Slagging off shops (reptile or pet shops)

[Trice]

obviously this isnt a new thing, but i've read a few posts on a number of different threads where people have digs at shops (not naming or anything) just saying how the ones in their area, the people dont know what they're talking about and so on. Animals kept in a bad state.

Now if it wasnt for reptile or pet shops, the majority of reptile keepers wouldnt even have reptiles or probably wouldnt have even though about keeping reptiles.

Most of you say the owners of the shops and such havent got a clue. Have you bothered talking to them about something you're unhappy about? I'm sure you'd get a bit more respect if you actually told them, you are after all a customer, and your views should be respected. But no, the majority of you just go about letting the problems continue in a shop (in your opinion, the problems that is) and then feel you're so high and mighty in your commenting of the shop on a forums. (indirectly).

it just gets on my nerves when people do this, if i see something wrong in any shop, not just animal shops, i will tell someone who works there. why? Because i'd like it sorted, and why else? Because they will be able to KNOW that theres something not right and hopefully fix the problem.

Also. Your opinion on how an animal is to be kept can be alot different to how another believes the animal to be kept.

[Athravan]

I would like to add to Trice's rather sensible post... that sometimes it is easy to get over emotional at people's descriptions and 2nd hand information - sometimes, 3rd, 4th or 5th hand information. Chinese whispers and rumours abound, and a sentence can go from "some leopard geckos look skinny in joe bloggs shop", to a week later and 5 people who've never been to the shop down the line "all their geckos have crypto don't buy anything from there ever!!" - Yes, I've seen it happen.

Don't go on rumours, hearsay, gossip, or 2nd hand information. If you're going to pass on a warning to others, for god's sake make sure you have your FACTS right first. I am a bit tired of people saying "my cousins brothers uncles best friends mother said there's a 20 foot snake in a 4 foot tank down the road!! I'm phoning the RSPCA..", you know what I mean!

Accusations, gossip and passing on incorrect information can result in a ruined reputation.

Bear in mind that some people are just malicious. It is not unknown for other businesses and online dealers to spread gossip to damage the reputation of competitors - not legal, but pretty hard to prove. Disgruntled customers, angry shop workers..... make sure your source is 100% trustworthy - if you're going to talk about a situation online or make reports to the council or RSPCA - see the evidence with your own eyes first.

[madaboutreptiles]

Well said trice.............I think everyone on this forum considers themselves an expert and assumes everyone else knows nothing......

Just because people keep their reps the way they do does not mean other methods are wrong

and yes the slagging off of rep shops does get up my nose too......

[Elisha Metcalf]

fair enough, but i did say something to the woman in the shop and she just said i will pass it on, and another member of this forum has spoken to her in the past about the state of the reptiles and is now barred because of it, just because she told her that the animals were not being kept in the correct conditions, and on this forum arent we allowed to voice our opinions on different shops? There are some truely amazing pet shops out there, and i know all have goo dpoints and bad points but some are just down right disgusting, and need sorting out, but reporting them to various people/organisations seems to get no where, i dotn slag of the RSPCA, they also have good points and bad points, ive mainly had bad experiences with them , but thats just me, and i will be contacting them about the particular petshop i posted about.

[penfold]

Well said trice

[mant01]

I can understand the chinese whispers thing leading to things getting out of hand, but Ive spoke very nicely to a women that owned a reptile shop in newcastle and got about 20 minutes of abuse shouted at me and then told never to come back. So some shops just shouldnt be dealing at all.

[spend_day]

i spoke to my pet shop when i thought something was wrong and it all got sorted out

[ratboy]

Very well said Greg !!!!

When I go to peoples houses and see their collections I tend to look at it as a learning thing. I can almost guarantee that they will not keep their animals in exactly the same way that I keep mine or handle them in the same way that I handle mine so it's an opportunity to see what works.... not as an opportunity to slag them off.

It's no different with shops. Most shop keepers have been in this game for a hell of a lot longer than me.

[Woodi]

Originally Posted by ratboy

Very well said Greg !!!!

When I go to peoples houses and see their collections I tend to look at it as a learning thing. I can almost guarantee that they will not keep their animals in exactly the same way that I keep mine or handle them in the same way that I handle mine so it's an opportunity to see what works.... not as an opportunity to slag them off.

It's no different with shops. Most shop keepers have been in this game for a hell of a lot longer than me.

Reason why I don't post pics that often of my viv's that often, too many people jumping on the wagon of "You should'nt have that in there, why is that like that".

If I went around to their house and told them how to raise their kids I'd be told to FO, so when I know what I'M doing of coarse in my opinion, tried and tested do I need some young top gun telling me what to do as it says this in the book?

Books are for reading, not to follow to the gospel, if it was so we'd all be on the F Plan Diet for the last 20 years.

[Tina]

Very well said Greg! What a sensible young head on such young shoulders.

Naming and shaming... not good imo without absolute proof to back up what is being claimed.

Originally Posted by ratboy

When I go to peoples houses and see their collections I tend to look at it as a learning thing. I can almost guarantee that they will not keep their animals in exactly the same way that I keep mine or handle them in the same way that I handle mine so it's an opportunity to see what works.... not as an opportunity to slag them off.

It's no different with shops. Most shop keepers have been in this game for a hell of a lot longer than me.

A great post too! I totally agree... we all do things slightly differently and can all learn from each other. I've had some great discussions with private keepers and shop keepers and many, many times picked up some great gems of information that I've been able to incorporate.