Pet Planet (Riverton)

I hadn't planned on posting all of this, especially since no one here probably has ever even heard of Pet Planet, but I think this should be made known.

When I first got my 75 gallon tank the guy that worked there (nick) was very helpful with my set up and tips even though I hadn't bought any of it from him. He seemed to keep decent fish in stock (but I was a total noob so they all looked cool). When I had finally got things running correctly he told me to bring water in to test so he could help me track the cycle and even went so far as to say I could always get free tests to save me money on a test kit (but I Planned to get a kit anyway as that is half the fun of the hobby). Anyway about 2 weeks or so after the tank had been running I took my water in to see where I was at. Nick wasn't working and there was a new employee there. He told me nick had the day off, but he would be happy to test the water. I had never seen him but assumed he knew what he was doing as he was probably nicks friend or trained by him. The new employee tested my water and came back telling me I was 100% cycled and he could start selling me fish right then. I asked if he was positive and he said he had a lot of knowledge when dealing with marine fish and that I could trust him. I had been on a few forums and read a ton and was really confused by him telling me I could by fish seeing as the tank was like brand new still, so I bought a few inverts but was really unsure about fish and old him I would hold off. I then went and bought my own kit at another store and found that I was still registering Ammonia!

Anyway I would call or stop by once a week asking for nick and he would keep making up excuses as to why he wasn't there that day (at lunch, day off, etc). Finally I figured out that nick wasn't working there anymore and asked the guy to confirm it. He told me all about how he had bought the store and seeing as $ was his number 1 goal, he fired the entire staff and was running the shop solo. So he had been lying to me and other customers who were asking for nick and trying to make everyone think he still worked there so they would continue to shop with him. He had also lied to me about my water to try and sell me everything and anything he could.

I went in at a Later date for RO water because he is the closest place to my house. He told me he didn't have any that day but was buying a culligan system and would have an endless supply once installed. He then told me that if I was changing 10 gallons a week it would make much more sense for me to buy a culligan system as well and that he could sell me one for a steal of a deal at something like $1100 or so. I knew a good RO only costs a few hundred and a culligan is probably more aimed towards drinking water, so I politely declined his pitch again.

A week after he supposedly had the system installed, I came for RO again. He was helping someone and saw me and told me he still didn't have any so I asked if he was ever planning on having any so I could plan on how/ where I could get water that would be reliable and keep me from driving all over town looking. He told me to just call around and find a store. I said thanks and left.

That was months ago. Today I needed RO and didn't have time to go far because I needed to take my wife somewhere. So even though I had tried so hard to avoid Pet Planet, we decided to run in quickly and see if he had any water. When I got there, the owner claimed I had been yelling at him the last time I was there and slammed items in the store scaring a small child and upsetting a woman as I was in my rage. He then told me I was no longer welcome in his store. I was perplexed at this confrontation as nothing ever even remotely close to this had happened and I am still left wondering if he had somehow confused me with someone else. I tried to not push the matter though and told him I am positive he had me confused with someone else, but even so I was very sorry if I had left that impression in his mind.

I am confused by the entire situation, but needless to say I probably wouldn't shop there unless it was an emergency (like today) regardless. The owner has done nothing but lie to me since day one, and with today's strange encounter I am more than happy to send out a warning to any of you who may come across this store one day. It is not a fish only store, but a general pet store with a small poorly kept marine section. The owner does not know anything about the animals and will tell you anything to get you to spend $ there.

I wish I could say none of this had ever happened, but unfortunately it has. Those of you who have met me can attest to the fact that I am a pretty normal easy going guy. I don't think I have ever lost my temper as described even in my darkest moments.

Sorry for the rant, but it's not everyday you get thrown out of a pet store. Oops.

OH! That's awful! 

I have met Tanuki and he is a very nice guy.  I met Nick when he worked at pet planet and he was a easy guy to work with and always willing to help and work a deal on fish and coral.  I dont plan on shopping there anymore since he no longer there.

My dates may be off, but Bryce, the guy who owns Blue Sky Pet Supply sold his partnership in Pet Planet about 10 years ago to buy Blue Sky. About 5 years ago, Pet Planet was bought by the new owners of Mark's Ark on Redwood Road. So evidently, it changed hands again recently.

It's been a decent store for all those years and the only one in the south end of the valley. It will be sad to see it close, which I would fully expect to see, if the new owner doesn't change his ways or sell it before there's nothing to sell.

Yeah it is sad.  Anyone want to open a store in herriman/ riverton/ south jordan area? I think you would do well!

I have been really happy with Reef On, The Aquarium, Live Rock n Reef, and Reef Runners.  All have been knowledgeable and helpful, and all are at least a 30 minute drive :(   Anyway, there is a reason these shops are doing well and have great variety, and that reason is their customer service!  I am sure there are many more shops I have yet to visit, but sooner than later I will make it around to them all! 

It is unfortunate that Pet Planet has not improved since my last visit. It is a place I want to patronize, but find myself not being able to.

Great news!

I contacted the Animal Advocacy of Utah in regards to this shop.

They made a visit to the shop yesterday and agreed with me in regards to the overall substandard animal care/ neglect. 

They sent a report to the Riverton Animal Services department (who grants licenses for pet stores in the area), and they are waiting to hear back from them.  They are supposed  to be one of the best animal service departments in the state though so hopefully they will give this shop a firm nudge in the right direction.

Once again, I am not about running people out of business or anything along those lines.  What I think is that animals should not be treated just like inventory.  I can guarantee that any of us would enjoy running a pet store because of the animals.  I think it would be great to have my own pet store.  Anyway, it is not ok to focus merely on profits and cutting costs that effect the health of the animals.  They are not cakes in a bakery. You can't just hope they sell before they expire and you have to throw them away.

That is awesome! ...and I think we would all LOVE to have our own pet stores.... I would!!!

I think what you did was absolutely the right thing to do. I get SO aggravated when people neglect their animals. I sure hope they get this corrected. I have always said " I like animals more then people". .
 Pam

Thanks.  I am interested to hear what they say.  I feel like I am no expert so it is hard for me to know the differences between the law and my expectations.