Does anyone have any good alternatives to PetSmart? Any other places you prefer to bring your pets to, or just shop in general? I'm getting more and more dissatisfied with PetSmart by each passing day and I need to find a replacement for them.
2 replies (most recent on top)
Hello again. I just thought I'd share something else that might help. If you for whatever reason are looking for dog training, I also do not suggest Petsmart or any big-box retailer for that matter. The reason is simply because the dog trainers at such places are solely store employees who are allowed to train dogs maybe 30% of the time or less. The training the dog trainers go through is only 2 weeks and the trainer's primary employment goals are to sell as many classes as possible (no matter the quality) and to bring more customers into the stores which often is contrary to providing for the pets' best interests. The same is true about grooming, even in-store pet-adoptions + adoption events and the vet services provided thru Banfield locations (regarding bringing more customers in). In regards to pet adoption, you have significantly more choice and very often less of a cost burden by adopting directly from the animal shelters and foster/rescue organizations themselves. One more note about dog training is that you might have better chances at reaching a higher level of success (for not that much more $) by going with an experienced and independently-certified independent trainer or a trainer at a vet clinic. Not all vet clinics have trainers, but some do, depending on your geographical area and other factors. I am describing this from the personal experience I gathered while I worked for them. Good luck.
I think I understand your frustration. I became the same way when I worked for them. I won't go into details here but I, like you, have needed to find alternatives b/c I refuse to shop at any of their stores or online at either petsmart.com or Chewy, at least unless or until these entities are sold off to the point where petsmart no longer owns them. So far what's worked for me has been splitting up where I shop for pet products depending on the item I'm buying. Food+basic grooming supplies/toy items u can conveniently find at grocery stores and Wal-Marts/Targets, etc. for less $. Such items + cleanup supplies and pretty much anything else u can get for good prices at Amazon, of course. Online, I just double-check and make sure the Amazon pet-food- or pet-item-seller is not petsmart.com or Chewy. For pet services (medical care, boarding, and ESPECIALLY grooming), even when I worked there I always utilized separate vet clinics which are highly superior in quality anyway, for not that much more in cost–and sometimes there was no difference in cost! Also when I worked there, the market trend and competition for pet products especially became increasingly more fierce between petsmart + Amazon/walmart/grocery stores anyway. People like you and I are just making it more so. I hope this helps.