Petco — Local services in Frederick

My primary concern is the lack of consistency and logic. My experience with Petco started out fairly good but has only gone downhill from there. I downplayed early flags (surly and indifferent frontline employees, unkempt/chaotic facilities, malfunctioning online accts and slow check-ins) because I rationalized that the end result outweighed the process. My attempt to arrange our 4th grooming was fraught with frustration. In response to advertising, I opted to take advantage of their "now offering walk-in services," promo only to be told they couldn't accommodate us because "walk-ins still need to phone ahead to confirm availability." They reserved an alternate appointment for days later, but before we could make that one, they contacted me to cancel due to a scheduling conflict so I ended up going to a different groomer for expediency. Earlier this week, I requested specific services on the website and chose a same day 2pm appointment from the available time slots listed for those services. Again, I was subsequently contacted to cancel because the groomer said there was not sufficient time to complete the service before s/he was scheduled to get off work that day. I rescheduled again for this morning. Despite having previously registered, provided vet records and being a repeat customer, I was asked to complete a pre-visit questionnaire. I was contacted later and told I must provide a letter from the vet stating that, despite my dog's (level 1) heart murmur, she was cleared for grooming. My vet provided the requisite info in an email with the logical caveat, "if she becomes stressed, discontinue grooming," then that became the new issue. By this time, I'd been trying to get my girl checked in for nearly an hour (on a workday). I reasoned with them that she had been there multiple times with no problem, received no negative feedback, and had no notes in her file. I shared that she has previously been serviced at my neighborhood pet salon as well as at two different businesses in another state where I travel to help care for a family member--all without incident. The employee then said that my dog was currently exhibiting anxious behavior. She was not. Hers is a rare breed that is not commonly familiar. She can simply present as hyper because, although she looks like a lap dog, she's an energetic/working breed. She is also very affectionate and attention seeking. Moreover, I would never nonchalantly risk the significant financial and emotional investments I've made in my pet for the convenience of a typical grooming service if I thought for a minute it would be life threatening. I've been pleased with Petco's grooming in the past and (regrettably) recommended them on my community social media page. I purchase their value add services, subscribe to their Vitality plan, and tip their techs generously. I even offered to sign an indemnity to remove liability, and they still refused me service. Go figure. Fortunately, there is no shortage of pet groomers in Frederick and...

When I say I am actually speech less and at a loss for words would be about right! I had taken my grandson to this location to get him a little furry friend and I kid you not I was denied a bird due to my GRANDSON HAVING AUTISM! Let me back it up so everyone gets a clear picture! I walk in my with grand baby and he’s walking around just observing and taking it all in when this adorable little bird came chirping at the display window, which drew my grandsons attention, and its was adorable! So I’m like this is a sign this must be the little fur friend he needs plus a bird is perfect you don’t pick them up or really even touch them you just enjoy them, and this is with saying my grandson has absolutely no aggression of any kind nor does he display any… he’s very shy and keeps to himself… WELL AS WE WERE CHECKING THE BIRD OUT MY GRANDSON STARTED TO STIM… which is very normal for a child with autism… he was just bopping away swaying his little hips and doing what we call the excited dance where he gets really excited and starts to shake but with the prettiest smile on his face… the checkout girl flat out asked what he was doing and if he was austistc… and when I replied yes he’s stimming she said she didn’t feel the safety of the bird coming home with us… I kid you not this nasty vile woman flat out said that my grand baby was being denied a bird because he’s autistic… I need someone from corporate to please contact me as this down right dirty and on top of it plain illegal you can’t discriminate based off a word… the woman wouldn’t give me her name, she wasn’t wearing a name tag, and claimed she was the stand in manager due to the manager being away at the moment…. The kicker is after I told her and informed her she was breaking the law and that I would go out of my way to make sure she pays for what she did to my grand baby and that to whomeever is reading this I promise you this ain’t over, she tried selling the freaking bird, actually tried to change her whole story and tried selling the bird right then and there but guess… you can keep that bird but I bet you...

I adopted a new puppy recently and want to start socialization as soon as possible. I went to this petco and a really nice staff member left the register to help explain the different class options, give me the schedule for the next few months, and even gave us a coupon for 10$ off. I left happy with the service and excited to enroll my new puppy in classes. On the schedule they have "Puppy Play time" scheduled from 1-2pm on weekends. I was told this was a free service where anyone could bring in their puppy for some socialization time.

Today, I called about 10 AM to confirm that puppy play time was still happening, and to see if I needed to bring anything. I was told "Just show up at 1 and fill out a paper and you are good to go." So I loaded me and puppy up and off we went. We show up at the store and walked around for a bit- could not find anyone. Finally we ran into some teenager who instructed me to wait in line at the register and "have them call a manager." My 8 week old puppy did not want to wait in line and it was super inconvenient for us. Finally I get to the front and the staff member informs me "our trainers are not here today, the puppy play time is cancelled." I told her I called ahead and was told to come in. She said, "Oh sorry nothing I can do about that."

Will not...