PetSmart Consumer Reviews - Page 2

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS -- My 16 year old daughter was hired by Champaign Illinois PetSmart in the grooming department. The second day she was handling and partially grooming dogs (Big and Small) on her own. She was bitten by a dog that had been marked down in the records as a biter. She should not have been handling the dog by herself. She did not receive any training and she had only worked there a couple of days. She worked any hours they scheduled her for , arrived early and stayed late when asked. She never had one complaint from a customer about her care of the animals.

She worked one day 8 hours without a lunch and she was by herself because the other employee went home. She has worked 7 to 10 hour days eveyday she was scheduled to work. 4.10.06 she lifted a big dog and popped something in her back. She told me about it when I took her in lunch. I told her she should tell a supervisor. She was scheduled to work until 7:00. At 5:00 she called and told my sister she had been fired.

When I went to pick her up the manager ** told me that she had been fired because mystery shoppers called and went into the store and my daughter did not identify herself and that she did not establish eye contact, they said that she did not seem interested in the dogs. The employee was identified as a blond between 21-25. There is another person there that fits that description and she does not smile. I know this because I have heard people comment on it. My daughter has a very nice personality and the other female manager even said that she was a sweet girl. All of this dedication and giving 100% happened in about a 2 week period.

I asked the ** the manager why he did not talk to her and ask her if there was a problem. He said that he does not have the time and that he felt that she was not a "fit" but she was a "fit" when she was working by herself without a lunch break and when she was working a 10 hour shift. He said that he was not aware of the fact that she worked that many hours. That is a manager "right on top of things" and he does not know who is working, how long they are working, nor does he feel that he has the time to handle training or the proper protocol for write ups.

COLUMBIA, MARYLAND -- The writers of Monty Python's classic “dead parrot” skit must have had a psychic future vision of the cynicism at the PetSmart in Columbia MD. My daughter returned a very sick chinchilla that was dying in her arms. The store manager was defensive and argumentative. “We'll give it some liquids and antibiotics,” he said halfheartedly before hustling the motionless animal to an unseen veterinarian supposedly in the back room. “Actually, I don't think anyone here knows how to treat chinchillas,” he then confessed.

My wife and crying daughter had the humiliation of waiting in line at the service counter with the dying animal, even though she had called ahead to say she was bringing a critically sick animal to see their vet. They got about as much compassion from PetSmart as you'd expect from returning a broken toaster to Wal-Mart.

All the manager wanted to do was get the dying animal out of sight and do a hasty refund to get my family out of the store. This is sickening if it is representative of the PetSmart corporate culture. Their theme song should be from the Steve Miller Band's: “Take the Money and Run.” PetSmart's managers might do better being trained to sell vacuum cleaners, which already suck.

JENSEN BEACH, FL -- I purchased several items from Petsmart, including a (approx) $40.00 dog cage. I paid with a Visa debit card. When I got to the parking lot and checked my receipt I found that they had charged twice for the $40.00 cage. I went back to the store immediately and pointed out the error to the cashier. She said that she made a mistake and called the manager to make the correction. They put through a credit, but I felt that they should certainly not charge my card the full amount. I was assured that they would not. Three days later, the full amount (including the$40.00 overcharge) was debited from my account.

When I went back for an explanation, the manager said the funds should come back soon. RIDICULOUS!!! How do you double charge someone, take the incorrect amount anyway, and tell the buyer "You'll get the refund at some point??? The manager said "We all make mistakes". My response was, "You made the mistake worse by keeping the extra $40.00 of my money anyway!" I own a business and take credit cards. The next time I am short of cash, I'll just run someone's card for $500.00 instead of $200.00, use their money to pay my bills, and return the mistake when I feel like it! Nice game PETSMART!

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK -- I started keeping fish as pets last week. Originally I picked up a couple of items at Wally-world but then I started going to Pet Smart because they're more convenient to go to. The employees have been helpful - advice on how to maintain my fish tanks properly, how many fish I can realistically put in a tank, even free pamphlets on fish care for multiple breeds (I also have a betta in separate 1.5 Gallon tank). Today I picked up a second goldfish and the woman I spoke to helped me with advise on how to acclimate the new fish into the tank (15 minutes in the bag, give the other fish a snack in the meantime)...

The only trouble I had was that the filter wasn't filtering, wasn't passing any water at all, so I took it back and happened to speak to the same woman. She looked at the filter and saw what I was doing wrong - I didn't put any water in the filter. So I went home, tried that and... now it's filtering quite nicely. =) Thanks!

I actually have a question concerning Pet Smart. Our sons 5 month old puppy just had to be put down due to parvo. Even though the dog had all his shots there was an outbreak and it effected a lot of dogs in town. (It did not happen at Pet Smart). I know Pet Smart is known for allowing your animals in the store but our town Veterinarian said because this disease is so easily spread and there's a lot of disinfecting to do afterwards, stores were going to stop allowing pets inside. I just saw a PS commercial on TV with the animals in the store so was wondering if this was true for any or all of them.

I'm just writing this because we are all just heartbroken over losing a pet. He was saved at a pet adoption shelter and got everyone of his shots. I wanted to bring this to everyone's attention that has a beloved pet and maybe check it out and see if it's true. I don't want any of you to lose your furry babies over something like this.

JACKSIONVILL FLORDI -- We waited for ten min. for help after asking the clerk to send someone to help us. There were several employees that where stocking shelves but did not bother to help. I went to ask the lady at the grooming center she said she was not in charge to ask the man stocking shelves. He was part of the manager team so I feel like instead of excuses something needs to be done. This is a good way to loose customers who pays their pay. This is not the first time this has time this has happened. My husband and I both belong to many animal services and we are sharing this information with them also.

AVONDALE, ARIZONA -- Shame on the Manager at this Pet Smart. First making a statement that Pet Smart donates too much to non-profits dealing with animals than throwing away cases and bags of cat and dog food that are either torn or near expiration dates into trash bins. There are people out there that want animals but cannot afford to feed them. Pet Smart is the one that really stinks. If you don't believe me go behind the store any time and you will find un-open pet products in the trash.