Petco — Local services in Spring Township

On the evening of Wednesday May 14th 2025 my family and I attempted to shop at the Broadcasting Square Reading Pa location to buy a couple fish and some fish supplies. I have lived in this location since the 90’s and have had fish my whole life. I buy fish and fish supplies regularly and have shopped at Petco so many times over the years at this store. But I am utterly appalled at the treatment I just received by the aquatics associate who was staffed tonight.

My family and I were browsing the fish when I asked for her assistance, I had a couple questions about some of the glo-fish tetras. I have had an established tank at home with tetras for the past couple years, but the tetras I had died of old age and I have only one left. Anyone who knows fish knows that schooling fish endure stress when left alone so out of concern for my remaining tetra I intended to buy a couple more tetras. She approached me without a smile and a look of irritation in her eyes. She asked what size tank I had and I said it was a smaller tank, 10 or so gallons. She said that tank was for beta fish and not tetras, but I explained that I have had tetras living in it happily for two or three years. She wouldn’t budge and made me feel very uncomfortable with her grimace. I’m not sure what she wanted me to do, buy a bigger tank right then and there and try to magically cycle the water at 8:30 at night? Or buy a beta and put it in the tank with my lone tetra?

I repeated that I just wanted a couple tetras to keep him company and she whipped around and stomped away from me. She started plunging her hands into tanks as she walked, pulling out…. Something? Dead fish maybe? My three little kids were stunned, their jaws were on the floor, and they said “what is she doing, is she killing those fish?” They thought that in her anger she was killing the fish! Maybe she was, I don’t know, she angrily threw something onto the counter and then disappeared. Why did my request anger her so? I remained there confused.

After some minutes we asked another associate to help us with the fish but they referred us to her and she said that the entire selection of fish had just arrived and weren’t ready for sale yet. We had a handful of items in our basket but at that point we realized we were dealing with a mentally unstable person and left immediately. We went down the road to PetSmart and happily bought our items there, with lovely service.

This associate was a pale young woman, short and pudgy, black thick Brillo hair parted down the middle with dark angry eyes, a nasty demeanor and expression, and has absolutely no business working with the public with her current mental...

After reading these reviews seems like my dissatisfaction has been mentioned many times by reviewers over the last 14 months and policy still doesn't change.

Spent $86 dollars afterwards I asked if I can use the restroom. The lady at the register(who was polite) said that the restrooms were not available to the public due to vandalism. I expressed that it was an emergency and it's highly unlikely I would spend $86 to just vandalize the restroom. I asked to speak to the manager whose name was Haley. I told her "hey I just spent $86 dollars can I use the restroom" she said "no" and walked away.... I immediately refunded my purchase.

I totally understand rules and policy but sometimes there's extenuating circumstances. But a 42 year old man that spent $86 and is there with his two children is a very unlikely candidate that would vandalize a restroom. Furthermore to be blown off by manager and the fact that the manager would sacrifice an $86 purchase just to prove a point for a 35 second restroom stop certainly is not a good business practice or customer service in my personal opinion. Taking into consideration there are pets that come in and have accidents on the floor and I can't use the restroom room does have me upset.

Nonetheless, this is just my opinion, but I will no longer be shopping at...

I would give zero stars if I could. NEVER take your dog there to be groomed. I took my Shep/lab mix there to have her nails done and be brushed. The lady that waited on me was rude from the start and didn't seem to want to be bothered. I should have left as soon as I saw her bending a dog's leg the wrong way while clipping it's nails. Long story short she took my dog back, dragging her bc she was scared. They proceeded to lift her up on a table by bear hugging her. I told them she was older before they took her back. I heard my dog screaming and yipping in pain across the store. I walked back over towards the grooming area and a guy started banging on the glass to get my attention. As I started to walk over the lady that originally waited on comes flying out dragging my dog and says "yea she's to aggressive she tried to bite one of my groomers in the face" she then threw the leash at me and stormed away. Maybe they should hire more experienced people to groom animals. You don't lift a 78lb dog by wrapping your arms around all their legs. I will never go back again. Took her to my vet 10 min after and they had no issues with her at all. They said she didn't do a thing.

EDIT: After reading other reviews. It seems the woman name was Denise. She should not be working...