No sale to under 18's?

[Dom]

Is there a rule that you can't sell snails to members under 18 on this forum? becuase I've been hearing that members are being denied snails becuase of it.

[Tigs]

Its not a rule - more down to peoples preference.

[deadmansfinger]

I can understand both sides of the arguement here. Obviously folk under 18 want snails so they are going to be "annoyed" if no-one will sell to them but I also understand people not wanting to sell to under 18's (kids basically). The basic reason is the worry of whether they will be looked after properly or have any parental supervision, can they afford to house, feed and care for them properly? Or are they buying them without their parents knowledge then getting found out and made to get rid of them quicky? If so what happens to them?
The amount of snails some kids have on here there is no way I could have afforded to feed that amount of snails at their age and I had a decent job then too, so it does make me wonder. Also kids lose interest quickly so will they get them, then get bored and either neglect them or pass them onto someone else who will do likewise?

I have heard in the past of kids keeping snails that their parents don't know about so I have wondered where they are being kept and in what conditions? I have also saw for myself kids who seem to have lots of snails that die and they simply replace them without it seems much thought for how they died in the first place. It's more of a 'they are easily replaced' attitude rather than how can I keep them properly?

Personally I follow a "it depends on the person" rule. There are some kids I won't sell to and some adults I won't sell to whereas there are some kids I will sell to as well as some adults I will sell to.

I think no matter what a person decides at the end of the day it's their snails so they have a right to decide who can and cannot buy them and we need to respect this.


Brian.

PS...If you are under-18 please don't read this and get annoyed and start posting saying how responsible you are, it will be deleted. I clearly stated I take it on a "it depends on the person rule" and I am not saying all under 18's are bad people/ bad snail keepers etc I am just trying to explain both sides of the "arguement".

[Dom]

Ah. Okay then. Sorry for the confusion

[Jenna]

The petshop I get my snaileys from keep em in such bad condition anyway, I dont fink they care who buys em. I buy em to 'save' em n give em a better life. I agree that sum people dont deserve 2 have them. I get very upset wen my snaileys die n I cant understand people that Just dont care

[gastropodgirl]

Unfortunately Jenna there will always be people that don't care in this world,but I think it's nice that you buy the snails to give them a better life I'm sure they're very happy with you.

[gastropodgirl]

Yeah most people do look after them but there are occasions where they're not looked after,it is just a personal preference.

[xyz]

Not sure how old you are Jenna, but if you are old enough ( not sure how old this is !! ) why not talk to the pet shop owners and perhaps give them a care sheet ? if you are not old enough take an adult along with you. Pet shops like this should be told they are doing wrong. ( and you would save money ! ) It not only gives pet shops a bad name but eventually pet owners get tagged with the same label.

[gabi]

I personally do sell to under 18 years old. My personal experience was, that it makes usually no difference to sell to adults or "under 18 years old". I only do make my own choice, whom I give my very rare snails. They usually go only to people I do know for a very long time or I am very close with.

I have made loads of bad experience with people older than 18. So I personally don´t see a reason why not to sell to under 18 years olds. And usually I do know people from forums for quite a while and so I could read a bit about the new owners and if i feel, I don´t want to give the snails to them, they usually get told, that i am not selling them the snails for this or that reason.

Kind regards,

Gabi

[1 of mandys ten]

xyz said:

Not sure how old you are Jenna, but if you are old enough ( not sure how old this is !! ) why not talk to the pet shop owners and perhaps give them a care sheet ? if you are not old enough take an adult along with you. Pet shops like this should be told they are doing wrong. ( and you would save money ! ) It not only gives pet shops a bad name but eventually pet owners get tagged with the same label.

i tried this aproach with a pet shop here and they basicly said because they own a pet shop they know best.

[deadmansfinger]

I remember being in Pet City (does anyone remember them?) and they were selling green iguanas and as usual I was listening in to what the staff were telling the customers. They said to them that a 3ftx15"x12" tank would be large enough for an iguana for it's entire life (the baby igs were about 8-10" long at the time).

I had to go over and casually ask "don't green iguana grow to over 6ft long" whereas the guy serving went bright red and mumbling something about getting the manager. Thankfully the customers believed me and said how rediculous the place was and left and my girlfriend dragged me out the shop before I could stay and futher "discuss" this with the manager

On another occasion in the same store one of the staff was advising a couple that a tokay gecko would be ideal for their young son (certainly under 10 years old) as he said they are not aggressive. Again I couldnt contain myself and I had to mention how powerful a bite a tokay has to which the guy serving replied "whatever" and said to the the couple "do you want it or not". Again thankfully they said no. I did ask to speak to a manager on this occasion and he just brushed my questions aside and went on about how many lizards they sell and how they are checked by the RSPCA etc and I said but your info you give customers is basically lies. He said he had a meeting and would discuss my concerns with his boss (or basically rubber ear me!)

To cut a long story short most petshops dont want to know when you try to give them advice but again I have seen lots of so-called "experts" when I have worked in petshops coming in and telling you complete $hit about how to look after various animals in the shop so they must get so many idiots coming in that they find it easier to ignore everyone.

If the conditions in the petshop are really bad call the RSPCA and hopefully they will investigate the shop. I have done it on three occasions. Once the shop was investigated and the reptiles were removed and I never saw them with reptiles again, on the other two occasions as far as I know nothing was done as the animals were still kept in the same conditions, or perhaps the RSPCA didn't agree with my concerns?


Brian.

[Val]

Yess I remember Pet City!! I too approached a staff member concerning the keeping of the birds, they were in adequate housing i.e. quite large but they had housed lovebirds with cockatiels, very very bad a lovebird could kill a cockatiel if inclined to do so, the chap just shrugged and said "we are not moving them, we have no-where else to put them" Thankfully soon after this the store re-opened as Pets @ Home and speaking as I find, Pets @ Home in this neck of the woods house their birds very very well.

Val

[LisaLQ]

They have an absolutely appalling reputation for their fish though. Commonly rehoming tankbusters as suitable for small tanks. Selling on diseased fish. And they have just as bad a reputation for their small animals, some really unhealthy rats handed out (all over the country) with the wrong housing advice - despite being offered info from top breeders etc - they still ignore it. They also have a habit of sexing them "wrongly" (ahem, by "wrongly" read possibly on purpose so said owner brings babies back in to be sold on by them).

Glad they look after their birds though - it's a start!

[deadmansfinger]

valerie said:

Yess I remember Pet City!! I too approached a staff member concerning the keeping of the birds, they were in adequate housing i.e. quite large but they had housed lovebirds with cockatiels, very very bad a lovebird could kill a cockatiel if inclined to do so, the chap just shrugged and said "we are not moving them, we have no-where else to put them" Thankfully soon after this the store re-opened as Pets @ Home and speaking as I find, Pets @ Home in this neck of the woods house their birds very very well.

Val

Same here. all the Pet City's are gone and Pets@Home seem not bad compared to them.



Brian.

[Buse]

Except that it cost loads sorry I just think that some things in there are just a rip off but never mind my personal opinion ;D

[deadmansfinger]

buse said:

Except that it cost loads sorry I just think that some things in there are just a rip off but never mind my personal opinion ;D

agreed!


Brian ;D

[1 of mandys ten]

has anybody heard of the reptile ranch in faringdon. any way this place has been reported on about 4 occasions and nothing has been done even tho there has been half dead animals in there tanks, very skinny lizards, snakes with no water and snails kept in the same conditions as was mentiond above. well u get the point lol. it is run by a bunch of idiots to put it politly. people like that should not be able to keep animals its not fair.

[deadmansfinger]

This is way off topic so I am locking it.


Brian.