I love feed stores, there is something 'country' about them, and since products are sold often in larger quantities, there can be significant savings as well, since the 40 or 50 lb. sacks are not usually priced out at Petco prices.
Too, they sell insecticides to farmers, and the prices are unbelievably cheap compared to the sprays sold in petstores; permethrin 10% was $13/pint and can easily (but carefully) be diluted into a huge amount of spray, a little at a time, and put into a sprayer. Permethrin is good for all kinds of insects and is the active ingredient in some commercial lice preparations.
Many feed stores are family or owner run, and there is generally better service than at the pet superstores.
The feed stores in my town south of Houston did not have what I wanted, so I decided to visit Quality Feeds in downtown Houston based on a website description and I'm glad I did.
It is very plain, no fancy aisles, prices generally in Magic Marker on the item or bag; no air conditioning, your usual bags of feed stacked up everywhere. Liniments, sprays and other large animal products on the shelves, and jars of local honey on the counter.
The owner himself immediately helped me; and he had in stock one kind of bedding I wanted to use. His assistant loaded my purchase into my car.
Unlike the other stores, he told me he would order anything he could get if I wanted to try some other kinds of bedding, so I asked him to order some of the woodchip and pelleted paper bedding so I can see how those work.
I had inquired earlier by email if he had any types of bedding I was seeking so he had my email address on hand, and by the time I got home I had an email waiting for me thanking me for my business.
Anyway, I thought I would write just to say that in this age of supermarket pet discount stores, I think there is very much a place still for the small owner run store. I appreciate the little things like having my purchases put in my car, and definitely appreciate responsive sellers who will go out of their way to help.
His website description along with a map of the area complete with directions on his website is what got me to the store the first time; and of course his customer service is what will keep me as his customer in the future.
Petco may be glitzy and stylish, but this store gets my business because after all, customer service is what really counts.
Too, they sell insecticides to farmers, and the prices are unbelievably cheap compared to the sprays sold in petstores; permethrin 10% was $13/pint and can easily (but carefully) be diluted into a huge amount of spray, a little at a time, and put into a sprayer. Permethrin is good for all kinds of insects and is the active ingredient in some commercial lice preparations.
Many feed stores are family or owner run, and there is generally better service than at the pet superstores.
The feed stores in my town south of Houston did not have what I wanted, so I decided to visit Quality Feeds in downtown Houston based on a website description and I'm glad I did.
It is very plain, no fancy aisles, prices generally in Magic Marker on the item or bag; no air conditioning, your usual bags of feed stacked up everywhere. Liniments, sprays and other large animal products on the shelves, and jars of local honey on the counter.
The owner himself immediately helped me; and he had in stock one kind of bedding I wanted to use. His assistant loaded my purchase into my car.
Unlike the other stores, he told me he would order anything he could get if I wanted to try some other kinds of bedding, so I asked him to order some of the woodchip and pelleted paper bedding so I can see how those work.
I had inquired earlier by email if he had any types of bedding I was seeking so he had my email address on hand, and by the time I got home I had an email waiting for me thanking me for my business.
Anyway, I thought I would write just to say that in this age of supermarket pet discount stores, I think there is very much a place still for the small owner run store. I appreciate the little things like having my purchases put in my car, and definitely appreciate responsive sellers who will go out of their way to help.
His website description along with a map of the area complete with directions on his website is what got me to the store the first time; and of course his customer service is what will keep me as his customer in the future.
Petco may be glitzy and stylish, but this store gets my business because after all, customer service is what really counts.
