Am I Wrong?

[Mygalomorphic]

I went to a local pet store to get some feeders and saw that they have a fairly large number of tarantulas for sale. I asked a few questions and it became clear that they didn't know much about them but they seemed to be taking ok care of them. I found two slings I wanted for $35 each and went to get an employee to unlock the display case and they brought them up front for me. When I got up to pay they told me the total would be $94 plus tax and I was a little taken aback. I asked how the price had increased so much and they told me that it was the $35 for each T plus $12 for the enclosures. I politely said I didn't want the enclosures since I have plenty at home and they said it was store policy. Now, these slings were each about 1/4 inch and being kept in 5x4 inch plastic cubes which are IMO entirely too large. I said I had no intention of keeping them in the enclosures and they would go to waste. They wouldn't budge. Eventually I told them I wouldn't be making the purchase then and they said it would be a $25 restocking fee if they put them back. I said absolutely not and apologized for any trouble but said I would just be leaving and I did.

I won't be going back to that store but I am wondering if maybe this is common practice? I've only ever purchased from dealers so maybe pet stores are different, am I wrong for not buying them? I don't agree with forcing enclosures on people but if that's what you do, why not just say the sling is $47 and comes with an enclosure? The whole thing felt like a bait and switch to me and I don't want to support that. I was excited to find a place that sells T's where I wouldn't have to pay shipping. Oh well.

 

[Jenniferinfl]

Eh, I've run into that before, it's a REALLY stupid practice because of course then people do exactly what you did.. lol

If the slings would have just been priced at $47 instead, you probably still would have reasoned it was a decent deal over paying shipping. There's hardly any slings under $30 anymore and then you still have to pay shipping.

But, nobody likes the 'bait and switch'. The stores near me that have T's, the container comes with the T and it's built into the price.

There was a wonderful pet store near me and they put themselves out of business exactly like this. It was such a freakin shame too, they were the cleanest place in town, but, there was always some mystery surcharge for everything.

 

[Teresaisrad]

I've heard of them only coming with the enclosure, which here in WA is typically a Critter keeper, but it was always built into the price. (I agree they should have a written disclaimer but I kind of get it. )

They don't want employees handling the T and risk hurting it, dropping it, not knowing what they are doing, scared of it etc...

What got me was the "Restocking Fee" What in the actual heck?! Never have I heard of that. So you mean to tell me they expected you to pay them a fee of $25 just to put them back into the spot they were in? They didn't even place them in a separate enclosure... the heck? I am mind blown.
Not in WA.

 

[m0lsx]

Eventually I told them I wouldn't be making the purchase then and they said it would be a $25 restocking fee if they put them back. I said absolutely not and apologized for any trouble but said I would just be leaving and I did.

$25 to put them back!! That may be legal, but it's not reasonable & it's certainly not acceptable. I assume they had not told you of this piece of profiteering before they got them out? Personally speaking, I would be looking online to see where I could leave negative reviews for them, so others are forewarned about this store's behaviour & can avoid them.

 

[MBullock]

Pretty sure that restocking fee BS was 100% illegal. You'd've had to have purchased the item first, then return it for the restocking fee, and even then, it'd have to be a damaged box, opened box, or without the original packaging for that to be legal. I could be wrong, but im pretty sure he was trying to scam you.

 

[Frogdaddy]

I wouldn't worry. With those business practices in place they won't be around long.

 

[octanejunkie]

Sounds beyond stupid

 

[Mygalomorphic]

I'm glad everyone agrees. I guess my main issue was that it appeared sneaky to me. Had there been a sign indicating there was a fee for the enclosures and a re-stocking fee I probably still wouldn't have made the purchase but it would have at least been honest.

I do agree that most places don't want the risk of employees transferring slings to new containers although had they been kept in properly sized enclosures none of this really would have been an issue.

I doubt this is going to hurt their bottom line any. They are a pretty popular pet store around here and sell all kinds of other animals and they seem to cater to people that likely don't know better. I'll just keep ordering online.