Pets At Home - Grrr

[Fishkeeper2004]

Utter rubbish! A few weeks ago I went to try and buy some Corys (group of 6) and they refused to sell me more than 2, because apparently they aren't meant to be kept in groups as they will die due to lack of algae, which to anyone who has kept or read up on corys, is complete rubbish.

Now I go to take a look at purchasing some colourful male and mature female guppys to go about breeding them for different colour variatios (boring to many, but with guppies so many types can be bred). However, the lad (aged no more than 18) who was going to serve me, said that my tank had to cycle for at least 6 MONTHS before getting these fish?

I have kept guppies since I first started fishkeeping, and have never come across any problems. My new 180L tank has been running 5 weeks now, and was 'instantly cycled' by adding the old fliter media from the tank I was replacing.

Needless to say, I just accepted his rubbish information and left the shop. Thats two stupid explanations from Pets At Home within 1 month for me, and I won't be going there again.

Has anyone else come across this problem with this chain store, or any other LFS/LPS before?

 

[Fella]

Utter rubbish! A few weeks ago I went to try and buy some Corys (group of 6) and they refused to sell me more than 2, because apparently they aren't meant to be kept in groups as they will die due to lack of algae, which to anyone who has kept or read up on corys, is complete rubbish.

Now I go to take a look at purchasing some colourful male and mature female guppys to go about breeding them for different colour variatios (boring to many, but with guppies so many types can be bred). However, the lad (no more than 18) who was going to serve me, said that my tank had to cycle for at least 6 MONTHS before getting these fish?

I have kept guppies since I first started fishkeeping, and have never come across any problems. My new 180L tank has been running 5 weeks now, and was 'instantly cycled' by adding the old fliter media from the tank I was replacing.

Needless to say, I just accepted his rubbish information and left the shop. Thats two stupid explanations from Pets At Home within 1 month for me, and I won't be going there again.

Has anyone else come across this problem with this chain store, or any other LFS/LPS before?

Which pets at home was this, castle marina nottingham?

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

Utter rubbish! A few weeks ago I went to try and buy some Corys (group of 6) and they refused to sell me more than 2, because apparently they aren't meant to be kept in groups as they will die due to lack of algae, which to anyone who has kept or read up on corys, is complete rubbish.

Now I go to take a look at purchasing some colourful male and mature female guppys to go about breeding them for different colour variatios (boring to many, but with guppies so many types can be bred). However, the lad (no more than 18) who was going to serve me, said that my tank had to cycle for at least 6 MONTHS before getting these fish?

I have kept guppies since I first started fishkeeping, and have never come across any problems. My new 180L tank has been running 5 weeks now, and was 'instantly cycled' by adding the old fliter media from the tank I was replacing.

Needless to say, I just accepted his rubbish information and left the shop. Thats two stupid explanations from Pets At Home within 1 month for me, and I won't be going there again.

Has anyone else come across this problem with this chain store, or any other LFS/LPS before?

Which pets at home was this, castle marina nottingham?

Nope this one was in Lincoln. And to top of my frustration, my mother made the special trip there (16 miles) just for us to be turned away, and now she thinks im the one with limited knowledge for fishkeeping!

 

[Teelie]

Nope this one was in Lincoln. And to top of my frustration, my mother made the special trip there (16 miles) just for us to be turned away, and now she thinks im the one with limited knowledge for fishkeeping!

Direct her here or to any other forum or informational website on fish so she can see that the guy had about as much knowledge of fish keeping as my pinky toe.

 

[Fella]

Utter rubbish! A few weeks ago I went to try and buy some Corys (group of 6) and they refused to sell me more than 2, because apparently they aren't meant to be kept in groups as they will die due to lack of algae, which to anyone who has kept or read up on corys, is complete rubbish.

Now I go to take a look at purchasing some colourful male and mature female guppys to go about breeding them for different colour variatios (boring to many, but with guppies so many types can be bred). However, the lad (no more than 18) who was going to serve me, said that my tank had to cycle for at least 6 MONTHS before getting these fish?

I have kept guppies since I first started fishkeeping, and have never come across any problems. My new 180L tank has been running 5 weeks now, and was 'instantly cycled' by adding the old fliter media from the tank I was replacing.

Needless to say, I just accepted his rubbish information and left the shop. Thats two stupid explanations from Pets At Home within 1 month for me, and I won't be going there again.

Has anyone else come across this problem with this chain store, or any other LFS/LPS before?

Which pets at home was this, castle marina nottingham?

Nope this one was in Lincoln. And to top of my frustration, my mother made the special trip there (16 miles) just for us to be turned away, and now she thinks im the one with limited knowledge for fishkeeping!

Just don't bother with fish from Pets@home ever. It's very tempting for me as my nearest is about 3 minutes walk away, so tempting that I once bought a pair of ottos from there, and as they were showing no outward signs of whitespot added them to my tank. My puffer, bumblebee cat, and all my other ottos died. This of course isn't to do with Pets@home, this is because I didn't quarantine my fish.

However, I've heard some absolutely ridiculous advice in pets@home, ranging from "Plecs only eat algae off the sides and catfish only eat them off the bottom" and "A pair of common goldfish are perfectly suited to a bowl". They have no interest in making informed, sensible solutions regarding fish, and are only interested in taking the money from your pocket. This has been the case with every pets@home I have been to (Nottingham castle marina, aylesbury, milton keynes etc) and I have no faith in the company whatsoever. If you try to find an address to send an email to on their website, you will be at a loss, because I'm yet to source somewhere to pen my frustrations without wasting my money on a stamp.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Fishkeeper2006

Well, now I've heard it all! Evidently they are not in business to make money since if they were, they wouldn't be turning away customers.

And what concern is it of theirs what you do with something after you buy it?

Anyway, at the very least, now you know better than to make conversation with these people, and if they ask you direct questions, you know you enough to lie. Isn't that a strange way to have to do business?

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

If you try to find an address to send an email to on their website, you will be at a loss, because I'm yet to source somewhere to pen my frustrations without wasting my money on a stamp.

Exactly. I have looked around there website countless times to find contact details, but there is nothing on there. I have now decided I won't ever return there, maidenhead aquatics in bridgford is probably my safest option, never have problems there, but it is 30-40 minutes drive.

 

[Fella]

If you try to find an address to send an email to on their website, you will be at a loss, because I'm yet to source somewhere to pen my frustrations without wasting my money on a stamp.

Exactly. I have looked around there website countless times to find contact details, but there is nothing on there. I have now decided I won't ever return there, maidenhead aquatics in bridgford is probably my safest option, never have problems there, but it is 30-40 minutes drive.

Surely you're not far from Pinxton, which has Wharf Aquatics. Have you ever been there? It's like utopia, well informed staff, fantastic clean tanks, marine and coldwater sections (and reptile if it floats your boat). It's won the PFK retailer award for many years consecutively and it will blow your mind.


Interestingly, seems pets@home have updated their website for the new year, and there is an Email address posted

webmaster@petsathome.co.uk

I'll email them now and see how to contact someone regarding a complaint. I'll be surprised if I get a reply.

It's interesting to see them boasting their turnover of £260m last year. Certainly wasn't from selling cories

 

[SamUK]

i might go in to see what daft things they have to say and to promptly correct them for bein so stupid!

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

If you try to find an address to send an email to on their website, you will be at a loss, because I'm yet to source somewhere to pen my frustrations without wasting my money on a stamp.

Exactly. I have looked around there website countless times to find contact details, but there is nothing on there. I have now decided I won't ever return there, maidenhead aquatics in bridgford is probably my safest option, never have problems there, but it is 30-40 minutes drive.

Surely you're not far from Pinxton, which has Wharf Aquatics. Have you ever been there? It's like utopia, well informed staff, fantastic clean tanks, marine and coldwater sections (and reptile if it floats your boat). It's won the PFK retailer award for many years consecutively and it will blow your mind.

Never been there, but my mother rang them two days ago infact. They re-open tommorow and my mum tells me she will take me within the next few days - and I really can't wait! Its a 50 minute drive from here.

Im glad to see them updating there website, I think I will complain about the refusal of selling me my corys, it probably won't get me anywhere, but there is no harm is trying right?

 

[sub.42]

Wahay!

Look, just use Pets at Home for the hardware folks. They know nothing. Blilge, hot air and blarny. Thats all I hear from the muppets that serve at my two local stores. If they don't know, they should never pretend.

We all should take note. Our LFS more usually only stock aquatic products and livestock. Some have small animal sections, but in the main they only do fishy products. Pets at Home on the other hand do all kinds of pet stuff, dogs, cats, mice, hamsters, birds......chinchillas(sp)..

LFS is for fish, Pets at Home for the odd bit of hardware, and treats.

Nuff said.

sub.

 

[Fella]

If you try to find an address to send an email to on their website, you will be at a loss, because I'm yet to source somewhere to pen my frustrations without wasting my money on a stamp.

Exactly. I have looked around there website countless times to find contact details, but there is nothing on there. I have now decided I won't ever return there, maidenhead aquatics in bridgford is probably my safest option, never have problems there, but it is 30-40 minutes drive.

Surely you're not far from Pinxton, which has Wharf Aquatics. Have you ever been there? It's like utopia, well informed staff, fantastic clean tanks, marine and coldwater sections (and reptile if it floats your boat). It's won the PFK retailer award for many years consecutively and it will blow your mind.

Never been there, but my mother rang them two days ago infact. They re-open tommorow and my mum tells me she will take me within the next few days - and I really can't wait! Its a 50 minute drive from here.

Im glad to see them updating there website, I think I will complain about the refusal of selling me my corys, it probably won't get me anywhere, but there is no harm is trying right?

I've sent them an email asking for whereabouts I can send feedback to, it'll be interesting to see if I get a response.

Wharf Aquatics will blow you away, honestly, if you don't have space in your tanks for some new fish, you'll wish you had by the time you get back.

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

If you try to find an address to send an email to on their website, you will be at a loss, because I'm yet to source somewhere to pen my frustrations without wasting my money on a stamp.

Exactly. I have looked around there website countless times to find contact details, but there is nothing on there. I have now decided I won't ever return there, maidenhead aquatics in bridgford is probably my safest option, never have problems there, but it is 30-40 minutes drive.

Surely you're not far from Pinxton, which has Wharf Aquatics. Have you ever been there? It's like utopia, well informed staff, fantastic clean tanks, marine and coldwater sections (and reptile if it floats your boat). It's won the PFK retailer award for many years consecutively and it will blow your mind.

Never been there, but my mother rang them two days ago infact. They re-open tommorow and my mum tells me she will take me within the next few days - and I really can't wait! Its a 50 minute drive from here.

Im glad to see them updating there website, I think I will complain about the refusal of selling me my corys, it probably won't get me anywhere, but there is no harm is trying right?

I've sent them an email asking for whereabouts I can send feedback to, it'll be interesting to see if I get a response.

Wharf Aquatics will blow you away, honestly, if you don't have space in your tanks for some new fish, you'll wish you had by the time you get back.

My Fluval 1000 duo deep is almost empty, with 8 barbs, 6 corys, 4 inch pleco, 4 mountain minnows, and a couple of guppys and a swordtail. I didn't want to rush into stocking my tanks, but now everything is stable I think wharf aquatics will be the right place to go.

Thanks for the information, it has got me quite excited about going there now - Just a pity about there website, its quite messy,

 

[Fella]

Between Trimar and Wharf, there are some seriously bad LFS websites about! I struggle to navigate either, but make the effort because the information on them about which fish they have is great.

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

Ok thanks everyone, I can't wait to go to wharf now, in fact I might get onto my mum to see if she will take me down tommorow, the man she rang told her he would be open from monday 9am onwards.