Memoirs of a Dog Walker

pet sitting 101. it's not as easy as it seems.

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Location: Suburbia, New York, United States

Dog Walking and Pet Sitting and dancing my way thru the day.

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Boycott PetCo!



I have three cats. One has health issues, and is on a special diet. Hence they are all on her special diet. Some of the food that she can eat is a not-so-popular brand, not so widely available. PetCo carries it, and I make weekly trips to stock up. As it is one of the rare foods she can eat,I admit to not being so diligent with checking the prices. I need it, and I buy it, regardless of price.
The canned food comes in two sizes, and I buy the larger 6 oz. can.
Two weeks ago, I checked the pirce listed on the shelf and it was listed at $1.37 a can. I buy alot at one time. I grabbed about 15 cans and headed for the register. The cashier rang me up, and I paid, after asking how much it was a can. "$2.37 each," came the answer. I pointed out that the sign said $1.37/can, but the cashier ignored me. I paid and left, because I HAD to get out of that store. It stinks in there, and I try to get in and out as quickly as possilbe, or my lungs suffer the consequences. Maybe I made a mistake, and the sign that listed the cans at $1.37 was for the smaller size.
The following week, I returned to stock up on cat food. Double checking the price, I discovered it was indeed $1.37 per can for the size I was purchasing. When i got to the cashier, I asked her how much they were a can.
"$2.37" came the reply.
Sighing, I replied "No, it's $1.37. The sign says $1.37 for this size. This store ripped me off a dollar a can last week, lord knows how long you have been doing this!"
Tamika, the cashier, very rudely told me that the price went up.
"A DOLLAR A CAN? I have a hard time believing this food went up a dollar a can, and for over a week, you didn't correct the price ont he shelf."
Tamika, continuing in her rude voice, said she would adjust the price for me.
I paid, and went out to my car, looking at my receipt. She didm't adjust the price. Back I went, armed with the receipt. When I pointed out the error, Tamika, in her increasingly rude tone, said "I TOLD YOU I would have the other cashier adjust it."
"NO," I said. "You told me YOU would adjust it."
Tamika got the other cashier to refund my dollar a can, and I returned to my car to call PetCo HQ and complain about the service.
I explained to the customer service rep on the phone, how poorly I was treated by Tamika, how I no longer trusted PetCo for thier overpricing. I pointed out that I am a pet sitter with over 75 clients, and thatI would be sure to let them know how unhappy I was and to urge a boycott. I promised I would NEVER use PetCo again.
The customer service rep was wonderful, repeating my concerns back to me, promising to speak to the manager of that store, and taking my information to send me a gift card for my trouble.

The following morning, I sent an email to my clients, informing them to beware of PetCo and urging them to go elsewhere for thier pet needs. Within 10 minutes of hitting the send key, I received 6 responses from clients with similar experiences in that store. One of those clients is a very prominant lawyer for the state, and she asked for more information to send to her friend in the Consumer Affairs office in our county.

Yesterday I received my gift card. What an insult to get a $10 store credit. I may have received a re-imbursment for the last visit when I was over-charged, but not for the prior visit. $10 does not cover it. Not to mention that since I have over 75 clients, who all have friends, you would think they would try to playcate me little better. TEN DOLLARS IS AN INSULT AND A JOKE!

On a side note, WHY does that stroe stink so much? How can those employees stand the odor? In my line of business, I am in and out of several pet food stores, to see what is new and exciting in the industry. No other store has the odor that store does. Even our local pet shelter does not have an odor.

BOYCOTT PETCO! There are several other options out there. Use them. PetCo doesn't care.

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