Complain about a product or service

Wal-Mart Pet Department

Holly of NIverville, NY August 9, 2009

I went to the pet department one night to purchase some joint supplement for my dog. There were only two bottles on the shelf, the first one I picked up the cap was very loose so I put it back and took the other one. The next morning, when I opened the bottle, it was half empty. I counted only 28 out of the supposed 60 pills were in the bottle. These pills are 14.95 a bottle, which I consider to be a fair amount of money to spend and only get half a bottle. I returned to the store that same day with my receipt, waited in line for about 10 minutes only to be told that they could not take back an open bottle. I did not argue, and disappointed, I walked away.

The store greeter who had checked in my package on the way in asked how I had made out, and I explained my problem. She said I should go back and ask to speak to a manager. I did, and I waited in line another 20 minutes and had to leave for an appointment. I guess my point is there is a definite problem with this product on the shelf, which the girls at the service desk did not even address. I did not open this bottle and use any, someone must be taking these pills right from the bottle and returning it to the shelf. Who knows what else they could be doing,and I think this is a problem. It's probably not the only product it's happening to. I know I won't be buying them there anymore.

Wendy of Shady Shores, TX August 5, 2009

Last week we bought a new bag of Iams mini chunks and both of our dogs have been having diarrhea for the past week. I narrowed it down to the food as our big dog stopped wanting to eat his food and he NEVER refuses to eat. Our poodle has had diarrhea for the last 3 days. I am taking the food back to Walmart and will be letting them know my findings.

wendy of morristown, TN July 27, 2009

I have been returning a lot of dead fish over the past 2 months. i have always been treated with respect until today. a lady named brenda was extremely rude to me when returning my fish. the fish in this store are pitiful and ate up with fungus. the fish tank are filthy and uncared for. something needs to be done or wal mart has lost my business. brenda should not be over the fish if she cannot properly take care of them or the customers. she is the rudest employee i have ever dealt with. what happened to customer service?

Jammie of Arp, TX July 3, 2009

Bought two fish yesterday, as we were leaving the store two women that were also leaving the store approached us, telling us our fish would be dead in the morning because we has carried our plastic sack of fish through the scanners as we left the store. They said the exit scanners damaged the ears of the fish which would result in death. We laughed about it the entire afternoon, but this morning our fish are dead. Does anyone else know about this, or have you heard of it, we thought it was a joke, and maybe it is. One of the ladies that told this said she was a former Walmart employee.

Brian of San Ramon, CA July 2, 2009

This past Sunday June 28, 2009, my family and I were at the WalMart located at Livermore, CA 94550. My son and I decided to visit the pet department with the dozens of fish tanks and many verities of pet fish. As we began to view the fish, we took notice that almost every tank contained at least one dead and/or decaying fish. To make matters worse, we noticed that living fish were feasting on dead carcasses.

In one of the goldfish tanks, we were appalled and saddened at the number of dead fish which out numbered the living. In one tank alone, we counted a minimum of 58 dead fish and only 23 remaining swimming live fish. Most of the surviving fish appeared weak and sick with abnormal eyes and skinny bodies. It was ours (and another two customers) belief and knowledge that most of the dead fish in all the tanks had been there for quite some time as they had been decayed to the point where only skeletons remained and live fish were feasting upon any remaining flesh. There were so many dead fish in one tank, that the water filter intakes were jammed with dead fish bodies. (I have pictures) There were fish skeletons, floating fish with white eyes, decaying fish on the bottom of tanks, and mounds of dead fish clustered into groups. It was apparent that all their fish had not been fed in days if not weeks.

I was so saddened at this horrific site, that I summed the store manager with the assistance of a cashier. After being informed that the Manager is off on Sundays, I requested the Assistant Manager. Pam and Sam, both with Assistant Manager Name tags, met and proceed to follow me to the pet department. I explained to them that as a pet fish owner, my observation is that the fish are not being cared for properly nor being fed regularly. Pam’s attitude and demeanor changed and she proceeded to inform me that they clean the tanks daily. I proceeded to inform her that fish don’t just die overnight and turn into skeletons nor clump into groups with decaying eyes and bodies. Furthermore, most of the pet fish Walmart sells do not eat dead carcass unless they are really hungry or starving. Becoming more defensive, Pam stated that they have to report the number of dead fish they find (I’m unsure of this and curious) and proceeded to delegate someone to immediately clean and remove the dead fish from the tanks.

Later, as I was checking out at a cashier, Pam and her cronies, approach and inform me NOT to strike any conversations with the cashier and threatened to remove me from the store. I informed her I was only making casual conversation about the weather, and why did I have to leave the store? She again reiterated, to not make any conversation with the cashiers and to finish my transaction (in excess of 100 that day) and to leave the store.

I did not feel I had done anything to merit such action, other than to identify a form of cruelty and inhumane action for LIVING creatures being sold in a national chain store classified as “pets”. I informed her that I would be contacting Corporate and also post my concerns along with the pictures I took on the internet. If Walmart chooses to sell pets, they need to ensure the well being of any living creatures albeit fish. I am very disappointed at Walmart's policy and behavior towards customers who identify such issues and then are thrown out of the store. More care and compassion should be provided to fish as many young children visit the pet section to view the fish and also consider them be pets. Young children should not be subjected to see such neglect happening in a public environment such as Walmart.

Elizabeth of Eclectic, AL June 23, 2009

I have bought fish and accessories from wal-mart before because that usually where I go since I am a mother of three and have no time for going all over the place. I have bought fish and they have dies but just last week I bought two of those minature catfish. The next thing I know all my fish are covered in Ick. I had to treat the aquarium and my fish are still looking bad. Not to mention the two fish I bought from Wal Mart dies. Also as mentioned here, the conditions are terribble. SOMTHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JERRY of GURNEE, IL June 17, 2009

Walmart's fish department is gruesome. Even though their prices may be a little cheaper than most fish stores, they don't have the experience needed to sell fish. I have witnessed on many occassions where the fishes are dead or dying and left in the tank. There are so many issues concerning the improper handling and care by Walmart employees. I am not however putting a blame on the employees. It's Walmart itself that chooses to sell but don't have the people necessary to care or handle this department.

Hilary of san antonio, TX June 10, 2009

While shopping at Wal-Mart I've noticed the improper conditions in which they keep their Beta Fish. I spoke to mgmt. and since they aren't knowledgable on how to properly care for fish, since they aren't a pet store, they don't see a problem with it. The Beta fish are all kept in individual cups which is unfortunately protocol, but with very little water in the cups, barely enough to cover their little top fins.

The manager's solution at one point was to just pour more water into the cups and I had to tell him that you have to add a water conditioner to remove the harmful chemicals for the fish. My point is, Wal-Mart is not a pet store and should not cary live animals that they have no idea how to care for.

Pierce of Rochester, MN May 29, 2009

I'm 13. i know a lot about fish. thats all I do. it's my thing. I go to walmart to buy few stuff like chemicals or filter cartridges but today I want to buy a few neons. I look for support and found a person he call's for someone. know one comes. I try a different person know. one comes so I get another different person. he helps. I ask for neons. he gives me 2 neons that are DIEING and one that is not even a neon. so I take them home and they die when I get inside (I ride my bike with fish 3 miles from home. they live for months in my tank from are local fish store).

Walmart tanks are using one filter so thats always bad for CICHLIDS (IN TROPICAL TANKS) GOLDFISH AND TROPICAL FISH. they had plecos in very clean tanks and the VERY DIRTY tanks were just fish suffering. lots of dead fish ate and dyeing not to mention all going threw the same filter. BETAS are in these tanks. there ethier dead or trying to kill the other fish. i'm about ready to work there for free and clean the tanks and give the fish's second chances. Please only go to walmart for fish chemicals or filter stuff NEVER FISH!

Constance of Manchester, NY May 25, 2009

I am very unhappy about the aquarium departments of Walmart. 2 separate stores always have diseased fish or at times are unkept. In particular is the selling of a very special fish called a green spotted puffer. They are far too small as babies and sensitive to sell - extremely difficult to keep because they need to be kept by species only. They require a special diet of snails and blood worms. Most of the little babies I have seen suffer terribly in both stores. Barely hanging on most with ick and other parasites. The are extremely intelligent little fish.

I rescued one that would have died a horrible slow death. Most associates know nothing about what to tell customers about these fish either. Having all the tanks on one filter system is horrible for all the fish - tap water should never be used either. The betta fish sometimes many are dead or have 1/2 inch of water (polluted ) to live in. Please do something. I don't feel the customers should see this kind of abuse.

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