Why are reptile shops so unhelpful?

[stephenie191]

The other day i called in to a local pet shop near me.
Petmania has always been fully stocked, clean,modern, right housing for the pets etc!
So why is it if you finally find a clean, well looked after shop the staff are so unhelpful?

I ask'd a girl working in the reptile section if they had royal's in, she just said 'ohh i'm not sure, maybe' AND THAT WAS IT!

I then try'd to ask her how old some TINY lizards were and she just mouthed somthing!

My mam who was also with me, wants a fish tank so wanted to know what some fish were that she liked and if they were tropical/cold water and the other lady working said she didn't know and that the fish man wasn't in!

so i wasn't happy by the time i left

[Tops]

I dont like pet shop people either.
I always find them unhelpful and if you can get one to grace you with their presence they look down at you because you ask them a question.
I was in one about a month ago and in the end I had to actually ask to pay for an item cos noone was bothering to come to the tills. It wasnt that big a place either.

[captaincaveman]

ours is a good one

[stephenie191]

yeh, it just really anoys me when your a paying customer. You spend money in the shop and they don't even bother to smile.

[HABU]

i was a good shopkeeper, it about killed me. you have to know about all things in a shop. it's still so hard to find qualified help that you can afford. try going from bird to cat to lizard to snake to fish to degu to ferret to frog to algae in 20 minutes. a proper shop worker is worth gold. also, complacency is always a factor too. oh! and don't forget burnout. you get tired of giving an education to new employees only to see them leave in a few months. i'm not defending them just stating a reality!

[Athravan]

I hope all my customers don't think like that about me!

[Tops]

I usually just get p*ssed off and buy off the internet to be honest.
While it is annoying when you go into a clothes shop and people are in your face there is nothing wrong with politely asking if someone wants some help. Especially if they are looking around rather than just grabbing some crickets.

[Athravan]

I never ask if anyone wants help really... it's one of my pet hates, sales people asking me if I need help.. unless someone is just standing there looking lost.. then I'll ask.. because it's hard to be lost in a shop that only fits about 3 people in it so they must need something

I go out of my way to be polite, helpful, smile even when i'm feeling like crap, always say thank you, always ask what setups they have, always give a caresheet...

And then I find out half the time that people totally ignore my advice, keep species together, parents who ignore me, reptiles that come back clearly not given calcium or fed enough, people who refuse to buy UVB because it's "expensive", etc. etc. They assume when I suggest heating, lighting, calcium, and feeding plenty.. i must be doing it to make more money, not for the good of the reptile...

Customers ain't all that either sometimes!

[HABU]

yeah, i don't like bugging customers i would just say give me a holler if ya need something. i'm just doin my chores right now.

[Tops]

Originally Posted by Athravan

I go out of my way to be polite, helpful, smile even when i'm feeling like crap, always say thank you, always ask what setups they have, always give a caresheet...

at least your polite and you are an obvious presence.
Im talking about shops that the staff arent even available to you. If you were stood there looking lost or wanting to ask a question you wouldnt be able to and they wouldnt know or dont care.

You dont have to be in your face so long as I know if i have a question i can ask without you trying to make me feel uncomfortable.

Besides if your not around you wont hear me telling people to get their stuff online for a fraction of the price (serves em right for not being helpful)

I have never seen any staff at my local place in the reptile section. It just looks abandoned