pet mart ran me out of store for the shirt i was wearing!!!

Does this now mean you can get thrown out of a Mettallica concert by wearing a Led Zep Shirt? However if anyone wears a Barry Manilow shirt..feel free to toss!...
 
im going to stay out of this, however any store owner or restaurant owner or other private business owner can refuse service to anyone for any reason, no government or law or group of people or persons can force anyone to do business with them. You did the best thing by leaving and telling your story but as far as any action he was within his rights as a store owner because he did not discriminate against you for being of a particular race, creed, religion or sex.
 
hawkeye31657, u might get kicked out a little quicker, being that we have a Coral Reef LFS right down the steet from Petmart...

Well put The Hawk'ster,
 
i can believe that would happen. i was in finz about a month ago and saw one of st. pete petmart managers shopping there gave me a good laugh.
 
I had a similar thing happen to me when I lived in Miami..I bought a dog from a Pet Store (mistake number 1) It developed health problems and they refused to communicate with me. I was down there visiting family and dropped in and the manager immediately called the Police when he realized who I was. Private businesses withhold the right to withhold service to anyone for any reason and can have you leave/removed for any reason they want.
 
well I didn't get kicked out but he was no to nice and I have had fun all day the rockin reef was closed so couldn't check it out and cant find it on the web if someone can help me with that I would be grateful to ya thanks
 
LOL, i discovered that Rockin Reef was closed on Mondays the same way you did..... here is their site, but it is much nicer in person http://rockinreef.com/ The store does not sit on the main road, it is a little warehouse kind of building behind Canoe Outfitters.
Off of 54th Ave about a block east of 66th street. There is another thread floating around here about a party there on Wednesday, owners 50th B-day or some such....
Glad you are enjoying the sunshine, now get off my lawn. :)
 
“however any store owner or restaurant owner or other private business owner can refuse service to anyone for any reason, no government or law or group of people or persons can force anyone to do business with them”

Actually nobody can discriminate against any class of people; including those who prefer to wear offensive T-shirts or shop at other stores.

I was ready to sue my daughter’s school when they would NOT let her wear a T-shirt saying “Question Authority,” but as a public institution, they also had a general provision against advertising and provocative words on clothing.

If this is the Pet mart near me on Bush, I wish I had a T-shirt to offend him, though he is so convenient, I am sure I will still get small stuff there. Actually Aquariums Creations in Brandon is closer to work….
 
The petmart on busch and the petmart on bay pines is run by the same owner. I mean, i suppose both sides can be argue'd for him having the right to kick you out, but he did ask you to leave and didn't force you out. Now as far as us dedicated reefers, i think the best thing we can do, is just not give petmart our buisness and let other people, who are new to the hobby, know about the store and to be wary. But nonetheless i'm always highly entertained by Petmart stories :P
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8391471#post8391471 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kybreos
im going to stay out of this, however any store owner or restaurant owner or other private business owner can refuse service to anyone for any reason, no government or law or group of people or persons can force anyone to do business with them. You did the best thing by leaving and telling your story but as far as any action he was within his rights as a store owner because he did not discriminate against you for being of a particular race, creed, religion or sex.
Click to expand...


This may be true, but does it make it right? I don't think many are complaining on the legality of the issue, moreso the ethical and moral position of the company being that scared of a company to kick someone out...and yes, a business can refuse sale without reason, just like in FL a business can fire without reason...Damn Right to Work states!!! But, then again, no state income tax, so I can't complain too bad.
 
Unless checkinhawk was going around and telling customers about rockin reef and promoting the store I would be happy that someone that either works for or sponsors a competitor was in my store shopping. It sends the message to other customers that they offer different or better products than the competition. It makes me question the quality of the livestock that RR sells if this person is in PetMart buying something as apposed to RR. I hope it was a lack of selection on RR's part that made you go to PetMart escpecially to buy fish. Last time I was in RR they had some Rhodactis and clownfish.
 
rockinreef if fine as far as quality.only reason i bought fish from petmart is that no one else had one local.i called around first.i wasnt telling people to goto rockinreef,i was just standing there with my buddy looking at some ricordias,and fatboy told me to leave(in a somewhat aggressive tone i might add).the bottom line is that he has not a very smart buisnessman.he should of told me to take off the shirt and he would give me one of his,maybe offer me 10% off my puchase for the day,to try and win me over from his comp.i know the 10% thing is alittle bold but hey if i owned a shop and had the same happen to me(someone comes in with comps shirt on),i would of tried to win his buisness,not scare it away.just my 10 cents :rolleyes:
 
BlueCoast, thanks for the URL! couldn't find it via google. I'll be going by there after work. I'm always looking for new Local Shops. I've had some poor experiences with petmart.

Worst experience is the Animal House on 19 (around 7th Ave N.), it's really sad, I've never seen so many diseased fish.

Marine Warehouse in Tampa has always been my first choice, but I live in St. Pete now, and don't get over to Tampa that often :-)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8404903#post8404903 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Acolin
“however any store owner or restaurant owner or other private business owner can refuse service to anyone for any reason, no government or law or group of people or persons can force anyone to do business with them”

Actually nobody can discriminate against any class of people; including those who prefer to wear offensive T-shirts or shop at other stores.

I was ready to sue my daughter’s school when they would NOT let her wear a T-shirt saying “Question Authority,” but as a public institution, they also had a general provision against advertising and provocative words on clothing.
Click to expand...

As a private institution they most certainly can refuse services to someone because of what they are wearing. Ever been to a restaurant that requires a certain dress code? Proving discrimination here would be an extremely difficult proposition and would involve proving that the person being "discriminated" against did not have any other alternatives. Charging the original poster $10 more because of his clothing would be discriminatory. Asking him to leave the premises is not. Private entities are within their legal rights to refuse admission based on pretty much whatever standards they choose. Religion? Gender? Political affiliation? Income level? All are perfectly acceptable. Discrimination only comes in to play if an equivalent service is not available.

Furthermore, depending on what exactly was stated (ie, "you are no longer welcome here"), the original poster could be charged with trespassing if they returned.

People need to remember that the first amendment is a protection of our speech against the government. It is not a guarantee of your right to say whatever you want, wherever you want. A person is perfectly within their rights to refuse services based on someone's expression of speech. The comparison of a private business to a public school is tenuous at best.

Sorry to soap box here but the complete misunderstanding that most people have about what does and does not constitute free speech is a pet peeve of mine.
 
Guess it's been awhile since I checked the forum, just realized this thread was 3 days old...probably should have just let it die :)
 
I raised hell once and got thrown out because I wore a tank top undershirt(wife beater) to a pool hall when I was a young punk and they told me I had to have sleeves on my shirt. I told them they were sexually discriminating because as soon as they told me to leave a girl walked up with the same exact shirt on and was allowed in and even was givin a free drink for the trouble I caused!
 
hey i was at rockin reefs party and got a free shirt i know where i will be wearing it next time i go to petsmart which is never ill just have to keep the shirt in my truck so when i am in there neighborhood i will have it,
and well the store should be closed due to the mold issues
im sure they dont want any city inspectors giving them a visit
 
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