Read, Read and Read.

[AKFROG]

I know I am going to get h--- for this but I wish people would read as much as possible about the keeping of an animal before they buy them. This is a great place to find that information.

[danfrog]

Agreed.

[Hypnotic]

Unfortunately that doesn't happen much, pet stores especially thrive on impulse purchases. I've worked in a pet store, my mentality wassn't appreaciated.
If you talked to my co-worker, you left with an animal and a 120€ bill, if you talked to me, you'd lose a half hour at minimum and left with a bill twice that if you din'd change your mind by the end of the conversation.
People don't realise pet stores don't inform them enough and often, they feed them absolutely wrong information.

[GrifTheGreat]

I know I am going to get h--- for this but I wish people would read as much as possible about the keeping of an animal before they buy them. This is a great place to find that information.

You are not going to get into any trouble for this post. We tell everyone to research before they purchase a pet. It should be common practice.

[AKFROG]

I have read the various pamphlets nation wide pet stores hand out. A lot of it is really baloney.

[The Fluffy Injun]

I work at a big chain pet store. I make sure people know exactly what they are getting into whether it a goldfish or a frill lizard. I make it a point to make sure that the critter will have everything needed before it goes home and I have an understanding with my boss, if I feel that the person is ill equipped to take care of an animal, I can refuse the sale. I care way more about my critters than I should apparently but nevertheless, the ones I sell live happily and comfortably. I really do wish more people were like me, I have done tons of reading and research so that I can answer almost any question that I can about the animals we carry and I'm never afraid to say I dunno.

Lol I guess my point is not all pet store employees are bad.

[Hypnotic]

I agree fully, there are good employees in stores, but is it just my perception, or do they seem to be rare compared to the people trying to rush you out with a pet? :P

[AKFROG]

I agree there are some good employees out there that work in pet stores. Fluffy Injun, they should have you go around to all their stores and train employees.

[Lija]

I wish people would read as much as possible about the keeping of an animal before they buy them.

amen to that! Even though it is not going to happen, doesn't mean we should stop trying, but honestly I think most of us at some point made an impulse purchase and only then start looking for more information. I guess the main point should be - only responsible people should get an animal, then even if it is impulse buy of someone you have limited knowledge about, you will find information pretty fast and adjust husbandry accordingly.

[Hypnotic]

Your absolutely right Lija, I think our hobby really benefits from the growth in technology. Without internet, this hobby would have been off far worse.