PetSmart cashier pushing the dry food...(vent)

sakura

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I wasn't sure where to post this, so if this is not the right spot I apologize in advance.

I am just really annoyed by something and want to vent about it, and I can't think of a better place where more people would understand.

I went to PetSmart today because I needed cat litter. While I was there I decided to pick up some kitten wet food for Chloe since she's down to a few cans. I grabbed about 15 cans and some pouches, a few from new brands to Chloe to see if they'll get her to eat more wet food.

This is my conversation with the guy working at the checkout stand:

Him: You must have a cat that really likes wet food.
Me: Actually not really, that's why I have so many different brands. I'm trying to find something she'll like.
Him: Do you feed her a dry food?
Me: (knowing already where this is going) Yes, I feed both dry and wet.
Him: Well cats don't really need wet food, if you feed dry that's all you need.
Me: Actually, cats don't need dry food.
Him: No, the dry food cleans their teeth. If they don't eat dry food, they get bad teeth.
Me: Well, the literature on that in veterinary journals is pretty outdated and cats can actually get quite dehydrated and have other health problems if they eat only dry food.
Him: Well I've never had that problem.

At this point it's already akward, I'm grumpy already because I've had a super long day but I am trying to be nice and polite.....but seriously. (1) Why do cashiers at ANY store feel the need to comment on what you buy? and (2) Did I ask him for his opinion on dry food v. wet food?

 

yiplong

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that's one annoying cashier for sure. just tell him to shut up and ring up your purchase.
 

goldenkitty45

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No he didn't need to ask, but I would have told him "I feel that wet is more healthy then dry and thank you for your opinion but I'll feed my cats wet and dry"

Thanks and have a good day.....
 
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I've had similar happen at Petsmart when getting a lot of canned at once.. Twice, same lady both times I think. Except she rattled off about how didn't I know that the wet food would give my cat diarrhea and make them fat... uh huh.
 

laurag

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I wonder if Petsmart cashiers are supposed to make suggestions on foods, or simply told to engage the customer in some way.

I find Petsmart cashiers highly annoying and full of questions and opinions on the foods you buy.

I feed my cats several types of canned food as well as some dry. I don't find the Petsmart experience very pleasant. The aisles are always full of items to be stocked, or displays of toys, bins of toys, suggested things for kittens and puppies. It's hard to get through the aisles or even to the cash register because of the obstacles of display. So I buy a lot of canned food at once to avoid a repeat trip any sooner than necessary.

The last thing I want once I get to the cashier is to talk to them. Once, a fellow was so busy chatting about the quantity of canned food I was buying that he failed to properly scan my petsmart card that I must use to get the sales price. The only way to get the discount was to stand there and let him rescan the items. I was too irritated to put up with it and just paid the higher price.

I complained to Petsmart about both the loyalty card and the annoying cashiers. They never responded.
 

jellybella

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Wow. I've never had that happen at Petsmart, but I think I would just say "thanks for your opinion, but I don't agree" and let it end there.

Then again, at the one I usually go to the girl is more interested in complaining about the lack of staff than commenting on my purchases. I guess that's why we're missing out on the "fun".
 

yosemite

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Instead of getting angry or arguing with someone like that, wouldn't it be better to try to calmly educate that person? In that scenario you just ran through, nothing positive happened - he still thinks dry food is best, you are angry - what did that accomplish?
 

krazy kat2

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I had a cashier at Petsmart get lippy with me about what food I was buying, (it was a large bag for strays that I always keep in my car.) He kept going on and me in a horrible mood, finally told him if I wanted his opinion, I would slap it out of him.
Sometimes I wonder if they get kickbacks for pushing a particular food.
 

darlili

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If it were me, at a time when I was feeling calmer, I'd either call the store manager and just ask what company/store policy is on the subject, or go to the web site and send in a comment email.

I shop at Petsmart all the time (they sponsored the shelter where my two came from) and I've never had that experience. Usually the floor staff will respond to questions, if asked, and give their opinions (clearly stated as opinions), but I don't believe the cashiers are supposed to be giving opinions on foods, etc., unless asked. And, even then, the cashiers at my store will also call one of the floor managers over.

Sorry you had a bad experience!
 

sarahp

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Originally Posted by krazy kat2

I had a cashier at Petsmart get lippy with me about what food I was buying, (it was a large bag for strays that I always keep in my car.) He kept going on and me in a horrible mood, finally told him if I wanted his opinion, I would slap it out of him.
Sometimes I wonder if they get kickbacks for pushing a particular food.
Or just say to them "well if the food is so bad, why do you sell it?" Why stock food, then tell people not to buy it?

We have a small independent pet store nearby where we get our dry food from, and we buy a large bag which can last up to 3 months. Every single time, the cashier says to us "you know, dry food only lasts 6 weeks if it's exposed to air or light, you really should throw whatever is left out at 6 weeks and buy another bag". And I say to her "the food is sealed up in a dark room, and we only pour enough out at a time to fill the automatic feeder, so it's only exposed for a couple of weeks at a time maximum."

We have a loyalty card there for that dry food, and we've bought about 6 bags there now, and she usually checks off my card, then tells me. Surely she would notice we always buy the same thing about the same time apart, so we probably know what they think? I've started getting quite rude to her when she tries to tell me now.
 

baloneysmom

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My experiences with PetsMart haven’t been all that bad but I have had the cashiers unwanted comments stated to me. Usually I just look at them like “I’m sorry, were you talking to me?” not a word…just my *female dog* look lol.

I sort of miss Petsmart. Where I used to live in Toronto I could go there and get anything I ever wanted and more for my animals. Where I live now, in my small town, there is only a Pets Unlimited which was about the size of the entrance to my Toronto PetsMart lol. My cats don’t have all the cool stuff my pets in Toronto have =((.

I understand your frustration though, people like that can really really get on my nerves. I never knew PetsMart cashiers were veterinarians too!!
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by silvionc

I never knew PetsMart cashiers were veterinarians too!!
I would say something along the lines of that or "I didn't know Petsmart trained all their cashiers to be nutrition specialists"
Rude, I know, but if someone else has already crossed that line...

On another forum there are a few Petsmart workers (or ex workers) that have posted. From what they've said the stores train them in just the basics needed to sell, not animal care.

On the few occasions I've bought waxworms there, someone's always commented. When I tell them all I get is an "Oh..".
 
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sakura

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I just want to add that I have a pretty high opinion of PetSmart normally, I don't take this one isolated instance and let that shade my opinion of the company. I really like that PetSmart is so involved with helping adoptions for cats and having dog rescue groups come in too.

This guy was just offering poor, unsolicited advice and shouldn't be doing that to customers. Especially not customers buying food that costs more than the dry anyway...
I wouldn't have said anything any differently, in retrospect.
 

lsanders

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I've never had that happen- how rude! I'd talk to the manager, bring in some literature about the advantages and disadvantages of both types of food, and tell him them that they could at least make sure their employees are giving out educated information to people who ASK for it and not at all to people who don't.

I shop at Petco anyway, because they have a wider variety of Nutro canned foods.
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by lsanders

I've never had that happen- how rude! I'd talk to the manager, bring in some literature about the advantages and disadvantages of both types of food, and tell him them that they could at least make sure their employees are giving out educated information to people who ASK for it and not at all to people who don't.
Actually, you (as in general audience you) do not have to justify yourself. You're there to buy food and they're there to make a sale. If the customer wanted health and nutrition advice they would ask a vet or nutritionist. Just inform the manager that the employee was pushy and rude.
 

sharky

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Originally Posted by strange_wings

Actually, you (as in general audience you) do not have to justify yourself. You're there to buy food and they're there to make a sale. If the customer wanted health and nutrition advice they would ask a vet or nutritionist. Just inform the manager that the employee was pushy and rude.
I agree ... My understanding is that the cashiers are allowed to give suggestions IF the customer either asked or thru conversation it came up.. Even I have gotten a few and I work for a food company..lol
 

lsanders

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I'm not saying to bring the info in to justify yourself- I think no matter what, people assume that if you work in a pet supply store, you know something and the least they could do is make sure their employees are giving out accurate information.

Heck, I work at the front desk of a dental office, have no clinical background, and I get asked all the time what products I use. I might tell them, but always say everyone's situation is different, so it's really best to ask the dentist what to use. And, the dentist at least educates the front desk staff enough to not give out blatantly wrong information.
 
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