DOESN'T EVEN DESERVE 1 STAR -- EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED
I am genuinely so disappointed and thoroughly shocked by this experience. We went into PetSmart to buy a 50-cent fish, and somehow this turned into the most ridiculous experience.
The employees wanted me to tell them the exact dimensions of my tank and basically everything that was in it before they would sell me the fish. Like... am I supposed to have the exact measurements and entire contents of my fish tank memorized off the top of my head while I'm standing in the store?! I came in to buy a 50-cent fish, not take a pop quiz about my aquarium.
Then they told me they would not sell me the fish because they didn't think I was bringing it to a safe location. Excuse me?! You have no idea where I'm taking it, what my setup looks like, or how I care for my fish, yet you decided I wasn't providing a safe environment based on a few questions I couldn't answer perfectly on the spot.
And this is what REALLY gets me: PetSmart had well over 200 fish crammed into a small tank together, but they refused to sell me ONE fish to put in my own larger tank, which is actually bigger than the tank they had all of those fish living in. If that store tank is supposedly acceptable for hundreds of fish, then why is my much larger tank supposedly not safe for one fish?!
The fish was 50 CENTS. What more could I possibly be asking for?! I wasn't asking for some exotic animal or something unreasonable. I wanted ONE little fish.
Apparently, though, I'm expected to spend $40+ on a new tank because the tank I already have supposedly isn't good enough. If there is a specific tank size required to purchase a fish, THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEARLY ADVERTISED BEFORE CUSTOMERS WAIT IN LINE TO GET A FISH. Don't advertise a 50-cent fish and then suddenly tell people they need to spend $40+ before they can take it home.
It is also pretty ironic that PetSmart will put the fish in a tiny plastic bag for you to carry it home in, but then act like you need an extremely specific setup for it to live in. If these standards are so important, they should be consistently applied.
And honestly, the employees' attitudes were the worst part. They were incredibly rude, dismissive, and acted like they couldn't care less. I understand wanting to make sure animals are going to safe homes, and I completely support responsible pet ownership. But there is a respectful way to explain a policy, and this was NOT it.
If PetSmart truly believes a fish needs a certain size tank to be safe and healthy, then PetSmart should make sure the fish in their own store are being kept according to those same standards.
I left the store genuinely shocked that I was refused a 50-cent fish because they decided my home wasn't safe without even seeing it. The entire situation could have been handled politely and professionally, but instead the employees were rude and made me feel like I was doing something wrong.
PetSmart, do better. Be clearer about your requirements, treat customers with respect, and maybe make sure your own fish displays reflect the standards you expect customers to follow. read more