I frequent both stores for exclusive items. Petco has lost its sparkle and even though I have completed a number of their post-purchase surveys I am not seeing positive change. I like having a choice, but Petco appears to be making a real effort to close down. I'm curious what others think about these two big-box pet stores.

I always prefer PetSmart because it is laid out better and has more room. I never feel comfortable in Petco and often feel rushed and crowded there. If we ever have dog food coupons or Petco has a better deal we just go to PetSmart and have them price match to avoid having to step foot in Petco. One thing I do like about Petco is their bulk treats. If PetSmart had bulk treats I would never need to go to Petco again.

Petco just seems like they tried to cram too much stuff in the store.

I went in to PetCo once or twice when I was stocking my aquarium and the employees knew absolutely nothing about freshwater aquariums. I left and went to Petsmart and have been going there ever since. Note: I do not assume employees at Petsmart are experts by any means, but they are certainly more knowledgeable than what I encountered at PetCo.

I do not like going to Petco. They never have enough cashiers. And you have to wait forever for crickets.

Petco always seems dirty. The marine aquariums have dead fish and corals in them or have too much stock in one tank - not very responsible IMHO.

Petsmart doesn't keep marine stock, but does have other supplies for marine aquariums that are good quality. Their store is much cleaner and the staff is friendly and as helpful as possible.

I go in to buy the big bag of dog food about once every other month. Before PetSmart, I always went to Petco. I tried to 'stay faithful' to them after PetSmart opened, but too many times I went into Petco to find they didn't have my brand in stock while PetSmart always did. So, I started frequenting PetSmart.

Now, whenever I go into Petco, it always seems like a dump compared to PetSmart.

I like petsmart cuz it's on my way home from the dog park, but I still go to Petco. to buy bulk of shavings for my guinea pigs.
I haven't checked to see is petsmart sells bulk shavings at the same price. If they do then Petco loses another customer.

PetSmart! I don't have to go very often, but Petsmart seems cleaner and better laid out. Last time I went to Petco, it smelled horrible! I realize it is a pet store, but Petsmart never smells like Petco did.

I always go to PatSmart now. The last time I went to PetCo they had run out of Milkbones. How does a pet store run out of the most well know dog treat? PetCo's dog food prices are also higher than PetSmarts.

Petco is just too crowded and creepy with it's dirty and narrow aisles. I use Petsmart or America's Country Store.

The last few times I went to PetCo I was unhappy for almost every reason listed in all previous posts.

PLUS there is never an employee at PetCo that even acknowledges that I have my dog with me. The cashiers don't even bother to give my pup a treat when we check out. And this is not for lack of having a bowl of treats right there at the register for that very reason.

The last two times we went to PetSmart the manager happened to see us and greeted our dog...even pet her and talked to her. When we checked out the cashier also acknowledged our pup and gave her a treat.

I'm not saying that everyone NEEDS to swoon over my dog, but it is certainly nice that she gets a little attention on her outing if we are going to a pet store where you assume the employees have a love of pets.

"they don't pay enough attention to my dog?" really?

now I know this board really will complain about anything.

i miss petstop. Everyone there knew everything..

i go to petsmart for crickets and i go to petco for extremely basic saltwater supplies..

I usually go to houston (citypets, tnt reptile) for my normal supplies.

no one knows anything about saltwater aquariums or finches in these stores..

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Just for the record....It's responses like that, howdy, that keep me from posting very often on this site.

BCS Native - forget about Howdy. I actually understand what you mean. We have very disciplined dogs and they have learned that at checkout they get treats. They will "sit nice" and wait for a treat to be given to them at the register. The last few times at Petco I have had to ask if I could have a treat so my dog would understand she is being good.

Go ahead Howdy.... I can take it! :-)

The one on Texas and Holleman is the only place you can buy live rats for a snake last time I checked.

I think they are both fine for what they are.

I used to think Petsmart was better and it is a nicer looking store but I have to say I think Petco is better now. Petco carries better foods than Petsmart does..they have Wellness, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, etc...about the best food Petsmart carries is Blue Buffalo. I have little dogs and dress them and Petsmart used to have cute clothes but now they are all so cheap looking...however Petco just started carrying new brands of dog clothes and they are so cute. So I'll go in Petco every once in a while to check out their clothes section. However, I haven't been to Petsmart in several months because I have no reason to go.

Being that Petco carries live mice and Petsmart does not, I have to frequent Petco. However it is always hard to find an employee to help me get the mice and the managers seem to refuse to do anything but stand around and talk.
And to Howdy, if you work at a petstore it would be customer service to be nice to people's pets; you are obviously not a dog person and should never own any.

Petco for the sake of pure convenience

I prefer Petsmart for overall selection and cleanliness of the stores, but Petco carries my dog's food.

We go to Close Quarters Feed & Supply in Wellborn to get our dog food (Wellness) and other supplies. Prices are competitive and they always enjoy it when we bring our corgis or dachshund in.

We typically frequent Petsmart, since it's close to our house. Earlier this month my daughter and her friends found a couple of abandoned kittens. They took them into Petco looking for information on caring, feeding etc. Both kittens were very tiny. The Petco employee "estimated" their age at 8-12 weeks and sold them a bunch of kitten supplies. Fortunately, another friend has a mom who works for the vet school. Turned out the kittens were closer to 4-6 weeks and needed special attention and food. They are being fostered now.

I also go out to America's Country Store/Close Quarter Feed for my dogs' and cats' food...they carry the best brands of food out of anyone in town. And Erica, who orders the food, is so knowledgeable about petfood and always very helpful.

I use to go to petco, until I spent 15 minutes waiting for help in the fish department. The whole time I was waiting, two employees were talking about the weekend, and what they were going to do. When I complained to the cashier, she told me that one of them was the manager. I haven't been back. Petsmart can get busy at times, but I have not had an experience like that there.

Never enough cashiers at Petco. I prefer Petsmart

Americas Country Store for me as well. They have high quality food (we use Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lovers Soul) and carry our dogs favorite brand of treats (Zuke's Mini Naturals). Staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. All the prices are right at or sometimes even cheaper than the two big stores.

I go to Petsmart now because it is easier to get around in and a cleaner store. On the many times I have been in Petco, they were out of the product I wanted and much of the staff is not helpful. The store is also dirty and I constantly see pee on the floor which is a result of bad pet owners and staff. The last time I was in there, the bathroom was changed to be male and female both. However, I couldn't see the sign and walked in to find a man standing there. Slightly awkward.

I used to get Wellness at America's Country Store, but found out they sell it at Petco. Only go there because you get a free bag after you buy 10 bags of food (and it's expensive.) But I certainly wish I didn't have to go to Petco because the store is disgusting! The first time I went, there was a mouse that had escaped it's cage and was running up and down the aisle I was shopping. Second visit I had 2 roaches crawl across my foot!

I have to say that I was pleased with Petsmart the other day. My husband purchased an aquarium for my birthday and I was going around attempting to find a stand for it. On visiting Petsmart, I found that the aquarium price had dropped $28 from the previous day.

I called and spoke with the manager and he very kindly agreed to do a price reduction for me and offered assistance with anything else I needed.

I have to agree with everyone that PetSmart has better customer service and that the store is cleaner. The only reason we use Petco is because their rats and mice are cheaper and we have 2 snakes to feed. Otherwise we would get all of our pet food and supplies from PetSmart.

Petco has a HUGE roach problem. Last time I went there were hundreds of giant cockroaches running free underneath the counter in the fish area. When I informed the employee about them he said "yeah, we should probably have someone come out and spray sometime."

Gross!

syrei - is it going to be a saltwater or freshwater aquarium?


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Whoa! Hundreds of giant cockroaches?