girl we spoke to today who took my rabbit to the vet when she was under gurantee for me she has taken 2 giant rabbits home herself. They are very caring at ours and we have older staff in ours aswell so its not all full of horrid teenagers/kids who don't care.

[Bunsey]

yes you must e-mail them. i did and i had a good old rant about all the problems and they did reply about 2 days later saying they would take it seriously and now they do lock their cages where they never did before, so they must have listened! still can't sex their hams, but at least they've took some notice of one of the issues i mentioned

I've just sent an email detailing what I found this afternoon to Head Office so I'll let you all know if/when I hear anything back.

I still can't quite believe it. I went to that branch as the staff there are usually better than other branch.

[littlemissdwarfhamster]

Good, let us know how it goes.

[NaomiR]

The problem is that if they sold you said poorly hamster and something happened to it (like it died - worst case senario) then you'd be back to complain like any decent human being would.

They can't knowingly sell a poorly hammie - or any other animal.

Sadly the majority of the stores are hugely under staffed, the person on check out is not allowed to leave the tills (although I have been known to wonder round to the small animals on particularly quiet days but I could loose my job for this) and other staff would be working delivery or taking care of the animals out the back which would be in Quarantine or Isolation.

If you have any problems like this I would ask to speak to the Duty Manager, this will either be the Store Manage, the Deputy or Assistant. They HAVE to take your concerns seriously and get back to you with an up-date, in this case let you know in a couple of days if the hamster is well enough to be sold to you.

If you don't get any joy then I would take the matter further ie contact Customer Services or Head Office.

In the last 2 months I have taken a total of 5 russians off shop floor to go into Isolation due to (minor) injuries caused by cage-mates, they spend 1-2 days on their own and have all been okay

Let us know what happens

[Bunsey]

the problem i have with complaining in the store is that they treat you like an interferring busy body. i said one of the hams looked sick (had it's eyes all gunked shut) and the guy was like *sigh* and only took a look to shut me up. he was clearly annoyed. He was like yeah, i'll take it out back when i've made these sales.