Petsmart will pricematch Big Al's!!!

[ghart999]

I know that everyone knows about Petsmart price matching their own website. But last night I discovered they will pricematch online retailers as well. I brought in a printout of Big Al's price for an Rena XP3 at $89.99. The manager of the store happened to be who checked me out and he reduced the price from $179.99 to the $89.99 with no questions asked. I suppose your mileage my vary. But he did say that policy is to price match all other retailers and etailers.

So we can get Big Al prices with no shipping charges or waiting for the stuff to arrive. Yipee.

[YoFishboy]

Very Cool! This must be a new policy, because the one by me, as of a few months ago, only matched their own web prices...hope mine is doing it too! I have also had some luck with LFS that will get pretty close to internet prices, and I don't mind paying just a few bucks more to support them....see if your LFS might too!

[beviking]

:thud:

Holy fish! Now THAT would be awesome if they all did it! I sure hope the one near me does! :hang:

[ghart999]

Yeah I am wondering my much this might vary between stores. Again mine was the store manager and he was very cool about it.

[WeeNe858]

when i set up my 100 gal.. i went to petsmart and brought in a whole catalogue of prices.. petsmart was more than happy to price match it for me :].. it was online and other stores too .. i tink it is a national petsmart thing

[jocko007]

I have been price matching PetSmart from Big Al's for the last year and half, and have never been turned down.

[ErrorS]

One just opened up here about 6 months ago.. they told me (just a couple of weeks ago) that they will not match online prices, except for their own store.

Would be nice if this was a new policy within the past couple of days :D

[daayda3]

can i get the website for big al's?

[daayda3]

NVM, i got it;)

[H3D]

The PetSmarts near me will only price match their website.

[ghart999]

Well I just came back from a different petsmart to pick up something else and they price matched bigal's again. So 2/2 stores have done it for me.

[mostlycichlids]

Very Cool! This must be a new policy, because the one by me, as of a few months ago, only matched their own web prices...hope mine is doing it too! I have also had some luck with LFS that will get pretty close to internet prices, and I don't mind paying just a few bucks more to support them....see if your LFS might too!
I would contact their corporate office Their policy is to price match any competitor, bottom line they have to accept any price match.

[TwoTankAmin]

Hmm- so Petsmart will try to charge you as much as double on anything they can unless you are smart enough to know about online? Is this really the kind of company you want to do business with.

Maybe their motto is: We will screw you as long as we canget away with it?

[YoFishboy]

Hmm- so Petsmart will try to charge you as much as double on anything they can unless you are smart enough to know about online? Is this really the kind of company you want to do business with.

Maybe their motto is: We will screw you as long as we canget away with it?

LOL...isn't that pretty much the motto of ALL businesses these days?

[aardvark1]

Caveat Emptor...

Which I think translates to Let the Buyer Beware!

I look at it as a perk for being smart enough to do the research; if you're not, pay the price!

[Mgamer20o0]

I would contact their corporate office Their policy is to price match any competitor, bottom line they have to accept any price match.

do you have a link to this. there has been so many people who said they only price match to their own website. i think one of the managers saw what happened after i paid and was mad.


Hmm- so Petsmart will try to charge you as much as double on anything they can unless you are smart enough to know about online? Is this really the kind of company you want to do business with.

Maybe their motto is: We will screw you as long as we canget away with it?

when i called up today asking if they had a filter in stock they lady said yes and to print it off the website to save about half the money. so i think its something they are not hiding but sure not advertising it like other stores.

[ErrorS]

wehter they screw us on prices or not, every time I go to Petsmart I'm impressed. I've never seen a big chain take such good care of hteir fish.

May be because my store is new.. but I've not seen a single sick or dead fish in that store, in fact, they all look great.. with one exception, recently bought some Mollies and they've been inbred so many times, one I have has such a crooked spine I can't believe it has lived as long as it did.

[Omega]

I know that everyone knows about Petsmart price matching their own website. But last night I discovered they will pricematch online retailers as well. I brought in a printout of Big Al's price for an Rena XP3 at $89.99. The manager of the store happened to be who checked me out and he reduced the price from $179.99 to the $89.99 with no questions asked. I suppose your mileage my vary. But he did say that policy is to price match all other retailers and etailers.Goes to show how much ridiculous profit Petsmart's willing to make off unsuspecting consumers.

[aardvark1]

Goes to show how much ridiculous profit Petsmart's willing to make off unsuspecting consumers.

No, thats called business!

People don't realize the costs involved in running a business; sure you may sell an item for say, 50% profit, but out of that money has to come rent, utilities, wages, taxes, upkeep, office supplies, new stock-I could go on and on.

If a person is willing to buy an item for say $10 and he's happy, good for them. If the same person finds a deal (such as the pricematching) and gets it for $5 even better! Good for them to do the research prior to the purchase.

More people should do research before just grabbing the first item off the shelf. Will item X do the job or would item Z be better even if a little more costly?

When you buy a new car, you don't walk onto the dealers lot and buy the first one you see. You check out other models, options etc. You never pay the sticker price, you bargain with the sales guy.

Same with fishie stuff!

[jlw82]

Brought in a printout from Big Al's for the XP3 and they would not match it... I called the 866 customer service line and was told they will only match their website pricing...:mad2:

[Mgamer20o0]

When you buy a new car, you don't walk onto the dealers lot and buy the first one you see.
Same with fishie stuff!

i did. i opened my door and bought the first one there.

a warehouse full of these products servicing a large area has far less expenses. its just a case of buyer bewared.

[loaches r cool]

Most all chain stores around here pricematch. But none will pricematch online or warehouse/wholesale type places. I havent tried with petsmart yet but I would be shocked if they did. I am actually shocked some of thier online prices are as cheap as they are but I do know they atleast match those.

They arent ripping you off any more than best buy or circuit city, its called retail price. And as far as fish prices, they are inline or cheaper than the average lfs from what I have seen.

[DBray6]

I asked at the PetSmart at Largo Mall today in Largo, FL. They do price match any online store as long as you have a print out.

[Madcrawdad]

my PetSmart matched Fosters & Smith catalog prices. Saved at least $50 on a canister filter. Had to bring in the catalog & show the manager....no problems at all

[GOV]

Went in to my local Petsmart today (Springfield, Mo) to get a pricematch on a heater that was $18 cheaper on BigAl's. The manager was pretty hateful in saying that they only pricematch their own website!! Needless to say, if I can't get this rectified, I will not ever buy anything from them ever again, and I buy stuff for my dog there as well. :( I am sending the corporate office an email regarding the matter right now :)

[Mgamer20o0]

i have always been told the policy is for petsmart.com only. if the store doesnt follow that great or if they person checking you out doesnt know it.

[GOV]

It was more the way I was treated, than the pricematch problem for the reason I will not return there. I felt embarrassed by the way the manager handled the situation.

[watermelon]

Petsmart, in my area does not match Big Als...They told me that they would match a competitor like Petco but not some internet site like Big Als..

[ghart999]

Well i went to a 3rd petco today and they matched Dr. Foster's & Smith's price no problem. So that is 3/3 petcos that have matched online prices for me.

[watermelon]

Different managers have different policies..I heard some places dont even match their online prices..

[GOV]

well, Big Al's just got another order from me today never the less :)

[garbon2535]

I have been told by my Petsmart that they, now, only pricematch their online pricing. There are store employees that still do pricematch anything I bring in but the managers will not price match anything that is not Petsmart (in fact there is only one employee left at my Petsmart that will pricematch catalogs I bring in). If you pricematch other stores at your local petsmart I would do it carfully. If you try and do it with the wrong person they may refresh store employees of Petsmart policies!

[fish_freak]

I dont see what the big deal is any how. If you look there are many times that petsmart's online price is cheaper than bigalsonline now anyway so you save more by bringing in the petsmart page anyhow. Some stuff is more but I would say its a 50/50 split on whos cheaper. All the ones near me will only price match there online site. They all know this too because the only one that can do a price match is a manager of front end supervisor with a key. The cashier does not have acsess to do it.

[fishieperson321]

My local PetSmart will only pricematch petsmart.com and statelinepetsupplies.com. It sucks cuz the Emperor filter that I want is $5 cheaper at big als.

Daniel

[Mgamer20o0]

I dont see what the big deal is any how. If you look there are many times that petsmart's online price is cheaper than bigalsonline now anyway so you save more by bringing in the petsmart page anyhow. Some stuff is more but I would say its a 50/50 split on whos cheaper. All the ones near me will only price match there online site. They all know this too because the only one that can do a price match is a manager of front end supervisor with a key. The cashier does not have acsess to do it.

whats why a wise shopper checks both.

[bearskookum]

I go to the petsmart in Independence, Missouri and the manager pricematch the petsmart online prices no problem...but I wont just go in and test to see if they will price match other competitors...I think I am just gonna call in and talk to the manager....anyone else in kansas city area tried pricematching other competitors?

[Mgamer20o0]

I go to the petsmart in Independence, Missouri and the manager pricematch the petsmart online prices no problem...but I wont just go in and test to see if they will price match other competitors...I think I am just gonna call in and talk to the manager....anyone else in kansas city area tried pricematching other competitors?

calling is a bad idea. when deal hunting the number one rule is dont call. just go in and try it. if they shoot you down o well have the petsmart print out also. try a couple more times and see what happens.

[Omega]

No, thats called business!Yes, I understand capitalism but when other (physical) stores have much lower prices I think it's kind of unethical of Petsmart to advertise they have great prices when really their prices are only good compared to a mall pet shop. :)

[icecubez189]

Yes, I understand capitalism but when other (physical) stores have much lower prices I think it's kind of unethical of Petsmart to advertise they have great prices when really their prices are only good compared to a mall pet shop. :)

i have yet to find a pet store that has prices anywhere near online prices. if anything, sometimes they are more expensive than the big corporations, sometimes lower (but not by much).

[Omega]

i have yet to find a pet store that has prices anywhere near online prices. if anything, sometimes they are more expensive than the big corporations, sometimes lower (but not by much).Here in Vancouver we have JL Aquatics, a small Canadian outlet that's growing. They specialize in marine but also have plenty of things that could also be used for freshwater. Their prices are the exact same in-store than they are online. Up the street from Big Al's, their prices beat them every time by about 25%.

[loaches r cool]

The one I went to today would pricematch thier online price or any local competitor, no other online pricematches. :dog:

[Squawkbert]

I just got a 250mL bottle of Prime for $3.50 Less than the PetSmart sale price of $8.49 because I printed out the BigAls sale price.

$4.99 for 250mL Prime! No shipping. \/\/00T!!!

[tks4d2]

I agree, it depends on the salesclerk at some locations...

[dslam]

Here in Vancouver we have JL Aquatics, a small Canadian outlet that's growing. They specialize in marine but also have plenty of things that could also be used for freshwater. Their prices are the exact same in-store than they are online. Up the street from Big Al's, their prices beat them every time by about 25%.

While J&L may beat Big Al's, they both overcharge outrageously on any item that might be found elsewhere. Big Al also charges up to 220% for an item on the Canadian site, compared to the same item on the American site.
For things like plant nutrients, substrate, lighting, co2 supplies, and pretty much anything that could be used by any industry or hobby (including pond supplies) other than fish, you can never do worse than going through any "pet" or "fish" retailer or etailer.

My favourite is substrate. It is sold in larger bags for cheaper, for use in ponds. Sand can be purchased for use in many industries and applications, but "aquarium sand" is extremely expensive (I don't mean live sand).
I also found that HQI ballasts are significantly cheaper at hydroponic stores, than purchasing from a "pet" or "fish" shop.

We get ripped off everywhere we go, really. The one thing I found we do get for cheap is plants. Plants for ponds are really overpriced, particularly lilies, compared to what we pay for them.

[Mgamer20o0]

so i never believe what the stores tell me so i emailed petsmart to ask and get the whole policy.

Thank you for your recent email. PetSmart's vision is to provide Total Lifetime Care to Every Pet, Every Pet Parent, Every Time. We believe our everyday prices are lower than our competitors' everyday prices and in most cases, as low as or lower than their sale prices...but instead of making our Customers wait for a sale, we guarantee that our prices are the lowest EVERY DAY.

To back up our claim of Everyday Low Prices, we offer to price match items of local retail competitors. This guarantee states that if a Customer finds a lower price from a legitimate retailer on any identical item that they have purchased from PetSmart, we will price match the competitor's retail price at the PetSmart retail store. This guarantee gives our claim of Everyday Low Prices its credibility and is a vital part of our total company image. We only price match our own website here at PetSmart.

Next time you are in the PetSmart store, please speak with the Store Manager, who will gladly assist you with any questions. You are important to PetSmart and we value any input you may have now and in the future.


so maybe the ones who wont PM to other stores bring in a catalog and see what happens.

[bearskookum]

So from this statement then...it means petsmart will not honor pricematches from Big Al's online then right?

[Mgamer20o0]

So from this statement then...it means petsmart will not honor pricematches from Big Al's online then right?

the wording says only match their online prices.

[loaches r cool]

So from this statement then...it means petsmart will not honor pricematches from Big Al's online then right?

That is correct, if they are folowing thier corporate policy (which some dont seem too). And thats what mine told me, that they will match local retail stores or thier own website. Other than the rebate though, I dont see what the big deal is, atleast on a more expensive item the loacl tax will balance out shipping if you buy it online.

[TipStylez]

I would give this a try, but petsmart never has the type of stuff im looking for, and with how far it is...and the price for gas, in the end its all gonna be the same price. I rather wait a few days and enjoy my free time then at petsmart being surrounded by rejects. =]

If they price matched fish, then yeah haha.