subject: Getting Your Local Pet Store to Carry the Products You Need [print this page] Getting Your Local Pet Store to Carry the Products You Need
Not everyone has access to a large chain pet store. For this reason, you may need to cultivate a relationship with your local store in order to get the things you want. There are plenty of pet supply stores online that offer products, but it's also nice to have a local connection that will stock the products you want. If you really can't convince a store to stock products you need, or they don't offer a competitive price, you can always return to online shopping.
Get to Know the Staff
The first step is getting to know the management and staff. As a customer, you should be able to walk into a store and ask that they start stocking your favorite items. But if there isn't a high demand for what you want, a store will compare demand to cost before agreeing to stock extra products. However, if you cultivate a personal relationship with the store's staff, they may be willing to stock a small amount of the product based on your personal relationship.
If the problem isn't that they don't stock the right items but that they run out frequently, talk with the staff about their ordering process. Maybe they only get one shipment a month or don't reorder the products frequently enough to keep the shelves stocked. In this instance, you can express how important the product is to you and enquire about why they can't seem to keep it in stock. A store wants to make a profit. So if they know you'll frequent their pet store more often, they'll be more likely to fulfill your requests.
Special Orders
Ask how the store typically handles special orders. It's not uncommon for a local store to order fish, rodents, or dogs and cats to fulfill a customer's request. The store may be more willing to work with you if you agree to purchase the special order animal or product as soon as it arrives. One thing a pet store doesn't want is to order a bunch of things for a customer, only to have them change their mind or by it someplace else before the order arrives.
Building an Online Relationship
If you're unsuccessful at building a rapport with a local store, consider shopping online. There is a lot of competition online, and most companies will probably be more than willing to handle your requests and build a working relationship with you. Follow the same steps to build a relationship with an online company that you would with a regular store. Once you've built a relationship with a pet store, you should find that it's easy to get products and animals.
