New PetCo employee [Archive]

SunSchein89

02-05-2010, 04:41 PM

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but it is sort of aquarium related. As of today I'm becoming a new employee of the dreaded PetCo :ssuprised: . I'll even be working mainly in aquatics as that's where they're having the most trouble keeping up with customers. Just wanted to thank everyone here since I've learned so much reading through forums and from answers to my specific questions. I just hope I can pass the correct information on to people because I know giant chain pet stores are notorious for bad information and poor quality conditions; I'm going in probably knowing more than at least half the employees there. The store I'll be going to isn't one of the larger stores, but the animals they do have are taken care of fairly well. There's a few things I would like to change with the reptile housing, but that's for another day. Anyway, I'm sure I'll be coming back with more questions in the future and be doing plenty more research so I actually know what I'm selling. I'll have to look a little more into planted tanks for one since I've had no reason to research it yet. Well, I have to get ready to go in and give up my social and all that good stuff, wish me luck :shappy: .

gabbyguppy

02-05-2010, 04:48 PM

The customers of 'your' store will be lucky to have you. I'm sure you can steer them towards the best fish for their tanks and get them on the right track in regards to starting a tank.

I don't think Pet Co is a bad place. I just think, for the most part, they have uneducated employees.

I think you will make a difference.

Karen

Owlbehere

02-05-2010, 04:59 PM

Congradulations in the new hire. I just finished talking to my old manager at petsmart and I'm going back. If petco is anything like petsmart they take care of employees. I can get insurance part time. It's not super bad. Where I live petco and petsmart really are the only places to get healthy fish.

Bristley

02-05-2010, 04:59 PM

Congrats on the new job :19: :19: .

I agree gabbyguppy that the problems are more with uneducated employees. I'm glad to see though that at least the store you're going to is now going to have someone that wants to do whats right for the fish and is willing to do research to that end.thumbs2:

Taurus

02-05-2010, 05:03 PM

dragoonwoman

02-05-2010, 05:04 PM

You can always tell the customers about the Fabulous AC!!

thumbs2:

Rue

02-05-2010, 05:08 PM

Congrats! You'll have the department thriving in no time!:19:

EmmanuelJB

02-05-2010, 05:08 PM

Cangrats!! Good luck!

SunSchein89

02-05-2010, 06:59 PM

Thanks everybody :ssmile: . They already gave me the weekend off and paid me for the hour I was there today lol. So I go in Monday to start my training, should take about 3 days they said and then I'll be on the floor doing stuff, can't wait. I'll definitely send people to the site if they're looking for an active forum and a bunch of helpful people thumbs2: .

Crispy

02-05-2010, 07:41 PM

Congrats! At least you'll be making an effort to educate people on how to properly care for their fish. Best of luck with all the noob questions. :ssmile:

frank_zappa

02-05-2010, 07:45 PM

i would be most excited about the discount you will now get and the ability to order things easily...

congrats

rich311k

02-05-2010, 07:50 PM

Congrats on the position and good luck!

Algenco

02-05-2010, 09:03 PM

Congratulations!! Have patience, you can improve things in your department, but it may take time.

bushwhacker

02-05-2010, 09:52 PM

grats on the new job.. remember patience is a virtue ! and you'll need it when all the knowitalls start telling you about their oscars in 10 gallon tanks that are so healthy

SunSchein89

02-05-2010, 10:50 PM

i would be most excited about the discount you will now get and the ability to order things easily...

congrats

I'll have to look into my ability of ordering things or at least my ability to persuade the manager who does, but I know for sure I'll be getting a 20% discount as well as my girlfriend that lives with me, and believe me, we can use it. Frozen rats, rat food, crickets, and bedding are a major part of our budget lol.

grats on the new job.. remember patience is a virtue ! and you'll need it when all the knowitalls start telling you about their oscars in 10 gallon tanks that are so healthy

I'm just waiting for the first person to come up to me with outrageous claims like that, I know how some people get when a retail employee is telling them they're wrong and it gets ugly, but I kind of enjoy it :hmm3grin2orange:

lowlight

02-06-2010, 12:36 AM

A 20% discount, Hmm. Can we be friends? Just kidding.:hmm3grin2orange: Congrats on the new job.

Owlbehere

02-06-2010, 12:50 AM

grats on the new job.. remember patience is a virtue ! and you'll need it when all the knowitalls start telling you about their oscars in 10 gallon tanks that are so healthy
This reminds me of a time at petsmart. I was hanging out with some managers and an employee came up and said a guy was complaining that the oscars he was buying kept dying (this emplyee was a dog bather and didn't know what was going on). The manager asked what size tank he had, employee walks back "he was two in a 10G". The store manager told him to to tell the guy that the reason his fish were dying was that his tank was grossly too small and that he could have a refund but we would not exchange them for more and would not sell him more fish... And he should think about using the refund towards a larger tank and if he had a problem to talk to him.

Blackmantis

02-06-2010, 11:45 AM

Congratulations on your new job. :thumbupright:

I'm happy to hear that one of those chain stores are going to get someone who knows what he's doing. Good luck.

Lady Hobbs

02-06-2010, 12:40 PM

Good luck with your new job. PetCo is cooperate and cooperate does things their own way and no matter how many great suggestions you have, they aren't gonna listen. But you will be an asset to your customers.

gadget228

02-06-2010, 12:58 PM

Congrats, having a job that is also one of your hobbies is always a plus. thumbs2:

LethalResistanz

02-06-2010, 04:34 PM

I only buy fish from my local Petsmart. Cleanest tanks by far. My LFS are horrible conditions. Last time I went to my lfs i was eavesdropping and they sold a small piranha to someone at the same time they were buying a 10 gallon tank. This was also their first tank....

The petco closest to me is not the best but I'd rather buy from them than any of the LFS I've been to. The last time I was there they ended up selling a common pleco to someone with a 10 gallon tank. At least they warned them that they can get 2 feet long. More than my LFS will do.

annageckos

02-06-2010, 04:44 PM

Congrats. My first job was at Petco. It had it's ups and it's downs. When I was there the store was sent what was on a list, there was no ordering or even special orders. You can try to make the area look nicer but there is not much redecorating or rearanging you can do. Good luck. At least you will be about help people out with thier fish and tanks. My best advice is that if you do not know do not pretend you do. And do not ever tell someone they are wrong outright. Be nice and try to steer them to the right thing. Some people will be a lost cause.

Zilla

02-06-2010, 04:55 PM

Congrats on the new job, although for my own selfish reasons I'm sad that you won't be working for the one that is close to me.

Last year they sold me a bad test kit and they did it again a few weeks ago. I caught it the second time before I even left the parking lot. Is it that hard to check expiration dates? Meh! Then I was in there last night and they lost a sale because the dude working in the fish section was too busy talking to his buddies. Pet Smart ended up with the sale that Pet Co lost. Oh well...

SunSchein89

02-06-2010, 06:21 PM

Yeah, f-ing corporate rules. The assistant store manager already told me that they may do things differently there to take care of their animals and that even though I may take care of my own animals differently that neither are wrong, though in some cases I may disagree. Even a change in diet for the bearded dragons would be nice if that's possible at all because what they're fed veggie wise isn't exactly the best stuff for them to eat. I also kinda figured that I wouldn't be able to really special order much of anything. Can always try my other local pet store to see if they can order anything special I may want, I suppose, but no discount there.

Owlbehere

02-06-2010, 06:35 PM

He he, you have found drawbacks of working for a corporation! It's their way or the highway and you are NEVER good enough.

But, I like to think I may have been able to help steer a few people in the right direction.
I'm going back to petsmart for the 6th time. Same store. I know all the managers and they just tell me to fill out the application and do the drug test to be official and they will put me on the schedule asap. I don't have to interview. I've worked in every department. One manager even suggested I work toward management. When I went in to talk about rehiring this time she told me that she was full but she would make room for me :) I'm going to be grooming two days and on the floor two days. (I went to school through them to groom)
The plus side is, I don't know about Petco, but petsmart takes care of employees and part time people still get awesome benefits. Petco does have a higher discount and dog bathers get commission where as petsmart bathers don't.

Oskar

02-06-2010, 06:37 PM

The Petco where I live has very informed and helpful employees.I guess they are aren't like that.The only LFS i dread is a small privately owned one.The sell cats,rodents,and reptiles too.The whole place reeks of urine.

Congrats on your new job.

souly

02-06-2010, 09:47 PM