Small Rant!

ydnic · 02-09-05, 02:59 PM

So we breed reptiles. No huge scale (no pun intended)opperation here. No infamous 'facility' either!

We started out very slowly a couple years ago with a couple of corns. We are progressing one step at a time and just recently took on a number of lizards to start some new projects this year (since a lot of our snakes need one more year until I am comfortable breeding them).

Everything is going great. Making a webpage is hard work for a point and clicker like me but don`t worry I`ll pull through. - LOL

My B/F and I have decided that I stay and work at home for the time being with the animals (45 to be exact unless Katt talks me into buying More snakes). It isn`t as big of collection as some peoples but I want to give them the best care required.

There isn`t that big of a breeding community in Saskatchewan, but the interest is deffinately growing. When i was a child I LOVED my reptiles and was taught this love through my father. It has always been a dream of mine to work with animals. Lucky for me my partner shares the same dream!

Anyways, we are starting a business. (goodbye savings) Our essential goal is to have a store (3 years from now in our business plan) and eventually move the store into a bigger space to have an education center (like SCALES ZOO) with out the Zoo permit or the travel. I want to continue the furture of reptiles in Saskatchewan. I want community awareness to be strong and i would like reptile learning to be moved to a more important factor in purchasing a reptile. We have too many pet stores that wait for that impulse buy, and offer no realitave information on the purchase other than a $40.00 book on iguanas that no one is going to buy. They don`t even ask questions.

Anyways - My B/F went into a store today because when we were picking up an order at the Airport he heard this store had gotten in some new stuff. We have fully supported this reptile store (since it is a local business) buying the odd accessory we don`t really need, picking up crickets even though petland is cheaper, picking up feeder mice when we run out and even buying the odd reptile. My B/F made mention he heard the owner had gotten new stuff, and the owner asked what we were picking up. When my b/f told him what we had gotten - he flew off the handle and said he hates competion, hates breeders, we won`t be able to sell anything, he is going to report us to revenue canada, and on and on and on, and then just stormed out of the store.

I couldn`t believe it. After all the support we have shown him in the past, being good customers like we are - why would he freak out like that. If I was on the otherside of the fence I would have been interested knowing there is a place in my city I could pick up animals for my store that I don`t have. (considdering we aren`t even selling anything he offers)

The biggest part that baffles me is the fact that other breeders in the community DO support us, and help us within province and out. Further more, when our Petcetera opened we checked it out - seeing they had no reptiles we asked the manager if they were getting some in. He said they would be looking at that in the near future - when we told them what our plans were he was very excited about that for us and gave us his contact information for any kind of help we needed, or if we had anything we wanted to put in the store.

I just don`t get it. I don`t feel like going back there after being soo disrespected but at the same time - I don`t like funneling my money into corporations either. Has anyone else experianced this? Would you go back?

marisa · 02-09-05, 03:27 PM

I wouldn't go back.

Our local petstore isn't the greatest, but also far from the worst. The owner is friendly, answers questions, knows what we keep and offers us good deals. He knows we having breedable snakes, and constantly asks me when my California Kingsnakes will have babies so I can bring some in because they sell good there. He also knows I breed my own rodents, so when I go in for some breeder rats (live ones for future breeders) he KNOWS I won't be coming back each week for frozen feeders, and never says a thing.

I think that guy has some real esteem issues . If you have a good business and a good customer base and you aren't cheap or a cheat....then you don't have to treat "competition" that way.

Marisa

SerpentLust · 02-09-05, 03:34 PM

I'm with Marisa. Honestly our pet store was sucky, but it has actually greatly improved since I started talking to them, was hired/fired and since the main guy was fired too.

I told them that I had hopes of just small scale breeding on my own, not really for profit, just for the pleasure of breeding. They said if that goes through for me, they would be more than happy to buy some of my stock and sell it in the store.

That's good business practice in my opinion, helping one another. Ever since their animal care has improved, I'll buy frozen rats from them, the odd accessory and substrates.

gargoyle · 02-09-05, 03:36 PM

Coming from experience here, If a reptile shop owner is that afraid of competition, I'd stay away regardless of any other issues! But I'd really avoid it being that the way that issue was handled was no where near business like! Just my experience!

Scales Zoo · 02-09-05, 06:38 PM

I'm assuming here but if it is who I think it may be... he hates me too, I guess, as I had the audacity to start a reptile club in the province before he did. He doesn''t know it is me though, when I go to the store, which is funny.

You aren't the first person I have heard that wanted to start another petstore in that city, that was tailored to proper information and an actual care and respect for the animals.

Ryan

Scales Zoo · 02-09-05, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by marisa

I think that guy has some real esteem issues . If you have a good business and a good customer base and you aren't cheap or a cheat....then you don't have to treat "competition" that way.

Marisa

Very well said Marisa, somehow I missed it the first go around, but you hit the nail on the head with that statement in general!

Ryan