The lady told me that they could not run any medication on the sick fish because it was "Petco policy" not to use anything but herbal medicine
Petco to buy Drs Foster Smith
- Thread starter Cujo13
- Start date
The lady told me that they could not run any medication on the sick fish because it was "Petco policy" not to use anything but herbal medicine
The lady told me that they could not run any medication on the sick fish because it was "Petco policy" not to use anything but herbal medicine
Yup. Pimafix and Melafix are the only things you are allowed to use.
ichthyogeek
New member
There have been efforts to ban saltwater fish and invertebrates as a whole... but I don't think that we could actually get such a bill through Congress no matter what for a couple of reasons:
1)Targeting Petco/Petsmart/large pet retail stores would probably deny freedom of something, meaning that it would go through court and the large chain stores would still be able to keep sending in fish. If the entire ornamental fish trade were targeted, then it would be "fair." At the same time, Petco can afford to donate generously to campaigns, run adds, etc, which leads to...
2)Unfortunately, big chain stores can give massive amounts in donations to campaigns. Campaigns that can let sympathetic politicians win and shoot down any bills introduced... we can't form super PAC's like the big chains can, and that's one of the main factors in political elections.
If it were that easy to actually bring down chains that don't give the care that we aquarists give to our fish, then we wouldn't have Petsmart, Petco, etc. At the same time, some of the LFS's that we have would also be closed down due to neglect. Much as I loathe to admit it, the only thing that I feel that we as aquarists can do, is boycott the stores, and help new people into the hobby that we encounter at the stores when we're "shopping." We might also start by staging rallies, signing petitions, etc. Actually, it's a pity that we can't just have something like the FDA which monitors fish health, and that closes down stores that have lots of fish death.
Political information citation: My AP US Gov class taken last year.
1)Targeting Petco/Petsmart/large pet retail stores would probably deny freedom of something, meaning that it would go through court and the large chain stores would still be able to keep sending in fish. If the entire ornamental fish trade were targeted, then it would be "fair." At the same time, Petco can afford to donate generously to campaigns, run adds, etc, which leads to...
2)Unfortunately, big chain stores can give massive amounts in donations to campaigns. Campaigns that can let sympathetic politicians win and shoot down any bills introduced... we can't form super PAC's like the big chains can, and that's one of the main factors in political elections.
If it were that easy to actually bring down chains that don't give the care that we aquarists give to our fish, then we wouldn't have Petsmart, Petco, etc. At the same time, some of the LFS's that we have would also be closed down due to neglect. Much as I loathe to admit it, the only thing that I feel that we as aquarists can do, is boycott the stores, and help new people into the hobby that we encounter at the stores when we're "shopping." We might also start by staging rallies, signing petitions, etc. Actually, it's a pity that we can't just have something like the FDA which monitors fish health, and that closes down stores that have lots of fish death.
Political information citation: My AP US Gov class taken last year.
zoomonster
New member
I read Kevin's response in the sticky... Having been on both sides of the fence in business buyouts/mergers I have to call BS. Everything will change and I expect my days of doing business with LA/DD are over. Petco IMO is and always has been a overpriced garbage retailer I don't patronize and they will more than likely destroy DFS/LA/DD. There are other options and new ones will continue to appear. Granted online is convenient but generally speaking the incentive is gone if I'm being charged sales tax and I might as well buy local or from others that don't. Most of my hardware/supplies come from elsewhere and there are plenty of other sources of livestock other than LA/DD. Bottom line is DFS took the money and ran and Petco made the purchase to eliminate the competition for pet supplies. LA/DD are just costly excess baggage.
BTW I just loaded a cart at LA/DD and they are in fact now charging sales tax which means I'm done with them.
BTW I just loaded a cart at LA/DD and they are in fact now charging sales tax which means I'm done with them.
FraggledRock
New member
ichthyogeek
New member
Didn't they have to start charging sales tax sometime this year though? I thought that there was a giant brouhaha over there being sales tax on the net?
zoomonster
New member
No... there is no internet tax yet and republicans will likely keep that in check. There are some states like NY trying to force all out of state sellers to collect tax. Other than that type thing no tax unless a business has a presence in your state. That happened here in FL when they made a sweetheart deal with Amazon to open a location here probably with all sorts of financial incentives so FL could collect tax. I also don't buy from Amazon anymore.
3FordFamily
In Memoriam
I paid tax on my LA purchases in the last two months. Did not prior to that.
As part of the deal our local petco was inspected and failed. They now have all new fish tanks and filtration. The employees there are pretty good and always complained that they want to fix it but don't have the recources. They would damage products so the could "destroy" it and use it in store. Petco wouldn't give them what they needed. Apparently as part of the merger petco is now required to bring up falling fish department standards. DFS doesn't want to be affiliated with a lot of the trash petco is known for. That's according to the ast manager at my local petco. This could be a good thing in the end... Time will tell.
whiteshark
Active member
If that's true, and I really wonder about it, that's great news.
scubadan206
Member
I've heard that petco will remove all of their live fish sales from the stores and do all of it online. This is in response to the huge amount of money they lose from attrition in the livestock at the store locations.
Maybe this has been said already. Maybe this will be as stated above, a choice made by region. Maybe this will be completely wrong. :rolleye1:
I'm still hopeful of a positive outcome. :deadhorse:
Maybe this has been said already. Maybe this will be as stated above, a choice made by region. Maybe this will be completely wrong. :rolleye1:
I'm still hopeful of a positive outcome. :deadhorse:
nuxx
.Registered Member
Would be nice to see the stores getting a total redo...
In Austin I've seen a few stores just "board up" their saltwater section. Not sure why, but the tanks were totally empty and had a tarp covering the section.
I'm all for any store selling healthier livestock :wave:
Thanks,
-Peter
anbosu
New member
I'm sure it has something to do with sales and loss rates. Several of the local Petcos around me no longer offer saltwater.
I know how difficult the livestock is from conversations with two retailers. One, an aquarium shop that has been in business 30 years, who stopped salt due to the cost vs volume of sales, and the other who moved 20+ miles outside Boston because it's cost prohibitive to maintain space in town - rent too high. And the latter shop owner only opens 3 days per week as it is his aquarium maintenance business that pays his bills.
One might take the position - and I certainly do - that if LA/DD can assist PetCo in improving their standards throughout all their stores then, perhaps, at least in high rent metropolitan areas, there might be some good livestock outlets. The PetCo near me has a pretty decent salt section, admittedly through the hard work of a few employees who are knowledgeable, but this could be duplicated with good management, training and supervision. That's how successful companies do it. No reason it couldn't be done here.
One might take the position - and I certainly do - that if LA/DD can assist PetCo in improving their standards throughout all their stores then, perhaps, at least in high rent metropolitan areas, there might be some good livestock outlets. The PetCo near me has a pretty decent salt section, admittedly through the hard work of a few employees who are knowledgeable, but this could be duplicated with good management, training and supervision. That's how successful companies do it. No reason it couldn't be done here.
nigeldcat
Member
Had to get some different frozen food to try and get a picky fish in QT to eat. Regrettably had to go to local Petco due to my schedule. I was appalled at the number of dead and dieing saltwater fish in the tanks and number of tanks with MAJOR infestations of ich. I am voting with my pocketbook and will not purchase again from Petco or DFS. Very sad in my book.
Just my experience:
Went into a Petco two or so months ago, before the announcement, to look for a filter bag. They had multiple tanks w/ dead inverts and fish, fish covered in ich and worse. Not one looked remotely healthy. I asked the guy taking out dead fish why they didn't treat the fish, among other things, and he said they were not allowed to use any of the products they sell to treat the fish.
Well, went in a few weeks ago to see what they had for frozen food. Looked at the fish and was surprised to see how much better the whole system looked. Was expecting the worst and what I saw was fish that were not too bad off. Several fish still had signs of ich, but the difference was dramatic, and some fish were looking relatively healthy.
Upon leaving I mentioned that I get all my fish online and the cashier immediately mentioned they acquired DFS--and seemed pretty excited about it. Their frozen food selection was much more diverse than I expected so I plan to keep stopping in from time to time to see if the fish section continues to improve. If so, I'd consider a purchase there if they had the right specimen.
Just because Petco is known for crap does not mean DFS will go to crap. Think this expectation is partly due to our academic and pop culture indoctrination into the large corporation is evil dogma. I, for one, am hopeful that the acquired can have a positive influence of the acquirer. Only time will tell.
Went into a Petco two or so months ago, before the announcement, to look for a filter bag. They had multiple tanks w/ dead inverts and fish, fish covered in ich and worse. Not one looked remotely healthy. I asked the guy taking out dead fish why they didn't treat the fish, among other things, and he said they were not allowed to use any of the products they sell to treat the fish.
Well, went in a few weeks ago to see what they had for frozen food. Looked at the fish and was surprised to see how much better the whole system looked. Was expecting the worst and what I saw was fish that were not too bad off. Several fish still had signs of ich, but the difference was dramatic, and some fish were looking relatively healthy.
Upon leaving I mentioned that I get all my fish online and the cashier immediately mentioned they acquired DFS--and seemed pretty excited about it. Their frozen food selection was much more diverse than I expected so I plan to keep stopping in from time to time to see if the fish section continues to improve. If so, I'd consider a purchase there if they had the right specimen.
Just because Petco is known for crap does not mean DFS will go to crap. Think this expectation is partly due to our academic and pop culture indoctrination into the large corporation is evil dogma. I, for one, am hopeful that the acquired can have a positive influence of the acquirer. Only time will tell.
aquaticvet1
.Registered Member
Hello Friends,
I have been reading the concerns regarding Petco and the DFS acquisition and I thank all of you for posting. Great comments, great concerns.
Kevin Kohen and I, as well as the Foster and Smith and LiveAquaria.com employees are now proud partners of Petco. I can assure you that Petco is 100% behind the vision of LiveAquaria and the world wide industry leadership role it plays. Kevin Kohen has made LiveAquaria.com a foundation of aquaculture, a standard of care, and a vision shared by Petco. Kevin, with your support, has become a leading professional ambassador of the aquarium trade.... and this comes at a very critical time.
Kevin and I are indeed continuing our future with Petco . You will see a major commitment to your hobby. Kevin and I will play a professional role in helping Petco continue to elevate their status in the animal health industry, including fish and corals. That is important for all of you in the hobby. Petco provides a critical mass and platform which will represent the entire aquarium hobby, we all need that commitment to take on the challenges ahead. Petco provides Kevin and LiveAquaria a local retail influence, a trait we were often criticized for lacking. Petco bridged the gap between retail and LiveAquaria's ecommerce, from entry level to the advanced hobbyist. Petco is helping bring Kevin to the forefront of the industry, a place where his influence can help sustain the hobby, at all levels, and for everyone.
With about 1300 Petco stores there will always be challenges in overseeing local livestock care, we understand that and I ask that you do too. No system is perfect, but rest assured that Kevin and I will spend the next several years influencing livestock care for the greater good of everyone in the hobby, at retail and online. There will be isolated cases, and animal health is not an exact science, but the greater good will win in the end.
Kevin and I have a sustainable vision for your hobby. Now, with Petco, we have the support of a major retailer in advancing our efforts. Our visions are aligned. By supporting Petco, you will be supporting LiveAquaria.com and Kevin.
Thank you, Race Foster, D.V.M.
Proud Partner of Petco, and Vetco
I have been reading the concerns regarding Petco and the DFS acquisition and I thank all of you for posting. Great comments, great concerns.
Kevin Kohen and I, as well as the Foster and Smith and LiveAquaria.com employees are now proud partners of Petco. I can assure you that Petco is 100% behind the vision of LiveAquaria and the world wide industry leadership role it plays. Kevin Kohen has made LiveAquaria.com a foundation of aquaculture, a standard of care, and a vision shared by Petco. Kevin, with your support, has become a leading professional ambassador of the aquarium trade.... and this comes at a very critical time.
Kevin and I are indeed continuing our future with Petco . You will see a major commitment to your hobby. Kevin and I will play a professional role in helping Petco continue to elevate their status in the animal health industry, including fish and corals. That is important for all of you in the hobby. Petco provides a critical mass and platform which will represent the entire aquarium hobby, we all need that commitment to take on the challenges ahead. Petco provides Kevin and LiveAquaria a local retail influence, a trait we were often criticized for lacking. Petco bridged the gap between retail and LiveAquaria's ecommerce, from entry level to the advanced hobbyist. Petco is helping bring Kevin to the forefront of the industry, a place where his influence can help sustain the hobby, at all levels, and for everyone.
With about 1300 Petco stores there will always be challenges in overseeing local livestock care, we understand that and I ask that you do too. No system is perfect, but rest assured that Kevin and I will spend the next several years influencing livestock care for the greater good of everyone in the hobby, at retail and online. There will be isolated cases, and animal health is not an exact science, but the greater good will win in the end.
Kevin and I have a sustainable vision for your hobby. Now, with Petco, we have the support of a major retailer in advancing our efforts. Our visions are aligned. By supporting Petco, you will be supporting LiveAquaria.com and Kevin.
Thank you, Race Foster, D.V.M.
Proud Partner of Petco, and Vetco
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