So Today At Walmart........

So today, I went to Walmart, and decided to glance at the fish section to see if they had the tank I was wanting for my new betta that I fell in love with and got earlier this month. Anyways, they didn't have the tank, but of course, I had to take a quick glance at the fish, which yes, they still sell them at my Walmart. So of course, I saw the bettas in their tiny cups, one of which had a large collection of waste at the bottom of his cup, and then I moved onto the other fish. What I saw was horrible, dead fish everywhere! It looked like a fish horror movie! I was expecting it, but it was still heartbreaking. And then I saw it. A betta, in with the goldfish tank. Huh? I don't know why he was in there, and I think there was dead/dying fish in that tank too, but that wasn't my focus right then. A betta in a goldfish tank??? I even double/triple checked to make sure my eyes weren't playing games with me! I decided that I had had enough, and was going to do what I could to fix this, which isn't much really. When I got to the register, I asked to file a complaint. And the lady there is like, "Oh, you're mad!" And I'm thinking "Well, yeah........ there are dead/dying/sick poor, innocent little creatures back there......." And then I said, "Well, I mean, I'm a fish keeper myself, so......." So she called someone else over to the register for me to complain to, and I told them that they had dying fish in their fish tanks and that there were also fish in their tanks that weren't supposed to be there (none of them should be there, imo). But the lady that was called over to the register said that she was going to have it fixed, so that when I come back, there will be no more dead fish in the tanks and the fish that shouldn't be in the wrong tanks (like the betta), would also be fixed. Now, I really, really hope she'll make good on her word. Fingers crossed!

Anyways haha, just wanted to share my story with you guys! P.S. This comment is not meant to be any offense to Walmart, it's employees, or customers.

 

Hopefully they follow through. Sadly, to work in the pets section of Walmart isn't a job that is given because of any pet or fish knowledge. To most Walmarts, this section is just another area to keep stocked. The section is a preferred one because they normally don't have to work in other sections.

I hope your comments did cause management to start making changes, but I won't hold my breath.

Sounds terrible. I am glad our walmart stores don't carry fish.

 

Hopefully they follow through. Sadly, to work in the pets section of Walmart isn't a job that is given because of any pet or fish knowledge. To most Walmarts, this section is just another area to keep stocked. The section is a preferred one because they normally don't have to work in other sections.

I hope your comments did cause management to start making changes, but I won't hold my breath.

Sounds terrible. I am glad our walmart stores don't carry fish.

Yeah, and it's the Walmart that's the closest to me. :/ I don't know, maybe I should take note of the employees' names that I talk to, that way when I go back in I can find the same ones and inquire if they've done anything about the fish. Either way, I hope at least the dead fish are removed and the betta is given his own space, as I don't know what's worse, living in a goldfish tank filled with poop and dead fish and hardly being able to move, or living in a cup of water made very dirty by your own waste. It just seems so sad.

 

I went to Petsmart yesterday, and in the goldfish tank, there were more dead ones than live ones :/ And they were all piled in the same spot, which leads me to believe the employees may have done that instead of removing them!! >

 

I went to Petsmart yesterday, and in the goldfish tank, there were more dead ones than live ones :/ And they were all piled in the same spot, which leads me to believe the employees may have done that instead of removing them!! >

Near the filter?

 

I went to petsmart, saw a dead gourami that looked like it's been there a while. went back the following week and it was still there! smh....

 

Near the filter?

No, they were like piled on the side of the tank. It clearly looked like someone had swept them all there and just left them.

 

No, they were like piled on the side of the tank. It clearly looked like someone had swept them all there and just left them.

Yeah, I don't know what's up with that. :/ Pretty sure they were all "swept" to one side at Walmart too.

 

Good job bringing it to their attention, btwb.

 

Good job bringing it to their attention, btwb.

Thanks. Now, I just hope they carry through and at the very least, keep the tanks clean and the fish at least somewhat healthier.

 

Thanks. Now, I just hope they carry through and at the very least, keep the tanks clean and the fish at least somewhat healthier.

you should go by and do a surprise inspection. they might recognize you and it will force them to always keep the tanks maintained for fear of getting more complaints.

 

you should go by and do a surprise inspection. they might recognize you and it will force them to always keep the tanks maintained for fear of getting more complaints.

Well, I plan to go back eventually, but I think my mom's going to be going there soon, so maybe she can report what it looks like!

 

Mom the Spy!

I'd write strongly worded emails to the store and to corporate. Over and over. Until you get responses and see changes made. Post on their Facebook and Twitter accounts. Annoy them into submission. And yeah take names next time for sure.

 

Strongly worded as in.......? Yeah, but I'm worried they'll just get annoyed and block me out as a spammer or something. :/

 

No not swear words. Just strongly worded. Forceful yet mature. It works.

 

Oh, okay haha! Well, I don't want to start bugging them online until I see what became of their fish section, hopefully, it's at least somewhat better.

 

Yeah if you go back and things are still atrocious, I'd go the letter route. A friend of mine writes strongly worded letters to large grocery store chains and restaurants because of their lack of gluten-free etc products (her son is allergic to everything). They all now offer such products. Whole aisles in the grocery store now! Haha

 

Really?? Wow, that's awesome!

 

Walmart might be a tough cookie to crack, since they're such a giant, soulless corporation that probably regards the fish the same as a T-shirt on the rack. Maybe next time, take pictures of the tanks to add to your strongly-worded letters. Maybe it'll at least improve conditions at your local store...improving conditions at one store is better than nothing!

 

Send the pictures to your local newspaper. Shame them!

 

I don't get it. If the point of selling fish is to make profit, wouldn't they at least try to keep them healthy? Or else don't sell them at all!

 

My friend watched them put straight tap water in the tanks at our only walmart that sells fish. No conditioner

 

I don't get it. If the point of selling fish is to make profit

At a store like Walmart, I don't think they care. If they carry fish/pets, that's just a way to get people into the store to buy their other stuff.

 

Even if Walmart were to lose a few hundred dollars from dead fish, they wouldn't care because they're making millions on other things, such as convenience items, baby products, etc. I don't really see them making fish a priority item since it's not their specialty.

 

Evil. Just evil.

 

Even if Walmart were to lose a few hundred dollars from dead fish, they wouldn't care because they're making millions on other things, such as convenience items, baby products, etc. I don't really see them making fish a priority item since it's not their specialty.

It's probably more about bottom line. They buy them for nothing and have ridiculous markups so it's cheaper to lose 5 - 10 than treat one ill fish. They're a business that's good at making money and their sole purpose is to do so so they will find the most efficient way possible

 

Well yea, Walmart is a corporate giant so they get really good prices from all their vendors that deal with them, including their fish suppliers. You made a good point, Jswin.

 

I don't know if it works the same for fish as it does for plants at Walmart but when their plants die, Walmart doesn't lose any money, they basically just report back to the supplier and it becomes a write off of sorts. That's what I hear anyway. It wouldn't surprise me if it worked similarly for fish.

 

I don't know if it works the same for fish as it does for plants at Walmart but when their plants die, Walmart doesn't lose any money, they basically just report back to the supplier and it becomes a write off of sorts. That's what I hear anyway. It wouldn't surprise me if it worked similarly for fish.

Ok then it's like Costco and everything is sold on consignment. The supplier only makes money if something was actually sold. That's why you have people returning used stuff six months later...

 

I don't know if it works the same for fish as it does for plants at Walmart but when their plants die, Walmart doesn't lose any money, they basically just report back to the supplier and it becomes a write off of sorts. That's what I hear anyway. It wouldn't surprise me if it worked similarly for fish.

That's actually true about the plants. I used to work at one years ago. Our store didn't have fish though

 

That's actually true about the plants. I used to work at one years ago. Our store didn't have fish though

Our Walmarts here just let half the plants die, I always thought that was stupid from a profit standpoint for them, did some research and that's what I got out of it. It explains why they don't seem to mind the die off or try to remedy it. I'll have to see what I can find out about their fish system....

 

The Wal-Mart here just put their system back together and have 5 common pleco in one small tank. They have some sort of fish I never seen before. It looks like a snake with a top fin that runs it's entire body.

 

I don't get it. If the point of selling fish is to make profit, wouldn't they at least try to keep them healthy? Or else don't sell them at all!

I guarantee you they are making a profit. They track every last penny. What you don't see is how little they pay for them and the mark up is tremendous.

 

I guarantee you they are making a profit. They track every last penny. What you don't see is how little they pay for them and the mark up is tremendous.

Actually no. Their only department that is always positive is food. Pets department is propped up by the dog and cat products. Fish are there to push their fish products. Note the brands they carry.

I one I worked at during college had the biggest loss in electronics, but only because of returns. Pharmacy had the biggest lost due to theft. Funny part is the number one item stolen was preggy testers.

People complain about Wal-Mart products being mostly from china, but Wal-mart would be out of business if not for the food department.

 

UPDATE: Tonight I went to that same Walmart, to pick up a tank for my new betta, which on the website they claimed they have there even though I didn't see it last time. So I took a look at the fish section and guess what? From what I could see, no more dead fish! At all! Now, most of the cories had pretty much nonexistent fins, and there was piles of poop in the tanks, but hey, no dead fish, that's a step up! The guy there said that there was someone new working in that department, and that she had a schedule set for feeding and cleaning! I was so impressed! Also, their bettas were looking awesome for the most part! I even saw a black crowntail betta!

Now, for part two. Before we could get assistance, the guy was helping a man and his daughter get fish. Anyways, I was kinda watching them and searching for my own tank in the meantime, but finally, I went up to talk to them. They were getting a green glofish tetra and a couple of tiger barbs. I asked them (conversationally) what tank size they have and the man gestured to the tanks on the shelves, and I wasn't sure what size he had. Now, I know, people get annoyed if you just jump in there to start telling them everything that's wrong with what they're doing, they'll feel attacked. So I didn't. Instead, I told them about Fish Lore, and how great it was. I wrote down the words "Fish Lore" and gave them my username so they can find me if they ever join up. They took the piece of paper that I wrote the info on and I continued to kinda make small talk, I did mention that to be careful with the tetra around the tiger barbs, because the tiger barbs could be nippish. They were very friendly and seemed fairly open, hopefully they might join!

As for the tank, they said they had it in that exact store on their website, but after the employee searched for about 20 minutes or so (it seemed), he reported that he couldn't find it and that it was a mistake or something. :/

Anyways, so that's how it went!

 

Well except for your tank, at least you came back with two great news! Well done!

 

Well except for your tank, at least you came back with two great news! Well done!

Thank you! Well, we may've found the tank at a different Walmart, planning to go get it if it's there tomorrow.

 

3 for 3!

 

Most of the walmarts in my area don't carry fish anymore (though some have a shelf of bettas in bowls (with like 80% of them dead/dying)), but there's one that still does, and I took a look at the tanks because I knew they would be bad, but I wanted to see just how bad they were.

The tanks were all tiny, like half the size of what I see at my local Petsmart or Petco, with at LEAST 20 fish stocked in each tank, and the goldfish tanks were the worst of them, I couldn't even guess how many fish were in those. It hurt my heart the most to see them with like 10 decently sized baby oscars stuffed into one of these tiny tanks (being a huge oscar lover myself).

Not to mention how many dead/sick fish I saw. Ugh, it's horrible.

 

Ikr? I guess the best thing we can do is just voice our disagreement with Walmart carrying fish, they just aren't a fish store. And yeah, poor baby Oscars.