Ping Pong
- #1
I would like to review my local Petco store today. This Petco is in Northeast Ohio, just west of Akron, but I will not say specifically which town it is in for privacy reasons.
First off, I would just like to start by saying that no one expects perfect service from a Petco. At least from that I have seen, Petco is an average pet chain that doesn't handle fish that well, and they don't really even have to. The fish are there for them to sell for big profits. If they weren't, then they wouldn't sell things like the Bala Shark to the common user (that's a whole other rant).
I have never purchased fish from my local Petco. Instead, I have driven about 25 minutes north to a Petsmart solely due to the factor that they have triple the selection. The other thing is that there is a lady at this Petsmart who is so willing to help in every way that it is a good experience, and she really tries to work on the tanks as much as possible. She actually takes pride in them which is surprising for a pet chain. Anyways, this Petsmart has about 50 tanks, so there's a huge selection. I only buy my fish there, though.
The Petco in my local town is so much closer, so I get everything else there. I hate waiting for shipping, so I normally spend an extra few bucks on products instead of getting them on Amazon.
In the past month, I have spent about 450$ at this local Petco, and all of the associates there now recognize me, know me by name, etc. The associates are a little strange, but that's okay.
Anyways, yesterday I went into this Petco and dropped another 75$. I wanted a second filter, some more decor, and a couple of things my Fiance wanted for her dog and kitten. They know I am in there constantly. I ended up seeing a huge poster on their wall for the first time (not sure how I missed it before) about them offering a Low Price Guarantee, like everywhere else does as well.
I decided I would price match some of my stuff cause I've spent huge amounts at this store. I pulled up Amazon, found stuff that was shipped & sold by Amazon specifically, and brought up the price matches to the associate. She matched them and called the General Manager over the override these prices.
First off, this lady was disgusting. Coughing into her hands, hardcore smoke smells, food all over her shirt, etc. Not professionally presentable. She refused to price match anything for me saying they only price match themselves. I pointed at the poster saying it literally has Amazon listed on it, and she said no. It was going to save me a whopping 5$... WOW. 5$ after I spend as much as I do at your store. Yeah I get it, you don't care, etc... But she managed to try to educate me on economics, telling me how no one matches Amazon, that's outrageous of me to even bring that up. She said I need to "learn how to do business like a real customer does." What does this even mean? She also told me that she would be out of business if it were for Amazon. Well no... You'll be out of business cause nobody comes in here at all. Legitimately, I myself am the only consumer I've ever seen in that store.
I have worked retail in recent years. I worked at Best Buy as a sales supervisor for the better part of a few years before I left that to work in my educated field. I knew that professionalism and being kind was matching prices for people since we had a low guarantee, the same as anyone else's, and never blaming the customer for saving a few bucks. It was obvious when there were repeat customers too, and I always tried to help them out as much as I can. This turned into a profitable way to do business for my store... And everyone matches Amazon that I'm aware of...
I decided not to buy anything, and I left it all at the counter and walked away. The thing that ticked me off the most about this place wasn't the 5$ difference, it was how rude she was. As soon as she walked away she said "now he's going to go throw a tantrum over it" to one of her employees.
That place is a joke.
First off, I would just like to start by saying that no one expects perfect service from a Petco. At least from that I have seen, Petco is an average pet chain that doesn't handle fish that well, and they don't really even have to. The fish are there for them to sell for big profits. If they weren't, then they wouldn't sell things like the Bala Shark to the common user (that's a whole other rant).
I have never purchased fish from my local Petco. Instead, I have driven about 25 minutes north to a Petsmart solely due to the factor that they have triple the selection. The other thing is that there is a lady at this Petsmart who is so willing to help in every way that it is a good experience, and she really tries to work on the tanks as much as possible. She actually takes pride in them which is surprising for a pet chain. Anyways, this Petsmart has about 50 tanks, so there's a huge selection. I only buy my fish there, though.
The Petco in my local town is so much closer, so I get everything else there. I hate waiting for shipping, so I normally spend an extra few bucks on products instead of getting them on Amazon.
In the past month, I have spent about 450$ at this local Petco, and all of the associates there now recognize me, know me by name, etc. The associates are a little strange, but that's okay.
Anyways, yesterday I went into this Petco and dropped another 75$. I wanted a second filter, some more decor, and a couple of things my Fiance wanted for her dog and kitten. They know I am in there constantly. I ended up seeing a huge poster on their wall for the first time (not sure how I missed it before) about them offering a Low Price Guarantee, like everywhere else does as well.
I decided I would price match some of my stuff cause I've spent huge amounts at this store. I pulled up Amazon, found stuff that was shipped & sold by Amazon specifically, and brought up the price matches to the associate. She matched them and called the General Manager over the override these prices.
First off, this lady was disgusting. Coughing into her hands, hardcore smoke smells, food all over her shirt, etc. Not professionally presentable. She refused to price match anything for me saying they only price match themselves. I pointed at the poster saying it literally has Amazon listed on it, and she said no. It was going to save me a whopping 5$... WOW. 5$ after I spend as much as I do at your store. Yeah I get it, you don't care, etc... But she managed to try to educate me on economics, telling me how no one matches Amazon, that's outrageous of me to even bring that up. She said I need to "learn how to do business like a real customer does." What does this even mean? She also told me that she would be out of business if it were for Amazon. Well no... You'll be out of business cause nobody comes in here at all. Legitimately, I myself am the only consumer I've ever seen in that store.
I have worked retail in recent years. I worked at Best Buy as a sales supervisor for the better part of a few years before I left that to work in my educated field. I knew that professionalism and being kind was matching prices for people since we had a low guarantee, the same as anyone else's, and never blaming the customer for saving a few bucks. It was obvious when there were repeat customers too, and I always tried to help them out as much as I can. This turned into a profitable way to do business for my store... And everyone matches Amazon that I'm aware of...
I decided not to buy anything, and I left it all at the counter and walked away. The thing that ticked me off the most about this place wasn't the 5$ difference, it was how rude she was. As soon as she walked away she said "now he's going to go throw a tantrum over it" to one of her employees.
That place is a joke.