I drove 3 hours on a Saturday to go to Parrots of the World. The owner, Marc Marone, is very well known, especially on LI. The prices in his store are pretty high, paying for his name. I have a family member who bought a few birds from him, all of which have died in less than a year of having them. I was walking around, talking to the different birds. Marc walked over and plops a baby cockatiel in my hands. His spiel is to tell you that you have to kiss it every day or it dies - I heard him saying it to everyone. The bird was cute, feathers still coming in. I asked if he had a baby blue boy parrotlet, which he then plopped in my hands. The bird was very sweet and calm. I ended up taking him home with a tiny $40 cage (which Marc said was the right size for this bird) and some other stuff like food, millet, a mineral block and toys.

Marc was joking about how many people kill these little birds by stepping on them or sitting on them. As a joke, I called him the next day, just to let him know that the bird was still alive. He told me he was 8 weeks old. He was very sweet and cuddly. All he ever did was snuggle up to my neck, eat and sleep. I couldn't believe how much he was eating. I had to clean his cage out every day from the mess. I called Marc again on Tuesday or Wednesday, joked that the bird was still alive, and asked about this. He said they can eat their weight in food every day. I looked it up online, and it did say they have a voracious appetite.

The cage Marc sold me was really not functional, and way too small. I read the cage should be longer than tall, and at least 18 x18 20 inches. I would have happily purchased the right size cage at the store had I been given accurate information. I ended up having to purchase a bigger cage. The bird peeped a little, liked the swing, but didn't really play with the many toys I got for him to keep him occupied. Friday night, when I came home from work, he was running back and forth in front of the door of the cage, telling me he wanted to come out. I took him out, and he snuggled under my neck for hours. At one point, he cuddled up against my arm, sleeping. At about 9:30 PM, I went to move the bird and noticed something was wrong. The bird had his head down and wasn't lifting it up. It was then I knew that he was dying. He was holding his body up, but his head was still down. He would open his eyes and look at me if I urged him to. As the night went on, he just got worse, couldn't hold himself up; you could just see him dying. I held him and kissed him until he passed at about 11:30 PM. There was nothing I could do. There was no vet open, and even if there was, there was nothing that could be done. I had him for 6 days.

The next day, I called Marc, to tell him the bird died, and he blamed me for it because "the bird was fine here". He basically accused me of doing something, and that something must be wrong at my house. I have an 18 year old cockatiel who is fine. I know that it is a hardier bird, but if my house was toxic as he implied, that bird would have died too. I have had many birds over the years. I am not a novice or a moron. He told me he wouldn't sell me another bird because HE doesn't want to go through this again. Because it upsets HIM. Because every time he sells a parrotlet something happens. Well, if that is the case, maybe Marc, or maybe his birds, are the problem. I don't appreciate him blaming me for his selling me a sick bird. I feel bad enough as it is, why make me feel worse. Yes he is overpriced. You are paying for his name and experience. But I don't appreciate his attitude. He gave me my money back for the bird. I didn't ask to be reimbursed for the cage (which was inappropriate for this bird and a waste of money) or his overpriced accessories which I cannot use. I am a very loyal customer, and would have regularly driven the 3 hours for my supplies and grooming (which I can do myself). I would have bought another bird there. Things happen. But after his reaction, and attitude toward me, never again. I didn't ask for any of this to happen.