Pet Shops

[Fredricks]

So today I went into a shop, I call it a shop because it's not like a petsmart or pjs, but a store that breeds or gets reptiles from breeders and maintains normal pricing.
I have never been in this place, but was impressed by their stuff at a show. So I walked in and started admiring. Two guys working in the shop, roughly my age, who didn't even acknowledge me. It is a beautiful shop, I was very mich in awe of it. I have been debating on buying a spider ball and trying my hand at breeding or just buying a bumble bee, which they had. However I was so turned off by being completely snubbed I left

My question is, do buy from places like this or go straight to and from a breeder. Do you get a similar reaction as I did, or did you find them helpful and friendly?

[SnakeyJay]

It depends on shop to shop.. Some are friendly and knowledgable, some are not. Generally I'd go straight to the breeder as usually the price is lower and you get to pick the snake you like best from a wider range... Goodluck

[Snakefood]

yup, go straight to the breeder!!

[USMCgunner11]

Breeder. Not only is it a trust and quality issue for me, but it's also a plus for me to be able to view the parents and their qualities prior to purchase.

[hellosugaree]

Originally Posted by Fredricks

My question is, do buy from places like this or go straight to and from a breeder. Do you get a similar reaction as I did, or did you find them helpful and friendly?

Service is king. A simple "How are you doing" goes a long way. I'd rather drive an extra 10 miles or pay an extra couple bucks to support somebody that knows how to deal with customers. It always pisses me off when I get ignored in a store. Especially when the employees are just standing there doing nothing.

[CDN_Blood]

I avoid breeders and pet shops like the plague. I will, however, occasionally pick up from private individuals who are more concerned about the health and happiness of their home-bred offspring, but my personal preference if I'm in the market for something is to find it in my local classifieds. I get great satisfaction from taking-in unwanted animals, and it doesn't encourage breeders (or pet shops) to keep producing more animals in an already flooded market where there are so many perfectly good animals already out there needing new homes.

[Fredricks]

Originally Posted by hellosugaree

Service is king. A simple "How are you doing" goes a long way. I'd rather drive an extra 10 miles or pay an extra couple bucks to support somebody that knows how to deal with customers. It always pisses me off when I get ignored in a store. Especially when the employees are just standing there doing nothing.

This place is definitely a good quality place, breeder prices because other than the random exotic, its all home bred or close to, but I felt like I wasnt wanted. I was ready to spend $400 but I was rather bothered.

[USMCgunner11]

Originally Posted by CDN_Blood

I avoid breeders and pet shops like the plague. I will, however, occasionally pick up from private individuals who are more concerned about the health and happiness of their home-bred offspring, but my personal preference if I'm in the market for something is to find it in my local classifieds. I get great satisfaction from taking-in unwanted animals, and it doesn't encourage breeders (or pet shops) to keep producing more animals in an already flooded market where there are so many perfectly good animals already out there needing new homes.

I like your mentality. Good point

[Fredricks]

Originally Posted by CDN_Blood

I avoid breeders and pet shops like the plague. I will, however, occasionally pick up from private individuals who are more concerned about the health and happiness of their home-bred offspring, but my personal preference if I'm in the market for something is to find it in my local classifieds. I get great satisfaction from taking-in unwanted animals, and it doesn't encourage breeders (or pet shops) to keep producing more animals in an already flooded market where there are so many perfectly good animals already out there needing new homes.

I'm on kijiji all the time. It amazes me how many unwanted BPs and cornsnake are on tHere

[exwizard]

I like it when people rescue snakes. This way they have a much better chance at thriving. That having been said, we got most of our snakes from reptile shows as this is the best source for quality snakes. Brian on the other hand has gotten stuff shipped to him from online breeders like AC Reptiles. 5 of my snakes came from Brian; the '09 Macks, the '09 Dums as well as Mick, my male '10 IJ. Schatzi came from a local breeder apart from the shows but all the rest of the snakes came from the shows.

We dont have a local pet shop like you described here in Des Moines but up in Ames, they have something like that there. Its called the Ark and I have nothing but good things to say about them. In fact, before Brian picked them up, my '09 Macks originated from there.

[CDN_Blood]

Originally Posted by Fredricks

I'm on kijiji all the time. It amazes me how many unwanted BPs and cornsnake are on tHere

Case and point, lol. If more people adopted the attitude of rehabilitating unwanted herps and bringing them to their full potential, there wouldn't be so many breeders willing to saturate their own market, and so many laws being introduced to control what species can be kept because more of them would be in responsible homes instead of floating around out there in ever increasing numbers.

Follow the link in my signature block to see what unwanted animals can turn into with the right care. Only 3 of my snakes have been purchases I had to go shopping for, and those 3 didn't come from commercial types. The rest were all unwanted animals which are now in the prime of health and are very happy. I swear I can see them smile and whisper Thank-you sometimes

[CDN_Blood]

Reptile Expos...uugh. If I had the means, I'd make those illegal. You don't see circumstances where cats, dogs or even rodents are treated like that, and there's a reason for it. It's totally beyond me why people think it's OK to do that with reptiles.

Every Tom, **** and Harry handles almost anything they want at any given table, and takes every little disease and parasite they brought from home (or from the last table) to the next table, and when they're done the poor animals is stuffed back into it's little shoebox on a table with the rest of the other live animals which are in little shoebox containers without proper conditions. It makes me sick

[USMCgunner11]

Originally Posted by CDN_Blood

Reptile Expos...uugh. If I had the means, I'd make those illegal. You don't see circumstances where cats, dogs or even rodents are treated like that, and there's a reason for it. It's totally beyond me why people think it's OK to do that with reptiles.

Every Tom, **** and Harry handles almost anything they want at any given table, and takes every little disease and parasite they brought from home (or from the last table) to the next table, and when they're done the poor animals is stuffed back into it's little shoebox on a table with the rest of the other live animals which are in little shoebox containers without proper conditions. It makes me sick

The one and only time I had to deal with mites was after I unknowningly brought them home with me from a reptile expo.

[exwizard]

Im sorry you feel that way. So far every snake Ive ever gotten from one of those has been healthy and good quality. Also every table Ive ever come across has disinfectant hand lotion that is always used before any snake is handled. Frankly Id rather buy from there than pet stores. At least the breeders know what they are talking about. Again, that is just my opinion and Im not here to change anyones mind. Im just relaying my experience with them.

[CDN_Blood]

Originally Posted by USMCgunner11

The one and only time I had to deal with mites was after I unknowningly brought them home with me from a reptile expo.

Case and point again, lol. I might be perceived as a total jerk by a lot of people, but I don't spout nonsense. One learns and sees a lot in 25 years