Have you shopped here recently? Unfortunately the business is under new management as of August and it is clear from the moment you walk in the door that customers are not the priority anymore.
Please read more for the entire witness account:
I will recount the entire experience along with a little history just so you have an idea of what is going on. I have been a avid fan of Pinellas County Reptiles since I first heard about their business a few years ago by their glowing rapport. Every business that knew I was interested in reptiles pointed me in their direction and I can honestly tell you they have been absolutely wonderful. They knew reptiles, grew to know me personally, were always there for support, offered wonderful prices, accepted returns, and even threw in free feeders every once in a while just out of the goodness of their hearts. I've never gone anywhere else for my reptile needs even though making a trip to their location is a bit of a drive.
Like I mentioned above, things have changed, and sadly not for the better. Upon taking a trip there recently I was horrified to find the state of the business. I had had a friend go to purchase lights for me and upon bringing them home, was made aware that one was not working. Not only that but the state of the light was not like the others, some of the inner frosting having peeled off. I simply wrote it off as being an item that was on the shelf too long and decided to take it back. Upon asking my friend she informed me that the light was not checked before it was tossed into a bag and sold. From experience I've always noted that the cashier took the lights out, tested them, and then wrote the date and their initials on the box. But upon asking my friend for further details she said that the cashier had seemed frazzled, was unable to find a pen to write with, and then had not checked the lights before writing the date on them, initialing them and sending her on her way. My friend had bought three lights so I simply figured it was a mistake, or the cashier hadn't thought she had the time to check them all.
I decided to return the next week, keeping in mind that I'd been allowed to bring lights back in before and the employee's (who I'd grown to know very well) had always made certain we were taken care off as long as it had been within the thirty days after purchase.
However when I returned this time I was left standing at the counter for longer than I had ever been left unattended before. There was someone washing the windows, another person at the back counter (Feeders counter), and only one other customer. Oddly enough it still took time for the person washing windows to realize I was waiting and then come in to yell at another woman to assist me.
She then proceeded to inform me that I couldn't possibly have had troubles with the lights since they'd been checked. I continued on telling her that the person who had made the purchase for me had noted that the cashier from that day had not checked them, but simply written her initials on the boxes, lights, and then handed my friend the receipt. I again let the cashier know that I had been coming to this location for a long time and that I had always had the lights checked in a hood before leaving the store and never had problems returning them when an odd few blew a day or so after. But this light had refused to work as soon as I'd plugged it in and clearly had not been tested before sale.
Even my friend noted it was odd that they hadn't been checked but didn't want to push the issue since the woman who'd checked her out had seemed new. I asked the cashier if she was implying that my friend was lying and she told me outright that that was the case, there was no mistake on their end. Completely horrified I then learned the truth; Pinellas County Reptiles has been under new management for a month. It is no longer staffed by the kind, compassionate and understanding people who once made it a legend among reptile dealers. It is now being operated by people who have little respect for customers, service or rapport.
I was shown the receipt and told that they don't accept returns, EVER, and that they only accept unopened/new items that are returned within thirty days. But I would have had no way to know if the light was working or not if I hadn't opened it and tried it.
That being said, no business is perfect, but I felt it my duty to inform older customers given that the staff is new, the business is owned by completely different people and their priorities are lying in all the wrong areas. I was even made aware of that by the cashier who had unhappily shrugged her shoulders at my dissatisfaction and mentioned "We've never accepted returns-ever, at all!" And, "Well we've only been here a month!" Which is hardly an explanation for the treatment my friend and I both received. Nor the rash implications that had been implied.
Sadly enough this will most likely be the last time I shop at their store. read more