Pet Shops in New Zealand

9th April 2008
Our family is/was a good customer of the Tauranga store. We have spend over the years hundreds of $$ in that shop. Last weekend I went with my son (it was his birthday) to that store so that he could choose and buy tropical fish for our aquarium. I planned to spend about $ 120.00. He was all excited to select his new fish. The shop has a promotion whereby if you buy two fish you get a third one free. That offer is on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Because we planned to spend a considerable amount of money I asked the shop attendant if she would make an exception and explained that we could not come into the shop during the week because I do care for my son on weekends only. She declined and when I asked for the store manager she declined as well to extend the offer in this special case and to honour that promotion on this Saturday. I told her that we were good customers since years, that it was my sons birthday present, that we had come into town especially to buy the fish at Animates, that he was all excited NOW, that he wanted to buy the fish now and that we could take our business to the competitor Animal Antics, which we then did. Animates sports the slogan “Welcome to NZ’s friendliest pet store”. That is ringing hollow. I emailed our complaint to Animates head office in Christchurch and didn’t even get a reply. We take our business now to Animal Antics. Much friendlier staff, much nicer fish, much bigger selection, and much cheaper too.