As the topic really, what would your ideal herp shop be like ?

range of equipment?
range of herps?
what would you expect from staff?
would even a uniform of some kind be preferable?
stock of foods and supplements etc

obviously no "I'd want it all for a fiver" posts please

Just asking as there have been some very bad reviews of some places lately and not a balancing of good reviews, I wondered what would make us picky lot happy

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id like to go into a shop were they had people who know what there talking about rather than just wanting to get rid to make money!!!! (just going on the places near me)

id also want to feel like they wanted to take the time out to talk to me and feel welcomed into the shop!!

i know theres alot more important factors but if the people are nice it makes a big difference!!!

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1.5.0 corn snakes
0.1.0 king snakes
0.0.2 plated lizards
1.0.0 bearded dragons
0.0.1 bosc monitor
0.0.1 emp scorpion
1.0.0 rottie (brutus)
3.0.0 rats

I like to see a shop were all the Reps were keep in the correct conditions. Further to that I would like staff that not only had knowledge, but also only sold to people who either had knowledge themselves, or were prepared to learn.
If such a shop existed I wouldn't begrudge it "pet-shop prices".

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First and foremost:
Staff that are knowledgeable and know what they are talking about when asked for advice, not just staff/owners that want to make money so will tell you anything that will make you buy stuff.

A range of products and animals at a fair price either in stock or available to order in again at a fair price.

A range of equipment that is NEEDED not just there to make money but is really, bad for the animals its meant for (calci-sand), again at a fair price.

Cleanliness is important, no-one wants to go into a shop that stinks and has dirty vivs/cages

Uniform is not really important to me so long as the staff are presentable and willing to do their jobs rather than lean against the counter and watch a customer struggle.

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My Reptiles2.4 Normal Royal Pythons1.0 Mojave Royal0.1 Spider Royal1.0Pastel Royal 0.1 BCI 1.0 Python brongersmai InvertsAF L parahybanaAF G roseaMM N coloratovilosumP murinus RCFB albopilosumwanted, PM me what you haveAny co-dom/dom royalsDogsStaff (Kassie)Staff (Rio)Kids2.2 Humans

The staff must be friendly and knowledgeable and be able to tell you all the requirements for every animal they sell. They should sell all the equipment needed in a starter kit as one and not leave out the important parts just because they'd make it a bit more expensive. They must also have a good range of herps as its nice to go into a shop where they haven't just got a load of Corns, Kings and Royals!! An ETB or an ATB on display would be good or a DWA on display. They should also make sure all the enclosures are clean and that customers and the herps are protected from harm, for example, locks on all vivs, bulb guards, thermostats etc.

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0.1 Carolina Corn
1.0 Amel Motley Corn

complete (or as complete as can be) records of all herps.

And maybe even some of the diy equipment solutions we use, like the ceramic light fittings we all get from maplin etc

at least one late opening ?

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I don't think that means anything really. Every time I go to tesco shopping and I'm treated reasonabley, I don't post about it. If I was treated really badly/unfairly, I probably might rant about it to someone.

People are more likely to talk about bad experiences than good - good are expected, they're normal, and really, we don't want to read a hundred posts a day saying "I bought my crickets from xxx, everything looked ok". People like drama, and action, they like to complain, its human nature. Far more people complain about bad things, than praise what is normal and expected in the world of retail.

I don't think reptile people are picky, and I think there are lots of good shops out there, I just don't think people think... that was a reasonable experience, i need to tell the world.

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Also available right now for rehoming: 1 x Juvenile Male Bearded Dragon, 1 x Adult Female Curlytail Lizard

I didn't mean "picky" in a negative way, by nature it comes across as herp owners are particular as we want the best for the animals we care after that's all.

And I am interested in what we as herp owners would consider as the ideal shop etc.

You never know some shop owners may see this and take heed of what customers actually need. (not the already good shops btw)

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clean well stocked shop

friendly and knowledgable

fair prices. Not bothered about prices being higher then the internet but when you see adult normal corns for £185 and brbs for £700 thats just taking the mick. oh and those two are prices in two shops near me.

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I'd like to see a shop that focuses on and promotes CB animals.

If it does sell WC or LTC, then to ensure they only go to owners who are planning to breed them to get more CB into the hobby.


Also, aisles with enough room for 2 people to walk past each other without having to get intimate with each other's bodily odours...